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[monks data]
Stoke logo
Championship | Gameweek 17
Dec 8, 2020 at 7.45pm UK
Bet365 Stadium
Cardiff City logo

Stoke
1 - 2
Cardiff

Morrison (25' og.)
Smith (62'), McClean (73')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Glatzel (66'), Morrison (76')
Vaulks (24'), Ojo (90+5')

Preview: Stoke City vs. Cardiff City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Championship clash between Stoke City and Cardiff City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Stoke City welcome Cardiff City to the bet365 Stadium on Tuesday evening looking for the victory which would keep the club in the Championship playoffs.

However, the visitors make the trip to Staffordshire as the only team in the division to win their last three games, a run which has moved the Bluebirds into 11th position.


Match preview

Stoke City manager Michael O'Neill pictured in October 2020© Reuters

Stoke have emerged as one of the more unpredictable sides this season, mixing drab one-goal wins with end-to-end thrillers which have not always gone their way.

On the back of conceding six goals in just two matches, Michael O'Neill's side have now recorded three clean sheets in a row against Sheffield Wednesday, Wycombe Wanderers and Middlesbrough.

While that trio have all struggled in the final third this campaign, O'Neill will be satisfied with a seven-point haul which has moved the Potters back into the top six.

Even though the goals have dried up at one end of the pitch, the increasing confidence of England Under-21s goalkeeper Josef Bursik has been a huge plus point at the other.

With the top six out of the way for 2020, O'Neill will have identified this period of the season as one where they can make significant progress, and few people would be surprised if this team topped the standings at the turn of the year.

However, they cannot afford to get ahead of themselves at this stage, and Cardiff will provide their toughest test since they lost out to Norwich City on November 24.

Bluebirds manager Neil Harris has cut a frustrated figure since the beginning of September, but victories over Luton Town, Huddersfield Town and Watford have lifted the mood in the Welsh capital.

Like their hosts, three clean sheets have been recorded in succession, while a considerable improvement has been made in attack with Kieffer Moore netting four times over the same period.

Cardiff have arguably the toughest run of games up until Boxing Day with Swansea City, Norwich City and Brentford all to come in quick succession.

Nevertheless, picking up maximum points on Tuesday evening would make the teams above them sit up and take note, particularly their fierce rivals ahead of Saturday's derby.

Stoke City Championship form: WWLDWW

Cardiff City Championship form: LDLWWW


Team News

Cardiff manager Neil Harris pictured in July 2020© Reuters

Barring any late fitness problems, Harris may select the Cardiff side which started the game at Watford.

That would see Mark Harris retain his place in the final third, keeping the likes of Junior Hoilett and Robert Glatzel on the substitutes' bench.

With a number of his key players still struggling with injuries, O'Neill could name the same Stoke XI.

Ryan Shawcross will remain among the replacements after his first outing of the season at the weekend, while O'Neill will hope that John Obi Mikel can return to the squad after a calf issue.

Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Bursik; Collins, Chester, Batth, M.Fox; Cousins, Clucas; Campbell, Powell, McClean; Brown

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Smithies; Bacuna, Morrison, Nelson, Bennett; Wilson, Ralls, Vaulks, Ojo; Moore, Harris


SM words green background

We say: Stoke City 1-1 Cardiff City

Both clubs will sense an opportunity to move higher in the standings after their recent upturn in results. Nevertheless, we expect a hard-fought battle in the Potteries, once which could end in a low-scoring draw.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or draw in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Draw:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Cardiff City win with a probability of 38.15%. A win for Stoke City had a probability of 34.6% and a draw had a probability of 27.3%.

The most likely scoreline for a Cardiff City win was 0-1 with a probability of 10.83%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (8.18%) and 0-2 (6.86%). The likeliest Stoke City win was 1-0 (10.2%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (12.91%). The actual scoreline of 1-2 was predicted with an 8.2% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Cardiff City would win this match.


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Game History

How you voted: Stoke vs Cardiff

Stoke City
60.4%
Draw
29.0%
Cardiff City
10.6%
245
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Cardiff City manager Neil Harris pictured in October 2020
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds1695228121632
2Sunderland1695226121432
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1610422191232
4Burnley168621961330
5Middlesbrough1683529191027
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom166821811726
7Watford168262524126
8Millwall166641914524
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City165742020022
11Derby CountyDerby165562020020
12Stoke CityStoke165561920-120
13Norwich CityNorwich164752524119
14Swansea CitySwansea165471414019
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds165471826-819
16Luton TownLuton165381826-818
17Coventry CityCoventry164572223-117
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd164571924-517
19Plymouth ArgylePlymouth164571728-1117
20Preston North EndPreston163761624-816
21Cardiff CityCardiff164481524-916
22Hull City163671621-515
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR161871326-1311


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