MUST WIN AS LUTON COME TO THE WELSH CAPITAL

The Bluebirds return to the Cardiff City Stadium as they host Luton Town in a must win fixture.

Calum Chambers warming up.

The Opposition:

Luton Town have been one of the shock teams this season, and not for the right reasons. The Hatters came down with big expectations, but have failed to live up to the hype. Luton sit firmly in the relegation zone as the final weeks of the season swiftly approach.

Bloomfield is looking to play fast and direct with an emphasis on the utilisation of a forward with more pace and a desire to win possession back in the final third and punish loose touches. There is a heavy emphasis on creating chances from wide areas, which is where players like Alfie Doughty can show quality. Due to Bloomfield’s more expansive shape expect the flanks to interchange between fullback and winger throughout the game as both players are capable of slotting into the fullback position when their overlapping defender advances forward.

Luton sit 23rd ahead of this one, and a win could see The Hatters move to 22nd and two points off safety.

The Bluebirds:

Cardiff come into this one on the back of a frustrating defeat against Sunderland. The Black Cats took an early lead, before Isaak Davies levelled the game, but Chris Mepham's late goal was too much for The Bluebirds in the end.

The Bluebirds need to play with real intensity and set the pace of the game early on, as well as taking the game to a team that are there for the taking. City need to move the ball quick and press high as that has unlocked Luton so far this season.

Team News:

Cardiff City - Ollie Tanner, Jesper Daland, David Turnbull, Jak Alnwick and Ronan Kpakio remain out for The Bluebirds.

Luton Town - Reece Burke could return. Kal Naismith suspended. Teden Mengi, Tom Lockyer, Shandon Baptiste, Marvelous Nakamba and Tahith Chong out for the visitors.

Preferred XI:

GK - Ethan Horvath

RB - Perry Ng

RCB - Dimitrios Goutas

LCB - Will Fish

LB - Callum O'Dowda

RDM - Calum Chambers

LDM - Aaron Ramsey

CAM - Alex Robertson

RW - Will Alves

LW - Isaak Davies

ST - Yousef Salech

Prediction:

Cardiff City 2-0 Luton Town

Cardiff need to put the final nail in the Luton coffin, and I think if they can play to the level they did in the last two games (especially Burnley), they can do that.

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