Craig Bellamy is set to make his Cardiff City debut this weekend when Doncaster Rovers visit Cardiff City Stadium. The Bluebirds will be looking to continue their positive start to the campaign by securing a first home league win of the season. Simon Glanville previews the match.
Cardiff team news: Welsh skipper Bellamy is expected to make his Cardiff City debut on Saturday after joining the Bluebirds on a season-long loan from Manchester City this week. Another new arrival, former Celtic left-back Lee Naylor, could also be involved.
Stephen McPhail has recently returned to training, but Saturday's game will come too early for him. Jason Koumas meanwhile is pushing to be included from the start, while Kevin McNaughton is also back in training after suffering a head injury at Derby.
Doncaster team news: Ryan Mason could go straight into the Doncaster side after joining Sean O'Driscoll's side on a loan deal from Tottenham earlier this week. Marc Wilson is also likely to be involved after recovering from a broken toe, but James Hayter and Shelton Martis miss out due to hamstring injuries.
Doncaster's season so far: Following their impressive twelfth place finish last season, Rovers are targeting the play-offs this time around.
On the opening day of the campaign, Donny travelled to Darren Ferguson's Preston - a club fancied by many to go well this term. However, Doncaster were two to the good within the first twenty minutes, once again showing that labeling them as underdogs may not be a good move. James O'Connor and James Hayter's early goals allowed the visitors to take control, and they closed the game out to take a rewarding three points back to Yorkshire.
Two late Accrington Stanley goals ensured the League Two outfit progressed at Doncaster's expense, in the first round of the Carling Cup at the Keepmoat Stadium. Youngster Josh Payne had fired the hosts into an early lead, but Stanley hit back to knock out their Championship opposition with goals from Chris Turner and Craig Lindfield in the last ten minutes.
Last weekend, Bristol City visited the Keepmoat and nearly took all three points. Damien Stewart headed the away side into a first-half lead, but Billy Sharp rescued a point for Doncaster with a late penalty.
Last meeting: Jay Bothroyd's stoppage-time winner ensured in-form Cardiff made it four wins in a row last time the two clubs met. Michael Chopra had earlier opened the scoring at Cardiff City Stadium, scoring a delightful goal after superbly controlling Peter Whittingham's forty-yard pass.
Doncaster were heading for a point though when Gareth Roberts pulled them level after receiving the ball from Marc Wilson. But Cardiff managed to nick a late winner when Bothroyd's late header found a way past visiting 'keeper Neil Sullivan.
Teams from last meeting at Cardiff City Stadium on 30th January 2010:
Bluebirds: Marshall, Kennedy (McNaughton 77), Gerrard, Gyepes, Matthews, Burke (Taiwo 77), Whittingham, Rae (Blake 66), Chopra, McCormack, Bothroyd. Subs not used: Quinn, Enckelman, Capaldi, Feeney.
Sheffield United: Sullivan, Chambers, O'Connor, Roberts, Hird, Wilson, Coppinger (Hayter 85), Oster (Mutch 88), Stock, Sharp, Shiels (Webster 89). Subs not used: Guy, Spicer, Smith, Heffernan.
Attendance: 19,730.
Doncaster last time out: A late, late Billy Sharp penalty ensured Doncaster Rovers kept their unbeaten record intact after two league games following a Keepmoat Stadium draw with visitors Bristol City. The visiting Robins shook off the shock resignation of Steve Coppell last week to take the lead when Damion Stewart headed home Jamie McAllister's cross. But McAllister then conceded a penalty in the 89th minute after a foul on James Hayter, which the prolific Sharp buried emphatically.
Doncaster Rovers side versus Bristol City: Sullivan, Lockwood, Martis (Thomas 74), O'Connor, Friend, Gillett, Martin Woods, Stock (Coppinger 71), Mason (Brooker 85), Sharp, Shiels. Subs not used: Hird, Gary, Woods, Fairhurst, Dumbuya.
