Stoke have only won 1 game in the last 5 and were thumped 4-0 last time out. After our morale boosting performance, I am expecting another good victory. Only real question is who replaces Hirst. Azon or Akpom? 2-0 another clean sheet. We are on a festive run!
Hopefully there will only be a couple of players rotated rather than the usual half a team. I’d rather Akpom up top than Azon, as I think the latter is best used as an impact player (hopefully with the game already won). Although the fixtures are piling up - and a trip to in-form Leicester on the weekend looks a tougher match on paper - we’ve got to the keep the momentum with a more settled starting eleven. I’d definitely keep the back five unchanged. Maybe start Cajuste in central midfield or move Nunez back there. It might be a scrappy game, but I’m confident we can get back-to-back home wins. I’d back us to beat any Championship side at home. 2-0 Town win.
