Stoke City will host Queens Park Rangers in a clash between two teams on the wrong end of the table. On Saturday, the Potters’ terrible run of play continued at managerless Blackburn Rovers. The R’s came away with a point from their matchup with Norwich City.
Preview (Stoke City vs. Queens Park Rangers)
Despite Niall Ennis’s first-ever goal for the team, Stoke suffered their fourth straight defeat in the Championship since the close victory over relegation-threatened Rotherham United. The team had to endure 37 minutes of first-half misery to escape Ewood Park empty-handed. Dynamic forward Tyrhys Dolan scored twice for Damien Johnson’s Rovers. Division top scorer Sammie Szmodics only managed to get one past Daniel Iversen’s net. This left the visiting Potters with a mountain to climb. It proved too steep for a team that has only triumphed in two of their previous 17 second-tier games. The Potters spent a great deal of their January hiring forward options. It now looks like their defense is in serious need of improvement after conceding 13 goals in their last four.
Winger Andre Vidigal joined from Portuguese team Maritimo during the summer transfer window. He leads his team’s Golden Boot competition with five goals in 23 appearances so far in 2023–24. Ryan Mmaee is the only other Potters player with more than two league goals. With eight points from their past four league games—including a share of the spoils against Norwich last time out. Queens Park Rangers have clawed their way back into contention for second-tier survival.
Jack Colback’s opening goal was canceled out by Canary’s goals in the second half from Kenny McLean and American Josh Sargent. However, the R’s refused to accept a humiliating defeat as newcomers Lucas Andersen and Michael Frey combined to score an equalizer. With victories over Millwall, Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town, and Wednesday’s opponents Stoke over the weekend, Marti Cifuentes’s team is just two points behind the 21st-place Terriers and could potentially escape the bottom three. The team will next visit the bet365 Stadium.
Team News
Josh Laurent, a midfielder for Stoke, suffered an ankle injury in December, thus the former Reading player won’t be available until later this month. After a lackluster performance from the starting XI at Ewood Park over the weekend, the Potters may bench Million Manhoef in favor of Tyrese Campbell in the attacking role. Lewis Baker and Luke Cundle are vying for places in Daniel Johnson’s starting lineup after the player missed a penalty in Lancashire.
Before suffering a leg injury on New Year’s Day, QPR rookie Ryan Kolli was having a breakout season in the first squad. Since then, the 19-year-old forward has not appeared in any games. After contributing to a goal on Saturday, Frey and Anderson are expected to start, which means Willock and Sinclair Armstrong may be moved to the bench.
Stoke City 1-2 Queens Park Rangers
For more football previews, click here
