Stoke City vs Bournemouth preview: How to watch, kick-off time, team news, predicted lineups and ones to watch

Stoke City remain firmly in the play-off mix, despite a poor result against Sheffield United at the weekend, losing 2-1.

Michael O'Neill will be looking for a strong response against table-toppers Bournemouth, as his side let a one-goal lead slip in South Yorkshire despite leading in the 79th minute.

The Potters are fifth in the table, and have the second best home record in the league with five wins and one draw from six games at the bet365 Stadium.

Bournemouth have been one of the most impressive teams in the EFL this season, with new man Scott Parker steering them to an unbeaten start in the league after 12 games.

The Cherries sit top of the table with eight wins and four draws giving them 28 points.

They face a tough test in Staffordshire, but will take confidence from a 2-0 win on their travels against Bristol City last time out.

Team news

Stoke are still without Abdallah Sima (ankle) and Morgan Fox (hamstring).

Alfie Doughty and Leo Ostigard are doubts after missing training due to illness.

Key man Tyrese Campbell has been training with the first team in recent weeks, and will figure in the matchday squad for the first time since last December.

Tashan Oakley-Boothe remains on the sidelines after suffering a setback in his return from a serious back fracture.

Bournemouth have no new injury concerns this week, after welcoming Junior Stanislas back into the fold at the weekend.

Steve Cook and Lewis Cook remain out, but will likely be back in the matchday squad in the coming weeks.

Ben Pearson returns from suspension after accumulating five yellow cards and being banned for one game.

Adam Smith is a doubt after sustaining a knee injury that kept him out of Saturday's game.

David Brooks misses out as he prepares to undergo treatment for stage-two Hodgkin lymphoma, after going public with his diagnosis last week.

Predicted lineups

Stoke (3-5-2)

Davies; Chester, Souttar, Wilmot; Smith, Sawyers, Allen, Powell, Tymon; Brown, Surridge.

Bournemouth (4-1-4-1)

Travers; Stacey, Cahill, Kelly, Zemura; Lerma; Lowe, Christie, Billing, Anthony; Solanke.

Ones to watch

Sam Surridge

Sam Surridge commanded a £5.5m fee from the Cherries as he made the move to Staffordshire in the summer. The 23-year-old striker was not the most prolific of goalscorers on the south coast, but will certainly aim to change that with a system much better suited to him at Stoke.

His start to the season has had ups and downs, after scoring on his debut to seal a 3-2 win against Reading it looked as if the Potters had sealed a coup - but just one more league goal since has meant a place on the bench in recent weeks. He will certainly be up for it, and a change in system may see him enter the affray from the start looking to haunt his former club.

Ryan Christie

Ryan Christie was also acquired in the summer, joining from Celtic for a lowly £1.5m after making one appearance for Scotland in their unsuccessful Euro 2020 campaign. The 26-year-old attacking midfielder was with the Bhoys for six years, after breaking through at Inverness.

A tricky customer, Christie as enjoyed his start to life in the Championship with four assists from six starts. His skills and guile will be sure to test a Stoke backline that was undone with surprising ease against Sheffield United.

Previous meetings

Bournemouth won this fixture 1-0 last season, courtesy of a late Stanislas winner. Stoke won the game on the south coast 2-0, with Tommy Smith and Will Forrester netting on the final day of the campaign.