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

Stoke City will be looking to move within touching distance of the Championship playoff spots when they play host to Cardiff City on Saturday afternoon.

While the home side sit in 11th position in the table, Cardiff are as high as sixth place after posting successive wins.

Match preview

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When Stoke failed to sack Alex Neil during the October international break, the majority of their supporters would have questioned why with their club having posted six defeats in eight games.

However, Neil has managed to redeem himself with a hugely-impressive three-match winning streak against Sunderland, Leeds United and Middlesbrough.

Home advantage played its part in the first two of those fixtures, but the Potters were underdogs when facing a Boro side at the Riverside Stadium that were on a six-match winning streak.

Stoke have generally been poor away from home this campaign, yet they posted their best result of the season as two first-half goals earned them a 2-0 victory.

With 12 points from their last six outings, Stoke are now up to 11th position ahead of a fixture list where they do not face any of the current top four until New Year's Day.

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Nevertheless, they are facing opponents in Cardiff who have emerged as one of the surprise teams of the season under Erol Bulut.

Despite the absence of Aaron Ramsey, the Bluebirds have continued on their way, recording successive victories over Huddersfield Town and Bristol City without reply.

Prevailing from that double-header has catapulted the Welsh giants into sixth position and within two points of third, a scenario that would have felt out of their reach ahead of the start of the campaign.

Much of Cardiff's work is being done at home, with a total of 16 points coming from seven matches, but they still hold the 14th-best away return in the second tier with seven points coming from as many fixtures.

Team News

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Wouter Burger could return to the Stoke City midfield with Ben Pearson injured and Jordan Thompson serving a one-match ban.

If Ryan Mmaee is able to be selected in the squad after a hamstring injury, the forward is likely to be named on the substitutes' bench.

Although the likes of Lewis Baker and Tyrese Campbell are making progress in their recovery from injury, this game will come too soon for the pair.

Barring any fitness issues, Bulut may opt to select the Cardiff XI that started the win over Bristol City.

However, Rubin Colwill is in contention to replace Callum Robinson in a creative role courtesy of his goal as a substitute.

Stoke City possible starting lineup:

Bonham; Hoever, McNally, Rose, Stevens; Laurent, Burger; Leris, Johnson, Haksabanovic; Gayle

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Alnwick; Ng, Goutas, McGuinness, Collins; Siopis, Ralls; Bowler, Colwill, Grant; Meite

We say: Stoke City 2-1 Cardiff City

When two of the form teams in any division lock horns, you expect a high-quality contest. That is what we are anticipating here with Stoke having our backing to extend their unexpected upturn in fortunes with a fourth victory in a row.

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