Preview: Bournemouth vs. Cardiff City

Bournemouth will go into Saturday's Championship clash with Cardiff City knowing that victory could see them end the weekend top of the table.

The Cherries are currently two points adrift of leaders Derby County, and will be hoping to capitalise on at least one of the teams in the top four dropping points as Middlesbrough host the Rams in the early kickoff.

Eddie Howe's side returned to winning ways last weekend courtesy of a 2-1 victory over nine-man Wolverhampton Wanderers, ending a run of three straight draws and extending their unbeaten streak to 11 matches in all competitions.

The hosts may have one eye on the visit of Liverpool in the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday, but Howe will be keen to ensure that his side are fully focused on league action this weekend.

He certainly knows that he has the firepower to beat Cardiff, and indeed trouble Liverpool, with no Championship side able to match Bournemouth's tally of 39 goals scored this season.

Indeed, the Cherries have scored more goals in the second half of matches this season than Cardiff have overall in the current campaign.

Dan Gosling, Ryan Fraser and Eunan O'Kane are all nearing full fitness once again for Howe, but he may opt to ease them back into the side with a few substitute appearances first.

Calum Wilson made his return from injury against Wolves and is once again expected to lead the line this weekend.

Despite such a poor start to the season, Cardiff find themselves just two points off the playoff places courtesy of their recent improvement under Russell Slade.

It could have been even better had they managed to find a way past Rotherham United last weekend, but the struggling Millers held the Bluebirds to a goalless draw.

That was the first home match that they had failed to win under Slade, but there are positive signs on the road. Last month's 1-0 victory over Watford was not only their first away victory of the season, but also saw them score their first away goal since September.

However, they have a poor record at Dean Court in recent years, losing six and winning just one of their last nine trips to face Bournemouth.

They have not kept a clean sheet against the Cherries since 1946, and were on the wrong end of a comfortable 3-0 scoreline when these two met in the League Cup earlier this season.

Bournemouth:

Recent form: WWDDDW

Possible starting lineup: Boruc; Elphick, Cook, Daniels; Ritchie, Arter, Surman, Pugh; Pitman, Wilson

Cardiff:

Recent form: WLDWWD

Possible starting lineup: Marshall; Connolly, Morrison, Turner, Brayford; Kim, Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Noone; Jones, Le Fondre

Sports Mole says: 2-0