Stoke City vs QPR - Match Preview

Stoke lost 5-0 last time out to Bolton, Owen Coyle described Wanderers' victory as "revenge" after Pulis' side beat Bolton 5-0 in the FA Cup semi final last year. The Potters have lost their last three matches and conceded eight goals in their last two fixtures which is very unlike Stoke. They are on a bad run and coach Tony Pulis knows he needs a win soon as he said "We know we are on a bad run of form. We are playing well but just not finishing our chances. It's a huge transition as we are now playing in Europe and are a established Premiership team. A win and it'll all be ok again." This is a game where Stoke should be realistically looking to win, especially as they are on home turf and very dangerous at the Britannia Stadium. Queens Park Rangers sit 11th in the league table on 12 points. They narrowly lost to current league leaders Man City a fortnight ago 3-2 at Loftus Road and Warnock can take some positives out of that clash into this afternoon's game. Rangers forward Jay Bothroyd, who was signed in the summer from Cardiff City, has two goals in two games and other striker Heider Helguson has three goals in four starts so there is certainly a lot of positives going for Warnock's men at the moment. Britannia is a tough venue to go to, I'm not sure if the visitors will have enough to break down a strong, solid, well equiped Stoke side.

Team News

Stoke City winger Matty Etherington is set to return from injury alongside Ryan Shawcross and Marc Wilson. Jamacian forward Ricardo Fuller is close to a return but Sidibie is still out sidelined. QPR defender Fitz Hall is a major doubt with a hamstring knock but Hungary midfielder Buzsacky is available. Former captain Adel Taarabt is not expected to feature after spending the week with Morocco on international duty.

Line-ups

Stoke (from): Begovic, Sorensen, Nash, Huth, Upson, Woodgate, Shawcross, Wilson, Wilkinson, Whelan, Whitehead, Diao, Etherington, Walters, Jerome, Shotton, Arismendi, Pennant, Delap, Crouch, Palacios, Jones, Higginbotham. QPR (from): Kenny, Hall, Gabbidon, Connolly, Taarabt, Traore, Bothroyd, Faurlin, Orr, Buzsaky, Dyer, Barton, Young, Smith, Helguson, Murphy, Wright-Phillips, Ferdinand, Puncheon. Nathan's prediction: Stoke 1-0 QPR.