Promotion to the Premier League has become the Bluebirds' sole focus again following Saturday's F.A. Cup defeat at Chelsea. And they can take a significant step towards achieving that goal on Tuesday night when West Bromwich Albion visit the Cardiff City Stadium. Simon Glanville previews the game.
Cardiff team news: Dave Jones will hope his patched-up stars can continue to put themselves through the pain barrier as West Brom head into town on Tuesday. Jay Bothroyd, Mark Kennedy and Gavin Rae all passed late fitness tests to play at Chelsea and will have to do so again to face the Baggies. Stephen McPhail is back on the sidelines following his rib injury against Peterborough, along with long-term absentees Mark Hudson and Joe Ledley.
West Brom team news: Andy Slory may have to wait a little longer for his West Brom debut after injuring himself in the warm-up just before the Baggies' last game at Reading. Graeme Dorrans is likely to play despite struggling with a hip problem, though winger Jerome Thomas is suspended. Meanwhile, Gonzalo Jaro is expected to miss the rest of the season with a broken metatarsal.
West Brom's season so far: West Brom have spent the majority of the last decade yo-yoing between the Premier League and the Championship. And after coming down from the Premier League last season, they are going the right way about securing an immediate return.
Roberto Di Matteo took charge in the summer after Tony Mowbray left for Celtic and he has continued his predecessor's fine work. The Baggies will head to South Wales on Tuesday looking for a win that could take them to the top of the table, as they now trail league leaders Newcastle by just a single point. West Brom are also still in the F.A. Cup, after earning a replay with Reading at the weekend.
Last meeting: Cardiff will be looking to complete a league double over West Brom after securing victory at the Hawthorns in early December. Chris Burke put City in front and Peter Whittingham sealed the three points with a second Cardiff goal five minutes from time.
Teams from last meeting at the Hawthorns on 8th December 2009:
West Brom: Carson, Cech (Kiely, 83), Zuiverloon, Olsson, Meite, Brunt, Dorrans, Jara, Mulumbu (Teixeira, 36), Bednar, Cox. Subs not used: Martis, Reid, Mattock, Wood, Thorne.
Bluebirds: Marshall, Quinn, Gerrard, McNaughton (Kennedy, 84), Hudson, Burke, Scimeca (Wildig, 46), Whittingham, Rae, Chopra, Etuhu (McCormack, 58). Subs not used: Enckelman, Taiwo, Magennis, Matthews.
Attendance: 20,742.
West Brom last time out: They may have left it late, but West Brom are still in the F.A. Cup after earning a replay with Reading at the weekend. The Baggies made the worse possible start after falling behind inside nine seconds, when Jimmy Kebe put Reading ahead at the Madejski Stadium. Robert Koren levelled matters on eighteen minutes but WBA looked like they were heading out of the competition when Simon Church restored the hosts' lead. However, with just three minutes remaining, Joe Mattock made it all square and ensured the two clubs will have to do it all again in a replay at the Hawthorns.
West Brom side versus Reading: Carson, Jara (Mulumbu, 46), Zuiverloon, Olsson, Mattock, Meite (Tamas, 52), Brunt (Moore, 74), Dorrans, Koren, Bednar, Cox. Subs not used: Kiely, Wood, Mantom, Brown.
