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Played
September 15, 2012 3:00 PM BST
Britannia Stadium — Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Referee:‬ M. Clattenburg‎
Attendance:‬ 27101‎
 

Stoke - Manchester City Preview: Champions looking for first win in six at Britannia Stadium

Roberto Mancini's side travel to Staffordshire in search of their first clean sheet of the season, while an old England strike force could be re-kindled for the hosts

By Ryan Benson

More On :  Manchester City, Stoke City, Stoke City vs Manchester City
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

STOKE CITY

Begovic
Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Cameron
Pennant, N'Zonzi, Adam, Kightly
Crouch, Owen
MANCHESTER CITY
 
Hart
Maicon, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov
Yaya Toure, Garcia
Nasri, Silva
Tevez, Dzeko

When the champions visit every manager hopes to have as many players available for selection as possible, and Tony Pulis has almost a full squad to pick from this weekend.

Matthew Etherington (hamstring) and Andy Wilkinson (concussion) were both considered doubts for the match, but Pulis confirmed they could play a part while Michael Owen, Steven N'Zonzi and Maurice Edu may make their debuts.

Jamie Ness (groin) is still ruled out after picking up a knock against Swindon Town in the League Cup, but after appearing for the reserves in midweek Mamady Sidibe could return from a similar injury.

Manchester City still have a few players ruled out, such as Jack Rodwell (knee), Pablo Zabaleta (hamstring) and Mario Balotelli (eye), while Sergio Aguero (knee) will be touch-and-go until Saturday.

However, Gareth Barry (lower abdomen) and Micah Richards (ankle) could return and, should they pass fitness tests, they will likely start on the bench.

Roberto Mancini could also give debuts to his three deadline-day signings Matija Nastasic, Maicon and Javi Garcia with the latter two the most likely to start.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Manchester City are yet to keep a clean sheet this season and have conceded two goals in three of their four matches.
  • Yaya Toure has so far averaged 99 passes per match this season, the best in the Premier League.
  • Mancini's men have failed to win on each of their last five visits to the Britannia Stadium.
  • Garcia, Nastasic and Maicon could all make debuts for the Premier League champions.
  • In his last six matches against Stoke, Carlos Tevez has scored four goals.
  • Stoke have won just one of their last 14 league matches.
  • Owen (pictured right), Edu and N'Zonzi are also in line for their first Potters' appearances.
  • Owen could line-up alongside Peter Crouch once again. The last time the duo played together was a 3-0 England home win against Russia in 2007, with the former Manchester United man scoring twice.
  • So far this season Stoke have allowed their opponents the fewest number of shots on target; seven.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Stoke City 0-3 Manchester City
    14.87 %
  • Stoke City 1-3 Manchester City
    12.76 %
  • Stoke City 0-2 Manchester City
    11.57 %
Head to Head
FA Cup ‎(FA)‎ 26 Jan 2013 Stoke City 0 - Manchester City 1
  • Player Ratings
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  • Play by Play
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Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 1 Jan 2013 Manchester City 3 - Stoke City 0
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Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 15 Sep 2012 Stoke City 1 - Manchester City 1
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Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 24 Mar 2012 Stoke City 1 - Manchester City 1
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Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 21 Dec 2011 Manchester City 3 - Stoke City 0
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Last Five Matches
Stoke City
19 May 2013Southampton 1 - Stoke City 1EPL
12 May 2013Stoke City 1 - Tottenham 2EPL
6 May 2013Sunderland 1 - Stoke City 1EPL
27 Apr 2013Stoke City 1 - Norwich City 0EPL
20 Apr 2013QPR 0 - Stoke City 2EPL
Manchester City
19 May 2013Manchester City 2 - Norwich City 3EPL
14 May 2013Reading 0 - Manchester City 2EPL
11 May 2013Manchester City 0 - Wigan Athletic 1FA
7 May 2013Manchester City 1 - West Bromwich Albion 0EPL
4 May 2013Swansea City 0 - Manchester City 0EPL
Odds
Returns: Stoke City £130.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Draw £36.00 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Manchester City £75.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
1Asmir BegovicGoalkeeper
4Robert HuthDefender
12Marc WilsonDefender
17Ryan ShawcrossDefender
28Andy WilkinsonDefender
6Glenn WhelanMidfielder
15Steven N'ZonziMidfielder
16Charlie AdamMidfielder
21Michael KightlyMidfielder
19Jonathan WaltersStriker
25Peter CrouchStriker
29Thomas SørensenGoalkeeper
2Geoff CameronMidfielder
35Matthew UpsonDefender
18Dean WhiteheadMidfielder
26Matthew EtheringtonMidfielder
33Cameron JeromeStriker
10Michael OwenStriker
1Joe HartGoalkeeper
3MaiconDefender
4Vincent KompanyDefender
6Joleon LescottDefender
22Gael ClichyDefender
8Samir NasriMidfielder
11Scott Sinclair Midfielder
14Javi GarcíaMidfielder
42Yaya Touré Midfielder
32Carlos TévezStriker
45Mario BalotelliStriker
29Richard WrightGoalkeeper
13Aleksandar KolarovDefender
28Kolo ToureDefender
17Jack RodwellMidfielder
18Gareth BarryMidfielder
21David SilvaStriker
10Edin DzekoStriker
Players to Watch
Michael Owen
Michael Owen
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 10
Games Goals YC RC
8 1 0 0
The former England international will almost certainly play some part in this fixture and, although the weight of expectation on his shoulders will not be anywhere near what he has experienced in the past, Stoke fans will still be pinning much of their hopes for this season on him.

He could rekindle a past international partnership with Peter Crouch, a duo that worked fairly well on several occasions for the Three Lions and should he get a couple of opportunities on goal, one would bet on him scoring at least one.
Vincent Kompany
Vincent Kompany
Position: Defender
Squad Number: 4
Games Goals YC RC
26 1 3 1

The champions' defence has not been particularly water-tight so far this term, only once conceding less than two goals in a match, and physical Stoke are hardly the team to give a defence an easy ride, meaning Kompany will need to be on his game.

The Crouch-Owen partnership potentially awaits the Belgian, and although he is more than good enough to deal with them, they pose two very different threats, therefore adjusting to each one during the match will be one of his biggest tasks as City chase their first clean sheet of the season.
Prediction
Previous meetings between teams can often count for very little, but it is against teams such as City that Stoke and their fans raise their game, meaning it would not be shock to see Mancini's men drop points.

Last season a Crouch wonder-strike saw the hosts earn a point at the Britannia and a similar result would be the most likely bet once again this season.
Editor's Prediction
Stoke City 2
Manchester City 2
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Manchester United 		26 3
Luis Suárez Luis Suárez
Striker
Liverpool 		23 0
Gareth Bale Gareth Bale
Midfielder
Tottenham 		21 0
C. Benteke C. Benteke
Striker
Aston Villa 		19 3
Michu Michu
Midfielder
Swansea City 		19 0

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