' MATCH THREAD: ASTON VILLA v CARDIFF CITY ' MATCH THREAD

Neil Warnock: Ross McCormack

'20 goals no matter how many goals he scores'

It shows the strength of the squad [that he can’t get in], he’ll still score 20 goals, no matter how games he plays. I’m sure Steve’s aware of that, the way he’s brought Agbonlahor back in is a credit to Steve. Steve wouldn’t have spent that much [if he’d gone in the summer] I don’t think, but Kodjia looks worth it, we look on with envy.

Sickness bug in camp

Neil Warnock: "Jazz Richards is still out, we’ve got a bit of a sickness bug with a couple but I’m optimistic with them. You just get that at this time of year."

"We need a performance, they’re flying since Steve went there, as good as anyone in the league at the moment. We’ve done well away from home, so we should be able to give them a good game."

Aston Villa have doubts over forwards Ross McCormack and Gabriel Agbonlahor for the visit of Cardiff City.

Cardiff defender Joe Bennett is set to take on his former club for the first time.


Bennett left Villa Park in August and has established himself at left-back in recent weeks after missing the start of the season through injury.

Cardiff have been hit by a sickness bug this week but Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock hopes to name the same side which beat Huddersfield 3-2.

Wales defender Jazz Richards, who has yet to play under Warnock, remains out with a foot injury.

Ross McCormack is rated a doubt for Aston Villa


Forwards Ross McCormack and Gabriel Agbonlahor are doubtful for Aston Villa's Championship clash with Cardiff with ankle knocks.

Jack Grealish could start after an impressive showing as a substitute at Brighton.

Tommy Elphick and Mile Jedinak will hope to avoid a fifth yellow card of the season which would result in an automatic one-match ban.

Micah Richards remains out with a calf problem and Ritchie de Laet is out for the season with a knee injury.

We can win tomorrow, play like we know we can and we will have given them a right go.

We can win tomorrow, play like we know we can and we will have given them a right go.

Thats the spirit

Cardiff City take on Aston Villa in the West Midlands today, with the Bluebirds looking to win consecutive matches for the first time this season.

Neil Warnock's side put on an exhilarating attacking display to beat high-flying Huddersfield Town 3-2 last week, while Villa have yet to taste defeat since Steve Bruce took over from Roberto Di Matteo.

The Bluebirds could name the same side that beat the Terriers in a game that sees full back Joe Bennett take on his old teammates.

Villa have injury doubts over former Cardiff striker Ross McCormack and Gabriel Agbonlahor but could welcome back the prodigious Jack Grealish into their starting XI.

Stay tuned for the official team news and live updates as Warnock's boys look to cause an upset at Villa Park.

What are the odds?

Here are the latest betting odds on today’s game, according to Bet 365

Aston Villa win 19/20

Cardiff City win 7/2

Draw 5/2

DWWDWD

That’s Aston Villa’s form since Steve Bruce took the reins from Roberto Di Matteo.

A Cardiff win doesn’t look too likely. But we all know how Neil Warnock relishes that ‘underdog’ tag.

VILLA'S TEAM

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Cardiff unchanged

Cardiff City team: Amos, Bennett, Bamba, Morrison, Peltier, Whittingham, Ralls, Gunnarsson, Pilkington, Hoilett, Lambert.

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Big names missing

It’s fair to say, with the absence of Chamakh, Immers and McCormack, there’s a few big names missing from the teamsheets.

But with Gestede, Kodjia and Agbonlahor in the Villa matchday 18, there are plenty of threats for Cardiff to deal with.

Steve Bruce goes for an attacking line-up with Jack Grealish named in the line-up ahead of Gary Gardner. That essentially changes them to a 4-2-3-1.



Neil Warnock tends not to tinker even after a defeat and so it’s no surprise to see him go with an unchanged XI. Lex Immers again misses out while Chamakh is also out of the squad entirely. He doesn’t look likely to earn a contract extension at the moment.

Hered theres no beer being served at Villa Park?

Cardiff City have not beaten Aston Villa since 1974. Anticipation.

Cardiff Fans in great voice

Nearly 2,500 City fans here

Here we go

Early chance!

Should be 1-0! Gunnars long throw, Morrison flicks it on and Hoilett’s diving header is over the bar!

The away support at Villa Park. Superb noise coming from the travelling 2,500 Cardiff Fans

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Good start from Cardiff

Whittingham very much on the left wing in the early stages here, with Hoilett and Lambert through the middle. Massive challenge not to get overrun here, Ralls and Gunnarsson will have to put in massive shifts.

There’s some lovely play by Whitts looking for Hoilett to win a Cardiff corner but it comes to nothing.

Cardiff have made an absolutely brilliant start. They’re all over Villa like a rash!

Another set piece

Whitts whips in another left-footed curler, from a free kick. Villa look to break through Hutton and Ayew but its snuffed out by the Bluebirds defence.

Villa get a foot on it

Grealish sneaks into some space and flashes a cross into the box. But Bamba defends solidly. Villa are growing into this.

Villa now doing all the attacking

Grealish coming deep

Like Jonjo Shelvey for Newcastle the other week, Jack Grealish is dropping deep, trying to orchestrate things from the middle of the park. There’s a lack of control about Villa so far though, as the Cardiff fans burst into a chorus of ‘Don’t take me home’.

Kodjia!

First we’ve seen from the talented Frenchman. A ball lollops over the top of Morrison and Kodjia has a shot deflected wide.

Then, strong appeals for a Villa penalty. Think Peltier has got away with a pull on Kodjia there. Ref missed it.

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Jordan Ayew tries his luck from distance, but fires well over the bar. (0-0)