Stoke City will continue their hunt for a top-half finish in the Championship when they host playoff-chasing West Bromwich Albion at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Potters played out a goalless draw with Birmingham City on Easter Monday, while Albion could not hold on for all three points against Queens Park Rangers.
Match preview
© Reuters
Stoke returned from St Andrews on Monday evening having played a game which had all the hallmarks of a dead rubber in terms of Championship promotion or relegation, with both teams combining for only three shots on target in the entire match.
Alex Neil's men have lost just once in their last seven matches but gave themselves too much to do to catch the top-six places despite such good form since the start of March - the Stoke hierarchy will already have one eye on next season.
The Potters will be hoping to produce a better performance than when they last played at their Staffordshire home, with goals from Anis Mehmeti and Zak Vyner giving Bristol City victory at Stoke on Good Friday.
Currently sitting 15th in the second-tier standings and just four points behind 12th-placed Watford, a first top-half finish for Stoke since their relegation from the Premier League in 2018 is on the cards.
Potters forward Dwight Gayle will face his former employers on Saturday afternoon - the 33-year-old lit up the Championship while donning the famous stripes of West Brom, scoring 23 goals in the 2018-19 season.
© Reuters
West Brom's playoff hopes took another depressing blow on Easter Monday as they squandered a two-goal lead at home to struggling QPR, with the feeling from supporters and players that a massive opportunity was missed.
Goals from Brandon Thomas-Asante and Semi Ajayi had Albion in a commanding position after just 13 minutes of the contest, but after going two goals ahead Carlos Corberan's side were passive and were deservedly punished, with efforts from Lyndon Dykes and Chris Martin completing a comeback for the visitors.
Due to playoff rivals such as Blackburn Rovers and Millwall also failing to win, West Brom are still in the top-six race, sitting 11th in the league standings and just five points from sixth with a game in hand.
Despite this, the feeling among Albion supporters is that their side will not be able to earn enough points to seriously contend for the playoffs in the remaining games, and that a third-straight season in the Championship is imminent.
The Baggies have been very productive at the Hawthorns yet simply not good enough on their travels under Corberan - Albion have not won an away Championship match since the middle of January.
Team News
© Reuters
Stoke will be unable to use their Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee against West Brom on Saturday, with goalkeeper Matija Sarkic sidelined until May owing to a muscle injury.
Attacker Nick Powell may be given a chance in the Potters XI in place of Gayle after they failed to score at St Andrew's on Monday, but Neil is expected to select a similar team.
West Brom manager Corberan will likely make a number of changes to his side after a limp display against QPR, with Jayson Molumby set to replace either Taylor Gardner-Hickman or Nathaniel Chalobah in the Albion engine room.
Okay Yokuslu has missed West Brom's last two matches due to an ankle injury but should be in the matchday squad for this one, although defender Dara O'Shea is out with a knee issue.
Grady Diangana and Matt Phillips are two attacking options who are set to miss the remainder of the campaign, meaning there could be more opportunities for out-of-favour forward Karlan Grant to feature more prominently.
Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Bonham; Hoever, Wilmot, Fox, Sterling; Pearson, Laurent, Campbell, Smallbone, Brown; Powell
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Palmer; Furlong, Ajayi, Pieters, Townsend; Molumby, Chalobah, Wallace, Rogic, Albrighton; Thomas-Asante
We say: Stoke City 1-1 West Bromwich Albion
Stoke's season has started to fizzle out after a good run of form in recent months, but the visit of a mentally-wounded West Brom side is a good opportunity to earn a victory in front of their home supporters.
Albion simply need to starting winning away from the Hawthorns in order to keep their playoff dreams alive, but we envisage another frustrating afternoon for the Baggies faithful on Saturday - one which will end their promotion challenge.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Carter White
