MATCH PREVIEW - EVERTON

Match Previews

All you need to know ahead of City's clash with Everton

Cardiff City v Everton
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Date: 31st August 2013, KO 3pm
LISTEN LIVE ON CARDIFF CITY PLAYER

The Bluebirds’ welcome Roberto Martinez’s Everton to Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday as City look to build on last weekend’s victory over Manchester City.

MATCH FACTS

-    Cardiff City have the chance to win back-to-back top-flight matches for the first time since April 1962.
-    Only Manchester City (66.5%) have averaged more possession in the Barclays Premier League so far this season than Everton (64.7%).
-    Should he score, Cardiff's Craig Bellamy will become the first player in the history of the Barclays Premier League to score for seven different clubs in the competition.
-     Frazier Campbell is halfway towards equalling his best goal return from a single Barclays Premier League season (four in 2009/10 for Sunderland).



RECENT NEWS

Ross Barkley – Following his impressive early form for the Toffees, Everton’s 19-year old midfielder received his first call-up to the England squad this week for their upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Moldova and Ukraine.

Barkley opened his scoring account for the season in an impressive performance against Norwich City on the opening day of the season, unleashing a left foot volley to make many sit up and take notice of the Toffee’s latest talent.

KEY PLAYER – Everton

Leighton Baines  -  Still with the Toffees, Baines is one of the most potent attacking full-backs in the Barclays Premier League and will undoubtedly poss a threat for Everton once again down their left flank.

Baines contributed eight assists to the Blues’ last season scoring eight goals in the process, an attacking potency that sets him apart from most full-backs in the Barclays Premier League.

IN-FORM PLAYER

Everton  – Ross Barkley:  As mentioned previously, his excellent early season form has seen him rewarded with his first senior call-up to the England squad, enjoying his role in behind the striker so far this season with the Toffees.

His goal against Norwich was the first for the club, with the 19-year old already looking set to improve upon his seven appearances for the Blues last season. The Liverpool born midfielder also enjoyed loan spells at Leeds United and Dave Jones’ Sheffield Wednesday last campaign, scoring four goals for the Owls.

RECENT FORM (INCLUDING PRE-SEASON):
Everton: LLWDDW
Last time out -  Everton 2-1 Stevenage (AET) – Capital One Cup second round

Starting line-up: Robles, Jagielka, Heitinga, Hibbert, Naismith, Stones, Deulofeu, Oviedo, Osman, Barkley, Kone. Subs: Howard, Coleman, Distin, Baines, Fellaini, Mirallas, Jelavic.

Everton saw off League One side Stevenage at Goodison Park after extra time as Marouane Fellaini came off the bench to score a 116th minute winner. Luke Freeman had given Stevenage the lead in the first half, before the Blues rallied and equalised through Barcelona loanee Gerard Deulofeu.

Cardiff City:  LWWLWW
Last time out – Accrington Stanley 0-2 Cardiff City – Capital One Cup second round

Starting line-up: Lewis; Brayford, Hudson, McNaughton, John; Smith, Mutch, Cowie, Noone; Maynard, Cornelius. Subs not used: Moore; Lappin, Harris, Oshilaja, Conway, Mason, Gestede.

A stunning strike from Nicky Maynard and Rudy Gestede strike just  a minute later were enough to see the Bluebirds secure a 2-0 win over Accrington Stanley on Wednesday night and set up a Capital One Cup third round tie with West Ham at Upton Park.



LAST MEETING:
1979 League Cup second round, Ninian Park – Cardiff City 1-0 Everton

John Buchanan’s 88th minute strike secured the Bluebirds a 1-0 second leg victory on the night but it wasn’t enough to see them progress through to the third round, losing on an aggregate 2-1 score.

Cardiff line-up: Healey, Jones, Sullivan, Campbell, Roberts, Dwyer, Bishop, Stevens, Moore, Ronson, Elliott (Buchanan).

REFEREE: Phil Dowd

Phil Dowd started refereeing at the age of 21 and has enjoyed a lengthy career at the top level of English football since being promoted to the Premier League list in 2001.

Arguably his two biggest honours on the national stage came in major cup finals. Dowd officiated the 2010 League Cup showdown between Manchester United and Aston Villa, then two years later he was in charge as Chelsea defeated Liverpool in the 2012 FA Cup Final. The match came in his 11th consecutive season as a referee in the top flight of English football.

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