Our prediction for this Championship match:
Birmingham City and Stoke City face each other in a highly-anticipated Championship game at St. Andrew’s Stadium. The Blues kicked off the new season with a hard-fought win at Sheffield United, meaning that they are high on spirits ahead of Saturday’s clash. Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge remains on the sidelines through illness, while talented defender Dion Sanderson is out of contention through injury.
Anyhow, we predict that Birmingham City will adopt yet another defence-minded approach this weekend. The Potters, on the other hand, did remarkably well to beat Reading 3-2 in the opening match of the season, with Nick Powell continuing where he left last season. Stoke City, though, are not regarded as good travelers, which is the main reason why we are tempted to put our money on draw. Tyrese Campbell remains in the recovery room for the visitors.
Highlighted Player (George Friend):
George Friend has played for no less than nine English clubs so far in his career. Friend made his first-team debut for non-League club Exeter City on April 17, 2006 in a goalless draw with Forest Green Rovers and he stayed at St James Park until 2008. After ending his loan spells with Tiverton Town and Team Bath he joined Wolverhampton, but he made no more than seven appearances for the Wolves in the league.
The 188-cm-tall left-back, who is capable of playing as a centre-back as well, played for the likes of Millwall, Southend, Scunthorpe United and Exeter City on loan during his spell with Wolverhampton and at the end of the 2009/2010 season he signed a two-year deal with Doncaster Rovers. Friend made his Doncaster debut on August 7, 2010 in a 2-0 win over Preston and after three years at the club he was sold to Middlesbrough for a fee of £100,000.
The left-footed defender has been playing for Boro ever since and you should know that he made 24 appearances for the club in the 2016/2017 Premier League campaign.
Highlighted Team (Stoke City):
Stoke City FC (named Stoke FC until 1925) is an English football club from the city Stoke-on-Trent (located in the north of England). De club was founded in the year 1863 and next to Notts County FC the club from Stoke is the oldest professional football club worldwide. Different signs of Stoke City show that the club is founded in 1868. Currently Stoke City is playing in the Premier League. The home games of Stoke City are hosted in the Britannia Stadium which holds a capacity for 29 000 spectators.
The most known nickname of Stoke City FC is the Potters. The main club colors of the club are red and white. The away it is colored in blue. The only 3 prizes Stoke City managed to win so far are the League Cup in 1972 and the Football League Trophy twice (1992 and 2000). Famous players that played for Stoke City FC are: Ameobi, Gudjohnsen and Peter Crouch.