Analysis:

Stoke City enters this match knowing they can go above Blackburn in the standings with a win here at the Britannia Stadium. Stoke moved further away from the drop zone on Monday after the goalless draw with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Monday Night Football.

Blackburn comes into this match with just one defeat in six matches putting them seven points above Hull City who occupies the bottom three spot. Sam Allardyce will be confident coming into this match as Rovers have also lost just one of their last seven league meetings with Stoke.

However, it must be mentioned here that Blackburn are not the best travellers managing just one win in just one occasion in their last 17 away matches.

As for the team news ahead of this clash, the home side could miss the services of without Abdoulaye Faye on Saturday after he exited Monday's goalless draw early on with a back spasm. Andy Wilkinson could be promoted at right-back with Robert Huth moving to the middle to partner Ryan Shawcross if Faye is unable to feature here today.

Rory Delap will be hoping to earn a recall at Glenn Whelan's expense with Dean Whitehead moving to the centre alongside Salif Diao. Ricardo Fuller impressed when he came off as a substitute and he will be hoping to dislodge either Tuncay or Mamady Sidi up front.

For the visitord Blackburn, Vince Grella will be part of the Blackburn squad travelling to Stoke after he recovered from a thigh injury. He has not played in the Rovers first team since sustaining the injury against Tottenham in December.

Lars Jacobsen is also back in training after his thigh injury but is not yet match fit. Playmaker David Dunn remains sidelined and new signing Yildiray Basturk is still acking in match fitness so he will play no part in this fixture.

Take Stoke to get a slim win here.

Cheers and good luck,
Cruiser

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Stoke 1-0

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take Stoke to win here.

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take Stoke and give the 1/4 ball away here.