Stoke City vs Manchester City preview - Etherington fit to face City

Posted Saturday, March 24, 2012 by PA

Stoke winger Matthew Etherington (ankle) is fit to return for the Barclays Premier League clash against Manchester City after missing the midweek draw against Tottenham.

Midfielder Salif Diao (hamstring) is likely to miss out but defender Jonathan Woodgate, who has not played for a month, could come into contention for a place on the bench.

Striker Ricardo Fuller misses out as he completes a three-match suspension.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis is backing his players to shine in the spotlight as the pressure will all be on visitors Manchester City.

Roberto Mancini's men travel to the Britannia Stadium hoping to reclaim top spot in the Barclays Premier League.

A point would be enough to return City to the summit of a competition they have led for most of the season, but that could hand an advantage to rivals Manchester United, who host Fulham on Monday.

Pulis wants to capitalise on any anxiety in the City camp by building on an impressive draw at Tottenham in midweek, albeit one in which they conceded a late equaliser.

Pulis said: "It was disappointing because Tottenham scored so late - you think you've done it.

"But they are a good side and for us to go down there and put in the performance we put in, was excellent.

"It is a different game tomorrow. Obviously the stakes are higher, all the pressure is on Man City to win the game.

"If you have a look at the resources Man City have and the money they have spent, the players they have got and the lead they had around Christmas they will be desperately keen to get over the line.

"It is a real ding dong of a game, we are looking forward to it.

"If they play to their maximum and everything goes their way, it will be very difficult for us.

"We are just hoping we turn up and play to our maximum, and the decisions go our way.

"We have the opportunity to have a right crack at them, and that is what we will try to do."

Meanwhile, midfielder Samir Nasri believes Manchester City have proved they can stand the heat in the title race.

It was claimed City might be cracking under the pressure when, after leading the Barclays Premier League for five months, they surrendered top spot to champions Manchester United a fortnight ago.

But after their shock loss at Swansea, City showed character with a rousing late fightback against Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League - albeit in a losing cause - and then by coming from behind to beat Chelsea in midweek.

The 2-1 defeat of Chelsea, secured by a late winner from Nasri, lifted City back within a point of United and the Frenchman is relishing the battle.

The 24-year-old said: "After Swansea we could not say anything.

"We had a really bad game, they played really well, and we were a little bit tired after the trip from Lisbon.

"But after that we recovered and we talked, and said a few things, that we came here to win titles.

"We said that we need to be focused because the 10 games that are left are 10 Champions League finals and we want to win them.

"Since then we have shown great character against Sporting and now against Chelsea.

"There will always be someone there to criticise. Not everyone can like City - there will be some who will say we were weak on Wednesday night.

"But inside the club we believe that we can achieve something together, and that is most important."

With United not in action again until hosting Fulham on Monday night, City can reclaim top spot with victory at Stoke.

Carlos Tevez is set for another substitute's role at the Britannia Stadium as he continues to build up his match fitness but defender Joleon Lescott is still out and captain Vincent Kompany doubtful.