A lot has changed for Stoke and Peterborough since their most recent encounter in March 2002 – a 1-0 win for the Potters – but they are now on a level playing field.
While Michael O’Neill’s men are seeking promotion to the Premier League, however, United are focused solely on staying in the division.
The Posh hit a bit of form towards the end of October with wins over Hull City and Queens Park Rangers in quick succession, but they have since collected just one point from nine.
Following a 3-0 loss at Swansea City and a 1-1 draw to Huddersfield Town, Darren Ferguson’s side were undone by an Aleksandar Mitrovic goal in a 1-0 loss to Fulham last time out.
That was the eighth game this season Peterborough have failed to score in, with no team in the division attempting fewer shots (138) or finding the target (48) less often.
Stoke have not exactly been scoring for fun of late, but they only needed one goal to see off Blackpool and then Luton Town in their last two games before the two-week break.
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Those away wins moved City into the playoff spots, and they are now chasing a third win in a row for the first time since October 2016, when they were in the Premier League.
The Potters tend to do well when they face United, meanwhile, having gone 12 without defeat in this fixture – a run that includes five straight wins against the Posh.
Three more points will be the target on Saturday for O’Neill, but Peterborough are themselves just as desperate for a positive result as they attempt to climb the division
