Stoke v Cardiff. Match preview

Last updated : 05 April 2005 By Michael Morris
The time of the season has come now where City must look to win every game thats played. We are on 43 points, 7 short of the usual amount for safety (although as Walsall will testify it doesn't always work like that).

I don't think 7 draws in the remaining games will do so we have to pick up a couple of wins from somewhere.

Stoke will be looking to bounce back from the shock home defeat by Rotherham on the weekend. Gifton Noel Willimas to unlucky player credited with an own goal after the ball hit him and went in. That was in injury time.

Stoke will be without Michael Duberry, missing after being sent off against Rotherham and also without skipper Clive Clarke who was injured in the same game.

The one definate change for Lennie to make is at right back. Rhys Weston is injured so it's between Tony Vidmar, who came off the bench on Saturday, or Darren Williams who has played little football in the past few weeks. Maybe the news today that Vidmar is leaving this summer pending a medical will allow Williams a chance to play.

There is an injury doubt over Jobi McAnuff. lennie could call Willie Boland straight into the team. Willie has travelled to Stoke and could be set for his first appearance in 2005. He would join Richard Langley in central midfield with Joe Ledley moving to the left wing with Neal Ardley on the right.

Up front Thorne and Jerome are likely to be given another chance but Michael Boulding and Alan Lee are also ready and available.

On the bench there could be returns for Paul Parry who's been injured and Lee Bullock who missed Plymouth through illness.

A cardiff win could see a significant movement up the table while defeat or a draw could see us drop into the relgation places.

It doesn't get much easier for City with the next match at home to Premiership chasing Wigan (with Graham Kavanagh and Alan Mahon in their ranks) before away trips to Preston and Leicester.

Lennie feels City can beat anybody on their day

"When things go well we are capable of beating anybody outside the top three," he told the Echo. "And why not Wigan on Saturday?

"There are seven matches left, the players are battling and showing massive commitment in all areas. There is no reason we should fear anybody in that run.

"We haven't put in a bad performance for a long time. But our problem is that we haven't put the ball in the net often enough. We are creating chances, but we have to start taking them."

Lennie's opposite number tonight is Welshman Tony Pulis. He will not help the Bluebirds for tonights game but in the matches ahead he will do all he can to help by beating City's relegation rivals

"We won't be doing Cardiff any favours tonight, but I will be trying to in the next few weeks.

"Being an ex-Cardiff supporter who went down to Ninian Park on the train with his dad to watch Real Madrid there in the 1970s, I have an awful lot of time for the club."

In the matches to come Stoke are at home to Plymouth and Watford and away to Crewe.