Stoke City vs Bristol City Prediction: Stoke's chances of securing a top-six finish appear slim at this point

On Friday afternoon, Stoke City will seek to maintain their remarkable performance when they welcome Bristol City to the bet365 Stadium for a Championship match. The Potters achieved a noteworthy victory on their away game against Coventry City last weekend whereas Bristol City played to a draw with Reading at Ashton Gate.

Stoke City’s Form

Stoke is entering the Good Friday match as one of the most in-form teams in the division. Their unbeaten run has extended to five matches with a 4-0 victory at Coventry on Saturday, where Ki-jana Hoever and William Smallbone contributed to the scoreline. Some of the players in the team gained recognition in the Championship towards the end of the campaign. Although it seems unlikely that they will reach the playoffs, as they are currently in 13th place in the league standings, trailing Blackburn Rovers by 10 points. Nonetheless, there is a positive outlook for the future of the Staffordshire club. Stoke has struggled at home this season, winning only six of their 19 Championship home matches, with only Wigan Athletic and Blackpool faring worse. However, the team's performance at home has improved since their FA Cup loss to Brighton & Hove Albion in February, securing four points from matches against Blackburn and Norwich City at the bet365 Stadium.

Stoke City’s possible starting lineup

Powell, Brown, Smallbone, Campbell, Pearson, Laurent, Sterling, Jagielka, Wilmot, Hoever and Bonham

Bristol City’s Form

Bristol City and their hosts find themselves in a similar position where they are highly likely to play second-tier football next season. However, despite this relative comfort, Bristol City has struggled to win matches recently. With just one victory in their last six Championship matches, any hopes of a playoff spot have vanished, and the club is set to play at this level for the tenth consecutive season next term. In their previous match, Bristol City drew against Reading, with Lucas Joao's 72nd-minute goal cancelling out Tommy Conway's first-half strike. This draw has left Bristol City in 14th place in the Championship standings before their next game. They know that a win in their upcoming match against Stoke City will see them overtake their opponents. Bristol City's last away victory was in February against Preston North End, where goals from Mark Sykes and Sam Bell helped extend their unbeaten run to eight matches at the time.

Bristol City’s predicted lineup

Wells, Mehmeti, Cornick, Weimann, King, James, Dasilva, Pring, Vyner, Tanner and O'Leary

Stoke City vs Bristol City Expert Tips

Stoke's chances of securing a top-six finish appear slim at this point, but they have been entertaining to watch in their recent matches. Neil's team is likely to feel self-assured as they attempt to extend their unbeaten streak on Friday. Meanwhile, the Robins have been inconsistent lately and will face a challenging task on Good Friday in Staffordshire, which we predict will result in a loss for them. There's a possibility that the match could see less than 2.5 goals scored.