Official Boothen Roar Match Preview: Stoke v Brighton

Last updated : 18 February 2011 By Dan Buxton

The Potters welcome Brighton to the Britannia Stadium in tomorrow's big FA Cup game.

Stoke sit 10th in the Premier League and after defeating Cardiff and Wolves will be hoping to reach the last 8 for the second season in a row. The visitors are well placed at the top of League One and have already won four games to get this far.

Stoke have an decent home record this season and have already beaten Fulham in the Carling Cup, aswell as eight other home wins, but have four defeats. Brighton have won six times away from home in the league this season but have lost four times away aswell, although three of their four FA cup victories this season have come away from home.

In the 19 matches between these sides at Stoke, the Potters have won 9, the visitors 3 and seven have been drawn. Last time the pair clashed at the Britannia Stadium, in November 2005, the game ended in a 3-0 home win. Overall Brighton have won 9 times to the Potters 15 victories.

The referee is Howard Webb. He has reffed Stoke in their home win against Blackburn and 3-1 last 16 Carling Cup defeat at West Ham this season. He has only refereed Brighton once in the last nine years, in their 2-1 away defeat at Crewe in February 2006.

The Met Office report that there will be rain showers, temperatures of 8 degrees celsius, very good visibility and a light 8mph wind.

Prediction: City send out a strongish side and go for the jugular, defeating the League One side by three goals to one thanks to Jon Walters, Ricardo Fuller and Kenwyne Jones