Stoke City will be looking to continue their positive start to the new season when they welcome West Bromwich Albion to the bet365 Stadium on Tuesday in the first round of the EFL Cup.
The Potters were one of the big winners on the opening weekend of the Championship term, whereas West Brom were unable to pick up any points during their trip to Blackburn Rovers.
Match preview
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Stoke took five minutes to take the lead against Rotherham United on Saturday afternoon courtesy of a sweet volley from Ki-Jana Hoever, and things only got better at the bet365 Stadium versus the Millers.
New signing Andre Vidigal bagged a brilliant brace to mark his first competitive start following a move from Portuguese outfit Maritimo, before Jacob Brown netted in the 90th minute to score the Potters' fourth of a comfortable afternoon.
Alex Neil is looking to build a side capable of breaking into the second tier's top six this term, with 11 new faces coming through the door in Staffordshire after the end of the 2022-23 season.
As well as exciting youngsters such as Chiquinho and Luke McNally, Stoke have moved decisively in the market to capture players with plenty of second-tier experience, including the likes of Daniel Johnson and Enda Stevens.
The Potters have fared pretty well in the EFL Cup over the past few years, but last year's edition of the competition saw Neil's men bow out at the first round for the first time in 15 years, thanks to a penalty-shootout defeat at Morecambe.
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West Brom were unable to get their third straight Championship term off to a positive start on Saturday afternoon, suffering a 2-1 defeat at Ewood Park against Jon Dahl Tomasson's Blackburn.
A Baggies XI which could not boast any summer signings experienced two minutes of madness in Lancashire which took the contest away from them, with Dilan Markanday and Harry Leonard getting on the scoresheet in quick succession for the hosts, before Matt Phillips reduced the deficit in the second half.
Carlos Corberan is set for his first full season in charge at the Hawthorns, and despite a shoestring budget due to ongoing financial issues, Albion will be expected to be challenging for promotion to the Premier League once again this term.
The Baggies managed to do the double over Stoke in the 2022-23 season, with a Jayson Molumby brace securing all three points at the bet365 Stadium back in April to end a lengthy winless run on the road.
Recent results in the EFL Cup for West Brom suggest they will advance in Staffordshire on Tuesday night, but the visitors have not lifted the trophy since the days of club legend Jeff Astle in 1966, when Albion won the cup at their first attempt.
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Team News
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Stoke have a host of new signings who could make their full debuts for the club on Tuesday night, with McNally, Chiquinho and former Aston Villa man Wesley expected to be handed starts.
Centre-back Ben Wilmot bagged two assists in the demolition of Rotherham on the weekend, but the 23-year-old is likely to be rested ahead of Saturday's second-tier trip to newly-promoted Ipswich Town.
Souleymane Sidibe made his Potters debut on the weekend, and the 16-year-old could be given the opportunity to impress boss Neil in the early stages of the EFL Cup this season.
West Brom are expected to make a raft of changes from the side who lost at Blackburn, and the likes of Molumby, Erik Pieters and John Swift set to use Tuesday's contest in Staffordshire as an audition for a place in the Baggies' second-tier XI.
Jeremy Sarmiento is one of two new signings at the Hawthorns and the Ecuadorian international could make his full debut for the Albion at the bet365 Stadium, although Corberan may opt to save the 21-year-old for more important fixtures.
Joshua Griffiths was staring at the possibility of being West Brom's first-choice goalkeeper after news broke of Luton Town's interest in Alex Palmer, but with the 26-year-old now set to remain in the Black Country, youngster Griffiths is likely to be limited to appearances in the EFL Cup for the remainder of 2023.
Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Boham; Hoever, McNally, Rose, Tymon; Thompson, Sidibe, Brown, Lowe, Chiquinho; Wesley
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Griffiths; Furlong, Bartley, Pieters, Townsend; Molumby, Mowatt; Sarmiento, Swift, Malcolm; Thomas-Asante
We say: Stoke City 3-1 West Bromwich Albion
Stoke found their scoring boots against Rotherham on Saturday, and the Potters should be confident of making the net ripple against an Albion side who have struggled defensively since returning from their summer break.
The Baggies have been poor away from home in 2023, and we do not expect a much-changed West Brom XI to progress into the second round of the EFL Cup at the bet365 Stadium on Tuesday night.
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Top tip
Carter White
