Huge game at The Britannia could prove decisive.

Away at Stoke has become one of the Premier League’s most fearsome fixtures but we head into tomorrow’s fixture with two potentially favourable factors on our side.

Stoke played extra time on Wednesday evening as they achieved an impressive victory over Man City and they play at Stamford Bridge in the quarter finals next Sunday. Tony Pulis’ men have effectively achieved safety in the league so the FA Cup will become their priority for the rest of this campaign and you have to presume that they will rest a number of players after their mid-week exertions.

Obviously we still have injury concerns. We are still without William Gallas, Andrey Arshavin and Abou Diaby and the latter’s absence may be most keenly felt in what will undoubtedly be a physically demanding fixture despite Stoke’s possibly depleted squad. Thankfully Sol Campbell and Niklas Bendtner are around to help out at set pieces but, as ever, when we are in possession, we will be looking to Cesc Fabregas to instigate some invention.

The captain’s form has dropped slightly in recent games and he has been guilty of some Denilsonesque sloppiness in midfield but this side needs him to regain his superhuman qualities if we are to miraculously capture the title. Fabregas must look around and sigh at times, there have been some terrible individual errors already this season that would normally have ended any hopes of silverware.

The goalkeeping situation is worrying which immediately casts huge doubts over our title aspirations. Clichy has been woeful, Sagna average and Denilson poor. Most of the others have been injured for most of the season with only Vermaelen, Gallas, Song and Fabregas excelling.

It would be one of the most remarkable moments in our history if we were to lift the trophy in May but you have to wonder whether we would be the worst team to ever take the title. It could really happen though, but only if we take three points tomorrow.

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