Cardiff vs Stoke City Predictions

• Both are in the top five for headed shots this season (Cardiff top) so expect the ball to be in the air for large parts of the game.
• Cardiff defender Aiden Flint is their top scorer and they’ll look to utilise his aerial ability.
• There have been three or more goals in just eight of Stoke City’s 18 away league games.

Watertight Bluebirds

Cardiff have tightened up defensively of late and their goalless draw with Preston North End last time out made it two clean sheets from their last three league games. Defensive solidity has been something of a rarity for the ‘Bluebirds’ this season as only three Championship outfits have kept fewer than their total of six shutouts this campaign. It’s at home that Cardiff has excelled of late, going unbeaten in six of their last seven league matches on home soil and have kept clean sheets in four of those.

Stoke City are in a rut. They’re currently in the midst of an eight-game winless run and it looks as though they’re destined for another disappointing midtable finish. They’ve struggled defensively and it’s been the root of their issues. The ‘Potters’ have kept just a single clean sheet across their last ten league games and they’ll need to tighten up if they want to leave Wales with a positive result.

Aerial ability to be the difference-maker

We’re expecting this to be a physical game with both teams looking to utilise set-piece situations. We don’t see there being too many chances here and as such, we think there will be fewer than three goals here; a single goal could decide this one.