Preview: Cardiff City vs. West Bromwich Albion - prediction, team news, lineups

The Bluebirds were beat at Deepdale by Preston North End on the weekend, whereas Albion secured back-to-back home wins by defeating strugglers Huddersfield Town.

Match preview

Cardiff still have work to do in their quest to avoid relegation this season following a 2-0 loss against Preston on Saturday afternoon, with goals from Thomas Cannon and Ched Evans deciding the contest.

Sabri Lamouchi has improved the Bluebirds since taking over in January, however two defeats in their last three matches means the bottom three are not too far behind as the season approaches its business end.

The Welsh club are currently 21st in the second-tier standings, six points ahead of Mick McCarthy's Blackpool in the highest of the relegation places, meaning Cardiff could still be clawed back into trouble.

With all three of the sides below Lamouchi's men failing to register a victory over the past four matches, Cardiff will realise a few more victories will secure their Championship status for another year - the Bluebirds certainly have the credentials to escape the drop.

A poor recent away run threatened to completely derail West Brom's playoff hopes, however successive victories at The Hawthorns over the past week have got the Baggies' promotion push back on track.

Both maximums came via 1-0 scorelines against relegation-threatened sides in Wigan Athletic and Huddersfield Town - with both performances from Carlos Corberan's side being flawed at times, however the crucial thing is that Albion collected all the available points out of a pair of favourable home games.

West Brom travel to Wales having lost their last five away matches in all competitions, a run which started with a humbling 2-1 defeat at league-leaders Burnley in January.

The Baggies are sitting in eighth place in the table, three points behind sixth-placed Millwall and in striking distance of the playoff zone as the campaign approaches its dramatic conclusion.

With six of Albion's final 10 fixtures being away from The Hawthorns, Corberan's men need to change their troublesome fortunes on the road if they are to earn a place in the playoffs this year.

Cardiff City Championship form:

L

W

W

L

W

L

West Bromwich Albion Championship form:

D

L

W

L

W

W

Team News

Cardiff have a former Albion man in their medical room currently, with attacker Callum Robinson sidelined because of a hamstring injury picked up at the end of last month.

The Bluebirds will also be without goalkeeper Jak Alnwick for the visit of the Baggies - the 29-year-old received a straight red card in the defeat on Saturday, meaning Rohan Luthra will start between the sticks.

West Brom could make changes after a period of three games in eight days, with winger Marc Albrighton potentially regaining his place in the starting XI from Adam Reach.

Tom Rogic made his first appearance on the weekend since he sustained a hamstring injury in January, and the Australian is pushing for a start at the Cardiff City Stadium in this one.

Grady Diangana is to be sidelined for the rest of the season due to a foot injury, with the winger set to undergo surgery that will extend his time out of action to around 4 months.

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Luthra; Ng, Kipre, McGuinness, O'Dowda; Wintle, Sawyers, Philogene-Bidace, Ojo; Etete, Kaba

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:

Griffiths; Furlong, O'Shea, Pieters, Townsend; Yokuslu, Molumby, Wallace, Swift, Albrighton; Dike

We say: Cardiff City 1-2 West Bromwich Albion

Cardiff have their Championship fate in their own hands and will be confident of avoiding the drop by earning a couple more wins between now and May.

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