Stoke City faced a relatively light schedule in September, competing in just four matches, but the team did not show great performance. Unfortunately, for this review, there are no positive moments to highlight for the club.
The transition following the dismissal of Steven Schumacher and the arrival of Narcis Pelach has only emphasized the critical situation Stoke City finds itself in, as no positive streak was observed during the month.
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Stoke City's Matches in September
The month began with a FIFA international break, during which many players went to represent their countries. For Stoke City, players like Million Manhoef, Lewis Koumas, Emre Tezgel, and Viktor Johansson played significant minutes for their respective national teams in competitions or friendlies.
Stoke City returned to action on September 14th, facing Oxford United in the EFL Championship, where they were unfortunately defeated 1-0. After this loss, Steven Schumacher was dismissed, marking a critical point for the team.
Down by the Riverside 🌊 pic.twitter.com/QjmcqPAtTZ
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) September 28, 2024
On September 17th, Stoke City faced Fleetwood in a new round of the Carabao Cup. This match ended in a draw and went to a penalty shootout, where Stoke City won 2-1, advancing to the next round. Their next opponent is already known – Southampton from the Premier League.
To close out September, Stoke City played two crucial and negative matches under their new coach, Narcis Pelach. In his debut, the team suffered two painful defeats: a 3-1 loss to Hull City and a 2-0 loss to Middlesbrough. These results have only worsened the team's critical situation and have made it clear that Stoke City is currently experiencing one of its worst starts to a season in recent years.
It’s important to note that Stoke City will need to turn things around soon, as October brings a busier schedule. Their first match of the month will be against Portsmouth, a team currently in the relegation zone and one of the worst-performing teams in the EFL Championship. Stoke City will be favored in this game, but they cannot afford to be complacent. Fans hope to see Stoke City bounce back from this negative run and start competing again for the EFL Championship.