MUST WIN AT THE CCS

Cardiff City are back in the Welsh Capital as they host Steven Schumacher's Bolton Wanderers.

Nathan Trott in action.

The Opposition:

After a slow start to the season, Bolton have hit form in time for the run-in. The Wanderers are in the aggressive pack hunting down Cardiff for their second place spot in the last weeks of the season.

Schumacher has four non-negotiables as a manager: “Run forward and pass it forward. If you lose it, get it back, all recovery runs are sprints, and win all your one-v-ones." The 41 year-old is adaptable in the shape he uses in games. Schumacher asks for simple football from his players, and asks they retain possession, a common theme with the Bolton boss' teams are chances come from the flanks.

Bolton sit fourth ahead of kick-off and could move into third with a victory in the Welsh Capital.

The Bluebirds:

Cardiff's rut continued last time out with a 1-1 draw at Peterborough United. Alex Robertson netted just after half-time, before Posh pegged City back just a minute after the game's opener. The two sides were forced to share the points.

Brian Barry-Murphy's side could counter a Steven Schumacher side by using patient, possession-based play to draw out Schumacher’s compact mid-block and exploit the space behind with well-timed vertical passes.

Opposition Player to Watch:

Amario Cozier-Duberry in action.

Bolton's star man Amario Cozier-Duberry has made his return to action just in time for what will be a hectic run in for The Wanderers. Cozier-Duberry is a dynamic winger who combines close control and quick acceleration with sharp dribbling and a tendency to cut inside to create or finish chances.

The winger began his career at Arsenal, before a move to Brighton in the summer of 2024. Cozier-Duberry spent last season on loan at Blackburn Rovers, before completing another loan move to Bolton this season. The 20 year-old has seven goals and eight assists in all competitions so far this season.

Last Meeting:

Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Cardiff City (2025)

Omari Kellyman in action.

The Wanderers ran out winners in this fixture back in October with a dramatic late winner from Amario Cozier-Duberry.

Cozier-Duberry finished excellently from the edge of the box into the top left corner in the fourth minute of added time to secure the three points for the host.

Team News:

Cardiff City - Gabriel Osho sees out the last game of his suspension. Late decisions to be made on Calum Chambers and Dylan Lawlor. Isaak Davies and Eli King remain out injured.

Bolton Wanderers - Richard Taylor and Marcus Forss out for the visitors.

Preferred XI:

GK - Nathan Trott

RB - Perry Ng

RCB - Will Fish

LCB - Joel Bagan

LB - Calum Scanlon

CDM - Ryan Wintle

CM - Alex Robertson

CAM - Joel Colwill

RW - Cian Ashford

LW - Chris Willock

ST - Omari Kellyman

Score Prediction:

Cardiff City 0-2 Bolton Wanderers

I'm struggling to find much enthusiasm from a side who look like they're struggling to realise their is still a fight to get over the line, therefore I can see Bolton replicating that of Lincoln and closing the gap on the The Bluebirds.

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