Stoke
- Mark Robins has been Stoke’s head coach since January 2025 and he has introduced a much more structured, possession-based 4-2-3-1 system to the club.
- His side are a disciplined unit that are organised in a mid-block and make good use of their wide wingers.
- Stoke have won six of their 13 home games in the Championship, drawing three and losing the other four.
- In the 13 games they have played at the Bet365 Stadium, they have scored an average of 1.38 goals per match and conceded 0.77 per match.
Middlesbrough
- With 49 points from 27 Championship games, Middlesbrough currently sit in second place in the 2025-2026 campaign, firmly in the race for a place in the Premier League.
- The Teessiders have won back-to-back games ahead of this trip to the Potteries, thrashing Southampton 4-0 before winning 3-2 at West Brom.
- Middlesbrough have won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five Championship games, but they’ve found some form at the right time, and will be a tough challenge for Stoke on Wednesday.
- Boro have conceded 17 goals in 14 away fixtures.
Key Players
Morgan Whittaker has been in form for Boro with 10 Championship goals in 26 games this season, and he’s bagged two in his last five games, so he’s worth a bet to score at any time on Wednesday.
Betting Insights
- The visitors are the slight favourites with the bookmakers with odds of 2.5, while Stoke are 2.8 and the draw is 3.2.
- With Boro’s high-tempo, pressing game against Stoke’s more patient, possession-based style, it should be an intriguing matchup, and it could be the Under 2.5 goals option that offers the best value at 1.75.
Prediction
However, Stoke are solid at home and it’s likely to be a close encounter.
