Preview: Southampton vs Stoke City - prediction, team news, lineups

Dreaming of an immediate return to the top flight from the Championship, Southampton are set to take on Stoke City at St Mary's Stadium on Saturday.

Saints are looking to extend their unbeaten run, while the Potters could continue their 100% start.

Match preview

Southampton came close to being remembered as the worst ever Premier League team in 2024-25, but they will still have their sights set on bouncing back at the first time of asking under new manager Will Still.

The 32-year-old former Lens boss won 2-1 against Wrexham during his first second-tier game in charge and followed that up by progressing to the second round of the EFL Cup with a 1-0 victory on the road to Northampton.

Still's burgeoning winning streak came to an end last Sunday when his team drew 1-1 with fellow-relegated side Ipswich Town, a match in which youngster Jay Robinson scored his first goal for the club to rescue a point.

That stalemate left Southampton eighth in the table, and their tally of four points has them level with Birmingham City, Coventry City and Bristol City in the playoff spots.

Another victory could lift Saints into the top six, and with just one defeat from their last six home games, the hosts will feel confident of securing a positive result on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Mark Robins's Stoke finished just two points above Luton Town in the relegation zone last season, but they have made an impressive start to 2025-26 and are currently sat at the top of the table.

The Potters have enjoyed a flawless campaign so far, opening their Championship season with a 3-1 win over Derby County before a cup victory on penalties against Walsall last week.

This past Saturday, Robins's men thrashed Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 at Hillsborough, and the manager will be delighted with the hunger that his team showed by scoring in the first minute.

However, while they have performed admirably to date this term, the visitors have won just three of their last 11 matches on the road, losing six and drawing the remaining three since February 1.

With that in mind, Stoke will have to defy their travelling form if they are to maintain their 100 percent record, but they could take heart from the fact that they have triumphed in back-to-back away games ahead of this clash.

Southampton Championship form:

Southampton form (all competitions):

Stoke City Championship form:

Stoke City form (all competitions):

Team News

Southampton will be without centre-half James Bree this weekend, so Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Jack Stephens and Joshua Quarshie should start in Robins's back three.

Further forward, midfielder William Smallbone is sidelined with a calf injury, and fans should expect to see Flynn Downes start alongside Shea Charles in the centre of the park on Saturday.

As for Stoke, they are missing striker Sam Gallagher for the trip to St Mary's, and Divin Mubama should start up top, supported by Bae Jun-ho in the number 10 position.

The Potters will also have to get by without forward Lamine Cisse, so Mubama should be flanked by Million Manhoef and Sorba Thomas from out wide.

Southampton possible starting lineup:

Bazunu; Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Quarshie; Fraser, Downes, Charles, Welington; Fernandes, Robinson; Armstrong

Stoke City possible starting lineup:

Johansson; Tchamadeu, Lawal, Wilmot, Cresswell; Baker, Seko; Manhoef, Jun-ho, Thomas; Mubama