Striving to conclude their rollercoaster of a campaign on a strong footing, Stoke have recorded back-to-back victories in the Championship over the past fortnight, securing a three-goal success over relegation-threatened Plymouth Argyle on April 20 before beating Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium seven days later.
Three points on the South Coast sealed the Potters’ second-tier status for another season following worries near the end of 2023 that the club could be drawn into an unlikely relegation battle, with marksman Tyrese Campbell netting the only goal of the game in the 36th minute.
Since taking the reins at the Staffordshire outfit in December – replacing the dismissed Alex Neil – Steven Schumacher has faced difficulties at times but a current run of just one defeat in the last seven has included signs that suggest the Liverpudlian could lead the club to success next term.
That being said, the Potters must collect maximum points on Saturday afternoon if they are to avoid their worst finish in the Championship since returning to this level following Premier League relegation in 2018, with this weekend’s hosts currently languishing in 18th position.
Stoke have been heavily reliant on a number of loan players to provide sprinkles of quality to the bet365 Stadium side, including Wolverhampton Wanderers duo Luke Cundle and Ki-Jana Hoever, with both potentially playing their final matches for the Potters on the weekend.
With a host of the sides in the race for promotion slipping up recently, Bristol City are one of the in-form teams in the Championship after extending their unbeaten spell to seven matches with a comfortable two-goal victory over League One-bound Rotherham last weekend.
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The Millers had failed to record a win in any of their previous 22 second-tier outings since the beginning of the term, so it was no surprise to see the Robins race into a commanding lead at Ashton Gate before the hour courtesy of strikes from Tommy Conway and Burnley loanee Scott Twine.
After collecting 15 points from their last seven Championship contests, Liam Manning’s men have secured a first top-half finish in the division since the 2019-20 term, with Saturday’s visitors occupying 11th position, five points ahead of Luke Williams’s Swansea City in 13th.
Having provided four goal contributions in as many matches recently, Bristol City academy graduate Conway has now hit the double-digit mark for goals in a Championship campaign for the first time in his blossoming career, although the 21-year-old might be departing in the summer when his contract expires.
