Cardiffvs.Sheff Utd

The visitors moved three points clear at the summit with a second straight win to stretch a long unbeaten run last weekend, while their hosts moved a point above the relegation zone with a draw on their travels last time out.

Match preview

Cardiff City return to action on Saturday aiming to bounce back to winning ways and increase their slender cushion over the Championship's relegation zone.

After a poor start to the season under the management of Erol Bulut and the subsequent appointment of Omer Riza, then on a temporary basis, the Bluebirds enjoyed an impressive improvement across October and early November, moving from 24th spot up to 17th place with a six-match unbeaten streak including four victories.

The South Wales outfit have since failed to add another notch to their wins column in seven further attempts, though, collecting just three more points in that time, having lost each of their last three home games while conceding seven goals and only scoring once.

After the most recent of those, a 2-0 loss to Preston North End last Tuesday, Riza's men, fresh off the confirmation of his appointment for the remainder of the campaign, visited Stoke City on Saturday and left with a share of the spoils, coming from behind to lead 2-1 in the second half through Anwar El Ghazi and a Ben Gibson own goal, only to be pegged back by a leveller from Gibson deep into injury time.

Left wounded by the fashion of that draw on the road, Cardiff City now sit a point above the bottom three heading into their final game before Christmas and will be desperate to end their wait for a fifth league win of the campaign to extend their lead.

They face a particularly tough test, though, with the visitors aiming to continue a 10-match unbeaten streak in the Championship and strengthen their position at the top of the table.

After suffering relegation from the Premier League last time around and being hit with a two-point deduction over the summer, Sheffield United have enjoyed a seamless transition to life back in England's second tier, sitting at the summit on 45 points from 21 outings.

Their only two defeats in those games came consecutively in October, and Chris Wilder's men have since picked up eight victories and two draws, scoring 18 goals across those 10 games and only conceding five.

After settling for a point from a 2-2 draw in a tough trip to West Bromwich Albion in early December, the Blades again head into the weekend on the back of consecutive triumphs, firstly visiting Millwall last Tuesday and prevailing as Rhian Brewster netted the only goal, before hosting strugglers Plymouth Argyle on Saturday and again taking all three points as Gustavo Hamer had them ahead and Kieffer Moore converted a late penalty in a 2-0 win.

Now sitting three points clear of second-placed Leeds United and four ahead of third-placed Burnley with the league's longest current undefeated streak in tact, Sheffield United will aim to further strengthen their position at the top of the table at Christmas with a third straight win and a 15th of the season in the Championship on Saturday.

Cardiff City Championship form:

L

D

L

D

L

D

Sheffield United Championship form:

D

W

W

D

W

W

Team News

Cardiff City continue to deal with several injury issues heading into the weekend, as Aaron Ramsey, David Turnbull, Ollie Tanner, Ryotaro Tsunoda and Kion Etete are set to remain confined to the treatment room.

Former Sheffield United man Callum Robinson will hope to return and lead the line from the outset, having netted a team-high tally of five goals so far this season, while Chris Willock and Anwar El Ghazi, who got on the scoresheet last weekend, should keep their places in a front three.

Manolis Siopis and Joe Ralls will compete to keep their places in midfield, despite competition from Alex Robertson, while Jesper Daland, Dimitrios Goutas and Calum Chambers will line up in an unaltered back three.

Sheffield United will remain without midfielder Oliver Arblaster, defender Femi Seriki and attacker Tyrese Campbell due to injuries, while key men Anel Ahmedhodzic and Vinicius Souza remain doubts after missing last weekend's meeting with Plymouth Argyle.

If they remain sidelined, Jack Robinson will continue alongside Harry Souttar at the heart of the defence, while Tom Davies and Sydie Peck will likely partner up in the midfield again in the absence of Souza and Arblaster.

After Ryan One led the line at the weekend, Kieffer Moore could start up top, having scored off the bench in his second substitute appearance following his own injury layoff, while Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Callum O'Hare and Gustavo Hamer should again line up in support in their 4-2-3-1 setup.

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Alnwick; Daland, Goutas, Chambers; Rinomhota, Siopis, Ralls, O'Dowda; El Ghazi, Robinson, Willock

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:

Cooper; Gilchrist, Souttar, Robinson, Burrows; Peck, Davies; Rak-Sakyi, O'Hare, Hamer; Moore

We say: Cardiff City 0-2 Sheffield United

Written by

Sam Varley

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