Latest News Stoke C v Cardiff C: ' Official Match Thread

' UPDATED DAILY '

Stoke City v Cardiff City


Our first midweek game of the season!

2,200 Cardiff City fans will be at the Britannia Stadium

Updated 8am Wednesday 4th December 2013.

' Cardiff City '

Malky has a fully/fit squad to pick from but is expected to make one or two changes from the team that lost to
Arsenal 3 nil.

' Stoke City '

Mark Hughes has a mini injury crisis on his hands ahead of Stoke`s home fixture to rivals Cardiff City.

Robert Huth and Marko Arnautovic, who sat out of the Potters 4-0 defeat at Goodison Park to Roberto Martinez`s Everton, will also be missing for the visit of Malky Mackay`s side with knee and hamstring problems respectively.

Jonathan Walters, who has played in 102 consecutive Premier League games, is a doubt with a thigh injury. If Walters doesn`t prove himself to be fit, then it will be the first time since February 2011 that the Republic of Ireland international has failed to make the Potters starting eleven in the league.

Hughes will be relieved that loanne Stephen Ireland is available for selection and Kenwyne Jones is also pushing for a start after coming off the bench in the defeat at the weekend.



UPDATED 6.15pm Tuesday 3rd Dec 2014

Mark Hughes is confident Stoke will atone for their drubbing at Everton, when they face Cardiff tomorrow at the Britannia.

Hughes says his players were hurt by their 4-0 loss at Goodison and that they are determined to put it right against Cardiff.

The Potters need three points and they have slipped to 16th, having won just one league game since August 31.

The Stoke boss said: "We were disappointed with the scoreline. Everton were probably better than us and deserved to win.

"The scoreline did not make great reading, but we will get a response on Wednesday.

"It's a nice game for us and a big opportunity to get some points on the board.

"Cardiff will make it difficult and we'll have to match that, but we have more than enough to take it away from them.

"We were on a nice little run - four games unbeaten - and we were looking to continue that at Everton.

"The onus is on us to go on another run and make sure we continue to be strong at home."

Hughes claims Jonathan Walters could miss out with a thigh problem, while Marko Arnautovic is unlikely to play because of a hamstring injury.


UPDATED 6.45pm Monday 2nd Dec 2014.

Stoke are missing attacker Marko Arnautovic (hamstring) and defender Robert Huth (knee), but Cardiff have no major injury worries ahead of the match.


Malky has a couple of minor injuries and will be hoping that treatment on them today and tomorrow will give Malky a full fit squad to pick from on Wednesday




Possible Stoke side:-


Possible City side (my side):-


I would start Cornelius, and use him to bully the one CB Muniesa, who's playing due to injuries to Huth. He's very inexperienced, and that may work for us, if we use the strength and pace of Cornelius up top, albeit for only 60 minutes due to lack of fitness.

Last 5 games against each other:-
14 Apr 2007---- Cardiff City 1-1 Stoke City --- League Championship
11 Aug 2007---- Cardiff City 0-1 Stoke City --- League Championship
02 Feb 2008---- Stoke City 2-1 Cardiff City --- League Championship
08 Jan 2011---- Stoke City 1-1 Cardiff City --- FA Cup
18 Jan 2011---- Cardiff City 0-2 Stoke City --- FA Cup

Fact:-
The last time the two sides met was in January 2011, in an FA Cup third round replay. Stoke won 0-2.

Prediction:-
Stoke City 0-1 Cardiff City (Cornelius)

Cant see us beating stoke on their home patch, they will be targeting this game as 3 points, crouch is still a dangerous player, will be happy with a draw

Cant see us beating stoke on their home patch, they will be targeting this game as 3 points, crouch is still a dangerous player, will be happy with a draw

I'd be happy with a draw too but I think we can get 3 points. Stoke aren't the team they were defensively under Pulis. I think we can do them.

Cant see us beating stoke on their home patch, they will be targeting this game as 3 points, crouch is still a dangerous player, will be happy with a draw

I'd be happy with a draw too but I think we can get 3 points. Stoke aren't the team they were defensively under Pulis. I think we can do them.

The last 5 results do not give me much optimism mind no wins from 5

Good post. Totally agree with it all.

Cant see us beating stoke on their home patch, they will be targeting this game as 3 points, crouch is still a dangerous player, will be happy with a draw

I'd be happy with a draw too but I think we can get 3 points. Stoke aren't the team they were defensively under Pulis. I think we can do them.

The last 5 results do not give me much optimism mind no wins from 5

Hmm. It really does depend on the tactics MM uses. If we sit back, I can't see us winning, but if we play like we did v UTD, we can get a result.

Good post. Totally agree with it all.

Cant see us beating stoke on their home patch, they will be targeting this game as 3 points, crouch is still a dangerous player, will be happy with a draw

I'd be happy with a draw too but I think we can get 3 points. Stoke aren't the team they were defensively under Pulis. I think we can do them.

The last 5 results do not give me much optimism mind no wins from 5

Hmm. It really does depend on the tactics MM uses. If we sit back, I can't see us winning, but if we play like we did v UTD, we can get a result.

I think we have been alot more attacking since dropping gunnarsson

Cant see us beating stoke on their home patch, they will be targeting this game as 3 points, crouch is still a dangerous player, will be happy with a draw

I'd be happy with a draw too but I think we can get 3 points. Stoke aren't the team they were defensively under Pulis. I think we can do them.

The last 5 results do not give me much optimism mind no wins from 5

Hmm. It really does depend on the tactics MM uses. If we sit back, I can't see us winning, but if we play like we did v UTD, we can get a result.

I think we have been alot more attacking since dropping gunnarsson

Agreed mate. Mutch gives us a lot more going forward. He's so direct.

I'd be happy with a draw, but I think we've got this one. Campbell will start and have a great game, Stoke don't have the most agile defence. Cowie style of play should really do well too

I'd be happy with a draw, but I think we've got this one. Campbell will start and have a great game, Stoke don't have the most agile defence. Cowie style of play should really do well too

I think we should play Cornelius for the first 60-70mins, then bring on Campbell and stretch them..

We have not seen Cornelius play for more than 5mins but you think he should start over Campbell......?

We have not seen Cornelius play for more than 5mins but you think he should start over Campbell......?

He clearly has strength and pace, and can hold up the ball. I think we should use him yes, considering he cost 7.5m.

I think we should try 4-1-3-2

I will go for

Stoke C 1 Cardiff C 1

I think Noone should start this game, been very impressed with him against Man Utd and arsenal , im going 1-1 and Mutch to score our goal

With Huth being out then they can be found out at the back as Everton proved yesterday so we must attack as much as possible.

Every big home performance we put in seems to get overlooked by terrible away form, hopefully this wont be the case

I think Noone should start this game, been very impressed with him against Man Utd and arsenal , im going 1-1 and Mutch to score our goal

Noone has looked really good I agree, but I don't think he will start...

2-0 to the Bluebirds

Think we need to believe in ourselves more and attack them. We need to play more attacking game, higher up pitch. Noone has shown that he should start on the wing simple as - he gives us a total new dimension to the attacking option.

Cowie needs to be left at home for me to make way. Or put Odemwinge out on other flank (looked dangerous in that position rather than lone striker) Id start with Jordan in the gap but Kimbo to swap later when defences are getting tired. Id love to see 2 up front but away from home no chance. Fraz played very well for me just hope he aint injured

I wouldn't pick Odemwingie again after his pathetic dive on Saturday!

Arsenal went straight up the pitch and scored their third when he went over like Ashley Young!

I wouldn't pick Odemwingie again after his pathetic dive on Saturday!

Arsenal went straight up the pitch and scored their third when he went over like Ashley Young!

Forgot to mention, he gets caught offside more times than Bellamy (When Bellers plays up front) and he's pushing for Earnie's top spot!

Can't quite get my head around the Cornelius situation at the minute. We seem to be a bit lightweight as far as goal scoring is concerned, yet we have a very expensive(for Cardiff)striker not getting much game time. I would have thought if he's on the bench he must be fit to play, but if he's only fit enough to play for just a few minutes then he shouldn't be on the bench. Would like to see him have enough time to at least get up to the pace of the match, and to see if he is a true premiership quality striker. I'm sure Malky knows what he's doing though, and has his reasons for holding him back at the minute. I'm just looking forward to seeing exactly what he can do.

I hope he plays cornielious on wed and noone is a must for me i would go rigid 442 with frazer up with the big guy and odemwinge on the other wing and whitts and mutch thru the middle plenty of pace and ve positive also the big guy can help our own set pieces in defence against a big stoke team im going for city 2 1 with noone and campbell to score

I hope he plays cornielious on wed and noone is a must for me i would go rigid 442 with frazer up with the big guy and odemwinge on the other wing and whitts and mutch thru the middle plenty of pace and ve positive also the big guy can help our own set pieces in defence against a big stoke team im going for city 2 1 with noone and campbell to score

Chief, I'm with u on this, I would like to see this happen.

I hope he plays cornielious on wed and noone is a must for me i would go rigid 442 with frazer up with the big guy and odemwinge on the other wing and whitts and mutch thru the middle plenty of pace and ve positive also the big guy can help our own set pieces in defence against a big stoke team im going for city 2 1 with noone and campbell to score

No Medel????

I hope he plays cornielious on wed and noone is a must for me i would go rigid 442 with frazer up with the big guy and odemwinge on the other wing and whitts and mutch thru the middle plenty of pace and ve positive also the big guy can help our own set pieces in defence against a big stoke team im going for city 2 1 with noone and campbell to score

No Medel????

Oops your right weve forgot Medel

Michael Oliver will be the man in the charge when Stoke welcome the visit of Malky Mackay`s newly promoted Cardiff to the Britannia Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Oliver has refereed nine times this season handing out 37 yellow cards and no red cards, at an average of 4.1 cards per game.

The Northumberland F.A. referee was promoted to the Premier League select group of referee`s in 2010, becoming the youngster Premier League referee at the age of 25. In 2012, Oliver was promoted to the FIFA list of referees and is available for any European competition such as the Champions League.

The official refereed Stoke four times last season. Stoke won both their home fixtures under Oliver against Reading (2-1) and Fulham (1-0), whilst the Potters lost both their fixtures against Chelsea (1-00 and Manchester City (3-0) under the stewardship of the official. Oliver handed out eleven yellow cards, six to Stoke players.

The 28-year-old last officiated Cardiff in March 2012 against rivals Bristol City, where the Red Dragons won 2-1 at Ashton Gate. He handed out 5 yellow cards, 3 to Cardiff players.

S Ledger and D Eaton are the assistant referees.

Read more: http://www.stoke.vitalfootball.co.uk/ar ... z2mMRY4HsC

I would take a point. But I really think we can take it home tomorrow. Massive game I reckon for us. With palace around the corner we need to start getting something on the board now. Regardless who we play. I can honestl say I can see us getting back to back wins for the first time in the premier league