Stoke City

Charlton's winning start to the Championship came to an end against West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday but they are still yet to lose as they visit Stoke City on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Stoke, meanwhile, enjoyed their first points in the midweek, picking up all three against Norwich City on Tuesday.

• Stoke have only lost one of their last 14 home league games against Charlton (W11 D2), winning seven of their last eight, including three in a row since a 1-2 defeat in February 1998.

• Charlton have won four of their last seven league games against Stoke (L3), as many as their previous 20 beforehand (D5 L11).

• Stoke have picked up just three points across their opening four league games this season (W1 L3) and have conceded nine goals – both their worst returns at this stage of a campaign since 2019-20 (1 point, 10GA).

• Charlton Athletic have 10 points from their four Championship games so far this season, their most at this stage of a second tier campaign since 1992-93 (12).

• Tyreece Campbell has scored three goals in four league games for Charlton this season, already as many as he netted in 45 appearances last season.

The latest episode of BBC Radio Stoke's A Cold Wet Tuesday Night podcast is out now.

Matt Sandoz and Lucas Yeomans reflect on a hectic transfer deadline day for Stoke City and analyse the club's business throughout the summer window.

They also discuss the 1-0 win over Norwich City in the Championship.

Listen above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Mark Elliott
BBC Radio Stoke’s Stoke City Commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

Stoke City began life without Sorba Thomas in the perfect way, recording their first win of the season and putting in a defensive performance reminiscent of the better parts of last season.

Thomas has been their main attacking outlet over the past year and his departure brought about a change in formation and a need for greater variety going forward.

While there were teething problems for the 3-4-3 Stoke deployed in Tuesday's 1-0 win against Norwich there was plenty to be optimistic about too.

Having had barely any time to work on the change in system, Stoke were aggressive in their press when Norwich tried to play out from the back and resolute when they dropped into a low block.

While the team became stretched at times and lone striker George Hirst found himself isolated a little too often, there were times when they were able to get bodies forward in numbers, push the wing-backs high and cause the visitors problems.

Ethan Galbraith looks like a brilliant signing. He's so effective in possession in tight areas, helps the team build from deep and scored his second goal of the young season with a fine driven shot from the edge of the box.

Luke Graham put in his best performance of the season as he gets used to the rigours of the Championship after making the move from the Scottish Premiership, while American full-back Luca Bombino put in a debut full of quality and personality just a day or two after arriving in England.

Afterwards, captain Viktor Johansson said the win felt like the start of Stoke's season, and there was a palpable relief along with an outpouring of emotion from all in red and white at full-time as they recorded a much-needed first victory.

That win relieves some of the pressure that was building on players and staff, and with new signings still to integrate, another win against Charlton on Saturday would definitely leave the Potters looking up.

Stoke City manager Mark Robins admitted the "turbulence" around deadline day - and the sale of star man Sorba Thomas - threatened to overshadow their Championship game with Norwich.

Instead, the Potters, who had not won a league game since April, took the honours with a 1-0 win.

"We had to grind a win out somehow and we managed to do that, with a really well worked goal," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We looked a threat on the counter-attack. They had loads of possession but as we know in this division it doesn't matter about possession.

"We needed to get a clean sheet and win a game and it didn't matter how we did it.

"Obviously there's a lot of turbulence around deadline day, so the lads deserve enormous credit for the way they've dug in and got the first three points.

"The confidence can start to come from that."

BBC Radio Stoke's Lucas Yeomans hosts a transfer deadline day special to discuss the business done by Stoke City, Port Vale and Crewe Alexandra.

The show, which runs from 22:00-23:00 BST, will offer the latest updates and analysis.

Listen to it here

Subscribe to Praise and Grumble on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United have suffered a shock departure from their academy ranks.

Striker Louie Bradbury has joined Stoke on a three-year contract.

Bradbury only signed his professional contract with United on 12 August and scored in a Premier League Under-18 victory at Everton on Saturday.

However, he had already decided to leave the club at that point.

The 17-year-old, who was part of the Wales squad for this summer's Under-19 European Championships, has chosen Stoke from multiple options, believing the pathway to senior football is clearer.

Image source, Getty Images

Transfer deadline day is upon us and today is the final chance for your EFL club to finalise any business until January.

The transfer window closes at 23:00 BST, so we might have some late night scrambles to get deals over the line.

There has already been plenty of movement this summer and whether it's a busy or quiet day for your club, you will be able to keep across it all on BBC Sport.

Follow our EFL deadline day live text coverage throughout the day here

Get alerts and keep up to date with all the latest news, insight and fan views for your club

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Championship match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Stoke City.

Here are some of your comments:

Wolves fans

Peter: While the win was comfortable enough against poor opposition, Wolves' defensive inadequacies would have been punished by a better side and should be a concern for new boss Cesar.

Sorba Thomas fired in a string of dangerous crosses from the left but Wolves failed to respond tactically to the threat by closing him down. A good start to the season from Wolves but sterner tests are on the way.

Mike: Another comfortable victory after the opening shock. Wolves had far too much in midfield and going forward for Stoke. If the defence can do their job and keep the opposition quiet, Wolves should have far too much for most teams in this league.

Rob: Finally, a game when they did themselves justice. Djiga, Lopez and Munetsi were better than I have ever seen them and a return to form for Gomes with his fine poaching was very welcome. Some glimmers of a return to form for Mane similarly, and it's needed for him as Chirewa and James are showing some great promise in their brief appearances.

Image source, Shutterstock

Stoke City fans

Richard: I'm getting tired of hearing how good they were in training - but come match day we get school boy errors at the back and they're plainly not fit!

Rob: Robins has to go I'm afraid. Nothing has changed since the disastrous end to last season, and the stats don't lie. The run of successive defeats is utterly embarrassing, and the excuses are becoming increasingly pathetic. This club urgently needs yet another change before it's too late.

Anthony: A poor side who struggle to play attacking football. The manager makes some strange choices and it will be his downfall and not before time. And Walters too. No idea how to run a football team.

Mark Elliott
BBC Radio Stoke commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

When Stoke City made it clear their expectation was to compete for a play-off place this season, they will have known they would have to significantly close the gap in quality to teams like Wolves in order to succeed.

Individual errors were a major factor behind the size of the defeat at Molineux on Saturday, but a 4–1 scoreline was a chastening reminder of how much work they still have to do to compete with the best teams in the division. Much of that work will have to be done quickly if they are going to achieve their aim.

Stoke scored a great early goal through Sam Gallagher, and Sorba Thomas missed a couple of good chances, including one that could have made it 2-0, but familiar issues undid the Potters.

In each of their three league games so far this season, they have made errors at both ends of the pitch, faded significantly late in the game and seen substitutes struggle to make an impact despite having periods where they have looked competitive.

In the final days of the transfer window, they will need to add more quality and jettison some players who cannot contribute enough, while also trying to prepare for two huge home games in five days.

Those games need to return points and provide evidence Stoke are strong enough to perform consistently across an entire game and are learning from their mistakes.

Nobody is expecting them to show they are as good as Wolves in terms of squad depth and quality over the next week, but they do need to improve so that stated target does not look totally unrealistic by the end of game five.

Defeat for Stoke at Molineux on Saturday (12:30 BST) would see them lose their opening three games of a league season for the first time in 16 years.

Wolves were 3-1 winners at Preston last weekend to record their first away win in the league since April 2025 when they won at Manchester United.

• Wolverhampton Wanderers have lost each of their past three league games against Stoke City, with this set to be their first since April 2012 in the Premier League (lost 2-1 away).

• Stoke City have won two of their past four away league matches against Wolverhampton Wanderers (D1 L1), as many victories as across their prior 27 visits (D11 L14).

• Wolves could draw four home league games in succession for the first time since April 2016, while after drawing with Blackburn in their opener, they are trying to avoid failing to win either of their opening two home matches of a second tier campaign for just the third time this century after 2004-05 and 2015-16.

• After losing their opening two league games this season, Stoke will be hoping to avoid losing their opening three fixtures of a league campaign for the first time since 2010-11 in the Premier League which included a 2-1 away loss to Wolves.

• Wolves' Adam Armstrong has only played more league games in his career without scoring against Fulham (11) than Stoke City (10 apps).

Stoke City have told Hull City they want at least £10m for Wales international winger Sorba Thomas, 27, but the Potters are also discussing a potential swap deal involving Canadian attacker Liam Millar, 26. (Sky Sports), external

For more EFL transfer news and rumours, read Thursday's full gossip column here.

Mark Elliott
BBC Radio Stoke commentator

Image source, Getty Images

Despite a good start from Hull, Stoke spent much of the first half in the ascendancy and deserved to take the lead through a well worked goal from Robert Bozenik, but conceding just before half-time robbed them of their momentum and they didn't ever really get it back.

The Premier League visitors weren't great, they'd made eleven changes but missed several chances in a poor spectacle of a second half before sneaking through on penalties.

The big positives for Stoke came in the form of minutes for players who have been on the fringes of things so far and an impressive debut from teenager Laurence Giani.

The 18-year-old full back kept things simple in the early stages before growing in confidence and showing more of the ability that's earned him international honours with Italy at youth level.

He looked strong enough and calm enough to provide a realistic option in a problem position for Stoke due to injuries and has been training with and around the first team for some time.

The likes of Djibril Soumare, Ben Pearson and Bozenik will benefit from the game time they got against Hull but attention will quickly turn to what feels like a far bigger game at Wolves in the league.

Stoke travel to Molineux searching for a first Championship point of the season in a campaign that needs a big performance and result to give it the kick start they need.

The latest episode of BBC Radio Stoke's A Cold Wet Tuesday Night podcast is out now.

Lucas Yeomans, Matt Sandoz and former Stoke City striker Louis Moult discuss Stoke's defeat at Southampton plus transfer talk for the final week of the window.

Listen above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.