Stoke City have a game in hand on many of their Championship rivals and need to keep pace with the chasing pack for the play-off places when they take on Birmingham City at the bet365 Stadium this Saturday.
It’s getting towards that time of the Championship season when sides with dreams of EPL football next year need to begin a true ascent up the table. And Saturday’s match vs Birmingham City serves up exactly such an opportunity for Stoke City.
The Potters might be down in 13th place in the league, but, win tomorrow against 18th placed Birmingham, and win the game (or two) in hand they have on most teams currently above them in the Championship standings, and Michael O’Neill’s side could end up as high as 8th/9th, right on the precipice of the playoff places.