' Cardiff City v Leeds United '

Really enjoyed reading. 2-2 my prediction




Championship preview: Cardiff City v Leeds United

by Terry Phillips

Wales striker Steve Morison has joined Neil Warnock at Leeds

Our Cardiff City correspondent Terry Phillips looks at Saturday's Championship clash between Leeds United and Cardiff City.

Leeds United v Cardiff City - npower Championship - Elland Road, 3pm Saturday

Leeds United today signed Wales striker Steve Morison in a swap for Luciano Beccio. But the target man will not play against Cardiff City on Saturday as he has a thigh strain. As a result, Chris Coleman has left him out of his Wales squad to face Austria next week.

Neil Warnock has also signed his namesake Stephen from Aston Villa.

Probable line-ups

Leeds United 4-4-2

GOALKEEPER

Paddy Kenny

BACK FOUR

Sam Byram

Lee Peltier (capt)

Tom Lees

Aidan White

MIDFIELD

Paul Green

Rodolph Austin

Michael Brown

Luke Varney

FRONT TWO

Ross McCormack

El Hadji Diouf

Subs: Jamie Ashdown (gk), Jason Pearce, Davide Somma, Chris Dawson, David Norris, Michael Tonge, Ryan Hall, Stephen Warnock,

Cardiff City

GOALKEEPER

David Marshall

BACK FOUR

Matt Connolly

Mark Hudson (capt)

Ben Turner

Andrew Taylor

MIDFIELD

Craig Conway

Aron Gunnarsson

Peter Whittingham

Tommy Smith

FORWARDS

Craig Bellamy

Fraizer Campbell

Subs: Joe Lewis (gk), Kevin McNaughton, Simon Lappin, Craig Noone, Jordon Mutch, Heidar Helguson, Joe Mason.

Click here: Bluebirds Banter blog - Gareth Rogers watches Nicky Maynard train at the Vale

WHO'S THE REF?

Michael Dean (Heswall, Wirrall). Has been in charge of 25 matches this season, booking 92 players and sending off four.

Aged 44, began refereeing in 1985, appointed to Football League line 1995, became League referee two years later and appointed to the select group of Premier League referees 2000.

Dean began refereeing in 1985. He eventually officiated in the Northern Premier League as a referee, becoming a Football League assistant referee in 1995, and progressing to the full referees' list in 1997.

TERRY SAYS

City have drawn only three times this season, against Brighton and Derby away plus Ipswich at home. This be the fourth.

Leeds are in supreme form at home, having won six and drawn one of their last seven Championship fixtures at Elland Road.

The Bluebirds, though, have run into form away and are unbeaten in six League trips with five wins and a draw.

They have also kept four clean sheets in their last six Championship matches overall and it’s going to be a tight clash at Elland Road.

Both teams will score in a 1-1 draw.

KEY STAT

It's now six years since Peter Whittingham signed for Cardiff City and he's closer than ever to the dream target of helping the Bluebirds achieve promotion to the Premier League. Whitts joined City from Aston Villa for £350,000 in January 2007 and has scored 75 goals in 293 first team appearances.

Seven of those goals have come this season.

TREATMENT ROOM

Centre backs Ben Turner and Mark Hudson are both fit and ready.

Nicky Maynard is the only City player with any significant injury and he is out on the training pitch again, but still working with the physios and won't play again this season.

Stephen Warnock that is!

Intresting we have to be careful with Michael Brown with his silly tackles.

Austin is a great player.

Leeds look strong with home form.. I would take a draw and not complain but I see us winning.

Will Fraizer start? I wonder!

A win would keep the pressure on the chasing pack!! 3-1 win for us!!

Can't see Lapping making the bench and Malky leaving Cowie out.
2-1 City, Mason and Campbell

So why isn't Kim Bo-Kyung detailed in the side/subs of the estimated one.

I guess that he was forgotten from the papers article, or was it a typing errol.

We are going to pump them. Again.


I hope!

The big question is are you going to take more than 404?

I'll say 1–1

Kimbo will be in starting line up, with either Smith or Campbell on bench.

The big question is are you going to take more than 404?

Whats so special about 404?

Morrison is out injured for them this weekend hes back next week, plus Becchio has now left

I would take a draw but city to win 4-1.

In all honesty, I would love to see Kim start ahead of Conway for this one.

Predicting a 2-1 win for City.

1-1 in what will be a very physical game.

Anyone know if he Leeds match is on TV anywhere?

Leeds 1-3 Cardiff.

Campbell x2, Whitts.

Leeds are expected to include new signing Stephen Warnock in their squad, but another new recruit, Steve Morison, is out with a thigh strain.

Loanee Ross Barkley might also return after being kept out of last Sunday's FA Cup tie by parent club Everton.

New signing Fraizer Campbell is set to make his Cardiff debut and Simon Lappin is also available after completing a permanent transfer from Norwich.

Craig Bellamy is available after recovering from a stomach bug.
MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• This is the 50th competitive match between these clubs. Cardiff won 22 of the previous 49, and Leeds 14.

• Cardiff are on a 14-match unbeaten sequence in league and cup against the Whites (W9, D5).

• Leeds last defeated the Welsh club with a 1-0 away victory in the old Second Division in February 1984, five months after achieving a similar result at Elland Road.