Introduction to the Match
The action continues in round 18 of the EFL Championship as Stoke City and Hull City face off at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday. Both teams head into the weekend with contrasting results from their previous matches. Stoke City recently returned to winning ways with a 3-0 thrashing of Charlton Athletic at the bet365 Stadium on Tuesday. On the other hand, Hull City suffered a disappointing home defeat against Ipswich Town.
Recent Performance of the Teams
Before their recent win, Stoke City saw their three-game winning streak come to an end with a 1-0 home loss against Coventry City on November 8, followed by a 2-1 defeat against Leicester City. Despite these setbacks, Stoke City has had a solid start to the campaign, currently sitting second in the Championship table with 30 points, level with third-placed Middlesbrough and 10 points behind league leaders Coventry.
Hull City, meanwhile, has been struggling with form, having lost three of their last four games after going unbeaten in the six matches preceding this run, with four wins and two draws. They currently sit 11th in the league standings with 25 points but could move level on points with third-placed Millwall with a win this weekend.
Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
Stoke City boasts a superior record in the history of this fixture, with 36 wins from the last 106 meetings between the two teams. Hull City has picked up 22 wins since their first encounter in November 1907, while the spoils have been shared on 20 occasions. Stoke City is unbeaten in five of their most recent six home matches, picking up four wins and one draw since the start of September. In contrast, Hull City has failed to win nine of their last 11 Championship away games, losing six and claiming three draws since the second week of April.
Prediction
What seemed like a resurgent spell has started to unravel for Hull City, who have now lost three of their most recent four matches and will be out to secure a morale-boosting result. However, given Stoke City’s rock-solid performance at home of late, it’s likely they will continue their winning streak, heaping more misery on the Tigers.
Prediction Details
- Result: Stoke City is expected to win.
- Score: The predicted score is Stoke City 2-1 Hull City.
Betting Tips
- Tip 1: Result – Stoke City to win.
- Tip 2: Over 2.5 goals – Yes, as there have been at least three goals scored in four of Stoke City’s last five games.
- Tip 3: Over 4.5 cards – No, considering there have been fewer than five bookings in eight of the last 10 meetings between the two teams.
Conclusion
The match between Stoke City and Hull City promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams looking to secure vital points in the Championship. Given their recent form and home advantage, Stoke City seems poised to take the win, but Hull City will undoubtedly be looking to turn their fortunes around and secure a much-needed victory. The outcome will depend on how each team performs on the day, but based on current trends, a win for Stoke City seems the most likely outcome.
