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Cardiff City have no time to mourn their heartbreaking loss at home to Watford as Stoke City visit the Welsh capital on Tuesday.
The Bluebirds' bid for a playoff spot was dealt a major blow when they conceded in the 94th minute in their latest outing against Watford. They are now seven points behind sixth-placed Barnsley with 11 games remaining.
Stoke City, on the other hand, are in a terrible run of form and struggling to get results. Their dream of making the promotion playoffs was brutally crushed last weekend when Middlesbrough humbled them 3-0.
Three points from this fixture would be worth more to the home side than the visitors, but the Potters are far from pushovers.
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Cardiff City vs Stoke City head-to-head
Stoke City have won this meeting 21 times in the past, while Cardiff have managed 17 victories. In total, 10 matches have ended in stalemates.
However, the Welsh side won the reverse fixture at the Britannia Stadium back in December, coming back from a goal down to win 1-2.
Cardiff City form guide: L-D-W-D-W
Stoke City form guide: L-W-L-L-L
Cardiff City vs Stoke City team news
Cardiff City
Mick McCarthy welcomed Perry Ng back into the squad last weekend, but continues to be without Lee Tomlin.
Arsenal loanee Jordi Osei-Tutu is back in training, though, and may make the bench against the Potters.
Injuries: Lee Tomlin, Sol Bamba
Doubtful: Jordi Osei-Tutu
Suspensions: None
Stoke City
Michael O'Neill may want to make wholesale changes to the team that suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat away to Middlesbrough.
Despite having a majority of the ball and many more attempts on goal, their porous defense crumbled when put under pressure. This is something the manager needs to fix as soon as possible. Tyrese Campbell's absence also limits the offensive side of their game.
Injuries: Tyrese Campbell
Doubtful: None
Suspensions: None
Cardiff City vs Stoke City predicted XI
Cardiff City Predicted XI (3-4-3): Dillon Phillips; Sean Morrison, Aden Flint, Curtis Nelson; Perry Ng, Will Vaulks, Marlon Pack, Leandro Bacuna; Harry Wilson, Junior Hoilett; Kieffer Moore
Stoke City predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Angus Gunn; Tommy Smith; Harry Souttar; James Chester; Rhys Norrington-Davies; John Obi Mikel; Jordan Thompson; Rabbi Matondo; Jack Clarke; Nick Powell; Steven Fletcher
Cardiff City vs Stoke City prediction
Stoke City are in a terrible run of form and they could lose to just about any team in the division right now. While they haven't played particularly terrible football, lapses in concentration during key moments have cost them.
A Cardiff City side desperately looking for three points is unlikely to be the ideal fixture for the Potters to get back to winning ways.
We expect to see a win for the home side in this encounter.
Prediction: Cardiff City 2-0 Stoke City
