Stoke City v Portsmouth: lower-half stakes as both chase a late-season lift | OneFootball

Stoke City host Portsmouth in the Championship on Saturday, 25 April, in Stoke-on-Trent, with both looking to steady their form and add breathing room in the lower half.

Stoke City have edged the recent head-to-head, winning two of the last three league meetings, including a big home victory, while Portsmouth took the other.

Recent momentum points to the visitors. Stoke City have taken one win from their last five league games, whereas Portsmouth won three of their previous five, beating Ipswich Town and Leicester City before a heavy defeat at Coventry City.

Injuries could shape selection. Stoke City list defenders Ben Gibson, Aaron Cresswell, Ben Wilmot and Maksym Talovierov among several absentees, along with goalkeeper Viktor Johansson and midfielder Tomas Rigo. Portsmouth report Keshi Anderson, Ajibola-Joshua Alese, Mark Kosznovszky, Terry Devlin, Zak Swanson and Franco Umeh-Chibueze as injured.

The match-up may hinge on wide supply and discipline at the back. Stoke City average 52% possession and have kept 13 clean sheets this season, with Sorba Thomas contributing 10 league goals and 10 assists. Portsmouth cross frequently with strong accuracy from open play and have won plenty of aerial duels, but they have conceded 62 league goals, so Stoke City could look to target that defence. Joshua Murphy's six assists provide a key outlet for the visitors.

Stoke City start 17th on 55 points, with Portsmouth 20th on 51. Three points here could nudge the hosts up the table and push the visitors further from the relegation places as the season closes.