TIME RUNNING OUT AS CITY TRAVEL TO BRAMALL LANE

Cardiff City are back on the road as they travel to face Chris Wilder's Sheffield United.

The Opposition:

Despite start the season with a points deduction, The Blades have sat firmly in the promotion mix all season, with it all still to play for in the remaining four games of the season.

In the current season, Chris Wilder’s formation uses a different type of structure and fresh ideas than his first spell at the club. Now, Sheffield United tend to play with a back four. We can say that they use a 4-2-3-1 shape, but it frequently changes. During the build-up, they usually play with a symmetrical backline and a double pivot, while Gustavo Hamer’s role constantly changes. Hamer, a player for inner channels, starts as a left-winger and is free to drop in to build a temporary 4-3-3 when the play is being built on his flank. Once this happens, Callum O’Hare (attacking midfielder) or Tyrese Campbell/Kieffer Moore (striker) can move to Hamer’s original space and progress from wide. What Chris Wilder applies in the final third is a central overloads-tendency.

In the final third, Gustavo Hamer and Rak-Sakyi tend to move to the centre, and Chris Wilder’s full-back attacks depth, looking for crossing/finishing zones.

Harrison Burrows from the left frequently finds goal opportunities in this way.

Sheffield United sit third ahead of this one, and could close the gap to the top two to two points with victory.

The Bluebirds:

Cardiff come into this one on the back of gut-wrenching defeat against Stoke City. A Will Fish own goal in the second half saw City lose another crucial game in their fight for safety.

City are going to have to be fast and clinical. Sheffield United attack in numbers, so it's about Cardiff being intelligent to pick their times in the game and make the hosts pay. The Bluebirds will have to be on it defensively if they wish to stand any chance of getting a result.

Team News:

Cardiff City - Isaak Davies a doubt. Andy Rinomhota and Anwar El Ghazi set to return. Joe Ralls, Aaron Ramsey and Jak Alnwick remain out.

Sheffield United - Rhys Norrington-Davies, Harry Souttar and Ollie Arblaster out for the hosts.

Preferred XI:

GK - Ethan Horvath

RB - Andy Rinomhota

RCB - Will Fish

LCB - Jesper Daland

LB - Joel Bagan

RDM - Calum Chambers

LDM - Sivert Mannsverk

CAM - Cian Ashford