Cardiff City fell to a narrow defeat to the Potters in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.
Omer Riza elected to make four changes to the side that played Preston North End, bringing in Perry Ng, Alex Robertson, Callum Robinson and Will Alves into the starting XI.
The Potters saw the opening chance of the afternoon coming in the fifth minute, as Bae Junho teed up Lewis Baker on the edge of the area, who miscued his effort high and wide.
City threatened just two minutes later. Through some neat build up play, with Robertson’s ball into Callum O’Dowda flicked out to Calum Chambers, his cross was just out of reach by Will Fish, who headed over the bar.
O’Dowda then tried his luck with a long-distanced effort, with the full-back drilling a low left footed effort just wide of the post.
The visitors then immediately came close to breaking the deadlock, as the ball was played into the area by Eric Bocat towards Junior Tchamadeu at the back post, who skewed his effort off target.
Cian Ashord came close himself after meeting another cross sent into the box by O’Dowda, but the young Welshman was unable connect cleanly and the effort went wide.
Ethan Horvath was called into action shortly after the break, reacting well to deny Million Manhoef at the near post.
Substitute Isaak Davies came closest to getting on the scoresheet for the Bluebirds, after a drilled cross across the face of goal from Rubin Colwill found the forward at the far post, however Davies unable to guide the ball on target.
The visitors then capitalised in the 86th minute, as the ball fell kindly to Ben Wilmot in the six-yard area, Horvath saved well with his feet but deflected back Will Fish and into the net.
Next up for City is a trip to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United on Friday April 18th, 5:30pm kick-off.
Cardiff City: Horvath, Ng, Fish, Daland, O’Dowda, Chambers (Colwill 77’), Robertson, Alves (Davies 77’), Ashford (Tanner 67’), Robinson (Turnbull 57’), Salech (Meite 67’). Subs Not Used: Turner, Bagan, Mannsverk, Willock.
Stoke City: Johansson ©, Tchamadeu, Phillips, Wilmot, Bocat, Thompson (Pearson 84’), Burger, Baker, Junho (Koumas 71’), Manhoef (Gooch 84’) , Al-Hamadi (Gallagher 45’). Subs Not Used: Bonham, Lawal, Seko, Moran, Mmaee.