Cardiff City return as they travel to face Ryan Lowe's Preston at Deepdale.
The Opposition:
After a mid-table finish last season, North End recruited Liam Millar from Basel, Milutin Osmajic from Cadiz, Jack Whatmough from Wigan, Layton Stewart from Liverpool, Will Keane from Wigan, Duane Holmes from Huddersfield, Calvin Ramsey from Liverpool and Mads Frokjaer-Jensen from Odense.
North End have become a more front footed side this season as they've begun using a 3-4-2-1. The front three of Milutin Osmajic, Will Keane and Duane Holmes have given Preston more fire power up front, as they seek to get the ball to Osmajic who uses the fellow attackers to penetrate the opposition. The emergence of Kian Best at the back has seen Preston utulise a back three this season and being more comfortable to play out from the back.
Preston sit fifth in the Championship table and come into this fixture on the back of two wins in a row.
The Bluebirds:
It was a frustrating end for The Bluebirds before the international break. The Bluebirds saw themselves 2-1 up at half-time against Norwich City, however, a second half capitulation saw The Bluebirds lose 2-3.
Cardiff are likely to setup on the counter-attack due to Preston's intense style. Players such as Bowler and Grant will be the diffrence for The Bluebirds as they seek to put themselves back on track.
Team News:
Cardiff City - Perry Ng is back available for Cardiff. Despite picking up a knock on international duty, Manolis Siopis is available. O'Dowda and Ramsey remain out.
Preston North End - Andrew Hughes and Jack Whatmough could be available for North End. Ali McCann and Emil Riis remain out. Former Bluebird Greg Cunningham is also out for the hosts.
Preferred XI:
GK - Jak Alnwick
RB - Perry Ng
RCB - Mark McGuinness
LCB - Dimitrios Goutas
LB - Jamilu Collins
LDM - Joe Ralls
RDM - Manolis Siopis
CAM - Callum Robinson
RW - Josh Bowler
LW - Karlan Grant
ST - Yakou Meite
Prediction:
Preston North End 2-0 Cardiff City
I could see it being a frustrating afternoon for The Bluebirds as Preston will be just too clinical for Erol Bulut's men. Let's hope I'm wrong.
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