The Potters travel to Manchester this weekend in a game that sees both sides hoping for a much needed win. Stoke have improved their away record this season and have already beaten Tottenham away, whilst only losing to Liverpool, Arsenal, Villa and Hull. City's home form has stuttered of late. They are drawing too many at home but have beaten Chelsea at Eastlands this season. In the 46 matches between these sides at Manchester City, the Potters have won 7, the hosts 28 and eleven have been drawn. Last seasons clash at Eastlands saw the game end 3-0, with a Robinho hat trick tearing Stoke apart. Stoke have not won a top flight game in the blue half of Manchester since 1980, four games ago. Overall City have won 39 times to the Potters 34. Rory Delap will be making his 100th start for Stoke should he start Saturdays game. Lee Mason is taking charge of Saturdays game. He hasn't refereed the Potters this season but, last season took charge as Stoke beat Tottenham, West Brom and Middlesbrough aswell as the home draw with Liverpool and the defeat at Fulham. his is the second time Mason has reffed Man City this season, the only time so far being the Citizens 1-0 home win over Wolves. Prediction: The Potters will weather the storm created by the arrival of Roberto Mancini and a solid defence will see the Eastlands money men frustrated as a goalless draw is played out
Stoke proudly sit 11th in the Premier League but are still only a couple of results away from the bottom three and have a tough set of fixtures coming up. Man City are flying high in sixth but sacked manager Mark Hughes last week with Roberto Mancini now in charge.
The Met Office report that there will be light rain, temperatures of a chilly 5 degrees celsius, very good visibility and a breezy 14mph wind.