Under the management of Alex Neil, Stoke City will play their first game on Wednesday against Swansea City in the EFL Championship, with kickoff at 9:45 pm.
Stoke City, hoping to kick on under the management of Michael O’Neill, has made a slow start to the new Championship season.
The Potters sit on four points from four league games before their clash against Sunderland on Saturday. They would lose 1-0 in that match, with Ross Stewart hitting the game’s only goal on the stroke of halftime.
Such a defeat spelled the end for O’Neill, with the Black Cats boss Alex Neil quickly linked with the vacant post in Staffordshire. The Scotsman was in attendance at Ewood Park as they traveled to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday—under the temporary management of Dean Holden—and were able to post a second win of the season thanks to Lewis Baker’s first-half strike.
Stoke welcome Swansea City to the Bet365 Stadium on Saturday when they hope to kick-start their season after a middling term. The Swans are also hoping to kick on after a poor start. Having begun with a trip to Rotherham and earned a point before suffering defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers in the following game.
Stoke City vs. Swansea Head to Head
Both sides have 22 games against each other, with hosts taking twelve wins while visitors with seven wins. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Blackburn 0-1 Stoke City
- Stoke City 0-1 Sunderland
- Stoke City 2-2 Middlesbrough
- Huddersfield 3-1 Stoke City
Away
- Middlesbrough 2-1 Swansea City
- Swansea City 0-2 Luton Town
- Swansea City 2-2 Millwall
- Blackpool 0-1 Swansea City
Stoke City Team News
Alex Neil has several injuries to deal with ahead of his first game in charge of the club. Harry Souttar, Nick Powell, Harry Clarke, and Josh Tymon are all out. Dwight Gayle could be favoured up front, with Liam Delap and Jacob Brown starting behind him against Middlesbrough.
Swansea Team News
Swansea City will be without defender Ben Cabango, who will serve a suspension after being sent off in the dying minutes of their defeat to Middlesbrough. This means Harry Darling should come back in to join Nathan Wood and Kyle Naughton in a back three.
Prediction and Odds
Stoke City will feel invigorated after the weekend’s win, and the introduction of Neil as the manager should provide a further boost in the camp as a new leader.
- Stoke City Win
- Correct Score: 2-1
- Both Teams to Score
