Stoke vs Cardiff Prediction: Potters will look to capitalise

Stoke City got back to winning ways in the Championship last weekend as they defeated Hull City 2-1 on Humberside. Next up for them is an FA Cup fourth-round clash with Cardiff City at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday (15:00).

The Bluebirds had been on a good run of form in the second tier but were thrashed 7-0 at Leeds United last time out. They will look for an instant response here, but the hosts will be sensing an opportunity. Below you will find my Stoke vs Cardiff prediction, supported by the latest team news and match odds.

Stoke vs Cardiff Odds

Stoke have won just one of their past four home matches in the league but they are 11/10 to come out on top on Saturday in 90 minutes.

Two of those games ended in draws, which has also been the outcome in two of Cardiff's past three away days in the Championship. If you think this tie will require extra time, the stalemate can be backed at 12/5 (which has an implied probability of 29.4%).

The Bluebirds overcame Sheffield United on the road in the third round, so they will be confident they can land another away success in this competition. Cardiff are 5/2 to prevail in regulation time.

Both teams to score has struck in seven of Cardiff's past 10 away games in all competitions, and this market is on offer at 8/11 (57.9%) here, which offers tremendous value.

Football Odds

Team News

Stoke boss Mark Robins has been short of options since taking the reins in January due to various injuries. The former Coventry City manager has been unable to name Eric Bocat, Ben Gibson, Jordan Thompson, Ben Pearson, Bosun Lawal and Million Manhoef in a lineup since taking charge.

The Potters' medical room is inundated at the moment. Striker Sam Gallagher (hamstring) has been out for over a month, while Ben Wilmot (foot) is not expected back until later this month after suffering his injury in the defeat to Portsmouth on January 22.

Manhoef (knee) has been out since mid-December but it is hoped that he is edging closer to returning. Midfielder Jordan Thompson is recovering from a hernia operation, while Bocat is overcoming a calf issue he picked up last month.

Sol Sidibe is the latest player to be sidelined, with his back the source of his discomfort. Pearson has been out of action for 10 months due to a hamstring injury, so his comeback needs to be handled carefully.

Gibson was on the bench at Hull and he could be drafted into the lineup against Cardiff. The same goes for midfielder Lawal, who has been getting vital minutes with the under-21s in recent weeks following a back injury that has plagued him for a lengthy period of time.

Cardiff travel to the Potteries without Aaron Ramsey, David Turnbull and Ollie Tanner due to various injuries. Boss Omer Riza may opt to make a number of changes following his side's embarrassment at Elland Road, so the likes of Will Fish, Perry Ng, Sivert Mannsverk, Rubin Colwill and Chris Willock could be promoted from the bench.

Stoke or draw and both teams to score @ 5/4

I tipped Cardiff to lose to nil at Leeds at the weekend but I never imagined that they would be beaten so heavily. Seven goals in one game is rough for any team regardless of the level. At least they weren't the only team in the UK to suffer such humiliation last weekend - hello Brighton fans.

Stoke were back on the winning trail at Hull, so they will have gained some much-needed confidence to take with them into this contest. Robins and his players will be sensing an opportunity to progress to the fifth round on Saturday, but they don't boast the attacking quality that Leeds have.

In terms of league position, there is one place and point between the two team in the Championship standings, so this looks like it could be a close encounter. Let's not forget that Cardiff were unbeaten in eight games before their trip to Yorkshire, so they could still pose a threat to Stoke, who have found wins hard to come by in recent months.

My head is saying a draw seems the sensible choice, seeing as this was the outcome when the two teams met here in December (2-2), but I have this lingering thought that Cardiff's mentality could be shattered by last weekend's events.

So, I think double chance in Stoke's favour feels most appropriate on Saturday. I've added BTTS because it struck in this same fixture less than two months ago, as well as how frequent this selection has struck on the road for the Bluebirds of late.

Over 2.5 goals @ 10/11

If their last league meeting is anything to go by, we could be in for some goals in this cup tie. Over 2.5 goals has been a winning selection in two of Stoke's three previous Championship encounters, while Cardiff's last four outings in the second tier have produced at least three goals.

I think you can forgive Cardiff for losing to Leeds but perhaps not the manner of the defeat. It doesn't take away the fact that they had been on a decent run of form before that clash, and they were impressing in the final third.

Stoke have been hard to beat since Robins' arrival but in the FA Cup we often see lapses of concentration as teams throw bodies forward in search of qualification to the next round.

Offers

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