Cardiff City entertain West Ham United tomorrow as they look to kick off the Premier League weekend. The home side have struggled upon their return to the top-flight but are still in with a fighting chance to beat the drop.
The Bluebirds are winless in their last three but on their home turn, Warnock will aim for three points as they look to keep the pressure on Southampton, who are two points ahead and will be facing Tottenham Hotspur later in the day.
Pellegrini, meanwhile, has taken his time to get his team on the same page with his tactics which has not been helped by the innumerable injuries. But they have looked a balanced unit in recent games and despite minor defensive frailties notwithstanding, they go into this fixture as the favourites.
TEAM NEWS
CARDIFF CITY
Sol Bamba will miss the rest of the season with a ruptured ACL. The centre-back was one of the top performing players in the squad and his absence will come as a big blow.
Other than Sol, Warnock has a fully fit squad to choose from.
WEST HAM UNITED
Manuel Pellegrini has been boosted by the return of Fabian Balbuena, even though we feel he is unlikely to start right away. Aaron Cresswell is also fit to play while Manuel Lanzini suffered no reactions having played the entire match last weekend.
Winston Reid, Carlos Sanchez, Andriy Yarmolenko and Jack Wilshere remain out.
PREDICTED LINEUPS
CARDIFF CITY (4-5-1)
Etheridge; Peltier, Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Bennett; Paterson, Gunnarsson, Arter, Camarasa, Reid; Niasse
WEST HAM UNITED (4-2-3-1)
Fabianski; Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Noble, Rice; Antonio, Lanzini, Anderson; Arnautovic
Also read: Predicted West Ham United Lineup vs Cardiff City
KEY MEN
CARDIFF CITY
Victor Camarasa will be one to watch out for the home side tomorrow. He has been impressive in his displays from midfield and will look to add to the 3 goals and 3 assists he has already notched up.
WEST HAM UNITED
Felipe Anderson has gone off the boil in recent weeks and despite the return of Lanzini, if West Ham are to have a strong finish to the season, it is crucial that the Brazilian gets back in form. He has one goal and one assist in his last 10 appearances and despite the poor output is one 8 goals and 4 assists for the season. We back him to rediscover his form against the Bluebirds.
PREDICTION
Cardiff 1-1 West Ham
Cardiff City will be keen to nick as many points they can at home and with the Hammers on a particularly patchy run of away form, a draw is very much on the cards.
