Cardiff v Sheff Wed. Match preview

Last updated : 24 April 2010 By BBC Sport

Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Sean McAllister is back in contention for a place in the squad after recovering from a stomach injury.

Lewis Buxton has also been given the all-clear following a hamstring problem, while Eddie Nolan is expected to shake off a knock.

MATCH PREVIEW

Wednesday are heading for a crunch final-day encounter with fellow strugglers Crystal Palace - assuming they have not been relegated by then.

Should Cardiff beat Wednesday, Palace will be safe if they then win at home to West Brom on Monday evening. And wins for both Palace and Watford would mean a defeat for the Owls will result in their relegation being sealed.

That is a sobering thought for Wednesday fans, who will head to Wales in their thousands hoping their team can claim a first victory in 10 away matches.

Cardiff, already sure of a play-off place, have kept clean sheets in their last three matches and are unbeaten in six at home. They also boast the Championship's top scorer in Peter Whittingham, who is one goal away from 20 in the league this season.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Wednesday are vying for a third successive league win over Cardiff, and a first double since 1983/84.

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• The Bluebirds have won three of the last four home league games against Wednesday, including the last two.

Cardiff

• Cardiff are unbeaten in nine matches, with six wins and three draws since defeat to Leicester on 13 March.

• The Welsh side have scored an unsurpassed 11 goals in the first 10 minutes of Championship games this term.

• Between them, Peter Whittingham and Michael Chopra have scored 35 of the Bluebirds' 70 league goals this season.

• Jay Bothroyd has committed the highest number of fouls by any player in the the division this season (101).

• Kevin McNaughton could make his 150th start for the club.

Sheffield Wednesday

• Wednesday are without a win in their last five matches and have won only one of their last 10.

• They have drawn four away games and lost five since winning at Blackpool on 19 January.

• Luke Varney, who needs to score once to reach 50 career goals, could also make his 150th league start.

MOST RECENT MEETING

Sheff Wed 3-1 Cardiff (26 September 2009)

Cardiff scorers: Esajas 4, Varney 48, Clarke 80.

Wednesday scorers: Whittingham (pen) 16.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport