Cardiff seek to continue recent good form against The Cottagers
After an agonising last-gasp midweek defeat against Huddersfield Cardiff City will be looking to bounce back against a formidable Fulham side on Saturday.
Cardiff had looked to be on their way to a surprise win against promotion hopefuls Huddersfield after Tommy Doyle put them ahead with his first goal for the club. However, two goals in the 88th and 96th minute from Josh Koroma and Jon Russell saw them slip to an away defeat.
The late defeat was harsh on the Bluebirds, with Huddersfield scoring deep into the nine minutes of stoppage time.
But Cardiff can take consolation from their bright performance, the latest in a string of positive displays that has seen the side climb away from relegation danger since manager Steve Morison was appointed in November.
Morison described the defeat as a “kick in the teeth at the death” but called on Cardiff to show the same underdog spirit against the league leaders.
“It was an excellent performance,” he said.
“There were lots of positives. Tommy got a goal, lots of good performances. I told the players, don’t let that affect what you’ve been doing up until now.
“It’s just about dusting yourselves down and going again,”
That will be easier said than done. Fulham are nine points clear at the top of the table and have lost just once in their last nine championship games.
The London side have scored 81 goals this season, the highest number of any team in England’s top four leagues.
“Fulham have been fantastic,” said Morison. “They should be where they are, they pay more money than anyone else. They have the best striker in the league and they’ve got fantastic players all around him.
“It’s a great challenge. We will put a plan together to nullify them as much as we can and use our strengths to hurt them as well. We have got as good as chance as anyone has. We are definitely not thinking we can’t get anything from this game.”
Fulham’s top scorer, Aleksander Mitrovic, broke the Championship’s goal record on Wednesday when he scored his 33rd goal of the season. Cardiff’s top scorer is centre-back Aden Flint, with five.
The Bluebirds will look to their new strike force of Jordan Hugill and Uche Ikpeazu, bought in from Norwich and Middlesbrough as replacements for Kieffer Moore, to improve their cutting edge.
However, despite the strong performance on Wednesday and the promise shown by January signings Hugill and Doyle, Cardiff fans are not optimistic about getting a result.
“Fulham are probably going to win the league, so this is potentially a nil-point week,“ said View from the Ninian host Ben James, previewing the game on the podcast.
“Anything we get from this game is a massive bonus. Looking at the (Fulham) squad and the money they’ve spent, that team should not be in the Championship. I’m looking forward to watching them get relegated again next year though.”
Team news:
Cardiff have had little luck on the injury front recently. Striker Max Watters has been ruled out for at least six weeks with an ankle injury, and Curtis Nelson, Alfie Doughty, and Sean Morrison are all still out with long-term injuries.
Morrison, who has made nearly 300 appearances in a Cardiff shirt, has likely played his last game for the club. The defender’s contract expires at the end of the season.
In brighter news, however, Joe Ralls could be in line for a first start since recovering from injury. The key midfielder came off the bench in the final stages of the game against Huddersfield.
Manchester City loanee Tommy Doyle scored his first Cardiff goal on Wednesday and the young midfielder could be in line for his third start in a row.
Cardiff fans can expect to see a few familiar faces in the Fulham team on Saturday. Wales regulars Harry Wilson and Neco Williams are both in line to start having featured against Peterborough in midweek.
Wilson especially will be a threat. The Welsh winger has scored nine goals and provided 11 assists this season, firmly establishing himself as one of the Championship’s most dangerous attackers.
Fulham forward Rodrigo Muniz has missed the last two games with a calf injury and may not yet be fit enough to return, while defender Terence Kongolo remains out with a long-term injury.
Boss Marco Silva must also decide whether to risk Bobby Reid, Harry Wilson, Antonee Robinson and Fabio Carvalho, who are all just one yellow card away from suspension.
Expected line-ups:
Cardiff City (3-5-2)
Fulham (4-2-3-1)
Recent form:
Cardiff: WLWDL
Fulham: DWWLW
