Derby vs Cardiff (match preview)

Cardiff City travel this weekend to one of the favourites for promotion to the Premiership as second place Derby County host the Bluebirds at Pride Park.

Derby manager Billy Davies has done a fine job of re-building Derby in recent seasons and they look a good bet to achieve promotion level on points at the top of the Championship with Birmingham City.

The Rams had opened up a slender lead at the top, but back-to-back losses to Plymouth, Stoke and Sunderland have brought them back into the pack and they have 2 wins, 3 losses and a draw in their previous 6 games. They needed a last gasp equaliser to snatch a point against QPR on Tuesday and will look to move themselves 10 points clear of Cardiff city with a win on Saturday.

Former Cardiff target Steve Howard is one to watch, the big striker has 14 league goals and is a constant threat in the air. On loan Arsenal player striker Arturo Lupoli has excellent potential and can rip sides apart on his day.

Giles Barnes is a highly-rated midfielder who scored a last-minute leveller when the sides met at Ninian Park earlier this season.


Cardiff City staged an impressive comeback against Southampton in midweek and find themselves in reasonable form. They have struggled of late against the top teams in the division, but produced better performances in losses to West Brom and Birmingham.

Cardiff are also inconsistent of late, winning 3, losing 2 and drawing 1 of the previous 6.

Michael Chopra still leads the divisions goalscoring charts and will look to add to his Bluebirds tally having not scored in the last 3 games.


A game of crucial importance for both sides, one that VitalCardiff predicts will end in a cagey 1-1 draw. Click HERE
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