Preview: Stoke City vs. Sunderland - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts, meanwhile, will try to build upon a 2-2 draw against Middlesbrough, which required a stoppage-time equaliser from D'Margio Wright-Phillips.

Match preview

Stoke have started the new Championship season in an underwhelming fashion, collecting four points from as many matches.

Although early in the campaign, one win from their opening four league games leaves the Potters in 18th place ahead of Saturday's contest.

An opening day defeat to Millwall was followed by a 2-0 home win over Blackpool, but since that victory, Stoke have lost on penalties to Morecambe in the first-round of the EFL Cup, suffered a 3-1 defeat to Huddersfield Town and drawn 2-2 with Middlesbrough.

They would have at least taken confidence in the manner in which they took a point off Middlesbrough in midweek, with Wright-Phillips snatching an equaliser in stoppage time.

Despite winning only one game this season, Michael O'Neill's side will look to extend their unbeaten home league run to five games at the weekend.

Like their hosts, Sunderland have also won only one game this season, but after winning promotion from League One last season, they will be content with five points from their opening four league matches.

Four of those points came from the first two games, with the Black Cats winless in their last three matches in all competitions.

A 2-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in the EFL Cup was followed by a 2-2 draw against Queens Park Rangers, while they lost for the first time in the Championship this season on Wednesday.

Goals from Anel Ahmedhodzic and Max Lowe helped Sheffield United beat Alex Neil's side 2-1 despite Lynden Gooch pulling a goal back in the 55th minute.

Gooch's second half effort ensured Sunderland have found the net in all of their league games this season, and they will look to continue their goalscoring form when they face Stoke City on Saturday.

Stoke City Championship form:

Stoke City form (all competitions):

Sunderland Championship form:

Sunderland form (all competitions):

Team News

Stoke are without the services of Harry Clarke, Nick Powell and Harry Souttar, who are all sidelined due to injury issues.

Tariqe Fosu is expected to keep his place in the starting lineup after the Brentford loanee made his debut for the Potters on Tuesday.

After coming off the bench to score a late equaliser against Middlesbrough, Wright-Phillips could be rewarded with a starting place.

As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon Daniel Ballard, who is currently unavailable due to an ankle injury.

Dan Neil was sent off against Sheffield United, and as a result, the midfielder will miss Saturday's contest through suspension, with Jay Matete expected to replace the 20-year-old.

Alex Neil is set to continue with Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms as his forward pairing, while Alex Pritchard will operate just behind the front two.

Stoke City possible starting lineup:

Bursik; Wilmot, Jagielka, Taylor; Fosu, Baker, Clucas, Smallbone, Thompson; Brown, Wright-Phillips

Sunderland possible starting lineup:

Patterson; O'Nien, Batth, Cirkin; Gooch, Matete, Embleton, Clarke; Pritchard; Stewart, Simms

We say: Stoke City 1-1 Sunderland

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