Stoke vs Aston Villa preview
Friday 22 February 2019 14:22, UK
Saido Berahino is unlikely to feature for Stoke following his drink driving arrest.
The club have not commented on Berahino's immediate future but it is understood he will be dealt with internally under the Sky Bet Championship club's disciplinary policy.
Charlie Adam is closing in on a return having been given extra time to build fitness after returning to training following a calf injury. Tom Edwards may return after missing the 1-1 draw at Ipswich due to a head injury.
Jack Grealish is still out for Aston Villa when they travel to the bet365 Stadium. Boss Dean Smith had hoped the 23-year-old, who has been out since December, would be fit enough for a place on the bench.
Goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic is also a doubt for the trip to the Potteries with concussion after coming off at half time in the 2-0 defeat to West Brom. Tom Carroll is again set to miss out with a hip problem with Axel Tuanzebe (foot) and Henri Lansbury (hamstring) and John McGinn is banned.
Opta stats
Stoke City have lost one of their last seven league matches against Aston Villa (W5 D1), losing 0-1 on the opening day of the 2014-15 Premier League season.
Aston Villa have taken one point from their last four league matches against Stoke (W0 D1 L3), a 2-2 draw in December 2018.
Only Ipswich Town (5) have won fewer points across their last 10 Championship games than Stoke (6 - W1 D3 L6).
Aston Villa are the only Championship team yet to score an away league goal during 2019.
Stoke manager Nathan Jones has only lost three consecutive home league matches once previously, losing as Luton Town boss in April 2016 in League Two.
Aston Villa scored 25 goals in their first 11 Championship games under Dean Smith - they've scored 11 goals in their subsequent 10 games.
Prutton's prediction
It's five without a win in the Championship for Nathan Jones now, although that run really should have come to an end against Ipswich last week.
Dean Smith will also be starting to feel a bit of pressure at Aston Villa. Their play-off hopes have drifted away massively and they need some kind of a result somewhere to get themselves going. But I reckon this will be a draw.
David Prutton predicts: 1-1 (11/2 with Sky Bet)
