Official Boothen Roar Match Preview: Stoke v Birmingham

The Potters host Birmingham at the Britannia Stadium after their last four league games ended in defeats directly linked to blatant refereeing mistakes.

Stoke sit 17th in the Premier League, after being 7th just a few weeks ago, and will be up for a fight. The visitors are two points and two place better off than the hosts but have an amazing recent record against Stoke, it is 13 years and 7 games since Stoke last scored against Birmingham, when they were still playing at the Victoria Ground.

 Stoke have a decent home record this season and have already beaten Fulham, Shrewsbury, Aston Villa and Blackburn whilst only losing to Manchester United and Tottenham. Brum have yet to register an away win this season, earning three draws from their five away days so far.

In the 48 matches between these sides at Stoke, the Potters have won 28, the visitors 9 and eleven have been drawn. Last time the pair clashed at the Britannia Stadium the game ended 1-0 to Birmingham. Overall Brum have won 31 times to the Potters 40.

The referee is Mark Clattenburg. Last season he took charge of the Potters when they defeated Fulham 3-2 at home, drew 1-1 away at Bolton and Manchester City and also lost 2-0 and 4-0 away at Arsenal and Manchester United, but he hasn't reffed the Potters yet this season. He has refereed Birmingham once this season, the goalless draw at home to Wigan.

The Met Office report that there will be medium level cloud, temperatures of 4 degrees celsius, very good visibility and a breezy 12mph wind, with a strong 30mph gust.

Prediction: I keep thinking were going to win by a couple of goals but then remember our shocking recent record against Brum. Time for the hoodoo to go I think, 2-0 home win.