Cardiff City travel to the Bet365 Stadium seeking to end Stoke City's impressive run of form.
The Opposition:
Alex Neil oversaw a huge summer rebuild at The Potters as he added Ciaran Clark from Newcastle, Junior Tchamdaeu from Colchester, Lynden Gooch from Sunderland, Sead Haksabanovic from Celtic, Joon-Ho Bae from Daejon Hana Citizen, Wouter Burger from Basel, Enda Stevens from Sheffield United, Nikola Jojic from Mladost GAT, Mehdi Leris from Sampdoria, Luke McNally from Burnley, Wesley from Aston Villa, Ryan Mmaee from Ferencvaros, Andre Vidigal from Maritimo, Ki-Jana Hoever from Wolves, Daniel Johnson from Preston, Michael Rose from Coventry and Ben Pearson from Bournemouth. Stoke also brought in Mark Travers from Bournemouth and Chiquinho from Wolves, but both have returned to their parent clubs.
Alex Neil's side typically line-up with a 4-2-3-1. Neil’s men want to build up from the back and maintain possession. The two midfielders play on the same line as the fullbacks whilst building up. This allows for space to be created whilst giving the centre-backs options to pass to. Alex Neil's sides tend to press strong as the front line applies strong pressure on the opposition's centre halves.
The Potters sit eleventh after three impressive wins in a row.
The Bluebirds:
Cardiff are coming off the back of an impressive Derby Day win as they beat Bristol City 2-0 last time out, with goals from Perry Ng and Rubin Colwill. The Bluebirds will seek to make it three wins in a row and seek to go as high as third in the Championship table.
It will be a tough game for The Bluebirds but it should be an entertaining game as two good sides face off. I could see both having an equal amount of possession, The Bluebirds will win this game if they have a strong press and are defensively solid and smart.
Team News:
Cardiff City - Kion Etete is back available for The Bluebirds. Ramsey and O'Dowda remain out.
Stoke City - Tyrese Campbell, Ben Wilmot, Ryan Mmaee and Lewis Baker have all been ruled out. Stoke are hopeful that Ben Pearson will be available to return. Jordan Thompson is suspended.
Preferred XI:
GK - Jak Alnwick
LB - Jamilu Collins
LCB - Mark McGuinness
RCB - Dimitrios Goutas
RB - Perry Ng
RDM - Manolis Siopis
LDM - Joe Ralls
CAM - Callum Robinson
LW - Karlan Grant
RW - Josh Bowler
ST - Yakou Meite
Prediction:
Stoke City 1-1 Cardiff City
I could see the two sides playing out a draw. Both are two good sides but I don't think either will be able to find a breakthrough.
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