2019–20 Stoke City F.C. season

For the season opener against Queens Park Rangers, manager Nathan Jones started three of his new signings Tommy Smith, Jordan Cousins and Nick Powell as well as handing 18-year-old Nathan Collins his first league start. Stoke made a bad start as Jordan Hugill took advantage of a mistake from Jack Butland after only seven minutes and Eberechi Eze doubled Rangers' advantage early in the second half. Sam Clucas pulled one back but the match finished 2–1 to QPR.[11] Stoke lost their first away match of the season 3–1 at newly promoted Charlton Athletic.[12] Stoke conceded after just two minutes against Derby County, Martyn Waghorn finding the net. Stoke went in front after two goals from Scott Hogan but a penalty from Waghorn denied the Potters victory.[13] Against Preston North End goalkeeper Jack Butland made two horrendous first-half errors gifting the Lillywhites a 2–0 lead. Preston added to their lead in the second half with James McClean getting a late consolation. The result increased the pressure on manager Nathan Jones who questioned Butland's state of mind.[14] Jones made six changes to his side for the visit of Leeds with Allen, Batth and Butland being dropped. It had no impact however as Leeds ran out 3–0 winners.[15] Stoke ended August with only a point after a 2–1 defeat at Birmingham City.[16]

Following the international break, Jones again made a number of changes against Bristol City with most notably the return of Badou Ndiaye. Stoke made a good start with Clucas scoring after four minutes but soon after Joe Allen was shown a red card for a foul on Josh Brownhill and Stoke were unable to see the game out with ten men, losing 2–1.[17] Stoke then made their final league trip to Brentford's Griffin Park where they played out an uninspiring goalless draw.[18] Stoke lost again the following week, 3–2 at home to Nottingham Forest.[19]

The first match of October was against Huddersfield Town who like Stoke, had made a bad start to the season. It was a match of poor quality which was won late on by the Terriers leaving Stoke cut adrift at the bottom of the table.[20] There was confusion following the match as it appeared that Jones had admitted that he would be sacked but then took media duties for the next game against Swansea City days later.[21] Stoke made a terrible start to the match as André Ayew scored inside the first minute. Stoke recovered though and levelled through Sam Clucas and they went on to earn their first victory of the season with a late goal from Scott Hogan.[22] Following the international break Stoke took on promotion favorites Fulham. A first league goal from Tyrese Campbell and a penalty from Gregory saw the Potters win 2–0 lifting themselves off the bottom of the table and ended a club record run of home games without a victory.[23] Stoke then lost 1–0 at Sheffield Wednesday, with a mistake from Liam Lindsay gifting Massimo Luongo a simple chance to score.[24] City suffered another damaging defeat, their tenth of the season away at Millwall.

Jones was sacked by Stoke on 1 November 2019.[25] Rory Delap took caretaker charge of the team for the next match, a 2–0 home defeat to promotion chasing West Bromwich Albion.[26] Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill was appointed on 8 November just before an important match against Barnsley.[27] O'Neill set the side up in a more familiar 4–3–3 formation which paid off as Stoke made a great start with Clucas lobbing Tykes keeper Bradley Collins from halfway. Gregory then converted a penalty after McClean was brought down by Alex Mowatt. Cameron McGeehan pulled one back for Barnsley just after half time before two quick goals from Allen and Clucas put Stoke into a 4–1 lead. Barnsley substitute Patrick Schmidt added a late consolation to make it 4–2. The result ended a run of 88 games without scoring three or more in a match.[28] O'Neill won his first home game 2–1 against Wigan Athletic on 23 November. Wigan took the lead through Sam Morsy after another defensive mistake from Butland and Edwards. Danny Batth equalised just after half time and deep into stoppage time Mame Biram Diouf scored his first goal since April 2018 to earn the three points.[29] Stoke lost their next match 1–0 at Cardiff City,[30] and ended November with a 2–1 defeat against Blackburn Rovers.[31]

Stoke lost 2–1 at Hull City on 7 December, despite taking an early lead through Sam Vokes. A pathetic second half display saw Jarrod Bowen score twice and Stoke failed to trouble the Tigers' goalkeeper which prompted an angry reaction from the traveling support.[32] The players responded by beating relegation rivals Luton Town 3–0.[33] City then played out a dreadful goalless draw against Reading where neither side registered a shot on target.[34] Stoke began the Christmas period with a 2–1 defeat at Middlesbrough.[35] Stoke seemed destined for another defeat against Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day after two quick goals from Morgan Fox and Tom Lees had cancelled out McClean's first half opener. Stoppage time goals from Campbell and Vokes earned Stoke a 3–2 victory and moved the side out of the bottom three for the first time this season.[36] Stoke ended a forgettable 2019 with a 1–0 loss at Fulham.[37]

Stoke began 2020 with a resounding victory away at Huddersfield Town. Vokes had given Stoke a first half lead but two quick Terriers goals following the restart turned the game in their favour. But Stoke rallied and goals from Powell, Gregory and a brace from Campbell gave City a 5–2 win.[38] After their FA Cup exit at Brentford, Stoke then played out an uneventful goalless draw with Millwall.[39] Stoke then claimed their most important victory of the season on 20 January, beating top of the table West Bromwich Albion 1–0 with an early goal from Campbell.[40] Stoke continued their revival with a 2–0 home win against Swansea City with goals from Clucas and McClean.[41] Stoke ended January with a heavy defeat at Phillip Cocu's Derby County.[42]

In the January transfer window Stoke cancelled the loans of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Mark Duffy and Scott Hogan, whilst also letting Peter Etebo, Badou Ndiaye and Ryan Woods leave on loan. Into the team came Northern Irish midfielder Jordan Thompson from Blackpool, centre-back James Chester on loan from Aston Villa and young midfielder Tashan Oakley-Boothe from Tottenham Hotspur.[43]

Stoke started February with a comfortable 3–1 victory against Charlton Athletic with goals from Ince, McClean and Powell.[44] This was followed by a 2–0 loss to Preston where wingers, McClean and Verlinden both picked up knee injuries.[45] The team suffered another heavy away defeat this time going down 4–2 at Queens Park Rangers, having taken a 2–0 lead.[46] Stoke made amends the following week, beating play-off chasing Cardiff City 2–0 and gaining a goalless draw at in-form Blackburn Rovers.[47][48] Stoke then began a run of fixtures against their relegation rivals with a 1–1 draw at Luton Town, with a late James Collins penalty cancelling out Vokes' opener.[49]

The only game in March saw Stoke easily defeat Hull City 5–1, with Clucas and Powell both scoring twice and Campbell slotting in a penalty, although there was a bad moment through as Joe Allen suffered a season-ending ankle injury.[50] On 13 March The EFL was suspended until 3 April due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[51] This was extended until 30 April,[52] but was then suspended indefinitely on 3 April 2020.[53] On 11 May 2020 the UK government confirmed there will be no professional sport in England until 1 June 2020 at the earliest.[54]

During the crisis Stoke allowed the NHS to set up a drive-through test centre on the Bet365 Stadium east car park whilst a local company used the north car park to fulfill a government contract to make equipment for the NHS Nightingale Hospitals.[55] Championship squads returned to training on 25 May with the intention to finish the season behind closed doors, with some temporary new rules including five substitutes being allowed.[56]

The provisional fixture list for the remaining nine matches was announced on 8 June 2020.[57] Stoke's preparations for the season restart were disrupted after manager O'Neill tested positive for coronavirus on 9 June which caused a training match against Manchester United to be cancelled.[58] Stoke played two ninety-minute practice matches against Derby County on 13 June 2020.[59] O'Neill was able to return to work on 19 June after displaying no symptoms.[60]

Stoke drew their first match of the restart 1–1 away at Reading with a 92nd-minute header from Nick Powell cancelling out Lucas João's early strike.[61] City then suffered a poor 2–0 defeat against relegation rivals Middlesbrough which saw Powell sent-off late on for two bookable offences.[62] This was followed by a shambolic performance at Wigan Athletic who easily outplayed Stoke winning 3–0 with O'Neill questioning the players desire and attitude.[63]

The players responded by beating relegation rivals Barnsley 4–0 with Campbell scoring twice.[64] They were then heavily beaten 5–0 at league leaders Leeds United.[65] Stoke secured a vital 2–0 victory against out of form Birmingham City on 12 July, lifting the team four points above the relegation zone with three games remaining.[66] City continued to edge closer to safety with a 1–1 draw at Bristol City, Danny Batth's powerful 64th-minute header cancelling out Filip Benković's first half opener.[67] Stoke secured their Championship status with a 1–0 win against promotion chasing Brentford, with Lee Gregory scoring after Bees' keeper David Raya spilled a shot from Clucas.[68] Stoke ended the 2019–20 season with a 4–1 victory at Nottingham Forest a result which saw Forest dramatically miss out on a play-off place, whilst Stoke finished the campaign in 15th position.[69]