The Championship weekend gets underway on Friday night once again this week as the hectic start to the season draws to a close for the 24 sides in the division. They all have one more task before a two week break for the international period.
Two of those teams play on Friday evening as the relegated pair from last season of Cardiff City and Fulham meet at the Cardiff City Stadium, with both sides eager to win and claim a boost heading into the extended break.
Cardiff City
I’m probably in a good position to talk about Cardiff City having seen the majority of their squad already this season. I was there in the league a couple of weeks ago and back there in the cup in midweek and I can’t say I’ve been that impressed with what I’ve seen on either occasion in truth. Set-pieces and long throws to a couple of beanpole centre halves aside, I don’t really see where the quality lies.
Injuries may not be helping Cardiff at the present time, but I’m not convinced they have the right personnel for the style they adopt. They’ll be a threat in the air but from what I’ve seen in this division so far I fancy that is only going to get you so far. Cardiff lost a lot of forward power from last season and to my eye they’ve not replaced it, or at least nothing I’ve seen from the two sides they’ve put out against Luton suggest they have.
Fulham
It is never easy when there is so much pressure on a side to deliver immediately after the nightmare of relegation but to be fair to Fulham they’ve begun the season pretty well, winning three of their five matches. In those outings they have completely dominated the ball and you would expect that to be a trend that continues here, where they are likely to see huge numbers in terms of the possession statistic.
The Cottagers will know they are going to have to withstand an aerial bombardment in this match but I guess when you know it is coming you can put plans in place to deal with that, and they have already won at one side who play direct this season in Huddersfield Town. They will need to be clinical with their chances and play in the right places but there is no doubt Fulham have looked the better of the two so far.
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Team News
Cardiff City remain without goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and midfielder Marlon Pack and both are big losses for Neil Warnock’s men. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing is another who will be on the sidelines for the home side.
Fulham will be without Bobby Reid who is unavailable against the club he is on loan from but there is no reason why Harry Arter won’t face his former side. Denis Odoi looks their only doubt. He has a knee issue.
Betting
It is Fulham for me here. I’ve not seen them in the stadium live yet but I’ve seen the the match they have had on TV at Huddersfield and various highlights of them and they look a cut above the two Cardiff City sides I’ve watched. Cardiff will pump it long but Fulham should have the rearguard to deal with that and when they have the ball they have the players to excite and get the job done.
Luton went to Cardiff and controlled possession both in the league and in the cup in midweek and to be fair the Cardiff players never had much of a clue on either occasion. I expect Fulham to do that here and with the cutting edge they have and the quality they have in their front three I would be surprised if they don’t get the job done in this one. With a bit of draw cover around I’m happy to take the Londoners here.
Tips
PUSH – Back Fulham (0AH) to beat Cardiff City for a 5/10 stake at 1.80 with Betfred
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