Stoke City

Image source, BBC Sport

Stoke City will look to extend their undefeated run to five games when they take on Sheffield United on Saturday. Narcís Pèlach's side have picked up six points from a possible 12.

• Sheffield United have won six of their last 10 home league games against Stoke City (D2 L2), winning each of the last two.

• The home team has won each of the last four league meetings between Sheffield United and Stoke City.

• Sheffield United have won their last four home league games without conceding and could win five a row at Bramhall Lane while also keeping a clean sheet in each victory for the first time since March 2019 (7).

• Stoke City have failed to score in their last three away league games (D1 L2), last going goalless in four successive away matches in the same season in April 2017 in the Premier League.

• Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder is unbeaten in six previous league meetings with Stoke City (W2 D4) with AFC Wimbledon (12) the only team he has faced more often in league matches without losing as a manager.

Stoke City let a two goal lead slip at home to Bristol City on Tuesday night to draw 2-2.

In the latest episode of BBC Radio Stoke's 'A Cold Wet Tuesday Night' podcast, Lucas Yeomans and George Weaver (aka Potterlytics) discuss what went wrong and the heroics of Viktor Johansson in the Potters goal.

"I think we got away with it with the help of Viktor Johansson, he made some world class saves."

Listen to the full episode here.

Image source, Rex Features

Stoke City's Andrew Moran says the Potters cannot afford to give away any more leads as they bid to adjust to life under new boss Narcis Pelach.

The Potters have twice dropped points from leading positions in Pelach's first six games in charge, which largely accounts for the fact they have picked up just six points out of a possible 18 during his tenure.

On-loan Brighton midfielder Moran was missing when Stoke threw away a half-time lead to lose 3-1 at home to Hull in Pelach's first game in charge on 20 September.

But he scored the second goal to put Stoke 2-0 up against Bristol City on Tuesday night, only to then see the visitors net twice in two minutes early in the second half to nick a 2-2 draw.

"It was a good start - and it was great to score again but, in the second half, we started the other way, so we really need to work on that," Moran said.

"The manager was getting us fired up and warning us that the game was not over, but we were just a bit sloppy and let them get on the front foot - and it feels like a loss, having put ourselves in such a great position."

The Potters dropped a place to 17th in the Championship as a result of letting that lead slip - but they have a quick chance to make amends when they head to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United on Saturday.

"I can't see why not," Moran said. "If we put in a good performance.

"It's Saturday/Tuesday/Saturday/Tuesday every week now until the next international break. But that's what we want. He [Pelach] has got us really organised. He's really detailed in his preparations. And we'd rather be playing matches."

Stoke City return from the international break looking to pick up where they left off.

The Potters are undefeated in their last two matches and face promotion chasing Norwich City at the Bet365 Stadium on Saturday.

Stoke have won four of their last six at home in the Championship and will be looking for their first win over the Canaries since 2018.

Head coach Narcís Pèlach told BBC Radio Stoke how he's trying to build consistency and momentum.

Michael Rose has started the last two Championship matches for Stoke City, two games which the Potters have not lost.

On Saturday they take on Norwich City at the Bet365 Stadium after spending a fortnight on the training ground.

The 29-year-old defender says it's been two weeks well spent getting to understand what head coach Narcís Pèlach wants.

Rose told BBC Radio Stoke how he has benefited from the international break and working more closely with Pèlach.

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke City defender Michael Rose says the players know where they stand with new head coach Narcís Pèlach.

The international break has given the Catalan valuable time on the training ground as he continues to stamp his own style of play on the team.

Having sat out the first five games of the season through injury, the 29-year-old has started the last two Championship matches and says the message from Pèlach is clear.

"He's been really drilling in his methods of how he wants us to play," he told BBC Radio Stoke. "It's been a good week for us without a game to really focus on how he wants us to go about things.

"For me it's been really good because when I came back I was kind of chucked in and getting used to the way he wants to play, but I feel like I now understand."

The Potters now face Pèlach's former club Norwich City on the back of the 6-1 win over Portsmouth and the 0-0 draw at Swansea - and two improved performances.

"They've been good," said Rose. "It's showing the boss we can play the way he wants to play. He's got confidence from it too. He's seeing us do what he wants us to do.

"He'll know what Norwich are all about. If we stick to the principles of what he wants us to do then hopefully over the period of the season it's successful.

"He's one of those that, if you don't do it, you're not going to play. He's very black and white. And, as a footballer, that's good because you know where you stand."

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke City head coach Narcís Pèlach will be hoping his Stoke City players come back from international duty unscathed this week.

Winger Million Manhoef is in the Netherlands Under-21 squad to face Sweden on Monday (17:45 BST).

Teenagers Sol Sidibe and Jaden Dixon are with England's U18s for Monday's home match with Ukraine (15:00 BST).

Potters number one Viktor Johannson could win his fifth Sweden cap against Estonia in the UEFA Nations League on Monday (19:45 BST).

Young goalkeeper Tommy Simkin, who is on loan at Walsall, will be joined by Tottenham Hotspur loanee Ashley Phillips in the England U20s squad for the meeting against the Czech Republic in Doncaster (19:00 BST).

Liverpool teenager Lewis Koumas will hope to feature when Craig Bellamy’s Wales host Montenegro on Monday (19:45 BST).

Other first-teamers representing their countries are Bae Junho with South Korea at home to Iraq (Tuesday 12:00 BST).

On-loan Brighton midfielder Andrew Moran is with the Republic of Ireland for their away trip to Italy and Jordan Thompson will help Northern Ireland take on Bulgaria (19:30 BST).

Stoke City are two unbeaten under head coach Narcis Pelach.

Following the 6-1 win over Portsmouth the Potters picked up a point at Swansea City.

In the latest episode of BBC Radio Stoke's 'A Cold Wet Tuesday Night' podcast, Lucas Yeomans and George Weaver (aka Potterlytics) discuss the result and what next for Stoke.

"It's a squad that should be pushing higher than 16th but it's a squad that has had three different playing styles in 10 months."

Listen to the full episode here.

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke City defender Ben Wilmot feels the club is heading in the right direction under head coach Narcís Pèlach.

The Catalonian has lost two, won one and drawn one of his first four games in charge.

Wilmot who has now played under four managers or head coaches since joining Stoke from Watford three years ago so consistency will be the key to success.

"Whoever is the most consistent tends to be the teams at the top of the table at the end of the year. It’s one thing certainly while I’ve been here, that we’ve really lacked.

"It’s win, loss sort of that up and down throughout a season, which isn’t good enough and someone like me who’s been here a while now can see the positive changes that have happened here,” Wilmot said.

The 23-year-old also praised Pèlach's approach since his appointment in September.

"It's completely different and we've had a lot of information with a load of games in a short space of time. So it's going to take a while to get used to it, we're almost having to learn on the job. We haven't had a free week in a long time, so it's been tough but the international break will be good for us to get used to what he wants us to do.

"We are in that good frame of mind where we have some good momentum at the minute. However we have a good block of days where we can train and the head coach can get more information into us."

Stoke City head to Swansea City on Saturday and head coach Narcís Pèlach will be looking for back to back wins.

Following the Potters 6-1 win over Portsmouth on Wednesday night, the Catalan coach is challenging his players to keep improving.

"We need to be on the front foot and organised. The Championship is perform, perform, perform and you need to do it every three days.

"It's not about how you play on Saturday it's how you will play on a Tuesday as well. If you are a six on Saturday and a two on Tuesday, for me Saturday is nothing. We have to try to be consistent."

After winning his first game as Stoke boss, he told BBC Radio Stoke what the win meant to him.