Stoke City were handed a second defeat in three matches in the Championship on Good Friday when they lost 1-0 away at play-off candidates Middlesbrough, and although they return to their stadium on Easter Monday, they’ll be up against the Championship league leaders, Norwich City.
Stoke City head into this encounter having failed to win their last three matches which also include a 3-1 loss away at Swansea City as well as a disappointing 2-2 draw at home with relegation candidates, Rotherham United, and with just one win from their last eight matches overall in the Championship, the hosts could have their work cut out here.
It’s been a frustrating and ultimately disappointing season for Stoke who were amongst the pre-season favourites for promotion, but The Potters now find themselves languishing in a lowly 16th place having failed to provide a cutting edge in this campaign as they’ve drawn a remarkable 19 matches of their 43 played to date.
Stoke’s home form has picked up though in recent times as The Potters are unbeaten in their last five matches, as Nathan Jones’s side start preparing for next season’s campaign and they’ll be keen to benchmark their progress against Norwich in this clash.
Norwich City continue to hover on the threshold of automatic promotion but the visitors were held to a third consecutive stalemate in the Championship on Good Friday when they could only muster a 2-2 draw at home against an improving Sheffield Wednesday outfit.
Norwich City hold a five point cushion over both of the Yorkshire clubs below them, Sheffield United and Leeds United, but previous draws with lowly Reading 2-2 and Wigan Athletic 1-1 means The Canaries still need one more win to seal their promotion.
Nevertheless, Norwich have now extended their unbeaten run in the Championship to an impressive 11 matches overall, and they’ve suffered just two defeats away from home all season.
The Canaries have now lost just once out of their last 19 matches on the road, but perhaps the most telling statistic that could determine the outcome of this match is that the visitors have hit the back of the net in 20 of their 21 away matches to date this term.
To sum up, Stoke City are going nowhere at the moment while Norwich City know that a win at the bet365 Stadium would seal automatic promotion back up to the Premier League - both teams could notch, but Norwich to outscore their opponents here.