Cardiff v Huddersfield. Match preview

Last updated : 12 January 2019 By Michael Morris

What could be a pivotal game in the battle for Premier League Survival. Cardiff start the day 8 points ahead of bottom placed Huddersfield.

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Cardiff boss Neil Warnock will give late fitness tests to key midfielders Victor Camarasa and Harry Arter, who picked up slight knocks over the festive period.

Kenneth Zohore (thigh), Jazz Richards (hamstring), Kadeem Harris (knee) and Danny Ward (facial injury) have all been ruled out.

Huddersfield forward Jason Puncheon is expected to make his Premier League debut for the club.

Puncheon, on loan from Crystal Palace, started in last week's FA Cup defeat at Bristol City after joining until the end of the season.

Defender Christopher Schindler returns to contention after serving a one-game ban and Wagner is expected to recall Jonas Lossl in place of Ben Hamer in goal. Aaron Mooy, Danny Williams (both knee), Abdelhamid Sabiri (collarbone) and Tommy Smith are all still out.

Opta stats

  • Cardiff City are unbeaten in their last 10 matches against Huddersfield Town in all competitions (W7 D3).
  • Huddersfield have lost each of their last six visits to Cardiff in all competitions since winning 2-1 in the third tier in September 2001.
  • Since moving to the Cardiff City Stadium in 2009-10, Cardiff have only won more home matches against Bristol City (7) than they have against Huddersfield (5) in all competitions.
  • Huddersfield have had a player sent off in each of their last two league matches against Cardiff - goalkeeper Danny Ward in May 2017 and Jonathan Hogg in August 2018.
  • Huddersfield are winless in their last 13 matches against Welsh opposition in all competitions (W0 D4 L9), failing to score in each of their last four matches.
  • After a run of three consecutive home league wins, Cardiff have lost their last two at the Cardiff City Stadium by an aggregate score of 1-8.
  • Huddersfield have lost their last eight Premier League games, their worst ever run in league football. The last team to lose more consecutively in the top-flight were Aston Villa (11 in a row between February and April 2016).
  • Huddersfield have just 10 points from their 21 Premier League games this season. When converting to three points for a win, none of the 11 teams with 10 or fewer points from 21 top-flight games has avoided relegation.


Match Officials

Referee: Lee Mason
Assistants: Stuart Burt, Matthew Wilkes
Fourth official: Andre Marriner