The Bluebirds remain in the Welsh capital as they host high flying Ipswich Town.
The Opposition:
Ipswich have been the surprise package on the Championship this season. The Tractor Boys have maintained their good form from the start of the season, and now have a good chance of returning to the promise land, the Premier League. Ipswich come into this one with six wins in a row.
Kieran McKenna, took over in League One and has gained the hearts of all Tractor Boy fans in East Anglia. A flexible coach with adaptable principles typically sets his team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with the foundations firm, usually opting for similar personnel game by game to maintain his structure. A team who aren’t necessarily ‘possession-based’ yet still like to take control of matches through their brave build-up play, pushing their full backs high and wide allowing the two central defenders to split and the double pivot to act as their main ball progressor. Despite McKenna employing a central progression pattern from deeper areas, a lot of their attacking success comes in the wide areas with high-flying full-backs.
Ipswich sit second ahead of this one, and with a win can go equal at the top with Leicester.
The Bluebirds:
Cardiff have turned a corner in recent weeks and come into this on the back of three wins. The most recent came against Huddersfield, in what was a routine victory for Erol Bulut's men. A first City goal from Famara Diedhiou was enough for the three points, and to see The Bluebirds rise to tenth.
It's unlikely The Bluebirds will have much possession, something which has previously suited them. Some of Cardiff's best work this season has come on the counter-attack, something that will be key this weekend.
Team News:
Cardiff City - Jak Alnwick is back available for Cardiff. McGuinness, Ramsey, Robinson and Etete remain out.
Ipswich Town - Nathan Broadhead will face a late fitness test ahead of this one. Brandon Williams, George Hirst and Janoi Donacien all out.
Preferred XI:
GK - Ethan Horvath
RB - Perry Ng
RCB - Dimirios Goutas
LCB - Nat Phillips
LB - Josh Wilson-Esbrand
RDM - Manolis Siopis
LDM - Joe Ralls
CAM - David Turnbull
RW - Rubin Colwill
LW - Karlan Grant
ST - Famara Diedhiou
Prediction:
Cardiff City 1-2 Ipswich Town
It will be a much closer game than the neutrals expect. However, I think the visitors could have a little bit too much for The Bluebirds.
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