Stoke City v Blackburn Rovers: top-half aim meets survival fight | OneFootball

Stoke City host Blackburn Rovers in the Championship on Saturday, 11 April 2026, in Stoke-on-Trent, with the hosts targeting a top half finish and the visitors looking to keep clear of the relegation places.

Stoke City sit 13th on 54 points, while Blackburn Rovers are 19th with 47. The reverse meeting in October ended 1-1.

Form points to a tight contest. Stoke have recent home wins over Watford and Sheffield Wednesday but lost away at Derby and Preston. Blackburn are unbeaten in three, posting successive clean sheets against Middlesbrough and West Brom after a 1-0 victory at Birmingham.

Team news could shape the balance. Stoke are without Ben Wilmot, Robert Bozenik, Maksym Talovierov, Viktor Johansson (out until 25 April) and Junior Tchamadeu. Blackburn list Sondre Trondstad, Scott Wharton, Lewis Miller, Andri Gudjohnsen, Hayden Carter and Axel Henriksson sidelined, with Connor O'Riordan out until 18 April and Augustus Kargbo until 12 April.

On the pitch, Stoke average more of the ball and have 13 clean sheets this season, with Sorba Thomas contributing 10 goals and 10 assists. Blackburn rely heavily on wide delivery, leading the crossing volume here and scoring 10 headed goals, with Ryoya Morishita supplying eight assists. The game could hinge on Rovers' aerial threat versus Stoke's home creativity.

A win would move Stoke to 57 points and strengthen their top half push. Three points for Blackburn would take them to 50 and could ease the pressure above the relegation places with the run-in approaching.