You must log in or register to see images
You must log in or register to see images
Game #43 (#44 for our visitors) sees our beloved Bluebirds back on home soil and ready to face the visit of Stoke City after what can only be described as a rather unexpected but welcome win in mid-week over play-off chasing Watford.
What a difference 1 win can make..... whilst we blew the Hornets away with a first half attacking rampage (oh ok, it was a very good 15 - 20 minute 1st half spell) our visitors were being turned over at home on Tuesday night by relegation favourites Wigan.
It's absolutely fair to say the Potters' form has been very erratic all season, culminating in yet another tedious mid-table esq season for them. They currently sit in 17th spot, 2 places and 7 points better off than ourselves, so victory for the Bluebirds could even ultimately see the Welsh Capital City club in a good position to leap frog our opponents by the end of season (well, one can hope
).With just 1 win and a total of 5 points from their last 6 games it could be assumed that their players have pretty much downed tools and are thinking of their summer holidays. despit only being 9 points above the drop zone, with 9 still to play, their +4 goal difference is far superior to Reading's -19, so you'd expect safety for them to be assured.
The potteries team do still have some very useful (if under performing) players in their side, so we best hope our SAS duo have the boys fired up and raring to go.
You must log in or register to see images
Stoke City's William Small Bone was unimpressed with the oversized shirts, designed to protect them from UV rays whilst they see out their season.
The game earlier this season at the B365 Stadium saw a topsy turvey game, with City taking the lead through Wintle in the 6th minute, but quickly being pegged back and overtaken with quickfire goals from Stoke on 11 & 18 minutes.
City shared the spoils with an equaliser from Robinson on 58 minutes but the Bluebirds were maybe a little lucky to not concede a penalty for a challenge by Kipre on Liam Delap – son of former Potters stalwart Rory.
You must log in or register to see images
Callum Robinson gestures to his mate and avid Bluebird King Charles in the crowd after scoring the City's equaliser.
Last seasons corresponding game at the CCS saw City run out 2-1 winners with goals from Doyle and Hugill. City went behind but goals on 39 and 43 minutes from our loanees saw us take a lead we wouldn’t relinquish.
The result saw City go level with a Stoke side that had been in the play-offs after a 3-3 at the Bet365 earlier in the season.. City having moved out from the relegation zone after that earlier encounter and drawing level on points in 16th/17th spots following this home victory.
Let's hope our current crop of loanees can do the business again this Saturday.
Early Bluebirds Team News
After the unfounded doom and gloom of our injury woes in mid-week, this weekend could see a return for many of our lads that were missing from the last game, however, gaffer Sabri Lamouchi is playing his cards tight to his chest, giving little away to the media stating...
"Our players, Stoke players, all players in the league are exhausted, because tomorrow is the sixth game in three weeks.
"The end of the season is absolutely tough for all clubs, with suspension, injury, tired players. There are a lot of problems for all managers, squads and players. But, we must try to take the right decision and be positive.
"Callum Robinson, Rubin Colwill and Connor Wickham will not be available for tomorrow. Jack Simpson, Jaden Philogene and Callum O'Dowda, we will see today.
"Rallsy, our captain, giving his heart for this Club, there is a question mark on him as well. We will see at the end of the session today."
So in conclusion, Lord knows what our starting line up will be.
Prutton & Co Predict
It seems this early Bluebird has caught Davey boy napping as no predictions are around at present... may get chance to update this section later but I'm sure the best we can hope for by way of prediction is a draw... and this despite his infatuation with our gaffer....
You must log in or register to see images
The bookies never sleep however, and they have us as favourites... but after their mid-week lack of faith do we really want to believe them???
Home Win 29/20 Draw 9/4 Away Win 19/10
Fun Fact
The Stoke City squad once included a vicar in midfield. Father Elijah Smith took off his cassock to play for the Potters in the 1880s. The half-back, who was in charge of a church in Stoke, starred in the club's first ever league win, over Notts County – but he didn't bless the team with much luck on their travels. The vicar started 12 away league games and lost 11!
Sharing The Love
After covering some of our "big names" in the away thread, I was pleasantly surprised to find there were still a few decent ex-players to list here as well as a couple of current squad members.
Top of the list (for us at least) has to be the mecurial Jay Bothroyd - what a player he turned out to be for us (and still our only full England international to date to be capped whilst playing for us).
You must log in or register to see images
So, can we exact revenge for our 2002 play-off semi-final defeat (yes, it STILL hurts)? Will our fans be going potty at full time, knowing we've bagged another big 3 points?? Can we triumph amidst the hurley Burleigh of this championship tussle???
All I know is, I'm not sure my fingers can take another live City match after Wednesday's 2nd half, so I'm glad I'll be incommunicado on the south coast after tonight and watching Exmouth Town instead tomorrow....
If we can bag the 3 points we may well have just about made ourselves safe, so bring it on, C'mon City, do it for Clingo (please come back soon mate)!!!!!!!!!
Bloooooooooooooobirds!!!!
