Stoke City vs Burnley. Premier League.
Bet365 StadiumAttendance29,532.
Sunday 22 April 2018 12:22, UK
Stoke City will look to boost their survival chances by registering their first win in 10 games when high-flying Burnley visit on Sunday (kick-off 1.30pm).
After 10 consecutive years in the Premier League, Paul Lambert's team are five points from safety with four games remaining.
Since taking over from Mark Hughes, Lambert has struggled to make a significant impact, taking just eight points from his 11 games in charge.
Burnley will be confident of exploiting Stoke's weakness in a defence that has conceded 64 goals already this campaign - the worst defensive record in the Premier League.
Stoke welcome back midfielder Charlie Adam from suspension.
The Scot has sat out the last three matches, but comes back into contention, while full-back Glen Johnson returned to training on Friday following a groin problem.
But the Potters will still be without defender Kostas Stafylidis (fractured rib) and forward Eric Choupo-Moting (groin).
Burnley are crossing their fingers over James Tarkowski's fitness ahead of Sunday's trip.
Ben Mee is still out with a shin injury and fellow centre-half Tarkowski has been recovering from a knock suffered in Thursday's defeat to Chelsea.
Scott Arfield is absent with a calf problem while Jon Walters, Steven Defour and Robbie Brady are all recovering from varying knee complaints.
Stoke have won two of their three Premier League home games against Burnley (L1), both by a 2-0 scoreline.
Burnley are looking to secure their first league double over the Potters since the 2002-03 campaign.
Stoke have only won one of their last 15 Premier League games played in April (D5 L9), beating Hull 3-1 last season.
Following West Brom's win at the weekend, Stoke are now on the longest current winless run in the Premier League (10 games).
This will be the third time these managers have met in a league match, with Sean Dyche unbeaten in the previous two, both as Burnley manager (draw with Aston Villa in November 2014, beat Blackburn in March 2016).
After winning his first Premier League game in charge of Stoke, Lambert is now winless in his last 10. Only three managers in the competition have had as long a wait for a second win at a club having won their first in charge - Brian Clough (11 games with Nottingham Forest), Alan Curbishley (12 games with West Ham) and Dave Bassett (13 games with Nottingham Forest).
Chris Wood has scored five away goals for Burnley this season - the most away goals netted by a Burnley player in a single Premier League campaign is six, by Danny Ings in 2014-15.
Stoke have to win - it's a must-win game. Draws are no good anymore - all this, 'Oh, we were unlucky', this and that. Saying that, I'm going to go for Stoke.
They have to win this game - if they win they'll give themselves a little bit of a chance. You know there's a shock left before the end of the season. We saw it with West Brom at Man Utd. They have nothing to play for but it was still a big result - there's another one of them on the way. I don't know what club are getting it, but someone will get it.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (17/2 with Sky Bet)
