Stoke City target a third consecutive Championship win when they visit Cardiff City on Tuesday evening. The Potters, currently 13th in the league with six points from five games, aim to break a dismal nine-match away losing streak in the league.
This fixture kicks off at 19:45 BST. Stoke's form has been inconsistent, with two wins and three losses leaving them five points behind leaders Swansea. They have scored eight goals but conceded nine so far this season. The squad faces the trip without several key players, with Aaron Cresswell, Ato Ampah, Ben Gibson, Junior Tchamadeu, Sam Gallagher, and Svante Ingelsson all currently sidelined.
The primary obstacle for Stoke is a shocking run of form on the road. They have lost each of their last nine away league matches. This is their longest such sequence since a ten-game losing streak back in September 1952. Furthermore, they are winless in nine away games against newly-promoted sides since a 5-1 victory at Sunderland in March 2023. A win in Wales would represent a significant psychological boost and mark their first back-to-back away wins at Cardiff City since October 1999.
Cardiff City present a specific challenge. While they are yet to win at home this season, they have drawn both of their league games in front of their own fans. They are desperate for a first home victory since returning to the Championship. Their recent history against Stoke offers mixed signals. Cardiff lost the last meeting between the sides 1-0 in April 2025, but they have not lost successive league games to Stoke since February 2008. Their current standings position adds pressure to start picking up points.
Managerial plans will be affected by a lengthy injury list. The absence of defenders like Cresswell and Gibson, midfielders Ampah and Ingelsson, and forward Gallagher limits options. This necessitates others in the squad stepping up to fill the void. The team's recent form of two wins followed by three losses (WWLLL) shows they can win but lack consistency. Securing a positive result in South Wales would be a major step forward.
Stoke City's next fixture is this away match against Cardiff, scheduled for September 8, 2026.
