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Stoke City vs Aston Villa Match Preview
Stoke lost to Chelsea 2-0 in FA Cup action last weekend then dropped points away to Burnley midweek in a 1-1 draw that saw Burnley come from behind to equalize. Tuncay scored for the Potters.
Manager Tony Pulis was bemused by the tactics facing his squad at Turf Moor. The advertizing signs around the perimeter of the pitch had been moved closer to the field of play in an effort to take some of the pace out of Rory Delap’s throw-ins. It didn’t work. Tuncay’s goal was the result of a Delap toss.
Stoke have now won just once in five league matches, but they remain squarely in the middle of the pack at position number eleven.
Defender Danny Higgenbotham is listed as injured going into this weekend. Andrew Wilkinson is suspended, as is Ryan Shawcross for the incident with Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey two weeks ago.
Aston Villa beat this weekend’s opponents Stoke 1-0 at Villa Park in December. Villa are on a pretty decent run of form. They are unbeaten in their last six Premier League matches.
A loss to Manchester United in the Carling Cup Final two weeks ago tarnished manager Martin O’Neill’s silverware hopes but his club is through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup so an opportunity to stock the trophy cabinet still exists.
In league play, however, it is fourth place that Villa play for. They are currently seventh, three points behind Liverpool. Villa has a game in hand, however. Influential central defender Richard Dunne is listed as injured going into this weekend. His size and strength in the middle will be missed when Stoke’s Rory Delap fires his incredible throw-ins at the Villa goal mouth.