Cardiff v Leicester. BBC Preview

Last updated : 22 February 2011 By BBC Sport

Leicester City are assessing Darius Vassell, who did not train on Monday because of a tight hamstring.

Fellow forward Steve Howard has missed the last two matches with an ankle knock and he will also be monitored to see if he can play.

MATCH PREVIEW

Leicester's brilliant run has seen them shoot up the table to one place outside of the play-off spots, and a victory against Cardiff on Tuesday would take them to within one point of the Welsh club.

As Leicester have been charging their way into the thick of the promotion race, Cardiff have been trying to stay in it, and the Bluebirds' defeat against Nottingham Forest on Saturday was a big setback for them.

Forest moved up to second after that result, leaving Cardiff in fourth - six points behind leaders Queens Park Rangers - although a return to winning ways could well put them back into the top two.

Leicester's win against Bristol City last time out was their fifth consecutive victory. And on-loan Everton striker Yakubu's first-half opener was his sixth goal in four matches for Sven-Goran Eriksson's side, who have lost only one of their last 10 league games.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Leicester have won 22 of the 54 previous matches between these clubs - one more than Cardiff.

• The Foxes have lost four of their last six away matches against Cardiff.

• A win for Leicester would complete their first league 'double' over Cardiff since the 1961/62 season, when both clubs were in the top flight.

Cardiff

• This will be Cardiff's 300th competitive match under manager Dave Jones.

• They have scored a total of only one goal in their last four games.

• The Bluebirds have opened the scoring in an unrivalled 19 Championship games, and have netted more goals in the opening 15 minutes than any other club (11).

Leicester

• Leicester are top of the Championship 'form table' based on the last six matches.

• The Foxes have not recorded six wins in a row since March 1993.

• A goal for Paul Gallagher would be the 50th of his club career.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport