Match Preview | Stoke City vs. Cardiff City
The Bluebirds re-start their 2022/23 Championship campaign with a trip to Stoke City on Saturday (09/12), 3pm KO.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | IN THE DUGOUT
Alex Neil joined the Potters at the start of the current campaign, having led Sunderland back to the Championship with League One Play-Off Final victory at the end of last season.
The Scot, who spent time with Airdrieonians, Barnsley, Mansfield Town and Hamilton Academicals during his playing days, began his managerial career with the Accies in 2013.
Neil made his first mark in English football with Norwich City, leading the Canaries to the Premier League at the first time of asking in the 2014/15 campaign.
Following his departure from Carrow Road in 2017, he made the move to Preston North End, spending four years at Deepdale as Lilywhites boss.
Since making the switch from the Stadium of Light to the Bet365 Stadium this summer, Neil has overseen seven wins and four draws, with ten defeats, as the Potters find themselves sitting in 17th position.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | KEY PLAYER
After a series of loan spells, midfielder Lewis Baker looks to have found a happy home in the Potteries.
The Chelsea academy graduate spent time with the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United and Reading earlier in his career, before joining Stoke on a permanent basis back in January.
Since then, the 27-year-old has recorded 13 goals and 6 assists in 43 appearances, whilst also inheriting the captain's armband following the departure of Joe Allen.
This term, Baker has started all 21 of Stoke's Championship fixtures to date, scoring five goals and setting up a further four.
CLUB CONNECTION | ADEN FLINT
Tomorrow's match will see the Bluebirds face off against former defender Aden Flint, who swapped South Wales for Stoke-on-Trent this summer.
The defender, who made 93 appearances in a Cardiff City shirt, will be remembered for netting a famous South Wales derby winner at the Liberty Stadium in March 2021.
Flint has made nine appearances for the Potters since his summer switch, keeping four clean sheets and providing two assists.
Romaine Sawyers could also come up against his former team tomorrow, having spent the 2021/22 campaign on loan at the Bet365 Stadium. Jaden Philogene also featured on loan for the Potters last season.
CITY FLASHBACK | MORRISON WINNER GIVES CITY THREE POINTS
Our weekend clash with Stoke comes almost two years to the day since our previous victory at the home of the Potters, a 2-1 win on December 8th, 2020.
The hosts took the advantage after Tyrese Campbell broke into the box and put in a powerful cross that ended up in the back of the net off the legs of Sean Morrison.
Morrison was involved once again in a penalty call which went against him, though Alex Smithies was fortunately able to deny Sam Vokes from the spot.
City were able to find an equaliser through Robert Glatzel, who controlled Joe Ralls' cross superbly before smashing into the top corner.
And the Bluebirds completed their second-half comeback through Morrison, who turned his evening around expertly by burying his header into the net.
