Stoke city vs Swansea

Two Championship teams, both eager to distance themselves from the threat of relegation, will face off at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday afternoon as Stoke City welcome Swansea City. The two sides last met just over four months ago in South Wales, where they played out a goalless draw, and they will now look to settle the score in what promises to be a crucial encounter in their respective campaigns.

Stoke City, under the management of Mark Robins, have found it difficult to string together a consistent run of positive results since Robins took charge last month. The 55-year-old, who is the club’s third manager this season, has overseen a mixed bag of performances, with two wins, four draws, and two losses in their last eight matches across all competitions. Their recent form has been far from convincing, and the team’s struggles were further highlighted in their last two outings. Four days after a dramatic 3-3 draw with Cardiff City in the FA Cup fourth round, which they eventually lost 4-2 on penalties, Stoke suffered a 2-0 defeat to Bristol City in the Championship on Wednesday night. This loss marked their 13th league defeat of the season, leaving them in a precarious position in the table.

Currently sitting in 19th place, Stoke are just two points above the relegation zone and face the very real possibility of dropping into the third tier of English football for the first time since the 2001-02 season. While they have managed to keep clean sheets in their last three league matches at the bet365 Stadium (one win and two draws), their home form this season has been among the worst in the Championship. Only Hull City, with 12 points, have accumulated fewer points at home than Stoke’s 19, highlighting the challenges they have faced in front of their own fans.

Stoke’s recent record against Swansea also does little to inspire confidence. They have won just one of their last five league meetings with the Welsh side and have failed to score in their last two encounters. Additionally, Mark Robins has a particularly poor record against Swansea, having faced them more times than any other team in the EFL without ever securing a win. In 13 games as a manager against the Swans, Robins has recorded seven draws and six losses, a statistic that will undoubtedly weigh on his mind as he prepares his team for Saturday’s clash.

On the other side, Swansea City arrive at the bet365 Stadium with their own set of challenges. Head coach Luke Williams will be hoping his side can bounce back from a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in midweek. That loss came just three days after Swansea had ended a dismal seven-game winless run (one draw and six losses) with a hard-fought 1-0 away victory over Bristol City. The defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, however, has piled more pressure on Williams and his team, as they continue to slide down the Championship table.

The match against Sheffield Wednesday was a closely contested affair, with few clear-cut chances for either side. However, a moment of quality from Owls substitute Michael Smith midway through the second half proved decisive, as his cool first-time finish condemned Swansea to their third consecutive home defeat and their 15th loss of the Championship campaign. This result has left Swansea in 17th place, a far cry from their position at the start of 2025 when they were ninth in the table and just four points behind the playoff spots. Since then, their form has deteriorated, and they now find themselves 10 points adrift of the top six and just eight points above the relegation zone, having played a game more than five of the seven teams below them.

Swansea’s away form has been slightly more encouraging, and they will be looking to secure back-to-back away league victories for the first time since February last year when they take on Stoke. However, history is not on their side, as they have won just one of their last 13 league visits to the bet365 Stadium (four draws and eight losses). This poor record at Stoke’s home ground will undoubtedly be a concern for Williams as he prepares his team for what could be a pivotal match in their season.

Both teams come into this match with a great deal at stake. For Stoke, the primary objective will be to avoid slipping further down the table and into the relegation zone. Mark Robins will be keen to see his side build on their recent defensive solidity at home, where they have kept three consecutive clean sheets, and turn those draws into much-needed wins. However, their lack of goals in recent matches against Swansea and their overall struggles in front of goal this season could prove to be a significant hurdle.

Swansea, meanwhile, will be desperate to reignite their season and put some distance between themselves and the relegation battle. Luke Williams will be looking for a response from his players after their midweek defeat, and he will hope that their recent away victory over Bristol City can serve as a springboard for improved performances. However, their inconsistency and poor record at the bet365 Stadium mean that they will need to be at their best to come away with a positive result.

The match is likely to be a tense and tightly contested affair, with both teams aware of the consequences of a defeat. Stoke will be relying on their home advantage and recent defensive resilience, while Swansea will be hoping to capitalize on any vulnerabilities in Stoke’s backline. The outcome of this match could have significant implications for both teams’ seasons, as they look to avoid the drop and secure their Championship status for another year.

In summary, this clash between Stoke City and Swansea City is set to be a crucial encounter in the Championship relegation battle. Both teams have struggled for consistency this season and come into the match on the back of disappointing results. Stoke, under the guidance of Mark Robins, will be looking to build on their recent defensive record at home and secure a much-needed win to ease their relegation fears. Swansea, meanwhile, will be hoping to bounce back from their midweek defeat and improve their poor record at the bet365 Stadium. With so much at stake, this match promises to be a fiercely contested battle, and the result could have a significant impact on the fortunes of both teams as the season progresses.