Stoke City hosts Derby County in round 25 of the English Championship. The match will be played on Thursday, December 30th at Bet365 Stadium (Stoke on Trent)
Stoke City was considered one of the classic average performers of the Premier League. The Potters looked so familiar in the middle of the standings that no one could believe that they would leave the elite. And they can't get back to the top division of the country for a long time. Moreover, Stoke City finished in the bottom third of the Championship standings in three seasons in a row. And only now Michael O'Neill and his charges have noticeably stepped up. In the previous season, they scored 60 points during the entire championship, and now they have 35 points after 22 matches. The Potters are close to the playoff zone, but they gained only one victory in the last four rounds and didn’t score in three of them. Did the forced pause associated with the coronavirus help Stoke City to get back in shape?
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Derby County is rounding out the standings. But the reason is not in sports results. In this regard, there is noticeable progress, compared even with the last championship. Especially surprising is the level of football that is demonstrated, despite all the problems. External management has been introduced, and the penalties have already exceeded 20 points. One can only guess how Wayne Rooney manages to motivate his players in such a situation. On the other hand, the transfer window will be open soon, and many players surely hope to prove themselves and find a job in a more successful project. Nevertheless, the Rams beat West Bromwich on Boxing Day (1-0).
The home side has not lost in the last seven head-to-head matches between the clubs: four victories and three draws. In particular, the trend continued in the current championship. Derby County gained a home 2-1 victory in September. Stoke City is the favorite of the upcoming game, but the Rams are not so weak as it may seem. Let’s bet on their victory with a +1 handicap.
Prediction for the match: Derby to win with +1.0 handicap
