Bournemouth v Cardiff. Preview

Last updated : 30 December 2021 By Michael Morris

Thursday December 30th, ko 7:45pm.
Live on Sky Sports Red Button and Sky Go

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Cardiff face the Championship leaders Bournemouth at Dean Court tonight. It's Cardiff's first game over the holiday period after the home matches against Derby and Coventry were postponed.

Bournemouth won 1 - 0 at QPR earlier this week to replace Fulham on the top of the table. Bournemouth have played all their games so far with no postponements.

Scott Parker: “It’s been difficult, but it’s part and parcel of what we do.

"Me and my staff have been in this division many a time and we were going into [the QPR] game having not won a game in six, lost the last two, so there was huge pressure on us, coming to a very difficult place.

"This is only the second time this year they’ve not scored a goal in a home game. So we knew how tough it was.

"I always go back to process, I always go back to what do we need to bring. So it’s a big result for us, for everyone.

"Hopefully we can take this now into Thursday against Cardiff and keep moving."”

Steve Morison: “We haven’t had rhythm or routine because we’ve all been at home. Our first day back was [on Monday].

"We’re back on the grass now and and back in the building with slightly different measures now. We turn up, we train, get our food and go home so it’s slightly different to what it was prior, but the main thing is that everyone is healthy and as fit as they can be at the present moment.

"As I've said, the league doesn’t lie. They’re at the top because they deserve to be at the top. It was an exciting game to watch. We’ve just got to worry about ourselves.”

Match facts

  • Bournemouth are looking to complete a league double over Cardiff for the first time since the 1999-00 season under Mel Machin.
  • Following a 2-1 win at the Vitality Stadium last season, Cardiff are looking to win consecutive away league games against Bournemouth for the first time.
  • Having been unbeaten in their first seven home league games this season (W5 D2), Bournemouth have now lost two of their last four at the Vitality Stadium (W1 D1).
  • Since beating Blackpool 2-0 in their first away league game this season, Cardiff haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 10 on the road. However, the Bluebirds are unbeaten in their last four away games in the Championship (W2 D2).
  • Bournemouth have lost their final league game in each of the last three calendar years. They’ve never done so in four consecutive years in their history in the top four tiers of English football.

Match Officials:

Referee: JAMES LININGTON
Assistants: Robert Hyde and Nigel Lugg
Fourth Official : Charles Breakspear