[themaclad]

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LAST TIME OUT



In The Dressing Room

Ryan Lowe is hopeful he may be able to call upon Andrew Hughes, with the defender now back in training following a spell on the sidelines.

The manager also explained that Robbie Brady is on the road to recovery, however his return has been delayed due to an illness last week.

Sean Maguire and Troy Parrott will both miss out, with the latter expected to return in January, but he will be assessed by Tottenham Hotspur’s medical team before being made available for selection.

A Look At Our Hosts


Sat 17th in the table currently, the Potters are one of several sides in the division who will be hoping to make a push for the top six during the second half of the season.

Managed by former PNE boss Alex Neil, Stoke are searching for greater consistency in their results having not achieved back-to-back victories since October.

They're also looking to improve on their performances at the bet365 Stadium in the coming months, given they have taken 12 points from their 12 matches at home so far this term.

Going Head To Head


Games played: 110
PNE wins: 49
Draws: 24
Stoke City wins: 37
Last victory: Stoke City 1-2 PNE, 3rd January 2022

One To Watch


Having scored and assisted more goals than anyone in the team so far this term, it's hard to look past midfielder Lewis Baker as Stoke's key player.

The former Chelsea man enjoyed a fantastic second half to last season with the Potters following his January arrival, scoring eight and assisting two.

So far this season, the tally is five and four respectively, and with an eye for a long-range stunner, PNE will need to make sure they don't give the 27-year-old any sight of goal.

Match Officials

Leigh Doughty will take charge of a PNE fixture for only the third time in his career on Monday.

Doughty, now in his third season of refereeing in the Championship, officiated North End’s defeats to Cardiff City and Fulham in the 2021/22 campaign.

This season, he has shown 74 yellow cards and four reds in his 17 matches as the main official, and on Monday he will be assisted by Adam Crysell and Robert Hyde, with Thomas Kirk on fourth official duties.


A potted history of Stoke on Trent

Stoke-on-Trent (often abbreviated to Stoke) is a city and unitary authority area in Staffordshire, England, with an area of 36 square miles (93 km2). In 2019, the city had an estimated population of 256,375.[9] It is the largest settlement in Staffordshire and is surrounded by the towns of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Alsager, Kidsgrove, Biddulph and Stone, which form a conurbation around the city.

Stoke is polycentric, having been formed by the federation of six towns in 1910. It took its name from Stoke-upon-Trent where the main centre of government and the principal railway station in the district were located. Hanley is the primary commercial centre; the other four towns which form the city are Burslem, Tunstall, Longton and Fenton.

Stoke-on-Trent is the home of the pottery industry in England and known as The Potteries. Formerly a primarily industrial conurbation, it is now a centre for service industries and distribution centres.

MACS VIEW

Another trip down the M6 to the Potteries, at least it's not Port Vale although the way we are playing that could be next season. After the shocker on Thursday night those that will be in attendance will be wanting a better performance however here is the problem who do you put in!?.
Still not figured out how having a break for four weeks could led to so many injuries.
Manager's credit is rapidly going down hill, the football is slow and predictable, needs new blood however our transfer windows are usually less than exciting, although when we do bring good players in like Anthony Gordon, we don't play them.
New Year, new optimism, we'll see tomorrow and Sean Maguire is still injured