Match Preview: Stoke City vs West Bromwich Albion
Historical Head-to-Head (H2H):
– 2024-04-06: Stoke City 2-2 West Bromwich Albion
– 2023-12-17: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Stoke City
– 2023-08-08: Stoke City 2-1 West Bromwich Albion
– 2023-04-15: Stoke City 1-2 West Bromwich Albion
– 2022-11-12: West Bromwich Albion 2-0 Stoke City
Team Formations and Key Players:
Stoke City:
– Formation: Likely to play a traditional 4-4-2 or a flexible 4-3-3 formation.
– Starters:
– Goalkeeper: Viktor Johansson (1)
– Defenders: Junior Tchamadeu (22), Ben Wilmot (16), Ben Gibson (23), Eric Junior Bocat (17)
– Midfielders: Josh Laurent (28), Wouter Burger (6), Million Manhoef (42), Lynden Gooch (2)
– Forwards: Andrew Moran (24), Jun-Ho Bae (10)
– Key Players:
– Viktor Johansson: Crucial for maintaining the defensive line.
– Junior Tchamadeu: Solid presence in defense, key for breaking down opposition attacks.
– Josh Laurent: Key midfielder who drives play and connects defense to attack.
– Jun-Ho Bae: Forward essential for creating scoring opportunities.
18+ Terms and Conditions apply.
West Bromwich Albion:
– Formation: Likely to deploy a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation.
– Starters:
– Goalkeeper: Alex Palmer (1)
– Defenders: Darnell Furlong (2), Kyle Bartley (5), Semi Ajayi (6), Torbjorn Lysaker Heggem (14)
– Midfielders: Jayson Molumby (8), Alex Mowatt (27), Tom Fellows (31), John Swift (10), Karlan Grant (18)
– Forwards: Josh Maja (9)
– Key Players:
– Josh Maja: Top scorer, critical for WBA’s attacking prowess.
– John Swift: Midfielder with creative vision, essential for breaking down defensive lines.
– Semi Ajayi: Defensive stalwart, crucial for stopping opposition attacks.
Recent Form:
Stoke City:
– Watford 3-0 Stoke City: Comprehensive defeat showing defensive weaknesses.
– Carlisle United 0-2 Stoke City: Solid win, reflecting their potential when they capitalize on opportunities.
– Stoke City 1-0 Coventry City: Strong defensive display at home, securing a clean sheet.
West Bromwich Albion:
– West Bromwich Albion 0-0 Leeds United: Solid defensive performance, but struggled to convert opportunities.
– Fleetwood Town 2-1 West Bromwich Albion: Disappointed with the narrow loss, spotlighting defensive vulnerabilities.
– QPR 1-3 West Bromwich Albion: Strong attacking display away from home, showcasing their offensive capabilities.
Strengths and Considerations:
Stoke City:
– Strengths: Solid midfield presence, effectiveness in home games, dynamism provided by players like Gooch and Manhoef.
– Considerations: Defensive consistency, particularly evident in the Watford game, converting goal-scoring opportunities.
West Bromwich Albion:
– Strengths: Strong individual performers in players like Maja and Swift, good away form reflected in the win against QPR.
– Considerations: Defensive reliability needs bolstering, shown by recent losses.
Prediction:
Considering both teams’ current form and historical head-to-head performance:
– Final Score: Stoke City 1-2 West Bromwich Albion
– Predicted Scorers:
– Stoke City: Jun-Ho Bae
– West Bromwich Albion: Josh Maja, John Swift
West Bromwich Albion is expected to leverage their attacking talent and current form to edge past a resilient Stoke City, who will likely benefit from their home advantage but might fall short against WBA’s dynamic forward line.
18+ Terms and Conditions apply.