While Cardiff aren't expected to be down at the bottom of the table, the same can be said for Colchester, who did brilliantly last year - though they may be having second season syndrome this time round in the Championship.
Colchester haven't done too badly on their travels this season, picking up an average of a point a game. However with only two wins from ten away matches, and four losses, Cardiff will know the game is there for the taking at Ninian Park. However the Bluebirds home form as we all know has been patchy, with only two wins so far, not forgetting five home defeats.
One thing we should see is goals. Along with Crystal Palace the U's have kept the fewest clean sheets in the Championship this season, notching just one to date. All in all thirty four goals have been let in, the second worst in the division. But they haven't been having trouble at the other end, scoring thirty two goals, the fourth highest in the league this year.
Fourteen of those goals have come on their travels, something Cardiff will have to deal with if they are to gain three points on Saturday. We haven't been too bad in front of goal either, scoring twenty two goals, although only ten of those have been at Ninian Park. Mark Yeates has been the main man in front of goal, notching seven league strikes, with both Kevin Lisbie and Clive Platt just behind on six. However it's been a team effort with ten different league scorers.
Both teams recent form has been poor to say the least, earning only one win each in their last eight games. However, the Bluebirds have picked up seven points over that time, just shading Colchester's six. Colchester have only won once this season when they have fallen behind, and when losing at half-time they have always lost this season, on five occasions - so if Cardiff do go in front, hopefully this time we'll be able to hold onto the lead.
With both teams on the same twenty points mark, a win for either side could see them rise to as high as seventeenth, giving some potential breathing space from the bottom three. A draw or a loss could see a fall into the bottom three, something that neither side will want to happen.
Looking at the head-to-head record, Cardiff have nine wins to Colchester's eleven, with three draws along the way. Last season of course we lost 3-1 at Layer Road and were then held to a stalemate at Ninian Park, with our last league victory against the U's coming in 2002. It's unlikely to be a stalemate on Saturday, so get ready for goals - or following this jinx, get straight to the bookies with a fiver on nil-nil.
