Stoke City's six-game unbeaten run in the Championship ended with a 3-2 home defeat to Middlesbrough. The Potters created good opportunities but were undone by defensive mistakes and a denied penalty claim, which ultimately saw them slip to eighth in the standings with 16 points from ten games.
Stoke should have had a penalty in the first half when Djibril Soumare was hauled down by Jeremy Sarmiento. Junior Tchamadeu then missed a clear chance after racing through on goal in the second period. These moments proved decisive in a match where Stoke tried to go toe-to-toe with their opponents. On another day, the team might have won by the odd goal or taken at least a point. The defeat highlighted a recurring issue, with the team's recent form showing they have now conceded 12 goals in their last five matches across all competitions.
Performance against rivals
Despite this loss, Stoke have recorded strong results against most Championship teams outside the top promotion contenders. The first ten games have given a decent idea of where the club sits. Against the rest of the division, Stoke have had nothing but good results. As a team that is still improving, finishing in the lower half of the top eight is not a bad position. Swansea, Southampton, Wolves, Middlesbrough and West Ham are probably the five teams to beat for automatic promotion. The team's underlying stats reflect their competitive nature.
Outlook and fixtures
Confidence remains high about bouncing back with a favourable run of fixtures that could yield a significant points haul. Stoke have upcoming away games at Derby County, Blackburn Rovers, and Portsmouth. Home fixtures against Bristol City and Preston North End also offer opportunities. This run could yield a double-figure haul in points. Stoke can put another sequence of positive results together, though they will need to monitor their injuries list to ensure a full squad is available.
The defeat by Middlesbrough is one to learn and move on from. Stoke have a great chance to further enhance their projections over the next month. The team are right to aim to finish in the lower half of the top eight. There is no reason to suggest they should not bounce back, especially if they can convert their chances more effectively.
Stoke City currently sit eighth in the Championship with 16 points from ten games. Their next fixture is away at Derby County on Saturday.
The original report is at bbc.co.uk
