Stoke vs Derby predictions: Points to be shared in the Potteries
- Stoke have won just one of their eight matches since appointing Narcis Pelach
- Derby are unbeaten in four matches, drawing each of their last three
- Recommended bet: Draw
Despite finishing five points behind Portsmouth in League One last term, Derby have made a much better start to life in the Championship, sitting 12th in the table and accumulating eight more points than basement boys Pompey after 12 games.
The Rams only seem to be improving, too, and they have a good chance to make it five games unbeaten when they travel to 20th-placed Stoke on Saturday, given the Potters are without a win in five.
Team news
Stoke will be without midfield trio Lynden Gooch, Bosun Lawal and Ben Pearson for this clash, as well as forward Sam Gallagher, with the quartet expected to return later in November.
Ryan Nyambe, Tawanda Chirewa, Tom Barkhuizen, Jake Rooney and David Ozoh will miss out for the visitors, who may name an unchanged side from the one which drew 1-1 with Hull last Saturday.
The stats
Stoke have won just one of their eight matches since appointing Narcis Pelach.
Derby are unbeaten in four matches, drawing each of their last three games.
The Potters last three fixtures have produced a total of 11 goals.
The Rams have lost just one of their last seven clashes with these opponents.
Stoke’s last two home matches have finished level.
Both teams to score has been a winning bet in each of the Potters’ last six home games.
Prediction
While Stoke held their own against Southampton in the week - they netted twice against their Premier League hosts before James Bree’s late winner sent them out of the League Cup - the bottom line is that it is now just one win in eight for new boss Narcis Pelach.
The Spaniard arrived with plenty of promise but the same deeper issues which have plagued the Potters since their top-flight relegation in 2018 are seemingly still there and it may take more than a managerial change for results to improve anytime soon.
Some may point towards Stoke’s 6-1 demolition of Portsmouth prior to their ongoing five-match winless run as a reason for why they can beat Derby on Saturday, but the Rams have impressed of late and will be tricky visitors to the Potteries.
Paul Warne’s men have won one and drawn three of their last four matches and the fact they have earned a point at Millwall and at home to Hull in that run suggests they should have enough to frustrate the home side.
The Potters have drawn their last two matches and are unlikely to get the better of a side they have beaten just once in the pair’s last seven meetings.
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