Cardiff v Man City. Match preview

Last updated : 28 January 2018 By Michael Morris

C:WindowsTempphpB6CB.tmpNeil Warnock and Pep Guardiola meet for the first time in English football as Cardiff City host Manchester City in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday (kick-off 4pm).

For Guardiola's men, this competition represents another leg of a potential quadruple.

They booked their place in the EFL Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley, are streaking clear in the Premier League and have qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League.

And they now hope to reach the FA Cup fifth round for the fifth time in six seasons.

Cardiff stand in their way, who hope to be mixing it with City on a weekly basis next season if they can sustain their strong early season form in the Championship. However, Warnock's men are on a run of just two wins in seven games.

Interestingly, Cardiff City secured their first ever Premier League victory, beating Man City 3-2 in their first home match back in the top flight in 2013.

Cardiff have no new injury problems.

Joe Ralls has been declared fit and could line up in central midfield with on-loan Liverpool playmaker Marko Grujic.

Kadeem Harris will also be in the squad after making his first appearance of the season at Sheffield Wednesday last weekend following a long-term ankle problem.

But Lee Peltier (hip), Aron Gunnarsson (knee), Craig Bryson (Achilles) and Danny Ward (knee) remain out.

Kyle Walker appeared to be struggling with a head injury after a heavy collision towards the end of Tuesday's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at Bristol City but Pep Guardiola says he is fine and will be considered for Sunday's match in the Welsh capital.

Benjamin Mendy, Phil Foden, Gabriel Jesus and Fabian Delph remain sidelined.

Opta stats

Cardiff last met Manchester City in the FA Cup in January 1994, when they knocked out their top-flight opponents as a third-tier side (1-0 in round four).

Cardiff have won just one of their previous seven home games in the FA Cup (D1 L5), last winning against Colchester United in January 2015 (3-1).

After a run of four successive defeats, Cardiff are now unbeaten in their last four games in all competitions (W2 D2 L0).

Match officials

Referee Lee Mason
Assistants: Simon Long & Simon Beck
Fourth Official: Robert Jones