MY ACCOUNT
– Cardiff City have won one of their previous 15 matches in all competitions
– Reading have lost seven of their last 10 away from home in all competitions
– Recommended bet: Draw
Championship strugglers Cardiff picked up their first points under new manager Sabri Lamouchi at the fourth attempt, winning 2-0 at Birmingham on Tuesday, and they will be targeting another victory when hosting mid-table Reading in the Welsh capital.
The Bluebirds’ midweek victory kept them above the relegation zone, but they could drop into the bottom three this weekend if they lose to Reading and third-bottom Wigan win at home to Norwich.
Reading sit 15th, seven points outside the playoffs, and 11 clear of relegation after Tyrese Fornah’s injury-time goal gave them a 2-1 success at home to Rotherham on Tuesday.
Team news
Cardiff midfielder Ebou Adams (leg) is still waiting to make his first appearance for the club, and left-back Jamilu Collins (knee) has been absent since August.
Bluebirds winger Rubin Colwill (ankle) has missed the last three games.
Mamadou Loum is ready to return to the Reading midfield after completing a two-match ban, but central defender Liam Moore (foot) has suffered a setback and may not feature again this season.
Holding midfielder Sam Hutchinson (Achilles) misses out, and striker Lucas Joao (knee) and defender Matt Holmes (calf) are rated doubtful.
The stats
Cardiff’s midweek victory at Birmingham ended a five-game losing sequence and a 14-game winless run.
The Welsh side are the division’s lowest scorers with 24 goals, and all four Championship home wins have been by a 1-0 scoreline.
They have gone nine games without a home victory since a single-goal success over Rotherham in late October.
Reading have struggled on their travels, taking just 11 points from a possible 48. Of their 11 away league defeats, three have been by a 4-0 margin.
They have shipped 46 goals, and only basement boys Blackpool (47) and third-bottom Wigan (50) have poorer defensive records.
Prediction
Cardiff will be feeling much happier after their victory at Birmingham, but they have drawn three of their last five Championship home games and may have to settle for a point against Reading.
Scoring goals has been a persistent problem for Cardiff, and they were largely negated at St Andrew’s until the 84th minute when defender Perry Ng broke the deadlock with a stunning free-kick.
Lamouchi is an experienced manager who steered Nottingham Forest to seventh place in the 2019-20 Championship season.
But he likes to build teams from the back, and it will be interesting to see if he is the right man to get Cardiff firing in the final third.
Given Cardiff’s precarious position, they will be focused on points rather than performances, but they may lack the guile to open up a determined Reading side.
Reading have had to make financial cutbacks and were widely tipped for a season of struggle, but they have kept a safe distance away from the relegation zone and are well on course to stay in the division.
Veteran striker Andy Carroll starred for them against Rotherham on Tuesday with two superb headers, the first a goal and the second an assist, and he can play his part in helping the Royals to secure a point in the Welsh capital.
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