Stoke City play host to Sunderland on Saturday afternoon with Alex Neil desperately requiring all three points against his former club.
The Potters occupy 21st position in the Championship standings at a time when the visitors to the bet365 Stadium are in fourth place.
Match preview
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When Stoke went down 2-0 at Leicester City before the international break, many supporters would have expected Neil to be removed from his position in the dugout.
As well as seven defeats being recorded in 11 games in the second tier during 2023-24, the Scot has lost 27 of his 57 matches in charge of a team that he was expected to turn into promotion candidates.
There can be no denying that Neil has reached a point in his reign where only wins will do, with Stoke only outside of the relegation zone courtesy of the poor second-tier outfits below them.
The Potters are able to move as high as 17th spot if they can record a much-needed maximum return on Saturday, yet defeat may see them drop into the bottom three ahead of matches with Middlesbrough and Leeds United.
Neil has witnessed his team fail to score in five of their eight league matches since August 26, while they also lost 2-0 at Bournemouth in the EFL Cup during that period.
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Sunderland renew acquaintances with their former manager on the back of suffering a demoralising 4-0 defeat at home to North East rivals Middlesbrough last time out.
However, a first-half dismissal did not help matters, and Tony Mowbray will be keen to drum that into his squad after their previous impressive form.
In total, the Black Cats have recorded five wins from their last seven outings, while they have also posted three successive victories in away matches.
Mowbray's side netted three times in each of those contests, with Sunderland overcoming Queens Park Rangers, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday respectively.
Team News
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Neil took the unusual step of playing for 88 minutes against Leicester without making any substitutions, his Stoke XI having been competitive until the 79th minute.
With it unclear whether any of Stoke's mass injury absentees will return, a similar side could be named, albeit with Sead Haksabanovic and Dwight Gayle both pushing for starts in the final third.
Sunderland will be forced into at least one change with Dan Neil serving a suspension for his dismissal against Middlesbrough.
Defender Dan Ballard may also miss out with a thigh issue, but Mowbray hopes to be able to welcome back the likes of Pierre Ekwah, Alex Pritchard and Bradley Dack.
Jenson Selt is on standby to make an appearance in the middle of the backline, while Ekwah could take the spot of Neil in midfield.
Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Travers; Tchamadeu, McNally, Laurent, Thompson; Leris, Pearson, Burger, Johnson; Haksabanovic, Gayle
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Hume, O'Nien, Selt, Huggins; Roberts, Bellingham, Ekwah, Clarke; Ba; Burstow
We say: Stoke City 1-3 Sunderland
There may come a time when everything begins to click for Stoke, with or without Neil in the dugout. However, we do not feel that it will be in this encounter, as the Black Cats have the confidence to run out convincing victors against the Potters.
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