Two teams at opposite ends of the Championship table face each other this weekend, as Leicester host Stoke. The two sides last met in the 2021 FA Cup campaign, with the Foxes winning 4-0.
Leicester
Leicester must feel unstoppable at the moment and a return to the Premier League looks very much on the cards. The Foxes are in first place after ten matches, with an astounding nine wins and one defeat. They average 2.1 goals scored per game and only concede 0.6, which really highlights just how strong they are. The goalscoring responsibility comes from multiple sources, with five players scoring at least twice. However, their standout star has been Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, with eight goal contributions.
Last time out, Enzo Maresca’s side won 3-0 at home to third place Preston. The first half saw the hosts dominate the ball, but little action took place. On the hour mark, Dewsbury-Hall opened the scoring and the lead was doubled by Kelechi Iheanacho 16 minutes later. Preston didn’t cause Leicester any issues in the second half and Dewsbury-Hall secured his brace in the 90th minute.
Stoke
Unlike their opponents this weekend, the Potters have really struggled for consistency, which is why they are in 18th place, losing 60% of their matches. Stoke have been defeated in three of their last five matches and it is clear that finding the back of the net has been Alex Neil’s biggest problem, with a goal scoring record of 1.1 per game. They’ve also failed to score in half of their games this season and in three of their five away games.
Stoke suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Southampton this week, in a game that neither side really deserved to win. Stuart Armstrong produced a moment of magic from a free kick just before half time, which eventually won the game for the visitors. The Potters had plenty of shots and corners, but they were unable to create any clear cut chances.
Verdict?
The Foxes are the favourites to win the tie and I expect them to continue their victorious streak this weekend. Stoke don’t excel at either end of the field and it would take a poor Leicester performance for them to get anything out of the game.
The final prediction is Leicester 2-0 Stoke.
