EFL Championship Betting Preview – Stoke City

Potters to make the top six?

Football Betting

EFL Championship Team Preview – Stoke City

Stoke City had an abysmal first year back in the EFL Championship following relegation from the 2017-18 Premier League season. However, a lot has changed at the bet365 over the past year or so, and the Potters will be hoping to challenge for promotion this term. Will City get off to a winning start when they host Queens Park Rangers on the opening weekend of the Championship season?

Who will win the Championship Title 2019/20?

Team
Leeds 9/2 7/2 9/2
Fulham 8/1 8/1 8/1
Cardiff 10/1 10/1 10/1
West Brom 12/1 10/1 10/1
Middlesbrough 14/1 14/1 12/1
Stoke 12/1 12/1 12/1
Derby 16/1 14/1 14/1
Huddersfield 20/1 14/1 16/1
Brentford 12/1 14/1 14/1
Sheff Wed 20/1 16/1 18/1

* (Betting Odds were taken from Bet365, Betvictor & Ladbrokes on July 15th, 2019 at 13:30 p.m.)

Stoke City to win the Championship Title 2019/20 at Ladbrokes

Poor campaign last term

This time last year, Stoke were being tipped for an instant return to the Premier League. However, they never really recovered from their 3-1 opening weekend loss to Leeds United, going on to win just one of their opening seven league fixtures. The Potters will be desperate for a better start to this campaign.

Stoke ended their first year back in the second tier in a lowly 16th place. Along the way, City picked up just 11 wins from 46 league games, drawing 22 and losing 13 of the other 35. No side in the Championship drew more matches than the Potters in last year’s Championship.

 

Stoke v QPR
Stoke17/20
QPR10/3

Bet at bet365

 

Stoke made their home ground a fortress during their Premier League days, but the club secured just eight league wins at the bet365 Stadium last term. Meanwhile, they picked up a mere three victories on the road, with only Rotherham United (one), Reading, Wigan Athletic and Ipswich Town (all two) winning fewer.

After having a year to settle back into the rigours of Championship football, the Stoke supporters will want to see their team battling at the right end of the table this season. Will they be in the promotion mix this time?

Can Jones stamp his authority in the Potteries?

Nathan Jones arrived at the bet365 Stadium back in January having impressed while at Luton Town. Jones guided Luton to top spot in EFL League One, with the club going on to gain promotion under Mick Harford.

Jones has struggled to make an impact in Staffordshire so far, though, claiming just three Championship wins as City boss. However, Stoke were hard to beat at the backend of last season, losing only two of their last 15.

Jones divided opinion among the fans when he was appointed last January, and the pressure will start to mount on his shoulders if Stoke get off to a poor start. Jones will be hoping to hit the ground running at the beginning of this season.

 

Key-Facts – Stoke City

  • Stoke drew 22 league games last term
  • The Potters finished in 16th place last season on just 55 points
  • Five players have arrived on free transfers this summer

 

Arrivals & departures

Stoke have been very busy this summer in the transfer market. Jordan Cousins, Adam Davies, Lee Gregory, Nick Powell and Stephen Ward have all arrived at the bet365 Stadium on free transfers. Meanwhile, Liam Lindsay was brought in from Barnsley on a £2m deal.

City may not be able to splash the cash as they used to, but the Potters have been very shrewd in the market. Stoke could bring in a few more faces before the window slams shut in early August.

In the other direction, long-serving full-back Erik Pieters has left the club to join Burnley in the Premier League. Also, eight players were left out of Stoke’s pre-season tour of the Netherlands. There could be plenty more changes to the squad before City entertain QPR on August 3rd.

Will the Potters have a better season?

The bookies have Stoke among the favourites to win the league with the likes of Leeds United, Cardiff City and Fulham, among others. At the time of writing, City are available at 12/1 with most bookies.

Meanwhile, Jones’ boys are priced at 6/4 to finish in the top six and 4/1 to be promoted. Stoke will be hoping to be there or there abouts in the race for promotion at the end of the season, but it will not be an easy task.

Stoke City Tips & Odds

To finish in the top 6 at 6/4
To finish in the top half 1/2
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on July 15th, 2019 at 13:30 p.m.)

Predicted finish

Like many big teams in this season’s Championship, Stoke have ambitions of getting back to the Premier League. Last year was a reality check for the club, but the Potters should fare far better this time around. At the very least, Stoke should finish in the top six this term, which you can get at 6/4.