Stoke City are facing a critical moment, will they get through it?

Stoke City is enduring a challenging and frustrating 2024-25 season, with the club struggling to find consistency in the EFL Championship.

The team’s poor form has left fans deeply concerned about the direction of the club, as there appears to be no clear plan or stability under manager Mark Robins.

Despite some glimpses of promise, Stoke City has lacked cohesion and structure, resulting in a series of disappointing performances. Their recent FA Cup exit against Cardiff City only further emphasized the struggles they have faced this season.

READ MORE: Stoke City's great figure despite their elimination in the FA Cup

FA Cup Exit Adds to the Club’s Woes

In their FA Cup fourth-round match, Stoke City fell short in heartbreaking fashion, losing on penalties after a 3-3 draw in regulation time. Despite showing resilience after a poor start, Stoke City collapsed in the final minutes, allowing Cardiff City to equalize and force the game into a penalty shootout.

Playing at home in the BET365 Stadium, the expectation was that Stoke City would capitalize on their advantage, but instead, they were eliminated in a match that felt like a missed opportunity.

Cardiff City, a team that currently sits below Stoke in the EFL Championship standings, managed to pull off the upset, further amplifying the sense of crisis surrounding the club.

Urgent Need for Improvement in the Championship

With the FA Cup campaign officially over, Stoke City must now fully focus on the EFL Championship, where they are dangerously close to the relegation zone.

Currently sitting 18th with 32 points, they are only four points above the bottom three, meaning that a continued slump could put them in serious danger of dropping to League One.

Their next fixture against Bristol City on January 12 now becomes even more crucial, as the team desperately needs a positive result to rebuild confidence and reverse their downward trajectory. With pressure mounting on Mark Robins, a failure to secure a win could further increase speculation about his future as manager.

For Stoke City, the path forward is clear: find defensive stability, improve team chemistry, and secure critical points to avoid a disastrous relegation battle. Whether they can turn their season around remains to be seen, but the next few weeks will be decisive for the club’s future.