Stoke City aim to continue their push up the Championship table with a positive result away at Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday evening. The Potters head to Ewood Park on the back of a convincing 2-0 home win over Preston North End last weekend, a result that kept them seventh in the standings with 23 points from 13 games, a record of seven wins, two draws and four losses. That victory was their third in the last five outings, a run of form that has stays in the upper half of the standings. Ben Wilmot opened the scoring against Preston with a header from a Jack McGlynn corner in the 29th minute, before McGlynn himself doubled the lead early in the second half with a low finish from Ethan Galbraith's pass. The team's recent defensive solidity has been a feature, conceding just three goals in those five matches. Their overall season tally shows 20 goals scored and 16 conceded.
Squad news and selection
Steven Schumacher, the Stoke manager, has a largely fit squad to choose from for the trip. No new injury concerns emerged from the Preston match, meaning the manager can consider sticking with a winning formula. Key performers like Tyrese Campbell and Bae Jun-ho are expected to be available, providing options in attack to support the in-form McGlynn. The manager may weigh up whether to reintroduce any players who were rested, with the quick turnaround between fixtures.
The Blackburn challenge
Blackburn present a familiar challenge, with the sides having played out a 1-1 draw at the bet365 Stadium back in April. Rovers have had an inconsistent start to their own campaign and sit in the lower half of the division. Stoke will view this as an opportunity to claim three points on the road and apply pressure on the teams above them. A win could see them close to within two points of the top two, given the current five-point deficit to leaders Middlesbrough. The next fixture is away to Blackburn on Tuesday 3 November.
Stoke's next assignment after this midweek fixture is a home game against Coventry City on Saturday.
