Newcastle United (A) Preview

Stoke travel to the north-east tomorrow to face Joe Kinnear's Newcastle United (k/o 3pm). The Potters will be looking to bounce back from the disappointing Carling Cup defeat against Derby on Tuesday night as they continue to look for their first away win the top flight. The Magpies currently sit outside the relegation zone on goal difference but have been improving in recent weeks with gritty 0-0 draws away at Chelsea and Middlesborough. With just three points separating the sides in the table, both teams will know how important victory at St James' Park could be in the fight for survival.


Stoke Team News:- The Potters are likely to welcome back Abdoulaye Faye for the game against his former club. Striker Dave Kitson continues to struggle with injury, whilst Tom Soares and Michael Tonge are available again having been cup tied against Derby. Liam Lawrence returned to training this week but this game comes too soon for his return to the first team.

Newcastle Team News:- Steven Taylor could return to The Magpies defence but faces competition from Sebastien Bassong who has been impressive in Taylor's absence. Newcastle are without injury victims Joey Barton, Nacho Gonzales and Alan Smith, but have Mark Viduka available to challenge Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins for a place in attack.


Newcastle Danger Man:- Shay Given - A hugely impressive performance at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago, enhanced his reputation as one of the best keepers in the Premier League

Probable Teams:
Newcastle:- Given, Beye, Bassong, Coloccini, Enrique, Gutierrez, Guthrie, Butt, N'Zogbia, Martins, Owen
Stoke:- Sorensen, Griffin, Abdoulaye Faye, Cort, Higginbotham, Delap, Diao, Amdy Faye, Soares, Fuller, Sidibe

Last Potters Visit To Newcastle

Newcastle United 4-1 Stoke City (16-01-2008)

Kevin Keegan's dramatic return to Tyneside highjacked The Potters' chances of an FA Cup replay upset after an entertaining 0-0 draw at the Britannia. The result could have been different had Ricardo Fuller and Ryan Shawcross put away early chances, but from then on Newcastle controlled the game and goals from Michael Owen, Claudio Cacapa, Damien Duff and James Milner took the tie away from Stoke despite Liam Lawrence's last minute goal of the season contender consolation.

Derby County (H) Preview

Carling Cup Quarter Finals

Derby County are the visitors to the Britannia tonight (k/o 7.45) as the Potters look to reach the semi final of the League Cup for the first time since winning the competition in 1972. The Rams will be hoping a victory tonight can kick start a league campaign which has failed to really get going following relegation from the Premier League last season.


Stoke Team News:- The Potters are without striker Dave Kitson who is still recovering from the knee injury he picked up in the league win over West Brom. Michael Tonge and Tom Soares are cup-tied and so unavailable for tonight's game. Steve Simonsen is expected to once again replace Thomas Sorensen in goal.

Derby Team News:- Derby are without defenders Claude Davis, Dean Leacock and Martin Albrechtsen through injury whilst Luke Varney and on loan Arsenal man Nacer Barazite are both cup tied. Former Potter Kris Commons should line up to face his former club tonight.


Probable Teams:
Stoke:- Simonsen, Wilkinson, Dickinson, Cort, Abdoulaye Faye, Pugh, Olofinjana, Whelan, Delap, Sidibe, Cresswell
Derby:- Carroll, Connolly, Powell, Tonkins, Stewart, Kazmierczak, Commons, Addison, Green, Hulse, Ellington

Last Derby Visit To The Britannia

Stoke City 2-0 Derby County(08-08-2006)

Tony Pulis celebrated his first home game back in his second spell as manager with a 2-0 win over the Rams. Vincent Pericard touched home Peter Sweeney's cross for a first half lead, before Darel Russell reacted first to a save by Rams keeper Lee Grant to head home the second mid-way through the second half. Stoke went on to complete a double over Derby with a 2-0 at Pride Park later in the season, but it was the Rams who were celebrating promotion to te Premier League come the end of the campaign.

Hull City (H) Preview

Phil Brown brings his Hull City side the Britannia this weekend looking to end a run of five games without a win. That stat does not do the Tigers justice however, having made a sensational start to season, following promotion, with significant away wins against the likes of Tottenham, Newcastle and most impresivly of all Arsenal. The Potters will know they will be in for a tough game against a side who sit 6th in the table following last weeks 2-2 draw at Fratton Park against Portsmouth.


Stoke Team News:- The Potters welcome back striker Ricardo Fuller who missed last weeks win over West Brom through suspension. Dave Kitson and Ryan Shawcross face late fitness tests on injuries they picked up in last week's win, whilst cpatain Andy Griffin should start despite a fracture in his left hand.

Hull Team News:- Defenders Bernard Mendy and Andy Dawson are likely to miss the game with injuries but the Tigers do have Wayne Brown available for selection again. Caleb Folan may feature despite missing training with an injury.



Probable Teams:
Stoke:- Sorensen, Griffin, Abdoulaye Faye, Cort, Higginbotham, Soares, Diao, Amdy Faye, Delap, Fuller, Sidibe
Hull:- Myhill, McShane, Ricketts, Zayette, Turner, Boateng, Ashbee, Marney, Geovanni, Cousin, King

Last Hull Visit To The Britannia

Stoke City 1-1 Hull City (01-01-2008)

With Stoke missing Ricardo Fuller and Hull missing on loan Frazier Campbell this was never going be a game of many goals. The Potters took a first half lead when Leon Cort headed in against his former club from a Rory Delap throw, but Caleb Folan rescued a point for the Tigers with a second half header, as both sides settled for a point in what was destined to be a Premier League promotion winning season for both clubs.

Rotherham United (H) Preview

Carling Cup Round 4

Rotherham United visit the Britannia tonight (k/o 7.45) looking to add a further scalp to their growing list of higher league victims this season. Southampton, Leicester, Leeds, Wolves and local rivals Sheffield Wednesday have all fallen by the Millers' sword this season, and Stoke will be under no illusions that this wont be an easy game. Rotherham have been something of a bogey team for the Potters in recent years. When both sides were in the Championship the Millers won 4 of the last 6 meetings between the two clubs with Stoke winning just once.


Stoke Team News:- The Potters are without recent signings Tom Soares and Michael Tonge as they are both cup tied, whilst Mamady Sidibe is expected to miss the game afte picking up a knock against Wigan at the weekend. Steve Simonsen is likely to play ahead of Thomas Sorensen whilst manager Tony Pulis may decide to rest players ahead of Saturday's testing trip to Old Trafford to play Manchester United.

Rotherham Team News:- Manager Mark Robins is without cup tied striker Ritchie Barker, but has no fresh injury worries ahead of the game and may decide to stick with the same eleven that drew 1-1 at Aldershot in the FA Cup on Saturday


Probable Teams:
Stoke:- Simonsen, Wilkinson, Cort, Sonko, Dickinson, Cresswell, Pugh, Whelan, Amdy Faye, Kitson, Pericard
Rotherham:- Warrington, Nicholas, Fenton, Mills, Sharps, Tonge, Harrison, Cummins, Rhodes, Broughton, Garcia

Last Rotherham Visit to the Britannia

Stoke City 1-2 Rotherham United (02-04-2005)

Rotherham came to the Britannia having not won a single game on a Saturday all season and were soon to be doomed to relegation. But despite this they earned a stay of execution with a deserved win thanks to a 90th minute own goal from Stoke's Gifton Noel-Williams who had earlier cancelled out Martin Butler's first half opener for the visitors. Michael Duberry was sent off in the final moments to complete a misrable afternoon for the Potetrs.

Wigan Athletic (A) Preview

The Potters make the short trip north to the JJB Stadium on Saturday (k/o 12.45) looking for their third successive victory and first away win this season.
Tony Pulis' men will be buoyed by last weeks impressive yet controversial 2-1 win over Arsenal, and will face a stern test against a Wigan side who boast the Premier League's joint top scorer in Egyptian striker Amr Zaki, and who themselves would have been delighted by last weeks 2-1 away win at Portsmouth.


Stoke Team News:- Tony Pulis is expected to field the same side which beat Arsenal at the Britannia, with Amdy Faye continuing in the centre of midfield and Seyi Olofinjana moving wide right. Mamady Sidibe is expected to continue up front as he keeps record signing Dave Kitson consigned to a place on the bench.

Wigan Team News:- Manager Steve Bruce has no fresh injury worries with captain Mario Melciot expected to shake of a virus in time to play. Bruce may decide to recall Paul Scharner to the midfield to add a more physical presence to the side.


Probable Teams:
Stoke:- Sorensen, Griffin, Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Diao, Olofinjana, Amdy Faye, Delap, Sidibe, Fuller
Wigan:- Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Boyce, Figueroa, Valencia, Palacios, Cattermole, Scharner, Heskey, Zaki

Last Stoke Visit to Wigan

Wigan Athletic 0-1 Stoke City (05-02-2005)

A 39th Minute Gifton Noel-Williams strike, following a clever John Eustace throw-in, gave Stoke all three points against a Wigan side destined for promotion to the Premier League. The result brought to an end to a poor sequence of results for the Potters and launched a late but ultimatly unsuccessful play-off push.

Arsenal (H) Preview

Arsenal travel to the Potteries on the back of the epic 4-4 North London derby draw against Tottenham on Wednesday, and will be in no mood to fall further behind in the title race on Saturday afternoon (k/o 3pm). Arsene Wenger's men are a team that tradionally struggle against more physical opponants, but will need to be up for exactly that kind of battle if they are to bounce back, when they take on a Stoke side buoyed by the mid-week victory over Sunderland.


Stoke Team News:
Manager Tony Pulis has no fresh injury worries and is likely to field the same side that beat Sunderland 1-0 at the Britannia on Wednesday although he may decide to introduce Michael Tonge following his impressive cameo from the bench in Wednesday's win. Liam Lawrence underwent an operation on his troublesome ankle and is likely to return within the month.

Arsenal Team News:
Captain William Gallas is likely to miss the game with a hamstring injury with Kolo Toure favourite to replace him, whilst Emmanuel Eboue is also a doubt. Arsene Wenger may decide to introduce Abou Diaby to the team to provide more height and physical presence.


Probable Teams:
Stoke: Sorensen, Griffin, Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Soares, Olofinjana, Diao, Delap, Sidibe, Fuller
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Silvestre, Toure, Clichy, Walcott, Fabregas, Diaby, Nasri, Adebayor, Van Persie

Last Arsenal Visit To Stoke

Stoke City 1-1 Arsenal (23-10-1996)

Mike Sheron gave Stoke a first half lead but a disputed Ian Wright goal gave Arsenal a share of the spoils in what proved to be the last ever League Cup tie at the Victoria Ground. Arsenal provailed in the return leg with a narrow 5-2 victory at Highbury.

Sunderland (H) Preview

Roy Keane's men travel south this evening for a clash against the Potters (k/o 7.45), in the first evening kick off at the Britannia since promotion. The Black Cats will be hoping to build on Saturdays Tyne/Wear derby victory over Newcastle. Stoke meanwhile will be hoping to build on their last outing at the Britannia where they defeated Tottenham 2-1 in a pulsating encounter, and will be looking to bounce back following Sunday's defeat at Manchester City.


Stoke Team News:
Stoke boss Tony Pulis may stick with the side that lost 3-0 at Manchester City but may decide to recall Leon Cort in defence, Amdy Faye or Glenn Whelan in midfield and Dave Kitson in attack to freshen the side up. Liam Lawrence will miss the game against his old club as he continues to recover from his ankle injury, but Rory Delap, Thomas Sorensen and Danny Higginbotham should all line up against their former club.

Sunderland Team News:
Roy Keane must decide whether to risk Craig Gordon who missed Saturday's derby game with an ankle injury, or stick with Marton Fulop against the side he nearly joined in the summer. Kenwyne Jones may also feature against the club he spent 3 months on loan with in 2005, as he continues to build fitness following his knee ligament injury.


Probable Teams:
Stoke: Sorensen, Griffin, Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Soares, Olofinjana, Diao, Delap, Fuller, Kitson
Sunderland: Fulop, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney, Malbranque, Tainio, Whitehead, Richardson, Cisse, Diouf

Last Sunderland Visit To The Britannia

Stoke City 2-1 Sunderland (17-10-2006)

Second half strikes from on loan Lee Hendrie and Vincent Pericard cancelled out Dwight Yorke's first half opener as the Potters defeated eventual champions Sunderland in a game remembered for a horror injury to new signing Rory Delap who suffered a a double leg break which ultimatly ended his season.