CARDIFF VS SUNDERLAND - Match thread & Predictions

Cardiff vs Sunderland
Kick-off: Saturday, 5.30pm
Referee: Chris Foy



Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay could have the services of Gary Medel for the Premier League clash against Sunderland on Saturday.

The defensive-minded player missed the Bluebirds' 3-0 defeat to Southampton on Boxing Day with flu, but could be fit for the match against Gus Poyet's side at the Cardiff City Stadium.

After their first away win of the Barclays Premier League season on Thursday, Sunderland will hope for a repeat performance at Cardiff City on Saturday.

Gus Poyet's men have endured a miserable year, narrowly avoiding relegation last season under former head coach Paolo Di Canio, and winning only three times in the current Barclays Premier League campaign.

However, they enjoyed a surprise 1-0 win over Everton on Boxing Day and will seek to end 2013 on a positive against another club involved in the relegation shake-up.

Ki Sung-Yueng was the man who scored the all-important goal and the Swansea City loanee will look to make it three goals in four Sunderland games on his return to Wales.

Cardiff, who sit in 16th place, are four points ahead of their visitors and, following Thursday's comprehensive 3-0 home defeat to Southampton, have won just once in eight top-flight matches.

They have also scored only twice in six Barclays Premier League games and will come up against a Sunderland side who have kept three clean sheets in a row in the top flight.

The head-to-head record makes pleasant reading for those travelling from the north-east, with Sunderland winning on their last two visits to Cardiff.

However, Ki's penalty at Goodison Park was Sunderland's first goal on the road since August and Poyet will no doubt remain concerned by his side's scoring struggles away from home.

He has no fresh injury concerns as John O'Shea could make a return from his shoulder injury although defensive partner Wes Brown remains suspended.

Cardiff's only likely absentee is Craig Bellamy, who is suffering with a knee injury.


Last five games CARDIFF CITY

lost 0 - 3 v Southampton (H)
lost 3 - 1 v Liverpool (A)
won 1 - 0 v West Brom (H)
lost 2 - 0 v Crystal Palace (A)
drawn 0 - 0 v Stoke (A)

Last five games SUNDERLAND

won 0 - 1 v Everton (A)
drawn 0 - 0 v Norwich (H)
drawn 0 - 0 v West Ham (A)
lost 1 - 2 v Spurs (H)
lost 3 - 4 v Chelsea (H)

Im going for a sunderland win 3-1 sadly

i,m going for you to last 70mins before you leave for the niaian(sorry mavericks,it,s been er..rebranded).you did better than me once bro.i had a s/t and sat in the pub round the corner from the ground watching the game on teletxt

i,m going for you to last 70mins before you leave for the niaian(sorry maverickd,it,s been er..rebranded).you did better than me once bro.i had a s/t and sat in the pub round the corner from the ground watching the game on teletxt

jeff

Im going for a city win now malkys gone as the players will be out to impress whoever is in the stands, 2-1 city

Remember when they brought 10,000, the bastards were every where, never happen again, no restriction no nothing.

Remember when they brought 10,000, the bastards were every where, never happen again, no restriction no nothing.

f**k me what year was that

1979 I think, the good old days, we were shit but things were going to get a lot worst, 20 years in the wilderness.