Cardiff City will be looking to break into the playoff spots when they host Birmingham City in the Championship. Over the weekend, the Bluebirds narrowly defeated Millwall. The Blues lost to Coventry City in the Midlands after putting on yet another lackluster performance.
Preview (Cardiff City vs. Birmingham City)
After losing to Southampton and West Bromwich Albion, two teams vying for promotion, back-to-back losses since August, Cardiff bravely defeated Millwall 1-0 on Saturday afternoon to get back to winning ways in a game that lacked true quality. In the end, a corner kick determined the outcome of the match. Erol Bulut’s team failed to generate and convert clear-cut opportunities against their South London opponents. Strong center-back Dimitrios Goutas rose to the top of the box to head past Matija Sarkic in the Lions’ goal.
With just two wins in their previous six Championship games, the Bluebirds’ ascent to the top six has slowed somewhat since the beginning of November. Nevertheless, the Welsh team is currently seventh in the second-tier rankings, trailing Mike Dodds’ Sunderland only on goal differential. It makes sense that manager Bulut is considering Kieffer Moore’s situation at Bournemouth before the January transfer window, as Cardiff has scored the fewest goals of the teams currently in the top eight in the table, and summer arrival Ike Ugbo is the club’s top goalscorer with just four strikes.
The hosts and Birmingham have already faced off this season. In late August, the Bluebirds secured their spot in the EFL Cup third round at St Andrew’s. A bench-warming team led by Welsh rookie Rubin Colwill defeated John Eustace’s Blues 3-1. In front of the television cameras and 4,000 irate Bluenoses in the away end on Friday night, Birmingham City was defeated 2-0 by Mark Robins’ Sky Blues at the Coventry Building Society Arena thanks to a masterful brace from Solihull-born Callum O’Hare. As a result, Wayne Rooney has only won one of his first nine games as manager.
Team News
Without the inventiveness of Wales great Aaron Ramsey, Cardiff would not been the same. Ramsey is aiming to make a comeback to action in the New Year after suffering a knee injury. Last season the Bluebirds labored near the bottom of the division. Callum O’Dowda was a source of attacking inspiration from the flanks. However, the Irishman is currently sidelined due to a leg injury. Bulut started former Reading attacker Yakou Meite and Colwill in the second half of the team’s lackluster first-half performance against Millwall; the two could start on Wednesday.
Birmingham is awaiting word on the severity of Cody Drameh’s ankle injury. Bacuna may have to play full-back once more since fellow right-back Ethan Laird won’t be able to return until late January due to a hip problem. Due to an unusual foot ailment, Dion Sanderson was forced to miss the Coventry match. He lost his position as an ever-present in the second tier. It is uncertain if the captain of the Blues will be able to travel to South Wales.
Romelle Donovan, an Academy product, looked impressive off the bench at the CBS Arena. Rooney is debating whether to give the winger his first team debut in its whole, but the Birmingham manager is hesitant to insert the 17-year-old into a failing and uneasy squad. Krystian Bielik may be rested for this match after appearing especially lethargic against the Sky Blues the previous time out. As a result, Ivan Sunjic of Croatia may make his first start since the 3-1 loss at Sunderland on November 11.
Cardiff City 2 – 1 Birmingham City
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