English Premier League 2012: Stoke City vs Manchester City
Manchester City will look to dominate once again but, will Stoke City have something to say about it.
Stoke City Preview
Swindon pulled off the biggest upset of the night in the Capital One Cup second round as a James Collins hat-trick helped them knock out Premier League Stoke City 4-3 in extra time.
The League One side shocked their top flight opponents in the opening period as Collins pounced upon a Thomas Sorensen error to make it 1-0 in the 27th minute and then doubled their lead by nodding in just before half-time.
Stoke managed to take it to extra-time with a spirited second-half fight back, with goals from Kenwyne Jones and Jon Walters, but Paulo Di Canio's Swindon would not be denied in the additional period, with defender Aden Flint and Collins scoring either side of Peter Crouch's header for the hosts.
Stoke were playing their second match in just over 48 hours following Sunday's 0-0 draw with Arsenal and manager Tony Pulis made six changes to his starting lineup. However, the Potters looked anything but invigorated in the first half, though, against a lively Swindon team whose record for the campaign going into the contest showed no defeats and no goals conceded in four matches, and included a 3-0 victory over Championship outfit Brighton in the previous round.
The Robins appeared comfortable from the off and after Tommy Miller had sent a shot into the arms of Sorensen, Rafaelle De Vita struck wide.
It seemed only a matter of time before the hosts settled down to take control, and soon enough they were worrying Swindon, Cameron Jerome firing in a speculative effort from distance, Jones heading over from a cross and the pair then getting in each other's way as they attempted to meet another.
Stoke were showing some sloppiness at the back, though, with Collins just unable to capitalise on one defensive lapse before he made the most of a further error to put Swindon ahead.
Manchester City Preview
Manchester City dominates QPR .Despite creating a multitude of chances, City needed a quick response from Dzeko after Bobby Zamora cancelled out Toure's effort but Tevez made the scoreline more convincing in injury time.
Apart from QPR's recovery after falling behind, the match had little in common with that in May.
The visitors were hardly a factor for long spells and only three of their starting line-up were in the team that memorable afternoon.
Their changes included a debut for new signing Esteban Granero while goalkeeper Robert Green, dropped from the England squad this week, started what could be his last match as first choice.
The 32-year-old only joined the club in the summer but now faces an uncertain future following this week's capture of Julio Cesar from Inter Milan.
Scott Sinclair was the only one of City's five deadline day signings to make their squad but did not get off the bench.
City, watched by Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho ahead of their Champions League meeting, soon established control with Toure bossing the midfield.
QPR survived a scare in the first minute when Dzeko, starting for the first time this season, glanced a header wide from a corner.
The Bosnian went even closer as he was first to meet another corner but this time Fabio da Silva, on loan from Manchester United, did well to hack off the line.
Stoke City vs Manchester City Predictions: 1-2
Manchester City made easy work out of QPR 3-1 with Yaya Tour, Edin Dzecko and Carlos Teves struck as a dominant but wasteful Manchester City narrowly saw off QPR at the Etihad Stadium once again. Up next will be Stoke City and once again I see the same results. The fact of the matter is Stoke City doesnt match well with the speed of Manchester City's mid fielders thus making it difficult to beat the visiting Manchester City team.
Stoke City vs Manchester City Betting Odds:
Stoke City 4.5 | Draw 3.45 | Manchester City 1.7
Pick: Manchester City 0.26%
Stoke City vs Manchester City Asian Handicap Betting Odds:
Stoke City 0.75 1.98 | Manchester City -0.75 1.92
Pick: Manchester City 36.31%
Fair Odds Calculations:
1x2 % 18.9% - 25.6% - 55.5% 5.30 - 3.90 - 1.80
Moneyline 25.4% - 74.6% 3.94 - 1.34
Double Chance 1x 44.5% 2.25
Double Chance x2 81.1% 1.23
Double Chance 12 74.4% 1.34
Goal Average (Home - Away) 1.050 - 1.950
Asian Handicap Betting
Home -1.5 : Away +1.5 6.8% - 93.2% (14.68 - 1.07)
Home -1.0 & -1.5 : Away +1.0 & +1.5 7.2% - 92.8% (13.80 - 1.08)
Home -1.0 : Away +1.0 7.7% - 92.3% (12.91 - 1.08)
Home -0.5 & -1.0 : Away +0.5 & +1.0 13.7% - 86.3% (7.31 - 1.16)
Home -0.5 : Away +0.5 18.9% - 81.1% (5.30 - 1.23)
Home 0 & -0.5 : Away 0 & +0.5 21.7% - 78.3% (4.62 - 1.28)
Home 0 : Away 0 25.4% - 74.6% (3.94 - 1.34)
Home 0 & +0.5 : Away 0 & -0.5 36.4% - 63.6% (2.75 - 1.57)
Home +0.5 : Away -0.5 44.5% - 55.5% (2.25 - 1.80)
Home +0.5 & +1.0 : Away -0.5 & -1.0 50.2% - 49.8% (1.99 - 2.01)
Home +1.0 : Away -1.0 57.5% - 42.5% (1.74 - 2.35)
Home +1.0 & +1.5 : Away -1.0 & -1.5 62.9% - 37.1% (1.59 - 2.69)
Home +1.5 : Away -1.5 67.1% - 32.9% (1.49 - 3.04)
Home +1.5 & +2.0 : Away -1.5 & -2.0 73.3% - 26.7% (1.36 - 3.74)
Home +2.0 & +2.5 : Away -2.0 & -2.5 82.5% - 17.5% (1.21 - 5.72)
Home +2.5 & +3.0 : Away -2.5 & -3.0 88.2% - 11.8% (1.13 - 8.49)
Home +3.0 & +3.5 : Away -3.0 & -3.5 93.2% - 6.8% (1.07 - 14.77)
@SBOBet Asian Handicap Betting
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