Manchester City v Stoke City – Match Preview
This fixture between Manchester City and Stoke City could be one for the more patient football viewer. Stoke tend to play a defensive style of play at the best of times, and at the home ground of the defending Premier League champions they are highly unlikely to adopt a particularly adventurous approach, particularly as they have seen Reading nearly nick a draw by putting up a blanket defence. It seems likely that this match will involve long periods of City possession and pressure, and some resolute Stoke City defending.
Manchester City have experienced difficult second season syndrome this term. After their dramatic Premier League victory last term, City have not recaptured the form that they showed in winning their first ever Premier League crown, and their previous fixture against Norwich typified their season so far. City lead by two goals to nil within a matter of minutes through an Edin Dzeko brace, yet contrived to make the game as difficult as they possibly could for themselves, by having Samir Nasri sent off and conceding three goals. Eventually City limped home 4-3 to keep their title challenge at least moving forwards.
Having eliminated an eight point gap to win last season’s Premier League, City will fancy their chances of a repeat dose this time round, but their present form would seem to suggest that they are not playing well enough to make up such a deficit this time round. However, City will soldier on and hope to improve as the season enters its final furlongs.
Stoke have remained a tricky opponent for any side throughout the campaign, and one can always expect them to give a decent account of themselves even in defeat. Tony Pulis’ side win few plaudits from neutrals for their style of play – and if one is brutally honest, they don’t really deserve many – but they are consistently and justly praised for being one of the toughest and most competitive teams in the Premier League. They can also play a bit when the occasion takes them, as Cameron Jerome’s stunning late equaliser in their previous fixture against Southampton displayed all too clearly. Stoke have a reputation – and it’s one that they relish – for upsetting the biggest teams in the division, and they will not be intimidated by reputations or big names, even on the biggest of stages at the Etihad.
Manchester City will have to make at least one change in this game, with Samir Nasri unavailable due to his sending off in the previous fixture against Norwich. City have a few options to replace him, but James Milner may be the most likely candidate to deputise. Having shared four goals at Carrow Road, it seems highly likely that Aguero and Dzeko will start up front for City, and they will probably be unchanged at the back despite conceding three last time out. Stoke will send out their strongest eleven in the hope of gaining at least a point from what is sure to be a testing fixture.
Manchester City (possible 4-3-2-1): Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Clichy; Y. Toure, Barry; Silva, Milner, Aguero; Dzeko
Stoke City (possible 4-2-3-1): Begovic; Shotton, Huth, Shawcross, Wilkinson; N’Zonzi, Whelan; Kightly, Walters, Etherington; Crouch
Betting Prediction: With City struggling for goals at times this season, and particularly finding packed defences hard to break down, and Stoke highly likely to line up this way, I think the under 2.5 goals bet in the under / over 2.5 goals market looks an attractive bet, so that is my pick for this fixture.
