Stoke will seek to get back to winning ways as they welcome Southampton to the Bet365 Stadium on Saturday (12:30 GMT).
The Potters are winless in three games and four without a league victory at home to sit 10th, albeit only two points outside the top-six going into the weekend.
A Friday night win for Bristol City would however mean a play-off spot is beyond Mark Robins’ men, even with a win.
Saints are five points back in 15th and will be seeking to end a six-game winless streak on the road during which they have earned just two points.
Stoke have won their past two league games against Southampton (1-0 in April 2024 and 2-1 in August 2025), and could win three in a row against the Saints for the first time ever.
Southampton could lose home and away against Stoke in a league campaign for the first time since the 1967/68 campaign, in the English top-flight.
Stoke are winless in their past four Championship home games (D2 L2), and last went five in a row without a home victory on Boxing Day 2024 (5 – D3 L2).
Southampton won their first two away league matches under Tonda Eckert (v QPR and Charlton), but have since failed to win any of their past six on the road (D2 L4).
Sorba Thomas has been directly involved in 44% of Stoke’s goals in the Championship this season (15/34 – 9 goals, 6 assists); the highest percentage by a player for any team in 2025/26.