Stoke vs QPR

The Championship matchup between Stoke City and Queens Park Rangers at bet365 Stadium aims to get Stoke City closer to Championship safety status on Saturday afternoon.

The Potters have eight remaining championship matches which commence against Queens Park Rangers who secured a decent outcome against Leeds United during their latest play.

Stoke City finds itself in serious jeopardy of facing a third-tier demotion by the end of the 2024-25 season since they spent six unimpressive years at mid-table position after dropping from the Premier League back in 2018.

When Ali Al Hamadi scored a lone goal against Blackburn Rovers for Stoke on March 12 it seemed like good times were ahead for the Potters before their disappointing defeat at Millwall occurred before the international break.

The hosting team obtained their sixth win in second-tier fixtures since January but this point earned them the lowest 20th position in the Championship where they lag 12 points below mid-table ranks and one point above Derby County who reside in 22nd place.

The Potters' offensive output throughout the season reached 37 goals across 38 league matches which places them ahead of only League One-bound Luton Town (34) in the division so far. Their main attacking player made a significant departure through the January transfer window.

The temporary loan of Tom Cannon from Leicester City to Stoke brought success to Potteries fans until his transfer to Sheffield United became immediate following the mid-season transfer period.

Amid the growing pessimism surrounding Loftus Road, QPR showed resilience in their last outing before the international break, holding league leaders Leeds to a draw in London—even taking a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Koki Saito and experienced defender Steve Cook.

However, their recent form has been dismal, with just five points from their last 10 league matches, effectively ending any realistic hopes of a playoff push. Sitting 15th in the Championship, QPR now trail sixth-placed West Brom by 12 points with only eight games remaining.

Fans traveling to the bet365 Stadium this weekend will do so more in hope than genuine belief, especially given the team’s struggles on the road. Cifuentes’ men are currently on a five-game losing streak away from home, including disappointing defeats at Portsmouth and Millwall.