Stoke City vs Sunderland Prediction: What’s next for the Potters after Narcis Pelach exit?

Stoke City will hope to have a great beginning after the departure of Narcis Pelach when they welcome Sunderland to the Bet365 Stadium on Sunday. The hosts are winless in their last nine games. Can they return to winning ways? Below, I have the team news, possible starting 11, some interesting facts, expert betting tips, and odds.

Stoke City

LLDLL

Stoke City continued their poor run, losing 2-0 to Leeds United in their last game. They managed just 25% possession of the ball in the game, with 3 goal attempts.

The Potters are winless in their last nine games and have won one game in their previous eight home games. They sit 19th on the table with 22 points in 23 games, scoring 23 goals and conceding 32. Stoke continue their struggle, and relegation looks closer game in, game out. They recently parted ways with head coach Narcis Pelach after just 19 games in charge. They have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last six games.

The Potters will be without Enda Stevens (leg Injury), Ben Pearson (hamstring Injury), Jordan Thompson (leg Injury), and Million Manhoef (medial Collateral Ligament Injury) in this game.

Sunderland

WDWWD

Sunderland were held to a 2-2 draw in their last game against Blackburn. Christopher Rigg equalised for Sunderland in the 51st minute after Yuki Ohashi had put Blackburn ahead in the first 13 minutes of the game. Wilson Isidor gave Sunderland the lead in the 55th minute, but they couldn’t hold on to the end, conceding in the 90th minute.

The Black Cats are unbeaten in their last five games, winning three and drawing two. However, they have won just once in their last six away games. They sit 4th on the table with 44 points in 23 games, scoring 36 goals and conceding 20.

On the injury side, Sunderland will be without Jenson Seelt, Ahmed Abdullahi, Salis Abdul Samed, Niall Huggins, Alan Browne, Daniel Ballard, Romaine Mundle, and Tom Watson in this game.

Possible Starting 11

Stoke City — Viktor Johansson, Ben Wilmot, Ashley Phillips, Ben Gibson, Junior Tchamadeu, Souleymane Sidibe, Wouter Burger, Lynden Gooch, Andy Moran, Lewis Koumas, Thomas Cannon.

Sunderland — Anthony Patterson, Trai Hume, Chris Mepham, Luke O'Nien, Dennis Cirkin, Dan Neil, Jobe Bellingham, Patrick Roberts, Adil Aouchiche, Eliezer Mayenda, Wilson Isidor.

Interesting Facts

• Stoke are without a win in nine games.
• Stoke City won just three of their 19 games under Pelach before his contract termination.
• Sunderland have lost just one of their last 16 games.
• The last four games between these two sides ended with the BTTS results.
• Sunderland have won one of their last six away games

Expert Betting Tips

Sunderland were on the verge of getting a win in their last game, but they couldn’t hold on to the end. However, I expect them to bounce back to winning ways in this game because they are playing against a side that are winless in their last nine games. Moreover, The Black Cats are unbeaten in 15 of their last 16 games. Despite my money on the visitors, I expect the hosts to get a consolation goal.

• Sunderland DNB for 1.62 odds
• W2 for 2.20 odds
• BTTS for 1.80 odds