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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
STOKE CITY  BegovicWilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson Shotton, Whelan, Whitehead, Etherington Crouch, Walters | MANCHESTER CITY  HartRichards, Kompany, K Toure, Clichy Y Toure, BarrySilva, Aguero, Nasri Balotelli |
Stoke boss Tony Pulis will be without Salif Diao after the midfielder picked up an injury in the 1-1 draw with Tottenham on Wednesday. Glenn Whelan, who came on for the former Senegal international at White Hart Lane, should replace him. Ricardo Fuller is the only other enforced absentee as he serves the final game of his three-match ban for violent conduct following his red card in the 1-0 defeat at Chelsea earlier in the month.
Roberto Mancini almost has a full squad heading to the Britannia Stadium, with club captain Vincent Kompany likely to play having recovered from a calf injury obtained earlier in March. He will probably partner Kolo Toure in the centre of defence, with Stefan Savic dropping to the bench. Joleon Lescott (groin) is unlikely to feature on Saturday and is now Roberto Mancini's only injury worry.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Manchester City have scored just one less goal away from home in the top flight this season (27) than Stoke City have scored both at the Britannia Stadium and on their travels (28).
- Carlos Tevez (pictured right) played for City for the first time since September in the 2-1 win over Chelsea on Wednesday, and assisted Samir Nasri’s winning goal. He could feature again on Saturday.
- Pulis' men have failed to score only once in their last seven domestic matches, in the 1-0 defeat away to Chelsea.
- Mancini's side can go top of the Premier League table by two points with a win over Stoke this weekend, with Manchester United in action on Monday at home to Fulham.
- Although both sides are fighting markedly different battles this season, the league is both teams’ only remaining competition, having been eliminated from all other cups.
- Both teams have shared familiar foes in the domestic trophies this season. Manchester City were knocked out of the League Cup by Liverpool at the semi-final stage, while the Potters were defeated in the FA Cup and the League Cup by Kenny Dalglish’s side.
- Sergio Aguero scored either side of Adam Johnson’s 25-yard strike in a 3-0 win over the Potters back in December.
- A reverse of that scoreline is unlikely but not inconceivable. Mancini's side have only won two of their last seven away top-flight matches, with losses to Swansea City and Sunderland among those dropped points.
- Aguero, David Silva and Samir Nasri have as many assists between them (27) as the entire Stoke team in the league this campaign.
Had Manchester City stumbled against Chelsea on Wednesday I might have foreseen a challenge from the Spurs-conquerors, but as it stands Roberto Mancini’s men should have enough momentum to eventually win this clash comfortably. Stoke City at home are not opponents to be underestimated however, and the Blues cannot afford to take the foot off the pedal should they hope to beat Manchester United to the finishing line.
Editor's Prediction
Stoke City 0-2 Manchester City 
