Sunderland Vs Stoke

Stoke City is set to travel to the North East for an all-Championship FA Cup clash with Sunderland this Saturday at the Stadium of Light. The home team will be looking to extend their winning streak to three matches, while Stoke, under new management, is eager to secure their first victory under Mark Robins.

The previous encounter between these two sides in the Championship, at the end of December, saw Sunderland narrowly defeated 1-0 by Stoke in a tightly contested match. Now, Sunderland is determined to avenge that defeat and progress in the FA Cup. Following that loss, Sunderland has bounced back strongly, regaining their form with consecutive home victories that have lifted them to fourth place in the Championship, just two points behind the automatic promotion spots. Their recent wins have been vital in keeping their promotion hopes alive, with Sunderland’s manager Regis Le Bris continuing to oversee a period of impressive results for the team. The Black Cats secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Sheffield United, one of their promotion rivals, and followed that up with a narrow 1-0 victory against Portsmouth on Sunday, thanks to a goal from Wilson Isidor in the seventh minute.

These victories have left Sunderland in a strong position, maintaining their unbeaten record at home this season. The Stadium of Light has been a fortress for them, with nine wins and four draws from their 13 home games. This form has made them one of the most formidable teams on their own turf, and they will be aiming to make it another successful outing when they face Stoke City. Sunderland’s previous home encounter with Stoke, a 2-1 victory on December 7, has given them a strong foundation to build on for this FA Cup tie. This success will likely provide them with the confidence needed to take on the Potters once more.

On the other hand, Stoke City comes into the game with some optimism despite their struggles. Under the management of Mark Robins, they have yet to secure a win, having drawn 0-0 with Plymouth Argyle in his first match at the helm. While this result was not ideal, it extended their unbeaten streak to three Championship games, which is a positive step for the team. The Potters have managed to keep clean sheets in all three of those matches, which will undoubtedly give them some hope as they prepare to face a Sunderland team that is currently the fourth-highest scorer in the Championship. Stoke’s defensive resilience will be crucial as they seek to frustrate Sunderland's attacking threat and push for a positive result.

However, Stoke’s form away from home has been a concern. They have endured a tough run in competitive away matches, losing seven of their last 11 games. This poor away form could pose a significant challenge in their quest to progress in the FA Cup. Playing at the Stadium of Light, a venue where Sunderland has been difficult to beat, will only add to the pressure on Robins’ side. Nevertheless, Stoke will be eager to overcome these difficulties and progress to the fourth round of the FA Cup for the third time in four seasons. Robins, who reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup with Coventry City last season, will be hoping to replicate that success with his new team and embark on a cup run that could bring much-needed excitement and success to Stoke City’s season.

Both teams come into this tie with their own objectives: Sunderland aiming to continue their push for promotion and extend their recent run of positive results, while Stoke is focused on proving themselves under new leadership and pushing for a cup run. The match is set to be a captivating encounter, with both teams having their strengths and weaknesses, and each looking to make a statement in this FA Cup clash. Fans can expect an exciting match, as the teams battle for a spot in the fourth round, with Sunderland hoping to continue their unbeaten home form and Stoke hoping to reverse their recent away struggles.