On Saturday Cardiff take on that lot from Stoke again looking for three points as easy as the three we picked up at the Britannia Stadium early in the season. There is still a realistic chance of reaching the play offs if we can set about winning all our home games, starting with the Potters.
Vital Quotes:
Stoke City Chief Executive Tony Scholes to their official website on the missing Sammy Bangoura:
‘Sam should have been back this week and we are very annoyed that he isn’t. We want to know why that hasn’t happened.
‘He and his agent will be called in for talks and we will be demanding a full explanation.
‘What has happened this week is just not acceptable for this football club and that will be made quite clear. He has been disrespectful to the club, his team-mates and our supporters and we will take appropriate action.’
Cardiff City Team News:
Cardiff will be without Jason Koumas for this game as he picked up his fifth booking of the season last weekend and must now serve a one match ban.
Another missing member of the side will be striker Steve Thompson who has had to undergo surgery on his finger. This may mean that Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu could make a start.
Darren Purse is available after the FAW let him off his tantrum after being sent off against Plymouth.
Glenn Loovens is still not ready to return.
Player to watch: Cameron Jerome
Four goals in the last six games, he finds it easy to score against Stoke as he got two at the Britannia Stadium in September.
Stoke City Team News:
Australian international Josep Skoko is set to make his debut for Stoke City at Ninian Park after arriving from Wigan Athletic on loan until the end of the season.
Darel Russell is banned, Dave Brammer is injured and Paul Gallagher has gone back to Blackburn Rovers for treatment.
Guinea international striker Sambegou Bangoura has still not yet shown up after being on African Nations Cup duty.
It?s all a big mystery as to where he is, but when you think what he is returning to, you cannot blame him for staying away.
Player to watch: None
I believe there is nobody in the Stoke side that we should fear
Match Facts & Stats
Have we already mentioned that we hammered Stoke at the Britannia earlier in the season? Well we did and the score was 3-0 with Jerome getting a brace and the other coming from Darren Purse.
Cardiff?s home form is pretty good at the moment, Winning three, drawing two and defeat in just the one game. The Bluebirds have scored eight goals in this period and conceded 5.
Out of Stoke City?s last six away games they have won two, drawn one and lost three. They have scored and conceded seven in this period.
As far as the table goes, Cardiff are just outside of the play off places with 45 points coming from 32 games. Stoke are mid table with 39 points from 31 games.
Out of their last seven league games, the Potters have only picked up three points.
By the way, we hammered them at the Britannia Stadium in September.
Ref Watch:
MJ Jones
Jones has been in charge of 29 games so far this season. He has shown 88 yellow cards and
Three red.
Match Prediction:
Very easy home win, Stoke are very poor
Next Fixtures:
League Championship Luton vs Cardiff 14-02-2006
League Championship Cardiff vs Hull City 18-02-2006
