Cardiff City v Leeds Utd. Match preview

Last updated : 26 September 2017 By Michael Morris

Cardiff City welcome Leeds Utd to CCS tonight for a titanic Championship clash that is live on Sky Sports. Leeds are currently top with City in third place but it's only goadifference that separates the teams.

Defender Sol Bamba is set to return against his former club Leeds as third hosts top in the Sky Bet Championship, live on Sky Sports Football.

Bamba was rested for the weekend win at Sunderland but is set to replace Bruno Manga for the visit of the league leaders. Full-back Lee Peltier should overcome a minor knock to return, while winger Junior Hoilett is also expected to start.

Omar Bogle will continue to deputise for virus victim Danny Ward on the bench if he fails to recover in time. 

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Leeds defender Pontus Jansson will return to the squad after being left out for Saturday's home win against Ipswich. Jansson was rested as a precaution after missing the Carabao Cup win at Burnley due to a hamstring strain but could be back alongside Liam Cooper in central defence.

Head coach Thomas Christiansen has no new injury or suspension problems but may make changes, with fit-again on-loan Everton defender Matthew Pennington, Gaetano Berardi, Stuart Dallas and Kemar Roofe all in contention. Striker Caleb Ekuban, who recently had foot surgery, remains the only absentee.

Opta stats

Cardiff have lost their last two home league games against Leeds - more than they'd lost in their previous 22 home games against the Whites (1).

Since he left his job as Leeds boss in April 2013, Neil Warnock has won all three league meetings against his former side, including a 2-0 win at Elland Road last season with Cardiff.

Warnock's last two home Championship defeats on a Tuesday came as Leeds boss - he lost 7-3 to Nottingham Forest in March 2012 and 3-2 to Hull in September 2012, but hasn't lost any since (W6 D3).

None of Leeds' last 48 away matches in all competitions have ended goalless - should there be a goal in this game, it'd equal their second longest run without an away nil-nil in their history (49 games between November 2007 and August 2009).

The Whites have won six of their first nine league games of a season in the top two tiers of English football for the first time since 1999/2000 in the Premier League (also won six).

Officials:

Referee: Kevin Friend
Assistants: Stuart Burt and Matthew Wilkes
Fourth Official: Gavin Ward

Cardiff City Stadium
Tuesday September 26th, ko 7:45pm