Cardiff City -Vs- Peterborough United - Preview

Darren Ferguson takes his men to Wales to face Malky Mackay`s strong Cardiff side, as the Posh look to turn their season around

Cardiff City -Vs- Peterborough United
Venue:Cardiff City Stadium
Date: 15th December, 2012
Kick-off: 3pm

The Posh endured a disappointing 3-1 defeat in this fixture last season, no thanks to former goalkeeper Joe Lewis... But Darren Ferguson`s men look for the catalyst to spark a survival, and there`d be no better place than the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday.

Cardiff City are flying high in the Championship this season, and are currently top of the table. Malky Mackay`s side have put in a number of good performances so far this campaign, as they look to join their Welsh rivals Swansea, in the top tier of English football.

TEAM NEWS

Peterborough United

Forward, Dwight Gayle(below), will continue as a loan striker for the Posh after bagging a brace in the 3-2 defeat at home to Middlesbrough. Saido Berahino has returned to West Bromwich Albion after chipping a bone in his knee, and will no longer be available for the Posh. Emile Sinclair is still on loan at Barnsley and so won`t play any part in the fixture. Posh`s other senior striker, Tyrone Barnett, returned from his loan at Ipswich in the week after picking up an injury in a friendly for the Tractor Boys. The target man had previously stated that he would be happy if he never returned to the Posh, and his return has not been received well by the London Road faithful. Young forwards Janaai Gordon, or Jonson Clarke-Harris, may take a place on the bench after Posh named no strikers among the subs against Middlesbrough, and lacked attacking options when in need of changes in the latter stages of that game.

Darren Ferguson made changes to the Posh defence for the visit of Middlesbrough last week, and his side looked more solid for it, despite conceding 3 goals. That saw the return of Tommy Rowe and Gabriel Zakuani to the starting line-up; both of who are expected to keep their places. Young South African full back Kgosi Ntlhe (below) is still out with the injury he sustained at Sheffield Wednesday a few weeks ago, that saw him stretchered off. Michael Bostwick is also hoping to keep his place, but Fergie has a choice of Nat Knight-Percival or Shaun Brisley, to play in the third centre back spot.

Vital Posh predicts the starting line-up could be:

Olejnik

Little, Bostwick, Zakuani, Knight-Percival, Newell

Thorne, Rowe, Boyd
Tomlin

Gayle

Cardiff City

Cardiff could welcome back midfielder Jordan Mutch (below) for the visit of the Posh on Saturday. Matthew Connolly is expected to partner former Posh defender Ben Turner at centre back for the game.

Cardiff don`t have any other fresh injury problems ahead of the match on Saturday, and Malky Mackay is relatively confident that his side will make it 11 straight wins in the league.

HOTSHOTS

Peterborough United

6 - Boyd
6 - Tomlin
3 - Sinclair
3 - Gayle
2 - Bostwick


Cardiff City

8 - Helguson
7 - Whittingham
5 - Gunnarsson
4 - Connolly
4 - Hudson

PREDICTION

Cardiff are one of the best teams in the Championship this season, and their position in the table fully reflects that. Malky Mackay has built a very good team, and has the right mix of youth and experience. He also has a number of players with Premier League experience at his disposal, which Darren Ferguson is lacking, with none of his players having that in their CV.

The Posh have struggled a lot this season, and have defended poorly on many occasions. If they slip up at all against Cardiff on Saturday, they will be punished. The hosts look too strong for Fergie`s men, and are expected by most to come away with the points in this fixture, and collect their 11th straight win in the league.

Vital Posh predicts a 3 - 1 defeat


REFEREE

David COOTE takes charge of this encounter between the top and bottom sides in the Championship.

The referee from Nottinghamshire has refereed the Posh twice before, and they have won on both occasions. The most recent fixture was in October 2011 when Posh beat Bristol City 2-1 at Ashton Gate. Lee Tomlin was on the score sheet that day. There were 5 yellow cards in the match.

He will be assisted by Neil Radford and Simon Knapp.

The fourth official is Marc Perry.

UP THE POSH

Follow me on Twitter: @TomLea_

Photos/images courtesy of www.theposhpics.com

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