Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit reveals Stoke City and Cardiff City fear - "very worried" claim made | OneFootball

Speaking exclusively to FLW, Don Goodman has been discussing the relegation implications for the loser of Saturday's clash between Cardiff and Stoke.

Stoke City are just about keeping their necks above water in the Championship, but that could change should they taste defeat in a huge relegation scrap with Cardiff City this weekend.

The Potters sit just two points above the Bluebirds, who are occupying the final relegation spot in 22nd place heading into Saturday's meeting in the Welsh capital.

Mark Robins' Stoke side are unbeaten in their last three league outings, but back-to-back draws with Preston and Luton Town respectively, have prevented them from truly pulling away from the drop zone.

As for Cardiff, Omer Riza's men are in the midst of a four-game unbeaten stretch themselves, but like Stoke, multiple draws have seen them fail to scrape together enough points to steer clear of the threat of League One football next season.

"Cup final" - Don Goodman makes Stoke City, Cardiff City relegation fear claim

Speaking exclusively with Football League World, we asked Sky Sports pundit and former player, Don Goodman: 'Stoke City travel to Cardiff on Saturday in a huge relegation clash. Would you fear for Stoke if they lose on Saturday?'

Goodman said: "I think I'd fear for whoever loses in that game at the weekend between Stoke City and Cardiff City.

"On paper, it looks a little bit as if Cardiff have the easier fixtures left to play, but Stoke have picked up two wins and two draws and one defeat in their last five games.

"If they could replicate that, Stoke City, then I think they'll be ok. But, it is huge. The loser of this particular game, I would be very worried for.

"Particularly if it was Stoke, because they have Leeds, Sheffield United and Derby away as three of their games that they've got left. So it is enormous.

"It will probably be played like a cup final by both of them."

The two key factors that don't make great reading for Stoke City's chances v Cardiff City

There's no doubt about it, the outcome of Saturday's meeting at the Cardiff City Stadium will have relegation implications for both sides, for good or for bad.

If Stoke City win, three points would take their tally to 47, and put them on the verge of securing their Championship status for another season.

Should Cardiff claim victory, they would leapfrog the Potters, which would not only hand their survival chances a significant boost, but it could pull Stoke into the bottom three should Derby triumph in their clash with Portsmouth.

There are two key factors heading into the game that will fill Cardiff with confidence, and potentially drain Stoke's, however.

One: the Potters have won just three times away from home all season, with five draws and 12 defeats seeing them take a total of 14 points from 20 games on the road so far this term.

Two: the Bluebirds have been at their best on home soil this season, with seven of their 9 wins coming at home so far this year. On top of those facts, Stoke haven't beaten Cardiff in the league since February 2020.

Therefore, all the signs point towards a tough afternoon in prospect for Robins' side, in a game that both teams simply must win for the sake of their Championship status.