After coming close to promotion last season, Hull City are now going through a crisis and sit close to the bottom of the table. Can they get their first win of the season on a cold, rainy night in Stoke?
A new era begins at Stoke as Narcis Pelach will have his debut as the new manager of the team. The Potters had a mediocre start to the season, securing two wins in the first five rounds in the Championship.
It is worth noting that Stoke reached the 1/8 finals of the EFL Cup after defeating Fleetwood on penalties on Tuesday. But since the rules of the Carabao Cup exclude extra-time until the semi-finals, there will be no extra fatigue for Stoke's squad.
On the other end, Hull have been trying to find the right formula under new manager Tim Walter but as it stands, he might be getting closer to the sack instead.
The Tigers finished 7th in the Championship last season and decided to replace Liam Rosenior. So far, the team failed to win any of its six fixtures. They sit 22nd in the league with three draws, two defeats, and a 2:6 goal difference. They exited the EFL Cup in the previous round too.
How the bookies view it: Everything is against the Tigers
Bookmakers give Hull zero chance in this game, with the away odds sitting at 13/5 at Betano. Stoke have been priced at 21/20 while the draw sits at 12/5.
Recent head to head: Stoke almost unbreakable
Stoke and Hull have had a curious rivalry in recent years which saw the visiting team win four of the last five games. But it is worth noting that Stoke won 3/5 and Hull only won once last season. Based on recent performances, it seems like this tendency is about to be broken.
Players to watch: The Flying Dutchman
Stoke's new manager will have to issue some rotations as four players have been listed as either missing or doubtful. These include Lawal, Gooch, Pearson, and Gallagher.
The Tigers have similar problems, with Longman, Lo-Tutala, Cartwright, and Sinik out for the match on Friday.
Watch out for Jordan Thompson, whose aggressiveness often leads to bookings. He already received three yellow cards for his antics in six fixtures. If he makes a couple of early fouls, he would be a solid live pick.
Other than that, Million Manhoef has been Stoke's most effective player. The Dutchman has three goals and two assists since the start of the season.
Probable line-ups
Stoke City: Johansson, Tchamadeu, Wilmot, Gibson, Bocat, Sidibe, Burger, Manhoef, Bae, Tezgel, Cannon
Hull City: Pandur, Coyle, Burns, McLoughlin, Giles, Jones, Omur, Belloumi, Kamara, Mehlem, Bedia
Anything else catch the eye?
Stoke City will not get a better chance to win three points at home in a while and the arrival of the new manager should boost their confidence ahead of this match.
The Potters won five of their last seven H2Hs against Hull and those were in times when the Tigers were contesting the playoff spots. Stoke are the favourites but there is considerable value in the odds.
And with Hull failing to score in three league games in a row, it is hard to back them with a BTTS bet either. They also found only four shots during their 0-2 loss to Sheffield in the previous round.
This England Championship match between Stoke City and Hull City will be played on Sep 20, 2024 and kick off at 20:00. Check below for our tipsters best Stoke City vs Hull City prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
