Preview: Stoke City vs Leicester City – prediction, team news, lineups

Both aiming to file their first Championship victories of February, Stoke City and Leicester City conflict on the bet365 Stadium on Saturday afternoon for a battle of the Midlands.

The Potters had been knocked out of the FA Cup by Premier League Fulham in Staffordshire final weekend, while the Foxes had been defeated in the identical competitors by second-tier Southampton.

Match preview

Following a promising begin to the marketing campaign wherein a return to the Premier League for the primary time since 2018 was urged, Stoke City have fallen out of the playoff image with simply two Championship wins for the reason that starting of January.

In truth, the Potters winless run throughout all competitions stretched to a saddening seven matches (D3 L4) final weekend, when a nicely-labored Bae Jun-Ho aim was not sufficient to forestall Fulham from progressing into the fifth spherical of this yr’s FA Cup.

After amassing a mere three factors from their previous six second-tier battles, Saturday afternoon’s hosts have slipped to an uninspiring 14th spot within the Championship standings forward of this weekend, 5 factors behind sixth-positioned Derby County.

Winless of their final 4 matches (D1 L3) on the bet365 Stadium, Mark Robins‘s males should forged their minds again to December 13 for his or her most up-to-date reminiscence of a house Championship triumph, when a surprise aim from Ben Pearson helped to beat Swansea City.

Stoke might want to battle latest and lengthy-time period type to select up a constructive outcome on Saturday afternoon, with the Potters at the moment enduring a 5-sport shedding streak versus Leicester, failing to win any of the final 11 conferences between the Midlands foes.

© Imago / IMAGO / Pro Sports Images

After the sick-fated reign of Marti Cifuentes and a latest six-level deduction for breaching monetary guidelines, former Premier League champions Leicester City have turned to a Championship firefighter to avoid wasting them from relegation to the third tier.

Keeping humble Oxford United within the division final season, Gary Rowett has been appointed as Foxes boss till the tip of the marketing campaign, with the second-tier skilled strolling right into a dire scenario on the King Power Stadium forward of this weekend.

The East Midlands outfit have picked up simply the one level from their final six Championship contests, leaving them two factors behind West Bromwich Albion within the relative security of twenty first within the second-tier rankings.

Considering all competitions, the ex-English title holders are within the midst of a 5-sport shedding run, with Southampton proving to be the bane of Leicester’s existence in latest instances, beating the Foxes twice final week in each league and cup motion.

Looking to increase their unbeaten run towards Stoke to 12 matches on Saturday afternoon, Leicester are closely reliant on the attacking antics of Abdul Fatawu, who has netted three targets in his final 4 Championship appearances.

Stoke City Championship type: D L D L D L

Stoke City type (all competitions): L D L D L L

Leicester City Championship type: L D L L L L

Leicester City type (all competitions): D L L L L L

Team News

© Imago

A high performer within the Championship for almost all of this decade, Stoke goalkeeper Viktor Johansson is at the moment sidelined due to a shoulder harm.

Youngster Tommy Simkin will retain his berth in internet because of the absence of Gavin Bazunu (hip), with the knee problems with Junior Tchamadeu additional proscribing the Potters’ choices on the again.

There are additionally issues for Stoke to battle towards on the high of the pitch, with each Sam Gallagher (hamstring) and Robert Bozenik (shoulder) but to function in February.

A 9-aim sensation this time period for relegation-threatened Leicester, Jordan James is a expensive absentee for the guests owing to a hamstring situation.

The Foxes have launched numerous promising younger gamers into their combat for survival, together with defender Olabade Aluko and attacking midfielder Divine Mukasa, with the latter on mortgage from Manchester City.

Stoke City attainable beginning lineup:

Simkin; Lawal, Phillips, Wilmot, Cresswell; Seko, Nzonzi, Rak-Sakyi, Rigo, Thomas; Cisse

Leicester City attainable beginning lineup:

Stolarczyk; Pereira, Okoli, Nelson, Thomas; Skipp, Winks, Fatawu, Mukasa, Mavididi; Daka

We say: Stoke City 1-1 Leicester City

Winless towards Leicester since January 2015, Stoke will sense the chance to get pleasure from an extended-awaited triumph on the expense of the guests this weekend.

Expect Leicester to be rejuvenated and sturdy beneath the stewardship of Rowett, who would most likely take a tough-fought level in The Potteries on Saturday afternoon. 

For information evaluation of the almost definitely outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.