These changes failed to improve the team and they began the season in terrible form collecting just eight points from the first 14 matches which lead to Jones being sacked by the club on 1 November 2019.

Stoke began 2020 well, beating Huddersfield Town 5–2 and also registering wins over promotion contenders West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City.

Poor defeats against Derby County and Queens Park Rangers prevented the side from pulling clear of the bottom three, until a 5–1 win over Hull City at the beginning of March.

Stoke announced their retained list in May 2019, the most notable departures were the veteran Scottish duo Charlie Adam and Darren Fletcher and reserve goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard.

In came goalkeeper Adam Davies, defenders Liam Lindsay and Stephen Ward, midfielders Jordan Cousins and Nick Powell and striker Lee Gregory.

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.

[25] Rory Delap took caretaker charge of the team for the next match, a 2–0 home defeat to promotion chasing West Bromwich Albion.

[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.

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.

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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

City took a 2–0 lead through Danny Batth and Sam Vokes before a Butland error gifted Leeds a way back and Hélder Costa sent the tie to penalties.