Cardiff and West Brom are currently separated by just one point. West Brom sit in 15th place with 15 points while Cardiff City are just below them in 16th place with 14 points. They both have a negative goal difference with the Baggies at -4 having allowed 21 goals and the Bluebirds (or is it Redbirds?) have -11 while allowing 22 goals.
Cardiff are on a poor run of form having failed to win their last 5 league games and manager Malky Mackay will be looking to see his side return to winning ways with the Bluebirds looming only 1 point above the relegation zone. West Brom are on a similar run of form after losing their last 3 top flight encounters. However, the Baggies have lost none of their last 7 matches away at Cardiff and will be keen to extend that run to 8 at the weekend.
What to expect from the Match
Predicting a result between these two is not easy considering their inconsistency throughout the season. In home matches this season Cardiff has been 2-2-3 while West Brom’s away record is 1-4-2. There are several statistics that seem to counter go against one another in this match. Cardiff City is winless in their previous five Premier League matches while West Brom has lost each of their last three. In West Brom’s past five matches they have allowed at least two goals while Cardiff has not scored in 5 out of their last 7 EPL games. Prior to their 2-0 home loss to Norwich West Brom had scored in six straight matches, including scoring two goals in four of those games.
Cardiff will look to bounce back from the disappointing 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace last time out with the welcome of West Brom. The Bluebirds have no pressing injury concerns, although Andrew Taylor and Craig Bellamy are both doubtful. The former, however, is expected to recover from a knock to start having sat out the weekend loss to the Eagles.
West Brom fell to a surprising 2-0 defeat to Norwich last weekend and will be looking to return to winning ways with the trip to Cardiff. The Baggies will be without George Thorne and Ben Foster, while Victor Anichebe is a doubt due to illness. Jonas Olsson is expected to return to the starting XI following his suspension, meaning Diego Lugano will drop to the bench.
Predicted Starting line ups
Predictions
Both teams will look to secure a pressure-relieving win, but this is expected to end in a stalemate which won’t be of any benefit to either side. While Cardiff probably have something of an edge as the home team, they have not been playing well lately. This is certainly one of those matches where it could go either way.
Cardiff City 1-1 West Bromwich Albion