Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Crewevs.Stoke

sportsmole.co.uk, 21 July 2024, 12:28
Both Crewe Alexandra and Stoke City will be aiming to make it three straight pre-season victories when they lock horns for a friendly on Tuesday afternoon.

Crewe have overcome Newcastle Town and Stafford Rangers in their two summer matches, while Stoke have beaten Chester and Cork City as part of their preparations for the 2024-25 campaign.

Match preview

Stoke finished 17th in the Championship last season, so they are preparing for another campaign in England's second tier, with the Potters absent from the Premier League since 2018.

Steven Schumacher's side actually ended their 2023-24 campaign with three straight wins, including a 4-0 success over Bristol City in their last match of the season.

The Potters have made an encouraging start to pre-season, meanwhile, beating Chester 3-0 in their summer opener on July 11 before recording a 5-0 victory over Cork City last time out.

Stoke have four more friendlies in the diary, tacking Crewe, Stockport County, Bolton Wanderers and AZ Alkmaar before opening their new Championship campaign at home to Coventry City on August 10.

Schumacher's side have made three signings so far this summer, with Eric-Junior Bocat, Viktor Johansson and Ben Gibson arriving to boost the squad for the 2024-25 season.

Crewe, meanwhile, were sixth in League Two last term, which saw them qualify for the playoffs, but they lost to Crawley Town in the final.

The Alex are therefore preparing for another campaign in England's fourth tier, but they will be confident of making another strong push for promotion in the new season.

Like Stoke, Crewe have already played two friendlies this summer, beating Newcastle Town 5-0 in their summer opener on July 13 before beating Stafford Rangers 4-1 last time out.

Lee Bell's side will take on Stoke and Blackpool in their final two pre-season fixtures before opening their League Two campaign away to Barrow on August 10.

Crewe have managed to make five signings so far this summer, with Omar Bogle and Kane Hemmings both arriving on free transfers to boost the team's attacking options for the new campaign.

Crewe Alexandra friendly form:

Stoke City friendly form:

Team News

Crewe head coach Bell will again be looking to use his full squad for this match, so it is entirely possible that different XIs could take to the field for each half of the contest.

New signings Bogle and Hemmings could both be in the starting XI on Tuesday, while fellow new arrivals Jack Lankester and Max Sanders should also feature.

The League Two outfit have managed to secure the loan signing of Aston Villa goalkeeper Filip Marschall, meanwhile, and the 21-year-old could get the nod between the sticks here.

As for Stoke, new signings Bocat, Johansson and Gibson should all be involved.

There were different XIs named for each half of the clash with Cork last time out, with 17-year-old Sol Sidibe among those to make an impression with a goal.

Sidibe could now come in for a start on Tuesday afternoon, while Niall Ennis and Bae Jun-ho may feature as the front two from the first whistle against Crewe.

Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:

Marschall; Williams, Demetriou, Knight-Lebel, Finney; Thomas, Lunt, Sanders; Lankester, Bogle, Hemmings

Stoke City possible starting lineup:

Johansson; Tchamadeu, Anderson, Wilmot, Stevens; Burger, Baker, Thompson, Sidibe; Ennis, Junho

We say: Crewe Alexandra 1-2 Stoke City

Both sides have been impressive during pre-season thus far, and we are expecting a close match on Tuesday in terms of the scoreline. Stoke, however, should be able to navigate their way to a win in their third friendly of the summer.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Record Women's Champions League winners Lyon Women will travel to Germany for Tuesday's quarter-final first leg against Bayern Munich Women. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea's priority in the summer is said to be the purchase of a new striker, while a new winger is also expected to join the club. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich have reportedly decided bid for Manchester United winger Antony, who is currently on loan at Spanish side Real Betis. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women will travel to the Spanish capital for Tuesday's Women's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid Femenino at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano. 16 March 2025 talksport.com "It's all for these fans. They deserve everything." 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly identified Wolfsburg defender Konstantinos Koulierakis as a replacement for Virgil van Dijk should he leave Anfield. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk In a match that could have ramifications for both the National League's chase for promotion and relegation battle, Gateshead are set to host Braintree Town at Gateshead International Stadium on Tuesday. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona fought back from two goals behind to record a stunning 4-2 victory over title rivals Atletico Madrid in Sunday night's La Liga contest at Wanda Metropolitano. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Micah Richards could not resist joining in with Newcastle hero Dan Burn's Carabao Cup final celebrations. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has admitted that "it's hard to know" the extent of Ayden Heaven's injury at this stage of proceedings, with the centre-back set to be assessed by the club's medical stuff next week. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Eddie Howe has told Sports Mole that some of his "iconic" Newcastle United players will go on to establish themselves as club "legends" after steering the Magpies to EFL Cup glory in Sunday's final against Liverpool. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Leicester's defeat to Manchester United sees them set an unwanted Premier League record as their season goes from bad to worse. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho both ended long goalscoring droughts in Manchester United's 3-0 victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Sunday night. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah suffered an unwanted personal first during the Reds' 2-1 loss to Newcastle United in the final of the 2024-25 EFL Cup at Wembley. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Mohamed Salah endured one of his most difficult afternoons in Liverpool colours during their heartbreaking Carabao Cup final defeat. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has told Sports Mole that he would rather get straight back into action next week as opposed to waiting for the international break to end following his side's gut-wrenching EFL Cup final loss to Newcastle United. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Eddie Howe's Newcastle United side wrote themselves into club history at Wembley on Sunday courtesy of a famous 2-1 triumph over Liverpool in the EFL Cup final. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United defender Ayden Heaven has suffered a potentially-serious injury during Sunday's Premier League clash with Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. 16 March 2025 talksport.com A bottom-half finish in the Premier League could be rewarded with a European berth. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Bruno Guimaraes was unable to control his emotions after helping Newcastle end their 70-year trophy drought. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle have won their first major domestic trophy since 1955 courtesy of a deserved 2-1 victory over a limp and lifeless Liverpool side at Wembley. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Newcastle have ended their 70-year wait for a domestic trophy with a stunning Carabao Cup final victory against Liverpool. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly put a €70m (£59m) offer on the table for Barcelona attacker Raphinha. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has been passed fit for Sunday's Premier League clash against Leicester City, while Mason Mount is on the bench for the 20-time English champions at the King Power Stadium. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Mikel Arteta has walked out of another post-match interview, but this time he was only joking. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Six clubs are reportedly in the running for Lille forward Jonathan David, with the Canada international set to become a free transfer at the end of June. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Mathys Tel urged Tottenham fans to remain behind the team in a heated conversation with angry fans after yet another defeat. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney hailed Wycombe Wanderers as a 'beautiful organisation' following their rapid response to a fan who was taken ill. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United attacker Antony has suggested that he wants to complete a permanent move to a team in Spain this summer amid suggestions that Real Betis and Real Sociedad could go head-to-head for his signature. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou has said that he understands the frustrations of the club's supporters following Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Something went wrong! Don't hesitate to let us know if you need any help.