The Bluebirds are on the road as they travel to The Hawthorns to face West Brom.
The Opposition:
West Brom were consistent throughout the 23/24 season, with The Baggies finishing in 5th. Carlos Corberan’s side would then face defeat in the play-offs, at the hands of eventual winners, Southampton.
As The Baggies continue their search for a return to the top flight, they’ve added over the summer, Mason Holgate from Everton, Mike Johnston from Celtic, Callum Styles from Barnsley, Uros Racic from Sassuolo, Gianluca Frabotta from Juventus, Lewis Dobbin from Aston Villa, Devante Cole from Barnsley, Joe Wildsmith from Derby, Paddy McNair from San Diego, Ousmane Diakite from Hartberg and Torbjoern Heggem from Brommapojkarna.
Corberan likes his team to play outnumbering. When playing with a high defensive line, Corberan is willing to take the risk of covering the back sectors at the expense of getting the ball back as quickly as possible. Coupled with the high defensive line goes aggressive pressing with a lot of forward involvement.
The Bluebirds:
Cardiff come into this one on the back of another win, this time against bottom of the table Portsmouth. Cardiff controlled the majority of the game and continue to look a real threat under Omer Riza.
The Bluebirds will have to be defensively solid and compact in order to keep out The Baggies, but will have to maintain their strong press from recent games in order to make a game at The Hawthorns. Cardiff will have to utilise pace out wide and be clinical.
Team News:
Cardiff City - Aaron Ramsey, Joe Ralls, Isaak Davies and Ryotaro Tsunoda out for The Bluebirds.
West Brom - Karl Bartley, Mason Holgate and Daryl Dike all doubts for the hosts.
Preferred XI:
GK - Jak Alnwick
RB - Perry Ng
RCB - Dimitrios Goutas
LCB - Calum Chambers
LB - Joel Bagan
RCM - Alex Robertson
LCM - David Turnbull
CAM - Rubin Colwill
RW - Ollie Tanner
LW - Callum O’Dowda
ST - Callum Robinson
Prediction:
West Brom 2-2 Cardiff City
Don’t see either side backing down, and therefore see a high scoring draw at The Hawthorns.
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