Leeds v Cardiff. Match preview

Last updated : 03 February 2018 By Michael Morris

City's line up today could include four players signed in January. Marko Grujic and Yanic Wildschut have both made their debuts but Gary Madine, City's big money striker could come into the side and so could Armand Traore. The left back would be a replacement for the suspended Joe Bennett. Jamie Ward is also available.

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Leeds hope defender Matthew Pennington is passed fit to start as selection issues continue to mount for head coach Thomas Christiansen.

Pennington missed the goalless midweek draw at Hull after sustaining an injury in training and will be monitored. Fellow centre-half Liam Cooper sits out the second game of a four-match ban, while playmaker Samuel Saiz and midfielders Kalvin Phillips and Eunan O'Kane are also serving suspensions.

Conor Shaughnessy was forced off at the KCOM Stadium with an ankle injury and another defender, Luke Ayling, has been ruled out for the rest of the season after ankle surgery.

Leeds new signing Adam Forshaw, a Neil Warnock target, could make his debut.

Warnock could hand debuts to January signings Gary Madine, Jamie Ward and Armand Traore. Madine joined from Bolton while Ward came from Nottingham Forest in a swap deal involving Lee Tomlin. Traore also came from Forest on loan, amove confirmed by Cardiff City late on Friday.

Lee Peltier, Craig Bryson and Matthew Connolly are all stepping up their rehabilitation after injuries, but this weekend will come too soon for the trio. Cardiff sit fourth in the Championship table, seven points ahead of Leeds, having played one game fewer.

Opta stats

Leeds have won one of their last 10 home league games against Cardiff (D3 L6), winning 1-0 courtesy of an Alex Mowatt strike in November 2015.

Cardiff haven't conceded more than once in any of their last 12 league trips to Elland Road (seven conceded in total) since a 3-0 defeat in April 1963.

Since a run of four successive league wins, Leeds United have picked up just two points in their last five games (D2 L3), failing to score on four occasions in this run.

Cardiff have conceded 56% of their league goals in the last 30 minutes this season; only opponents Leeds (58%) have recorded a higher percentage.

Leeds have lost 11 of the 12 games they have fallen behind in this season in the Championship (92%); the worst such percentage in the competition.

Since leaving Leeds in April 2013, Neil Warnock has faced his former club four times and won all four matches, two of which have been with Cardiff.

Match officials

Referee: GRAHAM SCOTT
Assistants: Scott Ledger and Sian Massey-Ellis
Fourth Official: Oliver Langford