Cardiff City v Blackburn Rovers, tonight 7.45pm

KEY BATTLE

ROVERS will have to breach a Cardiff defence that has kept four clean sheets in their last five matches if they’re to come away with victory. Defender Sean Morrison has been a key figure in the back four.

PREVIOUS MEETING

THE two shared a 0-0 draw in the Ewood sunshine in a game of few chances back in August. Rovers are without a win in their four previous visits to the Cardiff City Stadium. The less said about the last one, the better.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Matthew Donohue - on a hat-trick, having sent off players in each of his last two matches, taking his tally to the season to six from 29 games. Has taken charge of three Rovers matches this season, away games at Reading and Middlesbrough, and the November home win over Brentford.

 

TEAM NEWS

German striker Robert Glatzel will come back in to the Bluebirds squad having not been seen since coming off at half-time in the 0-0 draw with Charlton on June 30.

Boss Neil Harris has an otherwise clean bill of health. 

As for Rovers, Elliott Bennett and Joe Rankin-Costello will both travel with the team, despite both carrying knocks, but are expected to be in the matchday squad at the very least.

Ben Brereton is suspended, while Stewart Downing will be eyeing a recall after dropping to the bench, albeit temporarily, against Leeds. 

Amari'i Bell, Derrick Williams and Corry Evans remain out.

PREDICTED TEAMS

Cardiff: Alex Smithies, Dion Sanderson, Curtis Nelson, Sean Morrison, Joe Bennett, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Leandro Bacuna, Joe Ralls, Will Vaulks, Junior Hoilett, Callum Paterson

Rovers: Christian Walton, Ryan Nyambe, Darragh Lenihan, Tosin Adarabioyo, Elliott Bennett, Lewis Travis, Bradley Johnson, Stewart Downing, Lewis Holtby, Sam Gallagher, Adam Armstrong

ODDS

CARDIFF go in to the game as 11/10 favourites to cement their sixth spot, with Rovers 5/2 to end their three game losing run with a victory, and 23/10 to stop it with a draw. Bradley Johnson is 16/1 to open the scoring.

FIXTURES

Nottingham Forest v Fulham (5pm)

Brentford v Charlton (6pm)

Luton Town v Barnsley (6pm)

Reading v Huddersfield (6pm)

Millwall v Middlesbrough (WED)

West Brom v Derby (WED)

Birmingham v Swansea (WED)

Bristol City v Hull (WED)

Wigan v QPR (WED)

Sheffield Wed v Preston (WED)

Leeds v Stoke (THU)