Preview: Stoke City vs. Doncaster Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Stoke City will look to extend their unbeaten start to the season to six matches when they play host to Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Cup second round.

At a time when the Potters are flying high in the Championship, Doncaster are still awaiting their first win in League One.

Match preview

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After a poor second half to last season, Stoke boss Michael O'Neill would have been content with a solid and unspectacular start to the new campaign.

However, the former Northern Ireland manager has been provided with results above expectations, witnessing his players record four wins and a draw from five outings.

The Potters needed to work hard in order to overcome Nottingham Forest at the weekend, but it was a victory which ensured that the club kept pace with West Bromwich Albion and Fulham.

With the latter of those teams to come at the weekend, O'Neill will inevitably rest players for this contest, but it will not change his desire to go as far as possible in the competition.

At a time when some of the senior players are currently indispensable in the first team, this game is an opportunity for several squad members to remind their manager of their ability.

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Doncaster have ambitions of earning a return to the second tier for 2022-23, looking to build on last season's disappointing 14th position.

As it stands, however, Richie Wellens is only focusing on a win and a goal after a desperately poor opening four games in League One.

While Rovers claimed a respectable share of the spoils at Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon, they have now gone four fixtures in all competitions without finding the back of the net.

Doncaster only progressed to this round of the competition through defeating Walsall on penalties, remarkably overturning a 3-1 deficit in the shootout at the Banks's Stadium.

Team News

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Romaine Sawyers is in line to be handed his first start for Stoke after joining on loan from West Brom.

O'Neill could realistically select 11 different players from the weekend, bringing in youngsters Adam Porter and Christian Norton.

Alfie Doughty may be given another chance at left wing-back, while Tom Ince will look to impress ahead of a potential exit.

Doncaster will be unable to call upon Anthony Greaves after his dismissal in the last round.

While Wellens may not make as many alterations as his opposite number, the likes of Matthew Smith, Dan Gardner and Branden Horton are all in contention for starting roles.

Stoke City possible starting lineup:

Davies; Chester, Batth, Fox; Ince, Porter, Thompson, Sawyers, Doughty; Surridge, Norton

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:

Jones; Knoyle, Blythe, R.Williams, Horton; Smith, Close, E.Williams; Barlow, Cukur, Gardner

We say: Stoke City 3-1 Doncaster Rovers

Regardless of two much-changed lineups likely being on show at the bet365 Stadium, the end result should stay the same. There is confidence and competition for places within this Stoke squad, leading us to predict a relatively comfortable victory for the home side.