The big picture

Stoke City come in 3rd on the ladder with 29 points; Birmingham City are 1st on 29. Only a couple of spots separate them, so there is plenty riding on it.

Stoke City are 9–4–2 in EFL Championship 2026-27, averaging 1.6 goals for and 1.2 against.

Birmingham City are 7–2–5 in EFL Championship 2026-27, averaging 1.9 goals for and 0.9 against.

Form

Stoke City have won four of their last five and most recently beat Portsmouth 2–1.

Birmingham City have won four of their last five and most recently beat Millwall 3–0.

Stoke City arrive on a 3-game winning streak.

Head to head

These sides have met 18 times on our records since 2009: Stoke City 4, Birmingham City 8, 6 drawn.

Last time out (2025-26), it was a draw 1–1 at St. Andrew's Stadium.

Biggest margin between these two: Stoke City by 2 goals in 2023-24 (3–1).

Players to watch

For Stoke City, watch Jack McGlynn (0.5 goals a game, 2 assists in 2026-27) and Ben Wilmot (0.2 goals a game in 2026-27).

For Birmingham City, watch August Priske (0.5 goals a game, 1 assist in 2026-27) and Liam Millar (0.4 goals a game, 3 assists in 2026-27).

At bet365 Stadium

Stoke City have won 7 of their last 20 at bet365 Stadium.

What the numbers say

On the numbers this is too close to split.