Stoke City - Manchester City Preview: Mancini's side have scored one less goal on their travels than Potters have at home and away

Tony Pulis' men host the title contenders after almost picking up a shock win against Tottenham at White Hart Lane in midweek. Watch it live on ESPN this Saturday

March 24, 2012 5:30 PM GMT
Britannia Stadium — Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

Team News

Stoke

 Tony Pulis could name an unchanged eleven from the side that picked up a point and so nearly won at Spurs last time out.
Salif Diao had to come off during that game with a hamstring injury, and is doubtful for the visit of City. Ricardo Fuller serves the final game of his suspension. Matthew Etherington did no feature at White Hart Lane but should be available here.
probable lineups :  Begovic, Wilson, Shawcross, Huth, Wilkinson, Etherington, Whelan, Whitehead, Pennant, Walters, Crouch. (4-4-2).

21 Mar 2012       Tottenham 1 - Stoke City 1
18 Mar 2012       Liverpool 2 - Stoke City 1 
10 Mar 2012       Chelsea FC 1 - Stoke City 0 
03 Mar 2012       Stoke City 1 - Norwich City 0
26 Feb 2012        Stoke City 2 - Swansea City 0

Manchester City

Centre-back pair Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott both missed the midweek win over Chelsea due to injury and are once again highly doubtful to play at Stoke. Error-prone Stefan Savic missed out in that game, as Kolo Toure and Micah Richards filled in at the back, and after a positive result, they are likely to play again if neither first choice centre-halves return in time.
Carlos Tevez made his controversial and long-awaited return to the first team against Chelsea, having an immediate impact, eventually setting up Samir Nasri's winning goal.
probable lineups : Hart, Zabaleta, Touré, Richards, Clichy, Barry, Jong, Silva, Touré, Agüero, Balotelli. (4-2-3-1).

21 Mar 2012          Manchester City FC 2 - Chelsea FC 1
15 Mar 2012          Manchester City FC 3 - Sporting CP 2
11 Mar 2012          Swansea City 1 - Manchester City FC 0
8 Mar 2012           Sporting CP 1 - Manchester City FC 0
3 Mar 2012           Manchester City FC 2 - Bolton Wanderers 0

Head to Head
21 Dec 2011        Manchester City FC 3 - Stoke City 0
17 May 2011       Manchester City FC 3 - Stoke City 0
14 May 2011       Manchester City FC 1 - Stoke City 0
27 Nov 2010       Stoke City 1 - Manchester City FC 1
24 Feb 2010       Stoke City 3 - Manchester City FC 1   

Prediction 
Stoke picked up an impressive point at White Hart Lane last time out. They are much maligned for their defensive approach to the game, and they certainly went to Tottenham with the aim of avoiding defeat. They managed just that, and were efficient in stagnating much of Spurs' attacking threat. Many will expect them to do the same against Manchester City, but at home, they often set out to attack. Man City will be riding high after their last-gasp win over Chelsea on Wednesday. They extended their winning run at home in the league to 20 games with that victory, but their away form has been drastically different. They have won only 2 of their last 8 away games in the Premier League and have scored only twice in their last 6 away from the Etihad.
City have won each of their last 3 games against Stoke, but those were all at City, with each of the 3 before that at Stoke, and each of those games ending 1-1 (after 90 minutes). Stoke will make things difficult for City, who have been sincerely out of sorts away from home, particularly in front of goal. A repeat scoreline could be on the cards.

Stoke  1 - 1  Manchester City