Stoke visit Southampton with manager seeking reinforcements | OneFootball

Stoke head to St Mary's after an opening-day home defeat and a manager saying reinforcements are needed, a combination Southampton cannot ignore.

Swansea took the points with Adam Idah scoring late. According to Sainstmarching.com, the response has been an urgent push to add attackers.

Robins wants competition for Robert Bozenik and Sam Gallagher and has been on the case since. George Hirst underwent a Wednesday medical after Ipswich accepted about £10m, with Ben Johnson expected to follow.

The aim is to have a new face registered for Saturday. Hirst has not yet kicked a ball for Stoke, yet a forward line is being pieced together in the very week one must be selected.

Ipswich have opened the door while focusing their promotion spend elsewhere. Stoke want Hirst on the pitch at St Mary's, which hints at Robins' view of his current options.

None of this guarantees Southampton three points. They are bottom of the Championship on minus four after gifting Watford both goals at Vicarage Road.

There is a difference between a side that played badly and one still being built. Ben Pearson, Ethan Galbraith, Svante Ingelsson, Djibril Soumare and Tomas Rigo have all arrived, five central midfielders for Robins to shape quickly.

Saints do at least have a 2-0 win at Colchester, Cyle Larin and Romeo Akachukwu on the scoresheet. Verdict, Saturday always looked the chance to steady things, and Robins has just given Tonda Eckert a reason to fancy it. Prediction, home win 3-0.

Source: Sainstmarching.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”