CARDIFF CITY v STOKE CITYTuesday 26th November, 7.45pm
SkyBet Championship
Cardiff City Stadium Neil Harris' first home match as Cardiff City manager :thumb right:
Cardiff City:
Neil Etheridge Lee Peltier Curtis Nelson Aden Flint Joe Bennett Leandro Bacuna
Marlon Pack Nathaniel Mendez-Laing Junior Hoilett Lee Tomlin Gary Madine
Subs:Alex Smithies Cameron Coxe Sean Morrison Will Vaulks Callum Paterson Josh Murphy Omar Bogle
Pay on the night for both Fans
TEAM NEWS:
Cardiff City manager Neil Harris will be without key midfielder Joe Ralls tonight owing to a groin injury which is set to rule the player out for a couple of weeks.
It comes as a huge blow to the Bluebirds, with top-scorer Ralls being arguably their most consistent performer this season.
Ralls was omitted from Neil Warnock's final squad, the loss at home to Bristol City, but it was thought he would be fit and firing following the international break.
That has not proven the case, however, and Ralls, who Harris branded a 'superstar' last week, will miss at least this game and the away trip to Nottingham Forest this Saturday.
Another change Harris could be forced into is omitting Callum Paterson, who picked up a knock in Saturday's game to continue his rotten luck with injuries this season. They will make a late call but it looks unlikely.
Gavin Whyte is also unlikely to return for tonight's match.
Elsewhere, it looks as though Sol Bamba will not be included in the squad to face Stoke, having played for the under-23s against Charlton yesterday.
But more game time, even if it is for the under-23s, can only be a good thing for Bamba as he strives to edge his way back into the first-team fray.
Danny Ward, whose suspension will be served after tonight's clash, and Jazz Richards also got vital minutes under their belts against the young Addicks.
Matthew Connolly and Isaac Vassell are still the long-term absentees and will also not be included in the side.
I can't get to Cardiff City Stadium, is the match on TV? Yes, the match is live on Sky Sports Red Button and Cardiff City TV.
About Stoke CityStoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Founded as Stoke Ramblers in the 1860s, the club changed its name to Stoke in 1878 and then to Stoke City in 1925 after Stoke-on-Trent was granted city status. Stoke were one of the twelve founding members of the Football League in 1888. The team competes in the Championship, the second tier of English football.
Their first, and to date only, major trophy, the League Cup was won in 1972, when the team beat Chelsea 2–1. The club's highest league finish in the top division is fourth, which was achieved in the 1935–36 and 1946–47 seasons. Stoke played in the FA Cup Final in 2011, finishing runners-up to Manchester City and have reached three FA Cup semi-finals; in 1899 then consecutively in 1971 and 1972. Stoke have competed in European football on three occasions, firstly in 1972–73 then in 1974–75 and most recently in 2011–12. The club has won the Football League Trophy twice, in 1992 and in 2000.
Stoke's home ground is the 30,089 all-seater, bet365 Stadium. Before the stadium was opened in 1997, the club was based at the Victoria Ground, which had been their home ground since 1878. The club's nickname is 'The Potters', named after the pottery industry in Stoke-on-Trent and their traditional home kit is a red and white vertically striped shirt, white shorts and stockings. Stoke's traditional rivals are Midlands clubs West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers whilst their local rivals are Port Vale with whom they contest the Potteries derby.
Previous MeetingWe last faced Stoke in April 2014. The Premier League fixture at Cardiff City Stadium finished 1-1. Both goals came from the penalty spot, with Marko Arnautovic and Peter Whittingham on target.
Team News - Predicted Line-Ups Cardiff City: Etheridge, Peltier, Nelson, Flint, Bennett, Pack, Bacuna, Hoilett, Mendez-Laing, Paterson, Madine
Stoke City: Butland, Edwards, Batth, Martins Indi, Ward, Allen, Woods, Powell, Ince, N'Diaye, Gregory
Form - Last Three Games Charlton Athletic 2-2 Cardiff City
Cardiff City 0-1 Bristol City
Cardiff City 4-2 Birmingham City
Stoke City 2-1 Wigan Athletic
Barnsley 2-4 Stoke City
Stoke City 0-2 West Bromwich Albion
Match OddsCardiff City - 6/5
Stoke City - 9/4
Draw - 23/10
PredictionsPost your predictions below