***Official Stoke v City Match Thread***

[Beefymcfc]

You know it's 'Official' when it's got stars in the title ;-)

Bit of info from the Beeb:

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Manchester City have only lost one of their last seven league games against Stoke, 1-0 at the Britannia Stadium in January 2009.

• The last time the visitors won at the Britannia, in January 1999, the sides were playing in the third tier of English football. Gerard Wiekens scored the only goal.

• This is the 96th meeting between the sides. Man City have won 40, Stoke 35 and there have been 20 draws.

Stoke City

• Stoke are chasing a fourth successive win in the top flight for the first time since they won their last two matches of the 1980/81 season and the first two of the following campaign.

• Jon Walters came on as a substitute against West Brom and his contribution was three shots, two goals and one pass in 11 minutes.

• The Potters have the worst first-half goalscoring record in the Premier League this season, scoring just twice, but remarkably have the joint best second-half record so far with 16 goals.

Manchester City

• City have kept seven clean sheets in the league this season, second only to Chelsea's eight.

• Roberto Mancini's side remain as the only side yet to score a headed Premier League goal this season. Their last top-flight header came from an unlikely source - Shaun Wright-Phillips against West Ham on the final day of last season.

• They have won the last 17 Premier League matches in which Carlos Tevez has scored, stretching back almost a year. He has scored 30 goals in his last 36 Premier League games.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Stoke City

Jones: 6 goals (4 league); Walters: 4 goals (3 league)

Manchester City

Tevez: 9 goals (9 league); Adebayor: 5 goals (1 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Peter Walton

Assistant referees: Mike Cairns & Andy Newbold

Fourth official: Phil Gibbs

NB. We have only had Peter Walton officiate 3 of our games in the last 2 seasons, 1st time this, and all against the Scouse - we didn't win a single one!

[brite blu sky]

SO we need to get 3-0 up by half time.. After 3 Balotelli would deserve a rest ;)

[Beefymcfc]

SO we need to get 3-0 up by half time.. After 3 Balotelli would deserve a rest ;)

More to the point, if Arsenal don't win, United lose and we win 12-0, we'll go Top . Yipeeeeeeeeeeeee

[brite blu sky]

SO we need to get 3-0 up by half time.. After 3 Balotelli would deserve a rest ;)

More to the point, if Arsenal don't win, United lose and we win 12-0, we'll go Top . Yipeeeeeeeeeeeee

Whaaaoooooh Mancini!!
45 and top of the league!

Arse have a potentially tough game. the rags i cant see losing out to the chicken farmers though.

[zuricity]

Don't want to put the mockers on the Arse game , but clattenshit is ref and always good for a Villa red card

[Moonchesteri]

Just got home from work, I'll grab a first beer in a minute! Here we g!

[french_tony]

From Twitter. Hope this is BS.

NeilAshton_NOTW Neil Ashton
YaYa Toure has woken up with a headache, could miss Stoke v ManCity.

[Swales4ever]

3 points, whatsoever way!
Come on City!!!

[Mark (Blue Army)]

From Twitter. Hope this is BS.

NeilAshton_NOTW Neil Ashton
YaYa Toure has woken up with a headache, could miss Stoke v ManCity.

Out because of a fucking headache, get a grip.

[Brad]

Tell him too take some ibrufen... works a treat ;)

[Beefymcfc]

From Twitter. Hope this is BS.

NeilAshton_NOTW Neil Ashton
YaYa Toure has woken up with a headache, could miss Stoke v ManCity.

How does he know that, did he wake-up next to him?

How you'd lurv to give that face a slap..........Ter'waaaat!

[Swales4ever]

From OS:
Hart, Micah,Kolo,Vinnie,Kolarov,NDJ,Barry,Big Jaws,David,Carlos,Mario.
Best available. Out to win!

Me off to watch Murray first set before City... :-)

[bluej]

Hopefully that's Milner in the middle, quite looking forward to seeing him play there.

[Mark (Blue Army)]

Strong team let's get 3points today City!!!!

[Brad]

Great selection lets hope it pays of! :)

[colonel_muck]

i hope we approach it the same way we did fulham even if in this case that could be a huge mistake they're a nightmare to play against at home this lot but we all saw how good we can be last week i'd love that to be plan a. if stoke score first it's going to be muder.

[Mark (Blue Army)]

Strong team let's get 3points today City!!!!

[Mark (Blue Army)]

Strong team let's get 3points today City!!!!

[Beefymcfc]

Looks like Mancio has set us up to attack them, which is what we all wanted. Win, lose or draw, I don't think anyone can complain about the manager today.

[Mark (Blue Army)]

Looks like Mancio has set us up to attack them, which is what we all wanted. Win, lose or draw, I don't think anyone can complain about the manager today.

I bet they do though.