Stoke City

Bristol City are looking to get their play-off bid back on track when they welcome Stoke City on Wednesday night (19:45).

The Robins have won just one of their past five games (D2 L2), including a 1-0 defeat at home to Swansea on Sunday but are still only three points off the top six.

The Potters were knocked out of the FA Cup by Cardiff on penalties at the weekend but ended a five-game winless streak with victory at Hull City last time out in the league for their first win under Mark Robins.

• Bristol City have failed to win any of their past three league games against Stoke City (D1 L2), the club's longest winless run against the Potters since a seven-match stint between April 1995 and April 2002.

• Stoke City have won each of their past two away league games against Bristol City and will be looking to win three in succession at Ashton Gate for the first time.

• Bristol City forward Nahki Wells has scored four goals in his past four Championship starts against Stoke, scoring twice in the 2-2 draw in this season's reverse fixture.

• Stoke City ended a seven-game winless away league run (D3 L4) with a 2-1 victory at Hull last time out. The Potters haven't won consecutive away games since March 2024.

• Stoke manager Mark Robins has already picked up a point at Ashton Gate this season with Coventry in August – he has only won two of his nine visits there in the EFL (D3 L4), winning with Huddersfield Town in 2012-13 and Coventry in 2021-22.

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke have signed teenage forward Favour Fawunmi, who recently left West Ham.

The 18-year-old has penned a deal until 2027 and will initially link up with the Potters' under-21s, subject to FA and EFL approval.

Fawunmi scored twice while on trial with Dave Hibbert's side in a 4-2 victory against Huddersfield on Tuesday.

He made 44 appearances for the Hammers' under-18s over the past two seasons, scoring 17 goals.

Stoke City welcome Cardiff City for an all-Championship FA Cup fourth round tie on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Potters were runners-up in the 2011 final and made it to the quarter-final the following year but haven't gone past the fifth round in the 12 seasons since then.

• Stoke City are winless in their past nine matches against Cardiff City (D6 L3) since a 2-0 victory in February 2020, with all these matches coming in the Championship.

• Cardiff have faced Stoke in the FA Cup in three previous ties and have been eliminated in all three, in 1967-68 (third round), 1986-87 (fourth round) and 2010-11 (third round).

• Stoke are looking to reach the FA Cup fifth round for the third time in the past four seasons, having only gone beyond the fourth round once between 2012-13 and 2020-21.

• Cardiff City have been knocked out in their past four FA Cup fourth round ties between 2014-15 and 2021-22. They last reached the fifth round in 2013-14, beating Bolton in the fourth round that season.

• Stoke's Tom Cannon has been involved in three goals in his past four FA Cup appearances (2 goals, 1 assist), scoring their opener in the 2-1 win at Sunderland in this season's third round.

Image source, Rex Features

Stoke City boss Mark Robins faces a real frontline crisis for Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round date with Cardiff City.

Robins, who won the Cup as a player with Manchester United in 1990, enjoyed a memorable run to Wembley last season when his Coventry City side were cruelly beaten on penalties in the semi-final by his old club.

And, having enjoyed his first league win as Stoke boss last Saturday at Hull, the Potters boss ought to be fancying his side's chances of another Cup scalp at home to a struggling Cardiff City side who shipped seven goals at Leeds the same day.

But new Ipswich Town loan signing Ali Al-Hamadi, who scored on his debut last week, is cup-tied - and so is joint EFL top scorer Nathan Lowe.

Al-Hamadi came on as a late substitute for Ipswich when they were already 3-0 up in their third-round win over Bristol Rovers, while the now recalled Lowe played in Walsall's first-round win over Bolton and the Saddlers' second-round home defeat by Charlton.

With nine-goal top scorer Tom Cannon now sold to Sheffield United by Leicester City after being recalled from his loan at Stoke, both Million Manhoef and Sam Gallagher out injured, and Niall Ennis sent out on loan to Steve Bruce's Blackpool, Stoke did make one up-front signing this week.

West Bromwich Albion's teenage forward Adriel Walker signed an 18-month contract. But the 19-year-old was signed for the Potters' Under- 21s and may not be considered yet ready for first-team duty.

Stoke also now have Ryan Mmaee back at the club following the end of his loan at Rapid Vienna. But he was kept sidelined in Austria by injuries - and is not expected to figure until next month due to a hamstring problem.

Robins does have the options of teenager Emre Tezgel, who came off the bench in the third-round win over Sunderland, on-loan Lewis Koumas, who has not netted since early December, and Andre Vidigal, who made such a dramatic start to life in Stoke with five goals in his first six appearances last season, but he has not started a league game this term.

Image source, Rex Features

On Tuesday we asked what you made of Stoke City's business in the transfer window.

The Potters signed Ipswich forward Ali Al-Hamadi on loan to plug the gap left by Tom Cannon's loan spell being ended early by Leicester, while 19-year-old forward Nathan Lowe was recalled from a prolific spell at League Two title-chasers Walsall.

Stoke also signed left-back Josh Wilson-Esbrand from Manchester City on loan for the rest of the season while midfielder Lewis Baker was recalled by Mark Robins from a loan spell with Blackburn to help try to steer the Potters away from trouble at the wrong end of the Championship table.

Here are some of your responses:

Callum: Mark Robins has loaned, sold and had recalled, too many strikers this window while only bringing in Al Hamadi, Wilson-Esbrand, and Lowe. This is good but there being no defenders is a concern, and honestly it's our defence that's letting us down this season.

Keith: There is a lack of desire and passion for the fight which is required EVERY WEEK! There are some average players who show intent but every match, every week, I'm sorry but they don't want promotion. In the boxing world they would be classed as journey men. Get paid, go home, not a cat in hell's chance of winning anything. Every week I hope to see change, up for the 12 rounder but most times even with the odd win it's more about the mistakes that the opposition made rather that the creative genius of this squad.

William: Well done Stoke City, two quality signings plus I hope Nathan Lowe continues to impress, plays and scores goals.

Paul: The fans deserve more from the club after so many years of watching doom and gloom football, but with John Coates involved this is what you get, all he deserves is to be relegated. What a poor transfer window. I hope it comes back to bite him.

Darryn: Lets be honest, it's an abject failure after years of failures. Each year is worse and to bring in no one to give a glimmer of hope is depressing, but unfortunately disappointment is expected nowadays.

Adrian: It isn't any more signings we need, it's grit and determination. Mark Robins will demand that commitment and will get the best out of the squad to move us away from the "drop zone". After that it depends on that bit of luck!

Oli: Underwhelming, the club's need for a consistent centre back on a permanent basis has been apparent for over a year now, not only did they not sign one, they failed to sign a permanent first team player at all, only signing one 19 year old midfielder, who will join the U21 team for the rest of the season, as well as two loan players, who I'd be surprised if either one surpassed five appearances for the club, given that Al-Hamadi is cup tied and Wilson-Esbrand has already been named as a substitute since his debut.

Whilst clubs also at the bottom end of the Championship table secured deals for top quality, Championship-level players such as Louie Barry, Matt Crooks, Aasgaard and Aouchiche, Stoke City have failed to secure a single marquee signature, in a window that may well prove crucial in this year's relegation battle.

Paul H: Poor recruitment, the club is crying out for a big centre forward and strong defensive midfielder due to Walters signing injured players in Gallagher and Lawal. If Robins keeps us up with this squad then he really is a good manager. Here's hoping Coates sees the light and dismisses Walters before next season.

Joe: Needed to sign a centre half and send a couple of young players to Walsall on loan to get experience and game time. A solid winger would have been nice too. UP THE POTTERS

Paul I: Wish I understood financial fair play as some teams spend millions and others, including Stoke, spent barely anything. How can we have fair play in football when teams can spend so much more than others? The term fair play should never be used as its pretty clear there is nothing fair about it.

Image source, Rex Features

It's time to talk about Stoke City's transfer business...

The Potters have signed Ipswich forward Ali Al-Hamadi on loan for the rest of the season.

The 22-year-old helped Ipswich win promotion to the top flight last season after joining from AFC Wimbledon midway through the campaign.

Al-Hamadi's arrival at Stoke helped to plug the gap left by Tom Cannon's loan spell being ended early by Leicester, with the striker subsequently joining Sheffield United for an undisclosed fee.

The recall of 19-year-old forward Nathan Lowe from a prolific spell at League Two title-chasers Walsall raised some eyebrows but he has started three games, scoring on the first of them in a draw at West Brom.

Stoke also signed left-back Josh Wilson-Esbrand from Manchester City on loan for the rest of the season while midfielder Lewis Baker was recalled by Mark Robins from a loan spell with Blackburn.

With the Potters four places and five points clear of the relegation zone, which they were flirting with under Narcis Pelach, does Robins' business during the window give them a platform to climb the table in the final three months of the season?

We want you to tell us what you think about the Potters' transfer dealings...

Let us know your thoughts here.

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke City completed the signing of Manchester United midfielder Ruben Curley before the transfer window closed on Monday night.

The 19-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half year contract and will initially join up with the Potters Under-21 squad.

Curley spent 10 years at Old Trafford and was their scholar of the year last season but did not make a first-team appearance during his time at the club.

He played for United's Under-21s in a 3-2 win at Barnsley in the EFL Trophy earlier this season and featured in seven PL2 games.

Image source, Rex Features

Stoke City boss Mark Robins says his side still have "lots of work to do" despite the euphoria of earning his first Championship win with the Potters.

"It was a great result in the end," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke. "This result gives us a bit of belief and showed what we can do. But I'm still looking for more.

"There is still loads to do and so much to get into but we are getting there.

"We're in a situation where we've not won enough games so it's a bit of a confidence thing. But, if you put that sort of effort in, the quality will come through. We have young players trying to find their way through but they've got the skill and got the ability. I see it every day in training."

Robins' men had to come from behind after conceding inside six minutes. But two of his Premier League loan men got the goals that turned it round.

Ipswich Town's Ali Al-Hamadi, signed by Robins last week, and the man who then replaced him, Brighton's Andrew Moran, signed two managers ago by Steven Schumacher, got the goals that turned it round.

"We didn't get going until they scored, which was too late," said Robins. "But we passed the ball pretty well and defended pretty well when we needed to.

"This result gives us a bit of belief and showed what we can do. It has allowed us to take the handbrake off. But I'm delighted with three points that should give us a boost and a bit of belief."

Stoke are not back in league action until the trip to face Bristol City on Wednesday week but, before that, they host Cardiff City in the FA Cup fourth round next Saturday.

Hull City welcome Stoke to the MKM on Saturday (15:00 GMT) for a game with potentially big implications in the bottom half of the Championship.

The two sides are level on points, two points clear of the drop-zone, with the Tigers one place ahead of the 20th-placed Potters by virtue of their goal difference being two goals better.

• Hull City have won two of their past three league games against Stoke City (L1), as many victories as across their prior 15 meetings with the Potters combined between 2010 and 2023 (D3 L10).

• Stoke City have won each of their past three away league games against Hull City, keeping a clean sheet in each of those victories.

• Hull have won just one of their past 11 home league games (D4 L6), failing to keep a clean sheet in any of those matches during that time.

• Stoke have failed to win any of their past seven away league games (D3 L4), last enduring a longer run on the road without winning during an eight-match streak between January and April 2022.

• Matt Crooks has scored five goals in seven career EFL appearances against Stoke City – his joint-most against any side during his career.

Bristol City have rejected a bid from Stoke City for Republic of Ireland midfielder Mark Sykes, 27, after the Potters failed to meet the Robins' valuation. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer news and rumours from the EFL? Read Wednesday's gossip column here.

Stoke City have made a bid for Bristol City midfielder Mark Sykes. The Republic of Ireland international has six months left on his contract but Stoke are keen to sign the 27-year-old in the January transfer window. (Sky Sports), external

The Potters are also hopeful of signing Jeffrey Schlupp from Crystal Palace and Birmingham City defender Krystian Bielik before the transfer window closes. (TeamTalk), external

Stoke, Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End will have to wait until later this week to find out whether Liverpool will let 19-year-old forward Jayden Danns leave on loan. (The Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news and rumours from the EFL? Read Tuesday's gossip column here.