Stoke City have been told they could already have been relegated but for their star player … goalkeeper Viktor Johansson.

Stoke go to Bristol City on Wednesday (7.45pm kick-off) looking for a second successive Championship victory under Mark Robins as they bid to move clear of the drop zone.

They are currently 18th and five points better off than Derby County, who occupy the final relegation place. However, they have been told things could be far worse but for the inspired form of summer signing Johansson.

READ MORE: Stoke City predicted starting XI vs Bristol City as Mark Robins weighs up front line

READ MORE: Mark Robins takes old fashioned approach to tackle 'strange' Stoke City fitness problem

Sky pundit Don Goodman says: "I worry that Stoke's best player has been their goalkeeper. The data suggests that Viktor Johansson has prevented 11 goals this season and imagine he hadn't done so. They could already be relegated.

“The data tells you only Plymouth Argyle concede more chances. And Stoke are also the lowest scorers in the Championship and they've lost Tom Cannon, who had scored a large percentage of their goals. I know Nathan Lowe has bags of potential but, at the minute, potential is what it is."

Cannon was on loan at Stoke but parent club Leicester City recalled him last month before completing a sale to promotion-chasing Sheffield United. Stoke responded by recalling their own loan player Lowe from a prolific spell at League Two leaders Walsall.

Although the Potters crashed out of the FA Cup last Saturday after losing a penalty shootout to Cardiff City, their last league outing was an encouraging 2-1 victory at Hull City.

Goodman told the OLBG website: “Stoke City's win at Hull was huge. Absolutely, huge. Before that, they had only won one in 15 games. They were in serious danger and still are but it was also really important for Mark Robins to get his first win in charge.

"From a psychological point of view, more than anything else, that win at Hull was huge but it's vital Stoke back it up now."

Where in the table do you think Stoke will finish? Click HERE to have your say