Stoke v Saints Saturday 31 Jan 12:30 Kick Off

[Saint Marky]

Never started one of these, but I’m hoping it will bring us luck. Not far off top six, or relegation either, come on Saints let’s get the 3 points here and get a decent run going.

[Football Special]

Tough game, heard their keeper is out so might give us a chance if we can get some shots on target 

Stoke have dropped away a bit having been promotion contenders a few weeks ago 

Edited Sunday at 20:08 by Football Special

[Pamplemousse]

23 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Tough game, heard their keeper is out so might give us a chance if we can get some shots on target 

Stoke have dropped away a bit having been promotion contenders a few weeks ago 

Well we all know the outcome then. We kick started Middlesbrough's good run after a sticky patch

[Harry_SFC]

Can't see anything other than a home win 

[saintant]

Tough game. Start Stewart up top and play more like we did against Sheff Utd. Leo could be out and he'll obviously be a big miss. Edozie hasn't featured so probably won't be considered. Robinson has some ok moments but needs to bulk up a bit as he gets knocked off the ball far too easily. Maybe play AA on the left if Leo isn't fit. I'd go with;

Peretz

Bree Stephens THB Wellington

Fellows Charles Downes Leo (or AA)

Azaz 

Stewart

 

Downes needs to maintain the fight he put in today and I'd try Charles in place of Jander just to add more height and physicality in the middle. Still think Jander is going to be a top player in the long term.

Edited Sunday at 21:57 by saintant

[die Mannyschaft]

Sheffield United and Pompey performances have been better. Its not at the level for top six but its 19th to 12th. I will go Stoke 1-1 Saints.

Until next season when we have defenders, midfield wingers and forwards playing as a unit plus with additional players in we will struggle to get wins. Pompey game classic example, improvement in areas but crucial thing like defending corners and winning second balls to me won't get fixed this season. 

[Verbal]

3 hours ago, Harry_SFC said:

Can't see anything other than a home win 

 

[Willo of Whiteley]

They’ve got a kid in goal at the moment so we should be absolute peppering their net with shots.

Unfortunately, basics seem to escape this manager and group of players.

1-1

[SNSUN]

It still feels crazy that as shit as we’ve been at times this season, inconsistent and defensively poor, we’re still only 7 points off the play-offs. We haven’t got it in us to in to do it IMO, but we have just got 4 points from playing 4 at the back (could have been 6 without the Skates handball goal) so there is a small chance but there are a lot of teams above us. If Scienza is out we’ll struggle. If we go to a back 3, we’ll struggle. But a point at Stoke would continue an unbeaten run which might give the lads some confidence.

[saintant]

1 hour ago, SNSUN said:

It still feels crazy that as shit as we’ve been at times this season, inconsistent and defensively poor, we’re still only 7 points off the play-offs. We haven’t got it in us to in to do it IMO, but we have just got 4 points from playing 4 at the back (could have been 6 without the Skates handball goal) so there is a small chance but there are a lot of teams above us. If Scienza is out we’ll struggle. If we go to a back 3, we’ll struggle. But a point at Stoke would continue an unbeaten run which might give the lads some confidence.

The problem is we have little or no momentum. We do not look like a side ready to go on a run of victories. Our football just isn't sharp enough and we continually give the ball away far too cheaply. Also we are not clinical enough with our big chances in games which was the case on Sunday and even in the win against Sheff Utd.

[Football Special]

Obviously loads of tickets still available for our section on open general sale, for anyone travelling up by car worth checking m3 / a34 closure,  could add a bit more time to an already early start 

[Saint Fan CaM]

Think we’ll struggle with this one even if Scienza is available - the top 6-8 teams seem to have too much for us unfortunately. 2-0.

[Andy Hill]

It is hard to predict a win - where will the goals come from ??

[St Louis]

11 minutes ago, Andy Hill said:

It is hard to predict a win - where will the goals come from ??

Only 5 teams have scored more than us this season! Its keeping them out at the other end that's been the bigger problem.

[coalman]

Armstrong will be out to prove us wrong and put himself in the shop window before it closes. I have a good feeling about this. 2-1 to Stoke with Armstrong scoring a penalty.

[coalman]

25 minutes ago, St Louis said:

Only 5 teams have scored more than us this season! Its keeping them out at the other end that's been the bigger problem.

Particularly away - we've conceded more goals away from home than any other team in the Championship.

[Osvaldorama]

If fit, it surely has to be:

 

Peretz

Bree THB Stephens Welington 

Downes Jander

Fellows Azaz Leo
Stewart 

 

With Charles and Matsuki coming in later if needed 

(He should have played this lineup vs Pompey too btw) 

 

[Jack]

9 hours ago, SNSUN said:

It still feels crazy that as shit as we’ve been at times this season, inconsistent and defensively poor, we’re still only 7 points off the play-offs. We haven’t got it in us to in to do it IMO, but we have just got 4 points from playing 4 at the back (could have been 6 without the Skates handball goal) so there is a small chance but there are a lot of teams above us. If Scienza is out we’ll struggle. If we go to a back 3, we’ll struggle. But a point at Stoke would continue an unbeaten run which might give the lads some confidence.

It’s a really really poor league this season, which makes it even more frustrating how bad we’ve been. Lots of very mediocre teams around the playoffs and even the runaway leaders are having a meltdown. To be 15th is nothing short of a disgrace 

[richardc]

we should have a poll for who wants a dicking to hopefully end this misery or who wants a win to prolong the agony of hope that we could stumble into the playoffs playing shit football and suddenly start playing like world beaters to get promoted 

[Micky]

Without Leo we'll struggle for inventiveness in our play, draw if he's fit, loss if not.  BTW anybody got any suggestions as to where to park at the Bet365 please?

[Badger]

1 hour ago, richardc said:

we should have a poll for who wants a dicking to hopefully end this misery or who wants a win to prolong the agony of hope that we could stumble into the playoffs playing shit football and suddenly start playing like world beaters to get promoted 

And then what ? Another EPL season of misery and humiliation? 
 

Damned if we do, damned if we don’t springs to mind 

[Badger]

Is this fixture playing for the ‘Gavin Bazunu Trophy’? Loser keeps the clown for the rest of the season. 

[SNSUN]

3 hours ago, Badger said:

And then what ? Another EPL season of misery and humiliation? 
 

Damned if we do, damned if we don’t springs to mind 

I know what SR would choose...

[Andy Hill]

Home win banker.

[S-Clarke]

I hate playing Stoke, always the same. Crappy, scrappy games we often lose. Home or away. One of those genuine teams we never seem to win against.

[Toadhall Saint]

Home win 

[VectisSaint]

Scienza fitness a doubt, as expected after he limped off on Sunday. Eckert says he might be OK, and they will do everything to have him on the pitch, scan showed no issues. Have heard that before. Doesn't sound overly promising.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

38 minutes ago, VectisSaint said:

Scienza fitness a doubt, as expected after he limped off on Sunday. Eckert says he might be OK, and they will do everything to have him on the pitch, scan showed no issues. Have heard that before. Doesn't sound overly promising.

Peretz

Bree THB Stephens Welington

Downes Jander

Fellows Azaz AA

Stewart

 

Charles, Matsuki, Quarshie, Robinson, Jelert, Leo, Archer among the subs. 

[coalman]

15 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Peretz

Bree THB Stephens Welington

Downes Jander

Fellows Azaz AA

Stewart

 

Charles, Matsuki, Quarshie, Robinson, Jelert, Leo, Archer among the subs. 

Having Armstrong coming from wide might suit him more. Though if Scienza is out then I'd love to see some kind of involvement from Edozie.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, coalman said:

Having Armstrong coming from wide might suit him more. Though if Scienza is out then I'd love to see some kind of involvement from Edozie.

Me too. But I thought Edozie was just being shown to remind other clubs he was still breathing, and available for loan/ sale. 

 

[hypochondriac]

1 hour ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Peretz

Bree THB Stephens Welington

Downes Jander

Fellows Azaz AA

Stewart

 

Charles, Matsuki, Quarshie, Robinson, Jelert, Leo, Archer among the subs. 

I'd be starting Charles. 

[SNOWY]

Will be delighted with a point.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

10 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I'd be starting Charles. 

He has to work hard to get into a first eleven doing so well. 🙂

[igsey]

0-0 bore draw. If I were feeling fancy I might chuck a fiver on Armstrong missing a penalty.

[coalman]

1 minute ago, igsey said:

0-0 bore draw. If I were feeling fancy I might chuck a fiver on Armstrong missing a penalty.

He's missed half of his last 8 so that's a good shout.

[Convict Colony]

On 25/01/2026 at 8:46 PM, Saint Marky said:

Never started one of these, but I’m hoping it will bring us luck. Not far off top six, or relegation either, come on Saints let’s get the 3 points here and get a decent run going.

If we dont win marky you are 100% to blame.

[Saint Marky]

8 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

If we dont win marky you are 100% to blame.

The shame will be unbearable 😱

[spyinthesky]

I guess it will be an early start for those leaving Southampton for the 12.30hrs KO, especially as the M3 is closed at the junction with the A34 all day.

[AlexLaw76]

I bet they have a few players out, I bet we will look mightily average, I Bet we wont win and we let in at least 1 goal

Edit - It is not even s sticky....even the mods care as little as the majority of the fan base

Edited 1 hour ago by AlexLaw76

[die Mannyschaft]

5 hours ago, igsey said:

0-0 bore draw. If I were feeling fancy I might chuck a fiver on Armstrong missing a penalty.

He may be gone by Friday. It will be 0- -1, we won't have anyone hitting the target. 

[Oh no Mick Mills]

On 27/01/2026 at 17:45, Micky said:

Without Leo we'll struggle for inventiveness in our play, draw if he's fit, loss if not.  BTW anybody got any suggestions as to where to park at the Bet365 please?

Check out the Stoke City FC website.

They have a list of available car parks for away fans.