Match Pack: Saints vs Stoke
Southampton return to St Mary's Stadium on Saturday, welcoming Stoke City in the Sky Bet Championship for matchday two of the 2026/27 season. Get set for the clash with our Match Pack…
THE MATCH
Saints vs Stoke City
Sky Bet Championship
St Mary's Stadium
Saturday 22nd August, 3pm BST
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Steve Martin
Assistant Referees: Sam Lewis, Conall Bartlett
Fourth Official: Richard Eley
THE KITS
Saints will be in the red and white striped home shirt for the return to St Mary's, with black shorts and black socks. The visitors will be in their changed all blue away kit.
TICKETS
Supporters can still claim their ticket for Saturday's St Mary's curtain raiser online, but will need to be quick with limited availability.
THE PROGRAMME
Saints will continue to provide a printed programme at every home game throughout the 2026/27 campaign, starting with a doubleheader edition covering the Championship clash with Stoke and Tuesday's Carabao Cup tie against West Ham.
Jack Stephens is the subject of the big interview, as the Saints skipper reflects openly on a challenging summer off the pitch, while you can also find Tonda Eckert's notes, the latest from our Women's team and Academy, everything you need to know about our opponents, and a half-time quiz to keep the whole family entertained.
LIVE COVERAGE
Saturday's clash will be available worldwide on Saints Play except for the UK and the Nordic regions.
Supporters can claim an annual or a matchday pass using the link below:
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
The need for a fast start to the Championship season grew even greater last weekend with opening day defeat at Watford.
Saints, who sit on minus four points following the ending of last season, will be determined to get off the mark with a victory to reduce that deficit to minus one ahead of another home match in the Championship against Millwall the following weekend.
Stoke, similarly, will be looking to kickstart their campaign, after a 2-1 defeat at home to Swansea City on matchday one.
TEAM NEWS
Saints: Caspar Jander remains sidelined, with Tonda Eckert confirming the midfielder will miss the game as he continues his recovery from injury.
The head coach reported no new fitness concerns, but did announce that Finn Azaz will be in his starting line-up after impressive cameos off the bench at Colchester and Watford.
Stoke City: Bosun Lawal is now in contention to play having previously been a doubt, while Lamine Cissé could also feature.
New signings from Ipswich George Hirst and Ben Johnson will hope to make their debuts, providing they were registered in time to play, but Aaron Cresswell is a long-term absentee.
THE MANAGERS
Tonda Eckert: “We've had four days straight to prepare for Stoke. You play to win every single game, so I don't want it to feel exactly the same when you lose a game.
"It needs to hurt, but you need to shake it off and go again. Tomorrow it's time to perform."
Mark Robins: "They're a good side, good players, and that was obviously proven in where they finished. There is a good core of players there that have been together for a while, and they've added too.
"We look forward to it. Obviously each season is different but we go there with the same aim [as last season when Stoke won 2-1]. It's a great place to go and play your football, we'll look forward to it."
ONES TO WATCH
Cyle Larin: It seems the form Canadian Larin experienced at the World Cup has continued into the 2026/27 season, scoring in both Saints outings so far.
With competition in Divin Mubama now on the bench, he'll hope to be continuing this momentum on his return to St Mary's Stadium.
Sorba Thomas: With 23 goal contributions last season, Thomas was one of the Championship's most productive players in the final third of the pitch.
The Welsh international, signed from Huddersfield last summer, was named in the division's Team of the Season for his performances, despite Stoke's lowly 17th-place finish.
TOP PERFORMERS 2025/26
Saints
Goals:
Azaz, Stewart, Armstrong 11
Larin 9
Manning 8
Assists:
Scienza 10
Azaz, Fellows 8
Manning 7
Stoke
Goals:
Thomas 10
Manhoef 7
Mubama 5
Assists:
Thomas 13
Manhoef 5
Cissé, Cresswell 4
FORM GUIDE
Saints
Watford (a) SBC: L 1-2 (Larin)
Colchester (a) CC: W 2-0 (Larin, Akachukwu)
Preuẞen Münster (a) PSF: W 2-1 (Scienza, Dobbin)
Paderborn (a) PSF: L 1-2 (Dobbin)
Eintracht Braunschweig (a) PSF: W 1-0 (Downs)
Stoke City
Swansea (h) SBC: L 1-2 (Bocat)
Oldham (h) CC: W 2-0 (Bozeník, Norbun)
Valencia (h) PSF: D 1-1 (Monferrer og)
Everton (h) PSF: W 1-0 (Kelly)
Sheff Wed (n) PSF: W 6-0 (Gallagher, Cissé, Smit 2, Rigo, Weaver og)
HEAD TO HEAD
Played: 84
Saints wins: 37
Draws: 15
Stoke wins: 32
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
Jan 2026: Stoke 0-2 Saints Championship (Azaz, Downes)
Aug 2025: Saints 1-2 Stoke Championship (Harwood-Bellis)
Oct 2024: Saints 3-2 Stoke Carabao Cup fourth round (Harwood-Bellis, A Armstrong, Bree)
Apr 2024: Saints 0-1 Stoke Championship
Oct 2023: Stoke 0-1 Saints Championship (S Armstrong)
KEEP UP TO DATE
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