Stoke City v Watford: play-off push meets mid-table climb | OneFootball

Stoke City host Watford in the Championship on Saturday, 14 March, in Stoke-on-Trent, with the visitors chasing the play-off places and the hosts aiming to climb from 16th towards mid-table.

Watford won the reverse fixture 1-0 in December, but this is a congested middle of the table and both sides have plenty at stake.

Stoke City are winless in three league games, though they shared six goals with Ipswich last time out. The Hornets have taken points in three of their last four, including a draw at Sheffield Wednesday and an away win at Bristol City.

Stoke City report several absentees, with Ben Wilmot and Ben Pearson sidelined, while forwards Robert Bozenik and Sam Gallagher, plus goalkeepers Gavin Bazunu and Viktor Johansson, are out. The Hornets are stretched too: Jeremy Petris and Jeremy Ngakia are injured, as are Matthew Pollock and Hector Matthew Kyprianou, with Kwadwo Baah, Rocco Vata and Othmane Maamma also unavailable. Forward Mamadou Doumbia is suspended.

Stoke City have kept 12 clean sheets and average 52% possession, and Sorba Thomas has nine league goals plus eight assists. The Hornets' threat could come from Luca Kjerrumgaard, who has nine league goals, with Imran Louzan on eight assists. Both teams deliver plenty from wide areas, so crosses and set pieces could be decisive.

A home win would move Stoke City to 51 points and could lift them towards the mid-table pack. Victory for the Hornets would take them to 55 points and keep them in touch with the top six.