Steve Cotterill takes charge for the first time as Blues welcome Cardiff City to St Andrews this evening.
Build Up
After the international break which saw England qualify for the World Cup in Russia… (How did the Welsh get on, anyone know…?) we welcome domestic football back.
Steve Cotterill officially takes charge for his first game since taking over from caretaker manager Lee Carsley. Cotterill will have welcomed the time with the squad that the international break allowed and the time on the training ground that was available.
Cardiff meanwhile are flying high under the control of Neil Warnock and sit top of the Championship and have lost only one league game this season, a 3-0 reverse against Preston. Warnock love him or hate has the Bluebirds well organised at the back and scoring up front.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing has scored 5 of the Bluebirds 17 goals so far and Blues defenders will have to be at their best to keep him quiet.
Jota is set to be in the squad but Carl Jenkinson is still a long way off. Emilio Nsue only got back from international duty on Thursday, but Che Adams should be available and Jason Lowe might make the squad too.
Opposition Opinion
We contacted a few Cardiff fans, however none of them responded to us.
Lineups
After the international break preceded by the new managerial appointment, the only person who really knows Cotterill’s first lineup, is Steve Cotterill. He should however have a good idea of who he wants to pick after an intensive two weeks with them.
Jota, Lowe and Adams are all available after injury, however it’s uncertain how ‘fit’ they are. With Adams having suffered two hamstring injuries this season, we don’t think he will be rushed in to the team. It’s possible Kieftenbeld, who’s move to Derby wasn’t completed, could come back in to the side under the new manager.
For this game we’ve got Martin O’Connor who picked the following side, predicting it to be goalless at half time. He predicts both teams scoring in the second half ending 1-1 with Che Adams scoring for Blues.
Played for both
Darren Purse
Afetr starting his career at Leyton Orient Purse joined Oxford. He impressed during his time their and Blues signed him for £600,000 with Kevin Francis going in the opposite direction.
He quickly became a fans favourite and scored a penalty in the League Cup Final game against Liverpool to take the game into extra time. After playing just 9 games in the 2003/04 season he joined West Brom.
After failing to impress he joined Cardiff City for around £1 million. He made over 100 appearances before joining Sheffield Wednesday.
Cameron Jerome
Currently plying his trade at Norwich City Cameron Jerome started his senior career at Middlesboro before quickly joining Cardiff City. His good form saw him join Blues where he went on to make 181 appearances scoring 37 goals including his stunner against Liverpool.
Jason Bowen
Welsh born Bowen started his career with Swansea. After 5 years and over 120 appearances he joined Blues. It was a short two year stint and he left to join Reading. After just 15 games he returned to Wales and signed for the Bluebirds. He played over 130 games for Cardiff before spells at Newport County and Llanelli.
Alan Campbell
Campbell started his career at Charlton Athletic. Joining when he was just 15. He made nearly 200 appearances before signing for Blues. He made 175 appearances in a 6 year spell at st Andrews and then joined Cardiff City. He later joined Carlisle United. He had brief managerial spells with Stratford Town and Highgate United.
Previous Meetings
11th March 2017. Cardiff City 1-1 Blues
The most recent meeting between the two teams was back in March. A Joe Ralls penalty gave the Bluebirds the lead before Lukasz Jutkiewicz scored a late equaliser
5th January 1974. Blues 5-2 Cardiff
Blues and Cardiff met in the third round of the FA cup back in 1974. Goals from Trevor Francis, Bob Latchford and Bob Hatton saw Blues progress. They were knocked out by QPR in the next round.
11th September 1920. Cardiff 2-1 Blues
The first meeting between both clubs was in 1920. Blues had been in division 2 for a few years but earned promotion back to division 1 with victory over Port Vale. Cardiff City came second in the league.
Referee
Geoff Eltringham
Eltringham last took charge of Blues in the League Cup defat to Bournemouth in August. He has shown 37 yellow cards in 11 games so far this season.