Match Preview: Cardiff City v Sheffield United

Last updated : 20 December 2007 By @blades_mad1889

Cardiff City v Sheffield United
Saturday, 22 December 2007
@ Ninian Park. 3:00pm

bluebirds v blades
The Bluebirds, who under the leadership of Dave Jones have given fans expectations of reaching the top flight since the arrival of veteran strikers Robbie Fowler and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the summer.

However the pair have mustered a mire 11 goals in just 32 appearances before last weekend, with Fowler, the former Liverpool legend being the more frequent finder of the net.

In the Bluebirds last match they lost 1-0 to Bristol City at Astron Gate in their Severnside Derby clash. The visitors got off to a sour note when Steve Thompson was rapidly sent off by Sheffield referee Rennie for a needless tackle on City keeper Adriano Basso as early as the 15th minute.

The ten men City held until almost hour mark when Marvin Elliott rose highest to head home Lee Johnson's corner. The win put the home side third in the Championship.

City manager Dave Jones could be without midfielder Thompson via suspension if there appeal falls through, whilst Ricardo Scimeca (groin) has returned to training but unlikely to feature.

Meanwhile former Manchester City legend Trevor Sinclair is out with a knee injury.

Possible Bluebirds Line-Up: Kasper Schmeichel, Chris Gunter, Glenn Loovens, Roger Johnson, Kevin McNaughton, Paul Parry, Stephen McPhail, Joe Ledley, Peter Whittingham, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Steven MacLean.

On October, 2 City came to Bramall Lane and despite the Blades taking a lead via James Beattie (18) the visitors soon struck up a 3-1 lead through Joe Ledley (32), Robbie Fowler (45 pen) and Gavin Rae (59) with United looking like losing the game.

But, on 85th minute Chris Armstrong gave the home side a life line when he powered home a low strike into the bottom corner of the goal before, three minutes into stoppage time Chris Morgan headed home from a corner to draw the game 3-3.

Matthew Kilgallon netted his first goal for the Blades last Saturday; his goal was enough to beat Barnsley 1-0 in the South Yorkshire Derby at Bramall Lane.

The former Leeds United defender headed home Keith Gillespie's free0kick past Heinz Muller. Blades goalkeeper Paddy Kenny pulled off a great save to deny Hungarian striker Istvan Ferenczi in the second half.

For spells the visitors put the Blades to the sword but United defended well in Gary Cahill's final game to win their first Derby of the season.

Sheffield United will travel to Nininian park without Gary Cahill who returned to Aston Villa last Tuesday after a successful loan spell; it likely that Chris Morgan will take his place.

Possible Blades Line-Up: Paddy Kenny, Phil Bardsley, Chris Morgan, Matthew Kilgallon, Gary Naysmith, Keith Gillespie, Michael Tonge, Nick Montgomery, David Carney, James Bettie, Billy Sharp.


:: Man in the Middle ::

Referee: K. Stroud (Hampshire)
Assistants: M. Cains & C. Sarginson
Fourth Official: R. East

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