Stoke vs West Brom Odds & Prediction – EFL Championship Round 11

• It is Stoke vs West Brom in Round 11 of the  English Championship on Friday, October 1st at 2:45 pm EST
• West Brom currently leads the Championship after an unbeaten start to the new season
• We preview the game, look at the odds, and offer some picks below

Stoke and West Brom go head-to-head at the Bet365 Stadium on Friday, October 1st at 2:45 pm EST in the English Championship. The Baggies will be looking to extend their unbeaten start to the season to 11 games when they travel to play fifth-placed Stoke City on Friday.

We list the odds, preview Stoke vs West Brom, and offer below the best picks for this EFLChampionship clash.

Stoke vs West Brom Odds

Odds as of September 30 at DraftKings

West Brom on the March

Prior to last week’s home win over QPR, in which the Hoops took the lead, West Brom coach Valerien Ismael was under pressure from Baggies’ fans after three successive draws. With a Premier League quality squad at his disposal, Ismael is expected to deliver a swift return to the top flight, but that succession of draws had cast doubt over his ability to deliver that immediate bounce-back.

𝗗𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗡𝗧. 😤

Tuesday's triumph was our first win away from home by a four-goal margin since December, 2018. pic.twitter.com/cBOS9Q3lKy

— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) September 29, 2021

But West Brom’s response to that early QPR goal was emphatic, and two quick-fire goals were enough to win the three points and settle the nerves at the Hawthorns. Even better was to follow when West Brom visited Cardiff on Tuesday; the Baggies scoring four times without reply to take them to the top of the league, helped by AFC Bournemouth dropping two points at Peterborough.

𝒫𝑜𝑒𝓉𝓇𝓎 𝒾𝓃 𝓂𝑜𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 ✨@alex_mowatt | #WBA pic.twitter.com/Ahet4tSA6x

— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) September 29, 2021

Show of Strength by the Baggies

The win in South Wales was a serious show of strength from Ismael’s men, who have shown their coach’s unique style of play – a high-tempo, high-octane approach – to be one they can adapt to successfully. The rest of the Championship has now been warned.

Only third-placed Fulham have scored more goals than the Baggies, who are finally starting to see a return on the £15 million they paid for the services of Karlan Grant. At a rate of two goals per game, West Brom has all the firepower it needs to take this promotion push all the way.

Stoke vs West Brom Head-to-Head Stats

Campbell Close to Return

Stoke’s flying start to the campaign has slowed, but they still sit in fifth; just four points behind West Brom. So far, they have operated minus the services of striker Tyrese Campbell, who has been confined to the treatment room, but his imminent return from a serious knee injury is great news for manager Michael O’Neill, whose team currently lacks an out-and-out goalscorer.

The trajectory on that 👌

⚪️ 0-1 🟢#SCFC #PNESTK pic.twitter.com/mJHswnWt6t

— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) September 28, 2021

The Potters’ midfield playmaker Nick Powell has also recently returned to the team after injury and, after goals in both of their last two games against Hull City and Preston North End, has further added to O’Neill’s attacking options. With a loud and raucous Bet365 Stadium roaring them on and with some firepower added to their ranks, the Potters will fancy their chances of causing an upset here.

Vrancic Making a Difference

Of all of O’Neill’s summer signings, Mario Vrancic, signed from Norwich City, has had the most significant impact on Stoke’s creativity – one of the criticisms of the Potters last season. When he is able to link up with the pace of Campbell, the Bosnian’s ability to thread through-balls could prove invaluable.

All square at the interval.

⚪️ v 🟢#SCFC #PNESTK pic.twitter.com/eZSY3BVFtS

— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) September 28, 2021

Despite beating Cardiff with some ease in midweek, Ismael may still consider changes after Matt Phillips and Grady Diangana both made positive impacts from the bench. This could mean that loan signing from Norwich, Jordan Hugill, may have to be content with a place on the bench. For Stoke, O’Neill will look to keep a settled team after a good team performance in the midweek draw with Preston but will be without the suspended Sam Clucas.

Stoke vs West Brom Prediction

Stoke will believe they can win this, especially as a win will take them to just a point behind West Brom, and O’Neill will be asking his team for a bright and breezy start that will ask questions of the West Brom defense. Equally, Ismael will demand the ferocious tempo from his men that typifies his style of soccer and so this could be a really interesting encounter where something has to give.

While West Brom starts as the favorite, the Bet365 Stadium can be an intimidating arena when the Potters are flying and a good start here for the home team could set the scene for an upset. The home win here should not be ignored and offers decent value.

Picks: Stoke to win (+205) / Nick Powell anytime scorer (+220)