Steven Schumacher manager of Plymouth Argyle applauds the fans at full time looks dejected during the Sky Bet Championship match Coventry City vs Plymouth Argyle at Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry, United Kingdom, 28th November 2023 (Photo by Stan Kasala/News Images)
News as Stoke City battles to remain in the Championship from the bet365 Stadium
Steven Schumacher is adamant that he believes the players in Stoke City’s locker room can help the team secure a spot in the Championship.
In what appears to be a 10-club battle at the bottom of the division, Stoke has dropped to 19th place, along with Rotherham, the bottom team, who are currently 14 points down. With 13 games remaining, the gap between Birmingham City, in 15th place, and Queens Park Rangers, in 22nd place, is only six points.
Cardiff, who are only two points ahead of Birmingham and visit Stoke this weekend, is one of five teams in the bottom half that has lost five of their past six games. Cardiff is adamant not to be drawn into the dog fight. Stoke is one of those teams.
With eleven senior players missing from last Saturday’s matchday 20 against Coventry, Schumacher is managing a large squad. Additionally, concerns have been raised regarding discipline in the wake of Ryan Mmaee’s demotion to the under-21 squad.
But the head coach thinks he can rely on the players to compete for the badge. “It’s a big game, but they all are,” he remarked. There are still 13 games left, and many of the teams in the lower half of the division are in a similar position as us. We need to make sure we’re prepared to defend ourselves, and we keep urging the players to do just that. I’m confident that we have the appropriate characters in place to achieve the desired outcomes.
Wins for Sheffield Wednesday and QPR last weekend increased the pressure on their bottom-dwelling opponents, and this is the time of year when fans of all clubs are paying more attention to the standings.
Stoke still controls their own destiny, and they do not want to be in a situation where they have to rely on the goodwill of other teams or hope for the best for those around them.
Schumacher responded, “No, but that’s the reality of it, that’s what it is.” Every week, some clubs will win a game here or there, while some teams will finish in the bottom part of the standings. That is the way it is.
“We have to concentrate on organizing our own game and gaining points wherever we can, instead of worrying about what other people are doing.”
Tyrese Campbell and Andre Vidigal, who both played significant roles as overage players in the under-21s’ 4-3 victory over Brighton on Monday afternoon, may be considered for Cardiff’s roster. Campbell contributed two assists, while Vidigal scored one and made another. Mmaee was not mentioned, but it’s assumed that nothing has changed for him.
