Stoke Preparing for QPR

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For Stoke fans, this game is IT: Stoke need to win (and for other results to go right to get into the playoffs. (For QPR of course, the games means nothing, except for pride and so forth.
( The referee for Sunday's game will be Uriah Rennie.)
Mark Bircham is hoping to make an appearance "I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I might play some part in the game," said Bircham, who could leave Rangers this summer" - Teamtalk.
Ex-Stoke Manager, Lou Macari view "I see no reason why Stoke shouldn't win because QPR have nothing to play for and manager John Gregory will probably be relaxing in his sunglasses - and may already have cracked open the end-of-season champagne after cheating relegation. Stoke Sentinel
Stoke's Results. Stoke's Squad

4 West Brom 45 19 73
5 Wolverhampton 45 0 73
6 Southampton 45 21 72
7 Stoke 45 21 72
8 Preston 45 10 71

STOKE OFFICIAL SITE - Beam-Back at the Brit?

The club can announce that they are currently in negotiations with Queens Park Rangers regarding a live "beam back" of Sunday's game to take place at the Britannia Stadium.

With all tickets for visiting supporters now sold out, the club are looking into the possibility of showing Sunday's Coca-Cola Championship clash live on a big-screen.

Chief Executive Tony Scholes explains the situation:

"Before making a final decision, we also need an absolute guarantee from an outside broadcaster that they can indeed make this possible.

"Otherwise, we may have the situation whereby supporters are at the Britannia Stadium and the game cannot be shown to them."

Further announcements to follow... Stoke Official Site

Stoke Official Site QPR Match Tickets Sold Out

Tickets for this Sunday's game at Queens Park Rangers have now sold out.

The additional allocation of seats that went on sale this morning sold out within an hour and there will be no more tickets for visiting supporters.

QPR Safety Officer Clive Doyle has warned City supporters against purchasing tickets in home areas of the stadium.

"Stoke City supporters who may have obtained tickets in the home stands for Sunday's final game of the season are reminded that this is against ground regulations.

"Stoke City supporters will not be able to remain in these areas," he warned. Stoke

QPR OFFICIAL SITE
POTTERS

Momentum is key in the race for the play-off's and Stoke City hold all the trump cards in that respect heading into the final day of the season.

Their destiny may be in the hands of others, but if current form is anything to go by, the Potters could yet gate-crash the top-six with victory at Loftus Road on Sunday.

Indeeed, Tony Pulis' side head to W12 unbeaten in six Championship matches - a run which has taken them to the brink of the play-off's.

Last Saturday's 3-1 win at home to Colchester United pulled Stoke level on both points and goal difference with Southampton, who occupy the fourth and final play-off spot.

Stoke maintained their play-off hopes in a bad-tempered clash with the U's at the Britannia Stadium.

Chris Iwelumo fired the visitors in front from the penalty spot, after Salif Diao was adjudged to have felled the giant Colchester striker.

Potters gaffer Tony Pulis

But Stoke responded in kind, scoring three goals in a nine minute purple patch to all but end the U's play-off aspirations.

Mamady Sidibe teed up Darrel Russell, who poked home to level, before Sidibe fired home from just inside the box.

Danny Higginbotham netted Stoke's third with a diving header, as the Potters ended their home campaign on a high.

Speaking after the game, Pulis heaped praised on his comeback kings: "It's a fantastic situation to be in and it's going to be a very exciting finale to the season.

"All we can do is try our utmost to do our job and then see what happens."...

Top scorer (league goals only): Ricardo FULLER 10 ...

Last league game:
Stoke City 3, Colchester United 1.
Coca Cola Championship.
April 28th 2007.
Stoke: Simonsen, Hoefkens, Fortune, Higginbotham, Griffin, Lawrence (Eustace 84), Russell, Diao (Martin 90), Hendrie, Fuller (Pericard 90), Sidibe.
Subs Not Used: Hoult, Zakuani.

Stoke gaffer Tony Pulis: "It's a fantastic situation to be in and it's going to be a very exciting finale to the season.
"All we can do is try our utmost to do our job and then see what happens.
"We did look nervous in the first half and Colchester played well but our second-half display was awesome."

Superhoopsbet.co.uk match odds:
QPR 9/4 Stoke 10/11 Draw 13/5

Star-man Lee Hendrie

Star Man: Lee HENDRIE
Stoke City supporters must have thought all their prayers had been answered when midfielder Lee Hendrie joined the Club in September.
The Aston Villa star arrived with a glowing on-the-pitch reputation, which saw him achieve his first (and to date only) England cap against Czech Republic in 1998.
However, his progress slowed down thereafter, with the Birmingham-born midfielder falling down the pecking order at Villa Park during the 2005/06 season.
Despite not making the expected move out of Villa Park in the summer of 2006, Hendrie joined Stoke City in late September and made an immediate impact by scoring three goals in his first 17 appearances.
He was later recalled by Villa, only to return to the Britannia Stadium, penning a loan deal until the end of the 2006/07 season.

Head to head:
QPR wins: 13 Stoke wins: 7 Draws: 5

Last league meeting:
Stoke City 1 (Higginbotham), Queens Park Rangers 0.
Coca Cola Championship. December 9th 2006.

Latest news: Fans can roar us on - Pulis
Stoke manager Tony Pulis is sure the Potters' vociferous support can roar them into the play-offs.
The seventh-placed Potters could secure a play-off spot with victory over QPR on Sunday and they are taking a 3,000-strong following to Loftus Road.
"This response from our supporters is yet another indicator of what this all means to our people," Pulis told the Sentinel.
"I thought the support of our fans was special again against Colchester, particularly when we needed it at 1-0 down. I've no doubts those following us to London will give it their all again.
"We can't have another 20,000 roaring us, but Loftus Road is a good stadium for atmosphere and I'm sure our fans will sound like 20,000."
(source: TEAMtalk)

QPR

This is Staffordshire - Ex-Stoke Manager, Lou Macari
LOU MACARI: STOKE MUST BE READY TO CASH IN ON RIVAL SLIP-UPS

Stoke City will qualify for the play-offs on Sunday if they win their final league game at QPR.

But that's the only prediction you'll get from me for that final-day showdown involving Stoke and at least four other clubs chasing the three remaining play-off places.

We all know there will be vicious twists and turns in the plot during a fraught afternoon for managers, players and fans alike - not to mention a few twitchy chairmen.

I have a hunch that someone, somewhere will slip up by drawing or losing their final game and so Stoke will never forgive themselves if they don't win their own game at Loftus Road to take full advantage.

I see no reason why Stoke shouldn't win because QPR have nothing to play for and manager John Gregory will probably be relaxing in his sunglasses - and may already have cracked open the end-of-season champagne after cheating relegation.

Stoke must go there in positive mood and respond to the tremendous support I know they will get from their travelling fans.

As a manager, you just pray you then get the right breaks at the right time, including those all-important refereeing decisions.

I don't know whether Tony and his backroom team will want to know how other results are going during the game, but you can bet they will have a pretty good idea anyway because of the atmosphere among the Stoke fans.

And hold on to your hats Stoke fans because you can bet your team will be in and out of that top-six as results fluctuate throughout the 90 minutes.

So if there is to be a slip-up elsewhere, will it be Wolves, West Brom or Southampton?

Logic suggests Wolves have much the toughest assignment as they go to Leicester, while West Brom are home to Barnsley and Southampton at home to Southend.

Only Leicester might have something to play for because they are in front of their own fans and, crucially perhaps, caretaker manager Nigel Worthington will be desperate to persuade Milan Mandaric to give him the job full-time.

Having already steered them to safety, what better way of twisting that arm further than winding his players up to get a decent final-day result against a play-off hopeful like Wolves?

And if Leicester don't want Nigel, he'll know there could be other chairmen monitoring his success or otherwise in this short spell at the Walker's Stadium.

So logic suggests Wolves are the best bet for stepping on a banana skin this Sunday, but when has logic ever played a part in these dramatic affairs?

It really wouldn't surprise me if Southend or Barnsley upset the odds by sneaking a draw on their travels.

There's no reason for saying that other than the fact we all know the least expected often happens on these nervy occasions.

The law of averages suggests not all four clubs will win, but just make sure you're one that does Stoke City. Stoke