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Cardiff have won their last 5 home league games against Saints, all by a 1 goal margin, and will be looking to extend this run on Boxing Day. None of the last 11 meetings between the 2 teams have resulted in an away win, so the Bluebirds will be confident of making home advantage count.

Saints’ defeat to Spurs was their 4th in their last 6 league games and Mauricio Pochettino will be looking to turn around this poor run of form at the Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday. Injuries have halted their good run of form, but the club will be hoping to have left-back Luke Shaw available for selection for the encounter.

What to expect

Cardiff City have dodged a bullet for the time being with their eccentric owner agreeing to keep Malky Mackay in charge for the time being. Recent results may not have gone well with one win in their last seven, but this news could be a boost for the players as well as the fans. Cardiff has played better at home this season having gone 3-2-3 compared to a road record of 1-3-5, which does bode well for them this Boxing Day. The one thing they will need to do is score goals. In their last six matches they have scored just four goals while conceding ten.

Southampton’s 2-3 loss to Tottenham on Sunday was a hard one for them to take, considering that they took an early lead as well as gave up a winning goal after they fought back to equalize after going down 1-2 from an own goal. The difficulties for Southampton’s recent struggles lie in their defense, especially the recent lack of defense.

Craig Bellamy remains Cardiff’s only injury worry as the Bluebirds look to put a tumultuous week behind them. Chairman Vincent Tan confirmed after the 3-1 loss to Liverpool that manager Malky Mackay will keep his job and the Cardiff boss will be confident of securing a win against an out-of-form Saints side. The hosts may make a number of changes from the side the lost on Saturday, with Fraizer Campbell and Kim Bo-Kyung likely to come in.

Mauricio Pochettino could name a relatively unchanged XI from the side that lost 3-2 to Spurs on Sunday. Luke Shaw missed the defeat through illness and faces a late fitness test, but should return to replace the injured Daniel Fox. Nathaniel Clyne is a doubt for the trip to Cardiff, but Saints will definitely be without Guly, Artur Boruc, Kelvin Davies and Victor Wanyama. Dani Osvaldo didn’t feature against Spurs as he awaits to hear the length of his ban following his FA charge last week.