Stoke City v. Bristol City Championship
As the season draws to a close the Championship race is set to go down to the last set of matches with the prize of Premiership football awaiting the winners.
Two teams involved in that race meet in a real "6 pointer" at the Britannia Stadium this evening when Stoke take on Bristol City.
This is an interesting match as both sides are not in the best of form recently. Stoke have a home record in the league this season of won 11 drawn 6 lost 4 scored 34 conceded 26 but in their last 6 games they have won only 1 drawing 4 and losing the other and their last win at the Britannia was a 1-0 victory against Ipswich on February 23rd.
Bristol City are 1 point and 1 place behind Stoke but they have also hit a bad patch of form with 1 win 2 draws and 3 defeats over the last 6 matches and only 4 goals scored whilst conceding 7, their last away win also came on February 23rd when they beat Colchester 2-1, but the 4 away games since then have seen them score only twice.
They have won 7 drawn 7 and lost 7 on the road in the league this season so far and scored 19 whilst conceding 29.
Head to head favours Stoke, as in the 7 games played at Stoke since 1977 they have won 5 and drawn 2.
Early team news is that Stoke City could include on-loan Shola Ameobi for the promotion showdown with Bristol City after his hamstring injury proved not as serious as first feared.
Captain Andy Griffin (hamstring) is ruled out and Liam Lawrence (groin) is a doubt, but Glenn Whelan should be fit after illness.
Meanwhile midfielder Lee Johnson (heel) and defender Jamie McAllister (hamstring) could return for Bristol City. Both trained on Thursday but they will not be risked if not fully fit.
There are safe bets to go for today but i like to look for value whenever possible and i feel today`s game gives me that, Stoke are best price 21/20 with Totesport for tonight and i feel that is a fair enough price given the form of both sides, in addition to the win bet i will have a saver on the under 2.5 goals market as neither side have been prolific in recent weeks and the best price at the time of writing was 8/11 with Paddy Power and Skybet.
So a Stoke win and under 2.5 goals for tonights match.
Good luck as ever
Silverfox.
P.S: I don`t normally post racing tips but i had a friend of mine more knowledgeable then i on racing telling me that if the rain stays away from Ayr today to have an interest in Noir Et Vert each way in today`s Scottish Grand National. I will be watching the weather forecast with interest!!!
