Stoke vs Coventry preview

Stoke take on the Sky Blues at the end of a dramatic week that has seen Danny Pugh and Leon Cort sign on loan for the Potters. Confidence will be boosted by the arrival of the two players and will help to dispel the gloom after the Potters' defeat last week at Bristol City.

Pulis was over the moon with the late news that the Potters had finally landed Cort. He told the official site: 'Leon is a great signing for this football club, and he brings more quality to the squad. He will add depth to the team and I am absolutely delighted to have got him here.'

Stoke should have both Pugh and Cort available to start. Pugh's arrival will probably allow Richard Cresswell to move up front alongside Ricardo Fuller as Mama Sidibe still battles back to fitness after his injury on international duty. Dominic Matteo has not trained this week, but the club are hopeful that he will be fit.

Home fans may get their first glimpse of Cresswell playing alongside Fuller after his two goals against Palace ten days ago. He is back from a one match suspension that meant he missed last Saturday's defeat at Ashton Gate.

Iain Dowie will be hoping that the team can put all the club's financial problems behind them after a disappointing start to the season. Winger, Julian Gray is a major doubt ahead of the Midlands derby clash, whilst Dele Adebola is only rated as 50/50 to play.

Ward has been linked to the Potters in recent weeks as the Sky Blues looked for ways out of their financial problems. He became their first £1m+ signing for several years after arriving from West Ham in the summer of 2006.

Fans will be looking for a repeat of last season's 1-0 win at a foggy Brit, which culminated in that terrific long range goal from Andy Griffin

Tuesday 6th Nov: Scunthorpe (away) kick-off: 7.45pm
Saturday 10th November: Sheffield United (home) kick-off: 5.20pm (Sky TV)

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