Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Championship clash between Cardiff City and Plymouth Argyle, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Cardiff City play host to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that may take them off the bottom of the Championship standings.
At a time when the Bluebirds are propping up the division, Plymouth sit in 14th position after a positive start under Wayne Rooney.
Match preview
© Imago
While a change in the Cardiff dugout was an inevitability given their prolonged poor form, supporters would not have expected Omer Riza to remain in temporary charge for over three weeks.
Instead, the Cardiff hierarchy have decided to stick with the interim boss after he guided the club to four points from his opening three games in charge.
At the start of October, Cardiff finally got a win on the board, recording a 1-0 victory over Millwall, before they earned a respectable 1-1 draw at Bristol City.
For the first time since March, the Bluebirds have managed to go two successive matches without defeat, a step in the right direction when sitting at the foot of the table.
Now within four points of 18th position and with fellow strugglers Portsmouth the visitors to the Cardiff City Stadium after this game, there is a real opportunity to kick-start their season.
As far as Plymouth are concerned, their supporters can be delighted with how Rooney has took to life at Home Park, collecting 11 points from his opening nine games.
Their home form has proven to be key with Sunderland, Luton Town and Blackburn Rovers all being defeated between the September and October international break.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of their performances is in defence, the Pilgrims only conceding more than once on one occasion in their last eight outings.
Furthermore, their only two defeats in five have been by 1-0 scorelines at West Bromwich Albion and Burnley, emphasising that this is a group of players who are competitive in every game that they are playing.
Nevertheless, with just one point and one goal coming from four away fixtures, there is still plenty of room for improvement.
Cardiff City Championship form:
Plymouth Argyle Championship form:
Team News
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Barring any further injury issues, Riza will give consideration to selecting the same Cardiff XI from the Bristol City draw.
Jesper Daland is an option to return in central defence, but Dimitrios Goutas and Calum Chambers may retain their places for the time being.
The likes of Callum O’Dowda and Aaron Ramsey are among five players who are likely to stay on the unavailable list.
Plymouth are expected to be without winger Ibrahim Cissoko after he picked up an injury with Netherlands Under-21s.
Youngster Freddie Issaka could be handed his first Championship start of the season on the left flank in what may prove to be the only alteration.
Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Alnwick; Ng, Goutas, Chambers, Bagan; Robertson, Ralls; Tanner, Colwill, El Ghazi; Robinson
Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:
Grimshaw; Edwards, Szucs, Gibson, Mumba; Randell, Gyabi; Whittaker, Hajj, Issaka; Obafemi
We say: Cardiff City 2-1 Plymouth Argyle
With Plymouth improving under Rooney, they will back themselves to earn at least a share of the spoils in South Wales. However, we are backing the home side to come through a competitive fixture, pushing hard in the latter stages to secure the three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.