Pick of the stats: Southampton v Stoke City

[BBC] These two sides are hoping to bounce back from defeats on the opening weekend of the Championship season - both losing 2-1. Stoke managed only 22 points away from home last season while Southampton's home record was only bettered by the promoted duo of Coventry City and Ipswich Town. Southampton won 2-0 away against Stoke in their most recent league meeting in January but have not won back-to-back league games against the Potters since October 2006. Stoke City are unbeaten in each of their past five away league games against Saints (W4 D1); among 2026-27 Championship opponents, the Potters are only on a longer unbeaten streak away to West Ham United (6). Southampton have won their first home game in just one of their past 14 league campaigns (D8 L5 since 2012-13), though it did come last season, scoring twice late on to beat Wrexham 2-1. Stoke City lost each of their final seven away league games last season, last having a longer losing streak on the road in the Football League between August and November 2003 under Tony Pulis (8). After losing to Swansea, Stoke will be hoping to avoid losing their opening two games of a league campaign for just the third time this century, after 2010-11 and 2019-20.