2024-25 Sky Bet Championship: Week 45 – Friday

Stoke City chase Championship survival in their final home game of the season against Sheffield United. 

Victory will lift Stoke up to 16th and guarantee their second-tier status for another season, whilst Sheffield Utd will finish third regardless of the result.

 

Team News

Stoke have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 6-0 defeat at Leeds on Easter Monday.

Eric Bocat, Enda Stevens (both calf) and Jordan Thompson (ankle) remain absent.

Sheffield Utd have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 2-1 loss at Burnley which settled the automatic promotion race.

Oliver Arblaster (ACL), Rhys Norrington-Davies (groin) and Jamie Shackleton (foot) remain ruled out.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Stoke host Sheffield Utd at BET365 Stadium on Friday 25 April at 8pm BST, live on Sky Sports in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Stoke have lost three of their last five meetings against Sheffield Utd (W2, L3).
• Sheffield Utd have won just one of their last nine visits to Stoke (W1, D5, L3).
• Three of Stoke’s last five draws at home to Sheffield Utd ended in 2-2 results.
• Million Manhoef has scored in two of Stoke’s last three home matches.
• Sheffield Utd have lost their last two away games by 2-1 results (L2).

 

Prediction

Knowing that they can secure survival with a win on their home turf surely has to motivate Stoke, especially after a humiliating loss at Leeds where they just never got going in a toothless display – particularly in the first half which was just pretty awful from a defensive standpoint.

Sheffield Utd meanwhile have won just one of their last five games and with automatic promotion now ruled out, they need to stop their slump and start building for the play-offs with a reactionary win here, otherwise you have to wonder where they’re mentally at the minute.

Nevertheless both teams need huge reactions to their Easter Monday displays but the BET365 Stadium hasn’t exactly been a happy hunting ground for the Blades, yet they should have enough to nick something here if they can get at Stoke’s vulnerable defence.

Prediction: Stoke 1-1 Sheffield Utd

Result: Stoke 0-2 Sheffield Utd