Stoke vs Cardiff prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-11-03 15:00.
Stoke City boss Alex Neil was under serious pressure at the end of September with his side just two points clear of the drop zone, but the Potters have enjoyed a welcome upturn in form since. A run of three successive league wins for the first time since November 2021 has lifted them into the top-half ahead of this round, and Neil will be looking to guide them to four consecutive second-tier victories for the first time since February 2008!
Confidence is bound to be high after beating a Middlesbrough side who’d won seven straight matches last time out (2-0), with Neil happy to dish out some “humble pie” to those who may have criticised his rotated team selection. It’ll be his forwards he’s challenging for improvement now, as the Potters’ return of just 16 goals scored is the joint-lowest total amongst sides in the top-14 ahead of the round.
That’ll be music to the ears of a Cardiff side who have netted six times in their last two matches, both of which finished as wins to nil. Erol Bulut’s side climbed into the play-off places thanks to their 2-0 success in the Severnside derby against Bristol City last weekend, a sixth victory in their last nine league matches for the resurgent Bluebirds (D1, L2).
Things have tended to be one-sided in Cardiff’s recent away games, with none of the last four seeing both sides score (W2, L2). That’s in stark contrast to their previous trips to the Potteries, as the last three H2Hs at this venue have seen 13 goals fly in, with the Bluebirds unbeaten across those matches (W1, D2). Keeping up that positive record could be crucial to the visitors’ top-six standing as defeat would leave Cardiff just a point clear of their opponents come full-time.
Key battle: Algerian international Mehdi LĂ©ris is coming into his own for Stoke, directly contributing to two goals in his last three appearances (G1, A1). He could be marshalled by Cardiff wing-back Perry Ng, whose attacking exploits have earned him plaudits of late, scoring in successive matches for the first time in his career.
Hot stat: Stoke boss Neil is winless in his last six managerial H2Hs against Cardiff (D3, L3), last beating the Bluebirds in December 2017 while in charge of Preston.