Stoke City vs Southampton: Match Preview and Analysis
Southampton visits Stoke City in a highly anticipated Championship match this Saturday. This encounter holds significance for both teams as they battle for playoff positioning.
Match Details
Fixture: Stoke City vs Southampton
Date: Saturday, January 31
Time: 12:30 PM GMT
Venue: bet365 Stadium
Match Officials
- Referee: Farai Hallam
- Assistants: Andrew Fox, Richard Woodward
- Fourth Official: Leigh Doughty
Team Kits
Stoke City will don their traditional red and white striped kits. In contrast, Southampton will wear their yellow and blue stripes for the match.
Tickets
A limited number of tickets remain from the initial allocation of 3,009 for fans wishing to attend.
Live Coverage
The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football, with coverage beginning at 11 AM GMT. Fans in unsold territories can purchase a Saints Play pass for live match coverage.
What’s at Stake?
Southampton aims to build on their recent momentum after a victory over Sheffield United. This triumph ended a disappointing stretch of seven league games without a win. Stoke, who were previously league leaders, are currently struggling, having not won in their last three matches.
Team News
Stoke City
Stoke City faced a challenging situation last weekend, missing 12 players against Birmingham. However, they may welcome back Bosun Lawal following a suspension, along with fit returns for Ben Gibson and Ben Wilmot. New signing Milan Smit could also debut, but goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu remains injured and ineligible.
Southampton
Southampton’s Leo Scienza is working hard to recover from injury. Tonda Eckert, the head coach, remains hopeful about Scienza’s fitness for the match. Mads Roerslev is expected to feature in the Under-21s as he progresses in his recovery.
Manager Insights
Mark Robins (Stoke City)
Coach Robins acknowledges the team’s injury struggles but remains optimistic about their ability to compete. He hopes to avoid further injuries while managing the current squad’s physical demands.
Tonda Eckert (Southampton)
Eckert describes Stoke as a pragmatic side, praising their positive approach despite injuries. He emphasizes the need for Southampton to control the game and take advantage of transition moments.
Players to Watch
- Sorba Thomas (Stoke): The Welsh international is Stoke’s leading performer with 16 goal contributions this season.
- Leo Scienza (Southampton): After scoring in consecutive games, he brings confidence into the match against Stoke.
Top Scorers
| Team | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Stoke City | Thomas (9), Mubama, Manhoef (5), Baker (4) | Thomas (7), Bae, Cresswell (3) |
| Southampton | Armstrong (11), Azaz (7), Scienza (5) | Armstrong, Azaz, Scienza, Fellows (4) |
Recent Form
Stoke City
- Birmingham (A): Draw 1-1
- Middlesbrough (H): Loss 1-2
- QPR (H): Draw 0-0
- Coventry (H): Win 1-0
- Norwich (A): Win 2-0
Southampton
- Portsmouth (A): Draw 1-1
- Sheffield United (H): Win 1-0
- Hull (H): Loss 1-2
- Doncaster (A): Win 3-2
- Middlesbrough (A): Loss 0-4
Head-to-Head Record
In their 83 meetings, Stoke has won 32 times, Southampton has secured 36 victories, and there have been 15 draws.
Latest Encounters
- Aug 2025: Southampton 1-2 Stoke (Championship)
- Oct 2024: Southampton 3-2 Stoke (Carabao Cup)
- Apr 2024: Southampton 0-1 Stoke (Championship)
- Oct 2023: Stoke 0-1 Southampton (Championship)
- Mar 2018: Southampton 0-0 Stoke (Premier League)
For the latest updates, download the official Saints app or follow Southampton FC on social media platforms for live match notifications and exclusive content.
