Stoke ‘v’ Man City – Preview

Brimming with confidence after successive hard-fought victories in the Premier League, Manchester City make the short journey south to face a Stoke side suffering from a loss of form and belief and without a win in any competition for eleven games. City, meanwhile, are unbeaten in four Premier League games, and come into this encounter looking to cement their position in the top half of the table.

Team News

Blues boss Mark Hughes faces one of his easier team selections for a while, with only a pair of minor injuries to Pablo Zabaleta and Shaun Wright-Phillips causing concern. SWP limped off in the previous match against Newcaslte  after a hefty challenge, whilst Argentinean defender-turned-midfielder Zabaleta pulled up with cramp in his thigh. It is hoped that both these key figures will be fit and raring to go by Saturday lunchtime. Apart from this, Hughes will be expected to name the same side that defeated Newcastle 2-1. Craig Bellamy will continue up-front on his own, ably supported by the runs and trickery of Robinho, Stephen Ireland and either SWP or Elano. Nigel de Jong slipped effortlessly into the team against the Magpies but will surely face a harder challenge against the more physical Potters.

de Jong had a comfortable start to his City career against Newcastle but Stoke will be a different proposition

My Team

                                            Hart

Richards           Kompany                  Onuoha            Bridge

                        Zabaleta                   de Jong

SWP                                   Ireland                            Robinho

                                         Bellamy

Subs: Schmeichel, Garrido, Logan, Elano, Sturridge, Caicedo, Jo

The home side also have a number of injuries worries to contend with. Usual right-back Andy Wilkinson is struggling with flu, and solid, no-nonsense Senegalese defender Abdoulaye Faye is doubtful with the injury he picked up against Tottenham. At the other end of the field, Jamaican striker and captain-slapper Ricardo Fuller is expected to return in place of Richard Cresswell to partner new signing James Beattie up-front.

Key Battles

Matthew Etherington ‘v’ Micah Richards

Tricky, left-winger Etherington looks a different player to the one we saw in his latter days at West Ham. He seems to have enjoyed a good start start to his Stoke career, but Richards will look to nullify his threat (even though he probably know what nullify means). Richards started off the season at centre-back, and looked poor, but has recently been moved to right-back where he has shown the sparkle which got him into the England squad.

Etherington has impressed since joining Stoke

Andy Griffin ‘v’ Robinho

Griffin will replace Andy Wilkinson in the side and will be faced with the demanding prospect of containing City’s star man, Robinho. After a turbulent week, in which he flew home to Brazil against the manger’s wishes and then faced serious allegations of rape, Robinho played a crucial role in the win over Newcastle, and will be City’s main threat at the Britannia Stadium.

Thomas Sorensen ‘v’ Joe Hart

With all the talk being of City signing Shay Given, Hart has hardly put a foot wrong, making a number of valuable contributions to the side. Sorensen has been one of Stoke’s best performers this season and will need to be at his best if Stoke are to have a chance in this game.

Verdict: Stoke 1 – 2 Man City

It should be a close affair, with Stoke maybe looking to contain City and force a draw, although I believe City possess the necessary quality to win the game. Goals to be scored by Robinho, Bellamy and Beattie.