relegation zone

Race to the Finish: How Portsmouth, Oxford United, Hull City & Stoke City’s Final 4 Battles Could Decide Championship Fate

April 16, 2025 RAYMOND 0

As the season draws to a close, Oxford United and Stoke City are among the teams looking to escape the looming threat of relegation. Oxford, currently 17th with 48 points, has gained crucial momentum with three wins in their last five matches, putting them six points clear of the bottom three. Their upcoming Easter fixtures give them a chance to secure survival, with a pivotal clash against Cardiff City on Easter Monday. A win in that match could put them nine points ahead of Cardiff, virtually guaranteeing their safety.

Stoke City, sitting just one place below Oxford in 18th with 47 points, breathed a sigh of relief after a late win over Cardiff. With a five-point gap above the relegation zone, they now face a challenging set of fixtures, including tough away games against Leeds United and Sheffield United. The team will need to pick up points from their upcoming matches, with their best-case scenario being that teams currently in the bottom three fail to make up ground, allowing Stoke to breathe easier as they head into their final stretch.

Stoke City Player Ratings vs Luton: Curse Strikes Yet Again as Relegation Scrap Takes Dark Turn

April 8, 2025 RAYMOND 0

Stoke City’s hopes of a crucial win were dashed once again in heart-wrenching fashion, as a 90th-minute equaliser from Luton Town saw them settle for a 1-1 draw at the bet365 Stadium. In a game loaded with tension and high stakes, Lewis Baker’s deflected free-kick gave Stoke the lead late on, only for the familiar sting of stoppage-time heartbreak to strike. It’s the third time in just six matches that the Potters have let vital points slip away in the dying moments — a trend that now threatens to drag them deeper into the relegation mire with just five games remaining.