Tomorrow, Stoke take on Blackburn at the Britannia Stadium. Unlike so many media outlets, whose views before the match I have read with a growing sense of frustration, I will try to look ahead to the game without using the trite, clichéd, highly unfunny cheap shots about fans having to crane their necks skywards all afternoon or the ball being stretchered off after being pounded into submission, with Stoke's Tony Pulis and his Blackburn counterpart Sam Allardyce famed for their long-ball tactics.
Instead, I'll consider the encounter for what it is, a meeting of two solid Premier League sides, who have absolutely earned their right to play at the top level. Yes, both tend to play with a more direct style than many others, but that is a perfectly valid, and often very effective, way to play the game. It's also not to say that hitting it long is all either team can do. When the clubs last met, in February, Stoke eased to a 3-0 win, and their third goal was a thing of beauty, a fine curling finish from Matthew Etherington at the end of a very neat passing move. I sincerely hope a large number of goals of a similar calibre are scored in the match, wiping the smug smiles off the detractors' faces. With, of course, Stoke coming out on top.
TEAM NEWS
Pulis could be without his Jamaican contingent for the clash. Forward Ricardo Fuller, who has 60 caps for the Reggae Boyz, is a major doubt after dislocating his shoulder during Sunday's win at Newcastle, while winger Jermaine Pennant, whose father is Jamaican, is struggling to overcome the hamstring problem that kept him out of the trip to Tyneside. Fortunately, the third member of Stoke's Caribbean trio, Trinidadian striker Kenwyne Jones, is fit and raring to continue the great run of form that has seen him net on each of his last four outings.
Fuller hadn't been a first choice for Pulis this season and had been used mostly as a generally very effective impact substitute. If he isn't passed fit, his place on the bench should be simply filled by Turkish international Tuncay, while if Pennant cannot start, Rory Delap will most likely move out to the right wing with either Glenn Whelan or Marc Wilson accompanying Dean Whitehead in the centre of midfield.
There is some question over who will constitute Pulis's back four. For most of the opening month and a half of the season it has been clear that he favoured Robert Huth at right back, with Ryan Shawcross and Abdoulaye Faye at centre half and Danny Collins on the left. At Newcastle, however, he dropped Faye to the bench, moving Huth into his preferred central role and recalling Andy Wilkinson at right back. This seemed to work well, so he may choose to keep his defence this way for the visit of Blackburn.
Rovers will almost certainly be without influential midfielder David Dunn, who has an ankle injury, while Australian Vince Grella, also a midfielder, is a doubt with a hamstring complaint. Completing Allardyce's list of doubtful central midfielders is Keith Andrews, who often partners Whelan in Ireland's midfield. He looks set to be sidelined with a groin strain.
Possible Stoke Side:
Sorensen
Wilkinson Shawcross Huth Collins
Pennant Delap Whitehead Etherington
Jones Walters
Subs: Begović, Faye, Higginbotham, Whelan, Wilson, Gudjohnsen, Tuncay
Possible Blackburn Side:
Robinson
Salgado Samba Nelsen Givet
E. H. Diouf Jones N'Zonzi Pedersen
M. B. Diouf Kalinić
Subs: Bunn, Olsson, Chimbonda, Emerton, Hoilett, Benjani, Roberts
FORM
Only one point separates the two sides in the Premier League table, Blackurn with eight and Stoke with seven after the first six rounds of matches. Stoke's form is better going into the game though, given that all their seven points have been won in the last three matches, after a three game losing streak to kick off the campaign. Pulis's men will look to stretch their current unbeaten run to five. Blackburn have had a very mixed start to the campaign, beating Everton and Blackpool, losing to Birmingham and Arsenal and drawing with Manchester City and Fulham. They currently sit in the top half though, and fans of the Lancashire club will be satisfied with the start they have made to the campaign. Stoke have had the better of Blackburn since the Potters returned to the top flight in 2008. Rovers did win the first meeting of the two, 3-0, in Allardyce's first game in charge, but Stoke are unbeaten in the last three, a 1-0 win, a 3-0 win and a goalless draw. Historically, however, Blackburn have had Stoke's number, winning 40 of the clubs' 86 encounters. Stoke have triumphed on 31 occasions and fifteen have been drawn.
PLAYER LINKS
Stoke forward Walters started his career at Ewood Park, having come through the Blackburn academy, but he never played a first team game for the club. Blackburn's Andrews played sixteen games on loan for Stoke when he was contracted to Wolves back in 2003, but that's where the current squad links end. Several other notable figures have played for both clubs though, including Paul Gallagher (Stoke 2005-06 & 2008 (loans), Blackburn 2002-09), Dominic Matteo (Stoke 2007-09, Blackburn 2004-07) and James Beattie (Stoke 2009-10, Blackburn 1995-98).
THE REFEREE
South Yorkshire official Howard Webb will take charge of the match. The 39 year-old, whose middle name is curiously, Melton, has long been the favourite son of the FA and has been handed a number of high profile appointments over the last few years, taking charge of the FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League finals, and, most recently and most impressively, the World Cup final in South Africa in July. He has refereed five games so far this season and already shown eighteen yellow cards, so the more physical players on both sides, particularly Whitehead, who is just one caution away from a ban, will need to be careful. He last refereed Stoke in the goalless draw with Everton in May, and Blackburn in their 3-1 defeat at Tottenham in March. He also took charge of draw between Stoke and Blackburn last November at Ewood Park.
THE WEATHER
Autumn has arrived, bringing very wet weather with it, two dozen of the world's best golfers currently in South Wales will tell you. Tomorrow, however, should be a calm, dry day, if chilly, in Stoke-on-Trent.
PREDICTION
Stoke have gone into the break trailing their opponents in every Premier League game this season, and I foresee this continuing, with Morten Gamst Pedersen putting the visitors a goal to the good before half time. As is their habit, I predict a strong Stoke fightback in the second half, and an ultimate 2-1 win thanks to yet another goal from Kenwyne Jones and one from Walters. Stoke City 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
Enjoy the game