MY ACCOUNT
– Cardiff are on a seven-game winless run
– There have been 30 goals scored in Leeds’ last seven Premier League games
– Recommended bet: Leeds to win
Almost 21 years to the day since Leeds travelled to Ninian Park for a now infamous FA Cup third-round tie, the Yorkshiremen are back in Cardiff for another encounter in football’s oldest knockout competition.
Plenty of water has gone under the bridge since that fateful day when Leeds headed to the Welsh capital top of the Premier League but were turned over by the then third-tier Bluebirds in a tempestuous cup tie.
Leeds are again a Premier League outfit but nowhere near the top of the table and it would be understandable if their manager Jesse Marsch made a few personnel changes given preserving their top-flight status is the ultimate aim this season.
But the American will also sense an opportunity for a decent cup run, especially as Cardiff are languishing in the lower reaches of the Championship, having won only once since October and on a run of seven games without success.
Will the Cardiff faithful be able to inspire their men on to another famous cup win over Leeds, or will the Whites gain some measure of revenge?
Team news
Cardiff boss Mark Hudson revealed on Thursday that leading goalscorer Callum Robinson is one of several players suffering with illness and confirmed that the Republic of Ireland international is unlikely to play.
Gavin Whyte and Cedric Kipre have also been unwell.
Kion Etete is a doubt with a hamstring injury while Mahlon Romeo, who has a similar problem, definitely misses out.
For Leeds, boss Marsch confirmed that new signing Max Wober could feature in some capacity but the game will come too early for Luis Sinisterra, Adam Forshaw and Stuart Dallas.
Patrick Bamford is back in training but is not expected to play and Leeds confirmed after Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with West Ham that Polish midfielder Mateusz Klich had left the club ahead of an anticipated move to the MLS.
The stats
There are 26 places between Cardiff and Leeds in the football pyramid but there were 53 when the Yorkshire outfit travelled to the Welsh capital 21 years ago in the third round.
Cardiff have been something of a bogey side for Leeds this century with the Bluebirds winning 14 of the pair’s 22 meetings since that third-round success in 2002.
In the same time, Leeds have recorded just three wins.
Cardiff reached the final of the FA Cup in 2008, losing 1-0 to Portsmouth at Wembley, but they have not had that much recent success in the cup and have won only one of their last 11 home ties inside 90 minutes.
Leeds have won only one of eight Premier League away games this season — bizarrely at Liverpool, when a last-gasp Crysencio Summerville goal secured a famous victory — and they are conceding at an average rate of over two goals per away game.
However, they are rarely kept quiet and have netted in all but one of their last seven games in the Premier League, a run of fixtures which includes matches at Liverpool and Tottenham and at home to Manchester City.
Prediction
Cardiff boss Hudson will be hoping the Bluebirds fans can recreate the intimidating atmosphere they did at Ninian Park 21 years ago but injuries and illness temper the chances of a repeat Bluebirds upset.
The hosts are not in the best shape either on or off the pitch right now and they look there for the taking.
Leeds boss Marsch has indicated he will name a relatively strong side for the trip to the Welsh capital and while results have not quite been going Leeds’s way recently, his side have been playing some decent football.
Both of these sides are committed to staying in their respective divisions but Leeds certainly have the scope to enjoy a decent cup run, provided they get past Cardiff and receive some favourable draws, and they will be keen to wrap up this tie without the need for a replay.
A Leeds win is available at 5/6 with Livescore Bet, while an away victory in a game featuring over 2.5 goals is a 17/10 chance.
