Sky Sports pundit issues QPR v Stoke City scoreline prediction | OneFootball

Sky Sports pundit and EFL expert David Prutton has issued his score prediction for Stoke City's visit to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

Narcis Pelach takes his Stoke City side to Loftus Road to take on Marti Cifuentes' Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, and Sky Sports pundit David Prutton is predicting that the Potters will pile on QPR's misery this weekend.

The Hoops return from the international break looking to secure their first league win since they triumphed in a 2-1 away victory over Luton Town on 30 August.

As for Stoke City, Pelach's Potters have seen a shift in performance levels and results in recent weeks, and travel to Loftus Road having won two of their last three in the Championship.

That's seen them bridge the gap to the play-off places significantly, whilst QPR are already five points adrift from safety and are rooted to the foot of the division after the opening 15 games.

Simeon Gholam and Prutton spoke via Sky Sports' Essential EFL podcast, with Gholam opening the segment on QPR v Stoke City by saying: "QPR v Stoke City, our Stoke City fan, Jason, says 'Narcis Pelach is starting to get his tactics spot on, and relegation is calling for QPR. He says comfortable 2-0 away win for the Potters'.

"QPR have won just two of their last six games against Stoke City, failing to score in four of those matches. Stoke fans, this was probably the angriest of any group of fans, from Stoke fans, that I didn't put (Viktor) Johansson, the goalkeeper, into our team of the season so far.

"He probably had the best case to be in ahead of Michael Cooper, maybe, might be in the next one, so sorry Stoke fans." Prutton then replied to that by saying: "No! No. No. Cooper has been part of the best defence."

Gholam then responded with: "Yeah, it is what it is.", to which Prutton followed up with: "Rubbish. He also hasn't come running out of his goal trying to take the ball off his centre-half's head."

After wrapping up that back and forth, Gholam posed Prutton the question: "What's the score going to be at the MATRADE Loftus Road stadium?"

The Sky Sports pundit confidently stated: "Stoke to win 2-0."

QPR must take three points from this sort of game if they wish to mount serious survival challenge

It's been a dismal start to the 2024/25 season for QPR, which is somewhat surprising given the renewed optimism that Cifuentes brought to Loftus Road given how strongly they ended last season.

However, whether it be because of new arrivals not having the desired impact as of yet, or through a lack of cutting edge in attack as well as a leaky defence, the R's just haven't found a winning formula so far this term.

Crucially, they're also yet to taste victory on home soil this campaign, having drawn four and lost four of their eight games at Loftus Road so far this season, which is something that simply must improve if the club are to get out of their predicament.

Stoke City present another tough test for Cifuentes' side, but it's one that they have to view as a game they need to take three points from. They need to start turning their form around quickly, otherwise they could rapidly sink further towards League One.

Stoke City will be confident of making it three wins from their last four

As for Stoke, they'll travel to West London full of confidence and belief, with another three points certainly on the agenda.

Consistency is key in the Championship, and the Potters appear to have found that over recent games, with good wins over Derby County and Blackburn Rovers, as well as a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Millwall last time out.

Pelach looks to be finally turning the tide at the bet365 Stadium, as Potters supporters have been starved of promotion contention after enduring years of bottom-half finishes.

Belief is starting to grow among the fanbase that Pelach can be the manager who finally gets the club moving in the right direction again, and another victory this weekend would see them really start to close in on the top six.