Stoke City vs Southampton Prediction: Both sides didn't have the start they hoped for in the league this season

Stoke City will welcome Southampton at bet365 Stadium in Game Week 10 of the English Championship. Both sides didn't have the start they hoped for in the league this season. Who will come out on top after 90 minutes?

The two teams enter the midweek matches with a boost in morale due to their recent victories. Stoke City displayed great determination and resilience as they overcame a two-goal deficit within the first 15 minutes to secure a dramatic late triumph against Bristol City. Nathan Lowe's goal in the 89th minute secured a 3-2 victory for Stoke at Ashton Gate, marking his first-ever senior goal. Given Stoke's previous string of unfavorable results and only managing a draw against Huddersfield Town, this much-needed win provided a significant relief as it prevented them from falling into the relegation zone in the congested bottom half of the Championship table. Despite their current placement in 16th position after this 3-2 success, Stoke City remains just two points above the danger zone. Consequently, it is imperative for them to maintain their level of performance in order to alleviate any potential threat to Alex Neil's job.

Travers; Hoever, Rose, Wilmot, Gooch; Laurent, Pearson, Johnson; Leris, Wesley, Haksabanovic

Southampton began the season with high aspirations of quickly returning to the Premier League following their relegation last season. Under the leadership of Russell Martin, they made an impressive start, earning 10 points from their first four games and positioning themselves well for promotion. However, their form quickly deteriorated, and a 3-1 victory over Leeds United came as a huge relief amid a string of losses that saw them fall into mid-table. Defeats such as a 5-0 thrashing by Sunderland and a 4-1 loss at home to Leicester City had a significant impact. With Saturday's win, Martin's team now sits in 10th place, just three points away from the playoff positions. The match also showcased the emergence of Kamaldeen Sulemana this season. The Ghanaian player had been rumored to leave but remained with the team and was sent off in his first appearance against Leicester. However, in his first start on Saturday, Sulemana played a vital role, assisting in two goals as Southampton took a commanding 3-0 lead, with Adam Armstrong scoring two of the goals and now sharing the top spot in the scoring charts with seven goals

Bazunu; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning; Smallbone, Downes, Alcaraz, S Armstrong, Sulemana; A Armstrong

Although both teams emerged victorious over the weekend after facing challenges, it is uncertain who will prevail in this match as they seem evenly matched. Southampton has had limited success against Stoke in recent encounters, winning only one out of their last seven meetings. It is likely that this streak will continue in this upcoming game. Taking double chance on Stoke is the right way to approach this game.