Stoke City are back in action this afternoon as they face their latest pre-season clash against League Two opposition at the Mornflake Stadium. The Potters are looking to build momentum ahead of the new Championship campaign, but a 1-1 draw against Crewe Alexandra has raised concerns about injuries to key players.
What happened?
Stoke City were left sweating over injury scares to Junior Tchamadeu and new signing Djibril Soumare as they were held to a 1-1 draw with Crewe Alexandra this afternoon. Soumare had to be replaced after the half-hour mark after picking up a knock, before Sam Gallagher gave Stoke the lead when he towered to meet a cross from Eric Bocat.
Why it matters for Stoke City
The draw has marred what was a competitive and valuable workout for Stoke against a Crewe side who were brave in possession as they plan for next season's assault on League Two. However, they nearly conceded a comical own goal in the second half when goalkeeper Ian Lawlor cannoned a clearance off his own defender Mickey Demetriou but watched as it dropped inches wide of the post.
What comes next?
Stoke will hope both problems are not serious as they prepare to jet out to Portugal for their pre-season tour. The Potters have a sell-out away allocation in the last two summers for friendlies at Crewe, winning 2-1 in July 2024 with two goals from Andre Vidigal, and 2-1 again in July 2025 with goals from Bosun Lawal and Sorba Thomas.
Stoke City are currently 17th in the Championship with 55 points, 15 wins, 10 draws, and 21 losses from 46 games, with a recent form of LLLLD. They are 40 points behind leaders Coventry in the title race and have a next fixture against Middlesbrough away on February 17, 2027.
The Potters have scored 51 goals this season and conceded 56, with a -5 goal difference. They will be looking to bounce back from this draw and get their pre-season campaign back on track.
In the meantime, the Potters will be keeping a close eye on the injuries to Tchamadeu and Soumare, hoping that they are not too serious. The draw has raised concerns about the team's depth and the ability to cope with injuries to key players.
Stoke City will be looking to build on this experience and use it to their advantage as they prepare for the new Championship campaign. The Potters have a tough schedule ahead of them, but they are confident that they can overcome any obstacles and achieve their goals.
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