Sports Mole previews Wednesday’s Championship clash between Stoke City and Portsmouth, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Stoke City will attempt to end a run of three consecutive league defeats when they welcome Portsmouth to the bet365 Stadium on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Pompey are still searching for their first victory of the season after failing to win any of their opening seven Championship matches.
Match preview
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Stoke are currently on their second manager of the season after they decided to part ways with Steven Schumacher following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Oxford United.
The former Plymouth Argyle boss began the season with two wins and three defeats in five league matches, with those results contributing to an overall record of 13 wins, six draws and 13 losses in 32 competitive games.
Stoke opted to replace Schumacher with Narcis Pelach, who left his role as Norwich City coach to take on his first permanent job as a manager.
Unfortunately for Pelach, he has experienced a disappointing start to his tenure, having seen his side lose 3-1 to Hull City and 2-0 in Saturday’s away clash against Middlesbrough.
As a result of their poor start to the season, the Potters are currently languishing in 20th place and just one point above the drop zone.
They are also the league’s joint-second lowest scorers with just four goals to their name, highlighting a key area for improvement if they are to move up the table in the coming weeks.
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Like their hosts, newly-promoted Portsmouth have experienced a difficult start to the season, having taken just four points from their opening seven matches.
Last season’s League One champions kicked off the Championship campaign with three consecutive draws, before they fell to three straight defeats against Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion and Burnley.
While they were unable to claim a win at the weekend, Pompey managed to end their losing run with a goalless draw in Saturday’s home meeting with recently relegated Sheffield United.
Despite picking up a valuable point, John Mousinho‘s side are currently down in 23rd position with one point separating them from safety.
The Pompey boss would have at least been pleased to see his side record their second clean sheet of the season after conceding at least two goals in each of their four matches prior to Saturday’s draw with the Blades.
Portsmouth are now preparing for their first game against Stoke since August 2014, with the visitors looking to end a run of three consecutive head-to-head defeats since they recorded a 4-0 home win in the EFL Cup in October 2009.
Stoke City Championship form:
Stoke City form (all competitions):
Portsmouth Championship form:
Team News
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The hosts remain without the midfield duo of Bosun Lawal and Ben Pearson due to back and hamstring issues respectively.
The pair are joined in the treatment room by former Sunderland attacker Lynden Gooch, who sustained a knee injury in Schumacher’s final game in charge against Oxford.
Million Manhoef will have to be assessed after he was forced off in the 55th minute of Saturday’s defeat to Middlesbrough.
Tottenham Hotspur loanee Ashley Phillips has completed the concussion protocol and is expected to feature in Wednesday’s matchday squad.
As for Portsmouth, they are still unable to call upon the services of Ibane Bowat, Callum Lang, Kusini Yengi and Colby Bishop.
Conor Shaughnessy was set to make his comeback from a calf injury against Sheffield United, but he was forced to withdraw from the squad after he aggravated the same issue in the warm-up.
The 28-year-old is now a fitness doubt for Wednesday’s away trip, while Conor Ogilvie will have to be assessed after missing Saturday’s game due to illness.
Left-back Jacob Farrell and forward Mark O’Mahony could retain their spots after making their Pompey debuts at the weekend.
Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Tchamadeu, Wilmot, Gibson, Bocat; Koumas, Burger, Thompson, Bae; Moran; Cannon
Portsmouth possible starting lineup:
Norris; Swanson, Poole, McIntyre, Farrell; Pack, Potts; Silvera, Lane, Murphy; O’Mahoney
We say: Stoke City 2-1 Portsmouth
Stoke have not faced Portsmouth since 2014, but they historically fare well in head-to-head home meetings, having won five and drawn two of their previous seven home games against Pompey.
With that in mind, we think the Potters will make full use of home advantage to edge out Portsmouth to clinch their first win of Pelach’s tenure.
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