Both desperately looking to halt six-game winless runs, relegation rivals Stoke City and Cardiff City will clash for an all-important Championship battle at bet365 Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Potters endured another disappointing second-tier outing at Luton Town earlier in the week, whilst the Bluebirds produced a limp display in South Wales against Preston North End.
Match preview
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Following a two-goal success over playoff hopefuls Blackburn Rovers on November 6, Stoke City have endured a six-game winless run in the 2024-25 Championship, collecting three points during that worrying spell and losing three straight matches most recently for the first time since early February.
It looked as if the Potters were heading towards a much-needed victory on the road when Leicester City loanee Tom Cannon fired the visitors ahead at Luton's Kenilworth Road on Tuesday night, however strikes from Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo completed a comeback win for the Hatters.
Conceding in the 90th minute last time out to suffer their ninth defeat of the second-tier campaign, Stoke's confidence was dented further amid a troubling run of results, with new head coach Narcis Pelach winning just three of his 16 competitive matches in charge since arriving in September.
Chasing some festive cheer and three points on Saturday afternoon in Staffordshire, the Potters are currently occupying 18th position in the Championship standings, four points ahead of visitors Cardiff who lie in the relegation spots and a mammoth 11 points behind sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion.
Falling into the category of a side in transition, Stoke are largely relying on a host of young stars to fuel their second-tier ambitions this season, with only four of the Potters' 21 league goals being scored by players over the age of 22.
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Just days after being announced as manager until the end of the season following an interim period in charge, Omer Riza's honeymoon period at Cardiff City officially ended, with Saturday's visitors to Stoke suffering a sobering 2-0 defeat at home to Preston on Wednesday.
The 45-year-old boss claimed that his side were "nowhere near it" on the night against Paul Heckingbottom's Lilywhites, who collected a comfortable maximum in the end courtesy of an own goal from former Arsenal man Callum Chambers and a third of the term for Montenegro international Milutin Osmajic.
Earning just four points across their last six second-tier battles, Cardiff have slumped down into the relegation zone of the Championship rankings ahead of this weekend's trip to Staffordshire, just a single point ahead of bottom side Hull City, who recently appointed Ruben Selles as their new manager.
Attempting their best Plymouth Argyle impression, the Bluebirds have struggled enormously on the road in the second tier so far this season, with Riza's troops searching for their maiden away success at the 10th attempt on Saturday, although the Welsh outfit managed a respectable draw at Coventry City last time out.
Making the net ripple on just 17 occasions across their opening 19 matches of the Championship term, Cardiff have the division's poorest attack and a serious creativity issue, with academy graduate Rubin Colwill (4) the only player to provide more than one league assist so far.
Team News
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Lacking physicality and experience at the moment, Stoke are counting down the days until the return of Sam Gallagher, who is recovering from a calf injury sustained in October.
The Potters are short of depth in their engine room as the festive schedule ramps up, with both Ben Pearson (hamstring) and Bosun Lawal (back) targeting returns at the end of the month.
Pelach could opt to freshen up the starting XI following an energy-expending defeat at Luton on Tuesday, meaning that the likes of Andrew Moran and Lynden Gooch will be hopeful of spots in the team.
Representing a major blow to those of a Cardiff persuasion, head coach Riza has stated that he is unsure when Aaron Ramsey will return from a long-term hamstring injury.
The Bluebirds are also with the knowhow of David Turnbull (muscle) and Manolis Siopis (knock), resulting in the visitors lacking a steeliness in midfield during recent matches.
Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Wilmot, Phillips, Rose; Koumas, Seko, Burger, Bocat; Manhoef, Moran, Cannon
Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Alnwick; Ng, Goutas, Chambers, Bagan; Ralls, Robertson, El-Ghazi, Colwill, O'Dowda, Robinson
We say: Stoke City 2-0 Cardiff City
In the midst of a six-game winless run, Stoke will view Saturday's visit of relegation rivals Cardiff as the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways.
The Bluebirds will be bruised after their woeful Wednesday night with Preston, and we feel that the Welsh outfit's luckless spell on the road will stretch to 10 games.
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Carter White
