This Week's Opposition: Stoke City

A closer look at The Potters with Express FM's Kirsty Roxanne.

The Blues fell short against the Championship leaders under the Fratton Park floodlights with a 2-1 defeat to Coventry City in midweek.

Next up it’s Stoke City who visit the South Coast for a Saturday 12:30 kick-off.

MANAGER

Former Coventry boss Mark Robins is now in charge of The Potters.

After his playing days, which included plentiful experience in the top flight, Robins made the move to coaching with his first managerial career at Rotherham United in 2007.  He also managed the likes of Barnsley, Huddersfield, Scunthorpe and the aforementioned Coventry before being appointed Stoke boss on January 1st, signing a 3-and-a-half-year deal.

During his second stint with The Sky Blues, which lasted 7 years, Robins won promotion to League One and the Championship, as well as taking the club to their first FA Cup Semi-Final since 1987.

ONE TO WATCH

Our one to watch is number 42 Million Manhoef.

Manhoef began his career with Dutch side Vitesse in the second tier before making the move to England when he signed for Stoke last February.

The winger scored important goals for The Potters last campaign, scoring against Plymouth and West Brom to help avoid relegation.

Manhoef was a regular starter last term with 7 goals scored from 38 appearances. So far this time around, he has 3 goals to his name.

TOP SCORER

Sorba Thomas is the leading scorer for The Potters, having claimed 4 goals and 4 assists from the opening 11 matches.

After leaving the West Ham academy, Thomas played for National League side Boreham Wood before making the jump to Championship football with Huddersfield in 2021.

Thomas helped The Terriers to reach the 2022 Championship Play-Off Final before losing out on promotion to the Premier League to Nottingham Forest.

The winger spent time on loan at Blackburn and French Ligue 1 side Nantes before joining Stoke this summer.

The Welsh International wears the number 7 shirt.

CURRENT FORM

Mark Robins’ side are sat 6th in the Championship, their lowest position since the league started, having mostly occupied the top 3.

After surviving relegation on the final day last season, The Potters have had a complete turnaround in form this campaign.

5 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats so far and off the back of a 2-0 loss at Millwall in midweek.

With a Blues away fixture many would like to forget on a Wednesday night in Stoke, it was the opposite when the side last came to PO4 with a 3-1 victory in favour of John Mousinho’s side back in January.

Can the Blues quickly bounce back and secure a Fratton Park victory to bring an end to a gruelling run of 3 games in 7 days?

Join Jake Smith, Henry Deacon and James Wilson LIVE on Express FM from 11:30am on Saturday (October 25th) morning for full coverage of this Championship meeting between Portsmouth and Stoke City.

Kick-off: 12:30pm!