Stoke City

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Ahead of Stoke City's upcoming away game vs Preston North End on Saturday, Steven Schumacher has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference to discuss his friendship with opposition manager Ryan Lowe, alongside the messages of support he's received.

Ryan Lowe: "We've played against each other a few times. We've been mates for years, coached with him for five, six years as well and I've managed against him once this year. He came out on top, hopefully he doesn't this weekend.

"We speak all the time, a couple of times a week at least, but this week you don't. We just don't pick the phone up to each other because it gets to a point where I can't say too much and he knows he won't say too much so I won't be speaking to him from now until after the game on Saturday and hopefully I'm going in his office in a better mood than the last time."

Advice from Alan Knill: "He's not the only person that reached out because they all know what I'm going through, they've been there, they've walked this path. I'm a young coach who is having his first little bit of a test, so they are trying to give a bit of advice on how to deal with it and what to try and do.

"With them experienced guys, you have to listen to them because they are trying to help and I really appreciate it because it's important that you don't lose sight of what you're trying to do in difficult times. It's easy to be really positive when you win all the time, but you've got to still convey that message when you're not winning."

Stoke City are set to make the trip to Preston North End on Saturday as they once again look to climb out of the relegation zone.

The Potters displayed an extremely promising performance against Leeds United in midweek despite not taking anything from the game, so will they be able to change their fortunes when they arrive at Deepdale?

Get involved by sending us your score predictions for the upcoming encounter and thoughts ahead of the match using the online form below.

Have your say here!

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Speaking to BBC Radio Stoke, Chief Operating Officer Simon King has opened up on the club's plans to introduce safe standing from the start of next season, alongside relocating the away fans which would see home supporters occupy both sides of the tunnel.

"There's a view that there's a real competitive edge for away teams when you've got 2,500 away supporters right by that tunnel. Not only was that no good for our own players but it was a big pick up for the away team as well, so that was something that we were keen to move.

"They have now moved into the corner and that allows us to have the entire Caldwell South Stand for our home supporters which our vision and our utopia position is a full house at the Bet365 Stadium, 30,000 fans and a cauldron atmosphere.

"The cherry on top of the cake is the licensed standing piece. We want that to be an area which is almost like the sing section of the stadium.

"We've really focused this as an atmosphere enhancing project. We completely understand that at the moment, we're not generating full houses, but those times will come again, and when they do, we'll be ready for them and we'll be able to create the best atmosphere possible."

On further developments behind the scenes, he added: "Hopefully the fans of the football club are seeing that we're making positive progress off the pitch. No getting away from it, we want to be doing better on the pitch and there's no-one more passionate than our chairman about that happening.

"We've got the fan zone coming, we hope to have that in place for the start of next season, there's lots of other projects that I could list. Another £10m, £12m is being spent on a first-team facility down the training ground so this club is not short of investment from John [Coates], and that's taken us in the direction that we all want to go in which is a really ambitious one."

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With Stoke City set to travel to Preston North End on Saturday, we take a closer look at the remarkable disciplinary record of one of their former players, Ben Pearson.

The Potters midfielder has a history of letting his emotions get the better of him in key moments which has resulted in him being awarded 20 yellow cards and two red cards during the 37 matches he's started since joining. (Soccerbase, external)

After receiving his most recent marching orders vs Leeds United, Steven Schumacher's player will miss this weekend's fixture against his old club due to a one-game suspension.

What are your opinions on Pearson? Leave your comments here.

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After reversing his decision to leave the club at the beginning of the season, Potters academy director, Gareth Owen, has been speaking to BBC Radio Stoke's Lucas Yeomans to deliver an update on the progress of the U21s.

"We are on a really good run with the amount of games that we've won. We're into the play-off places as it currently stands, and if we finish in the top 12 in the league, we can get into the European competition again, so we want to do that.

"It's not all about results, but if you can build up those experiences, play European teams, then that can only be a good thing for a player's development.

"It's a tough old game in the academy because you want to speed up time. That star player that you've got at U14s, you want to fast forward three or four years to get in the main team and knocking on the door of the first-team, but you can't do that so you have to build day in, day out, session in, session out."

On the U17s' achievement of recently reaching the Premier League Cup semi-final, he added: "That just shows the work that's gone on from recruitment and bringing the players to the football club but then behind closed doors with the coaching, sports science, with the medical departments and things like that, so I'm really excited by the players.

"Across every age group, you've got real standout players worth a fair wind and we never quite know what's going to happen in the future, but if we can keep adding those layers to keep learning, keep driving to be better, I fully believe we've got some professional football players for the future, both for Stoke City and elsewhere."

Stoke City have announced plans to introduce safe standing next season which would see home supporters located on both sides of the tunnel, while the travelling fans would be moved over to the south-east corner.

Following the news, you've been getting in touch to tell us how you feel about the proposal. Here are some of the responses that we have received:

Angela: It's crazy to have away fans being by the tunnel when they go out, everybody just wants that great atmosphere that we used to have in the Premier League and the way to do it is have Stoke fans behind both goals. I'm delighted.

Matt: Very happy, how can it not be good? We've always said it haven't we that as soon as you come out of the tunnel near the away end, all they hear and all they see is a load of away fans. It's the perfect end for the Stoke fans to sit.

Stephen: Safe standing and moving away fans from directly behind the goal, brilliant at long last.

Lee: Been a long time coming.

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On Tuesday evening, Stoke City suffered a 1-0 Championship defeat to Leeds United thanks to a first half effort from winger Daniel James.

Despite not picking up any points, Lynden Gooch told the club website that the squad can take great belief into their remaining matches following a promising display at Elland Road.

"Obviously disappointed. They are a really good side but I thought we fought really well and kept going until the very end. Second-half we were really, really good.

"Leeds are always going to have their chances. We defended really well, put bodies on the line. We did create some really good chances and at the end, Josh [Laurent] had a big chance as well, but there were other chances throughout the game where we felt we could have got a point.

"First half, they had the majority of the ball and it was difficult but we hung in there. The goal is a slight deflection so that's what's really disappointing, everything else I thought we were outstanding."

Asked how the positive change has come around, he added: "Just showing that fight and desire for the past two games, we took that in from Saturday's game and we can't get too down. We were really good against one of the best teams in the league so we've got to keep performing like that for the next ten games and hopefully we'll be okay."

Image source, BBC Sport

Stoke City are proposing to introduce safe standing next season and move the visiting supporters to another part of the ground.

New plans would see home fans positioned behind both goals and either side of the tunnel, with safe standing offered to home and away supporters.

Chief Operating Officer Simon King said: “Claiming the prime location of the South Stand from away fans, and having home supporters on both sides of the tunnel, has been craved by our supporters for a number of years. It’s exciting that we have now found a way to make it happen.

“We want to help fans create the maximum noise possible and feel that having Stoke supporters on their feet behind that goal can be a driver for that."

What do you think? Let us know here.

Stoke City will be buoyant following their 2-0 home win over Middlesbrough on Saturday but what team will head coach Steven Schumacher pick?

The Potters boss has had a tendency to chop and change his team in midweek but will he stick with a winning formula against the promotion chasers? BBC Radio Stoke commentator Sohail Sahi seems to think he will.

Who do you think Stoke City's best XI is? Comment here.

Image source, BBC Sport

Stoke City go to Leeds United hoping to cause a Championship upset. The Potters are fighting to get out of the bottom three while the Yorkshire side are closing in on a return to the Premier League.

Steven Schumacher said his Saturday night was far more enjoyable following their 2-0 win over Middlesbrough, but if his team can take something from their trip to Elland Road, the head coach might feel his team are turning a corner.

However Stoke will need to pull out all the stops as their away form isn't too clever. Just four wins on the road out of 17 league games is one reason they're battling to avoid the drop into League One.

Looking ahead to the clash at Leeds, Schumacher says his team can't panic if they go a goal down.

"It's key to a successful team, teams that can respond and come back and show good character and come from behind, are the ones that will end up at the top of the league.

"It's not easy in this league, you have to concentrate from the off and try not to concede the first goal. If you do, go back to the drawing board, get back to the plan."

You can listen to all the pre-match build-up on BBC Radio Stoke from 19:00 GMT Tuesday

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• Leeds United have won three of their last five league games against Stoke City, scoring 3+ goals in each win (L2); the Whites’ most recent meeting with the Potters at Elland Road coming in July 2020 under Marcelo Bielsa (5-0).

• Stoke City have won just one of their last 11 away league games against Leeds United (D4 L6), a 4-0 victory in October 2006 under Tony Pulis.

• Should Leeds beat Stoke, it will see them record two different runs of at least seven successive home league victories in the same Football League season for the first time.

• Stoke have lost each of their last three away league games; they last endured a longer such run in a single season in March 2021 (4 games).

• Patrick Bamford has scored in each of his last three home league games for Leeds (3 goals), while he last did so in four successive home league games in the Football League for Middlesbrough in March 2018.

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Stoke City striker Ryan Mmaee could soon be back in the first team fold after 'clear the air' talks with head coach Steven Schumacher.

The Moroccan forward hasn't featured for the Potters since a substitute appearance at Sunderland in January and was sent to train with the fitness coaches following poor discipline in training.

Ahead of Tuesday's trip to Leeds United, head coach Steven Schumacher revealed the 26-year-old, who is recovering from injury, could be welcomed back to the senior squad:

"We had good conversation, I explained the situation and he apologised for how he was behaving and we sort of cleared the air. It's over to him now.

"He's got to go and prove it with his training performances and the way he is and he wants to be part of it, he tells me that he does.

"He's a good player and we need good players in the squad."

Ahead of Tuesday's trip to Leeds United, Stoke City's head coach Steven Schumacher believes his team can take confidence from Saturday's 2-0 win over Middlesbrough.

Speaking to BBC Radio Stoke at Monday's press conference Schumacher explained there is plenty to be positive about, despite being in the relegation zone:

"The result was great, the way we played and the atmosphere in the stadium was excellent, but it was just three points and we can't get carried away with it. You've got to understand what you did well, there were a couple of moments that Middlesbrough had and we should've defended better, so we have to try and tighten up on those issues."

Schumacher said the message was: "Get on with the next game, it was good [against Middlesbrough] but we've obviously got 11 games to go and we have to be as good again."

The Potters head coach knows his Stoke side face a difficult task going to a Leeds United, a promotion chasing side that have won nine of their last 10 league games.

"Everyone did their job at the weekend and that's what it's going to take on Tuesday. We're going to Elland Road where Leeds have been so strong all season.

"The crowd play a huge part in the game and we need to make sure we manage it well and compete and try and be positive, because we've seen this week teams from the bottom half of the division going up against the big sides away from home and getting wins. So we have to try and have that mindset that nothing is impossible."

Listen to the pre-match build up here.

Are you optimistic Stoke can win at Leeds?

After Steve Schumacher's side beat Middlesbrough on Saturday the Potters next go to Leeds United on Tuesday night.

Does Schumacher keep a winning team or does the head coach make changes for their three game week?

Can Stoke City make it back to back league wins for the first time since October?

Lucas Yeomans returns with Praise and Grumble tonight on BBC Radio Stoke, 18:00 GMT Monday.

Call Lucas on 0800 121 8080 and listen to Praise and Grumble here.

As Stoke City prepare to host Middlesbrough, BBC Radio Stoke commentator Sohail Sahi has named the squad that he would most like to see start the game at the Bet365 Stadium.

The Potters will be without Enda Stevens, Luke McNally and Junior Tchamadeu due to injury, alongside Jordan Thompson who is suspended for two matches.

What would be your best eleven if you had the choice? Let us know here.

After the recent call to arms from Stoke City's interim technical director Jonathan Walters, Melvyn Downes has followed in the former striker's footsteps to deliver a message of his own to the club's fanbase ahead of Saturday's game vs Middlesbrough.

The Potters supporter and former star of SAS: Who Dares Wins told BBC Radio Stoke:

"We can boo, cheer or unleash our frustration. We can shatter their confidence, break their spirit and watch them crumble, but what victory lies in that? Or we can rise. We can be the relentless force that defies the odds. Every pass, every tackle, every shot. We cheer, we lift them up when they stumble and we roar when they soar. Our love for this team transcends wins and losses. It's about resilience, loyalty and pride.

"To those with no love in their hearts, I say this. Stay away, watch the EFL highlights, dissect every mistake and moan until your heart is content, but leave the Bet365 to those who bleed red and white. We are the ones who know that football isn't just about points, it's about passion. It's about standing shoulder to shoulder, singing our hearts out and believing when the odds are stacked against us. My fellow Potters, the moment is upon us.

"This Saturday, we reclaim our identity. We step into the arena, scarves held high, voices raised, we are the 12th man. The heartbeat, the lifeline. Our team needs us, not as critics but as warriors. We play our part and they play theirs. Together we can turn the rollercoaster right back on track."

• Stoke City are looking to complete a league double over Middlesbrough this weekend for the first time since the 1993-94 season.

• Michael Carrick's side have won two of their last 19 Championship visits to the Bet365 Stadium (D7, L10), winning 2-1 in 1998 and 2-0 in 2020.

• The Potters have won one of their previous 10 home games in the second tier (D4, L5), scoring a total of just three goals across these matches.

• Boro have kept just two clean sheets in their last 41 away league games – in the four away fixtures prior to this run, they didn’t concede a single goal.

• Only Rotherham United (2) have earned fewer points in the division so far in 2024 than Steven Schumacher's team (7).

With Stoke City preparing to face Middlesbrough on Saturday, we asked you to send in your score predictions and thoughts on how the game could turn out.

Here are some of the responses that we received:

Simon: Saturday will bring a new dawn. SJW has galvanised/shamed the supporters in equal measure and they WILL respond. This in turn will motivate the players to achieve a positive result, playing the attacking front foot football that has been promised. Goals will suddenly start to flow and Stoke will run out 3-0 winners.

Gary: Schumacher needs to pick a team that will run and compete for over 90 mins. A team that will tackle, compete and support their team members. I fear the present squad, mainly organised by Martin, are great individuals with skill but cannot perform in a tense Championship challenge and are not suited to this, lacking Stoke DNA. A draw tomorrow.

David: Always optimistic, but once again we will be the "nearly boys". 3-1 loss I'm afraid.

Mick: Stoke 2 Boro 0. Time has come to stand up and be counted.

Barbs: We will win, we must win. 1 nil would do it, wouldn't it?

Image source, Getty Images

Previewing Saturday's showdown vs Middlesbrough, BBC Radio Stoke's Lucas Yeomans has been speaking to a member of their Supporters' Forum, Caroline Walker, to discuss which visiting players are likely to pose the biggest threat at the Bet365 Stadium.

"Hopefully Emmanuel Latte Lath, the number nine, he will be fully back from injury. Hayden Hackney and Jonny Howson in midfield, you won't be seeing them unfortunately because they are both out long-term.

"Sam Silvera and Riley McGree, on their day, they can be great. Finn Azaz, he's shown that he really can perform. Although he was poor against Plymouth, we've seen flashes of what he can do.

"It just depends with Middlesbrough. It'll either all come together and it'll be a good performance, or we'll just roll over and Stoke will say thank you very much, we needed those three points."

When asked for her score prediction, she added: "Every time I say a prediction, I get it hopelessly wrong. I'm going to say 2-1 Boro."

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Speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk's Rob Butler in a new interview, Stoke City's former manager Alex Neil has publicly opened up on his spell at the club for the first time since his departure.

"Obviously the last few games was disappointing. Strangely before that, I think we kept five clean sheets on the bounce. We went out in one week and beat Middlesbrough, Leeds and Sunderland which at Championship level is excellent form. We drew with Coventry, we drew with Cardiff and then we lost four games."

Addressing why he feels he should have been given longer in the job, Neil added: "I just felt that with the January window coming up, we had a few positions that we needed to fix because we'd done so much in the summer.

"I genuinely feel if it went longer, we would have improved, we would have fixed those areas, but as we unfortunately know in football nowadays, time is a commodity that is sometimes not granted to us. That decision was made and we move on."