Cardiff City remain in 19th position in the Premier League table after they recorded a 0-0 draw at home to Aston Villa.
The home side struck the woodwork twice in the space of 30 seconds during the first half through Fraizer Campbell and Craig Noone, but that was as good as it got for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team.
Aston Villa dominated the second half, and although they will end the night in 11th place, they will feel disappointed not to have won in Wales after Cardiff stopper David Marshall pulled off a miraculous save from Andreas Weimann with the last kick of the game.
Read below to see how the action unfolded at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the match between Cardiff City and Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Before we crack on with the buildup for the match, the breaking news coming out of the Welsh club is that striker Craig Bellamy has accepted his three-match ban for an altercation with Jonathan de Guzman during the Welsh derby with Swansea City last Saturday. You can read the full story by clicking here.
Even though Bellamy hasn't exactly been prolific this season, that's a considerable blow to Cardiff ahead of what is one of their biggest games of the campaign. I suppose they are all important fixtures from here on in, but this evening's encounter with Aston Villa is one that they can't really afford to lose.
Seven places separate the two teams in the Premier League table, but positions in bottom half of the standings aren't realy relevant at this stage. Just six points separate Cardiff and Villa, and a win for the Welsh outfit can halve that deficit. However, if they fall to their sixth home defeat of the season, one of the teams that they are in direct competition with when it comes to survival could be out of their reach.
The team news has emerged from the dressing rooms at the Cardiff City Stadium. Full details to follow.
CARDIFF CITY XI: Marshall; Theophile-Catherine, Caulker, Turner, John; Zaha, Mutch, Medel, Noone; Campbell, Jones
ASTON VILLA XI: Guzan; Bacuna, Vlaar, Baker, Bennett; Bertrand, Westwood, Albrighton, Delph Agbonlahor; Benteke
CARDIFF CITY SUBSTITUTES: Lewis, Eikrem, Cowie, Cala, Daehli, Berget, Fabio
ASTON VILLA SUBSTITUTES: Steer, El Ahmadi, Sylla, Helenius, Holt, Clark, Weimann
Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made several changes from the weekend. As well as Bellamy, Peter Whittingham and Fabio themselves out of the starting lineup, with Fraizer Campbell, Jordan Mutch and Kevin Théophile-Catherine coming into the side.
As for Villa, Andreas Weimann and Matt Lowton drop out of the team that lost to West Ham United, with Marc Albrighton and Joe Bennett being handed a start by manager Paul Lambert.
The visitors appear to have the better of the benches, with Lambert including as many as three strikers as potential replacements if Christian Benteke struggles to make an impact on the match. Cardiff have Norwegian duo Magnus Eikrem and Jo Inge Berget waiting in the dugout if they can't find a way through Villa's backline.
Back in the reverse fixture in November, Villa came out on top thanks to late goals from Leandro Bacuna and Libor Kozak. However, it has failed to act as a springboard for the West Midlands outfit, who have only won three of their 14 league matches following that triumph.
As well as this match, we are also providing coverage of the three other fixtures that are taking place in the Premier League this evening. You can take your pick by accessing our home page, where each match should be identifiable.
We are just over 15 minutes away from kickoff at the Cardiff City Stadium. How about a quick prediction?
PREDICTION! The home supporters will expect their start to make a fast start this evening, but their team will have to be on their guard against a Villa side who have plenty of pace down either flank. I'd expect a frenetic pace in Wales tonight, with the Bluebirds running out 3-1 victors.
As you can see, the pitch looks in fine condition. I just hope that there are a few more seats taken up!
Pitch looks good ahead of kick-off. #AVFCLIVE #CardiffCity pic.twitter.com/qrajnyeX8L
— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) February 11, 2014
The two teams are beginning to congregate in the tunnel. I don't usually have much luck where goals are concerned, but I've got a feeling that we will see a few this evening...
We are all ready to get going in Wales. Thankfully, those empty seats that I showed you 15 minutes ago have been filled. It's a great atmosphere in Cardiff. Here we go!
It's been a fast start from the home side, but here is a stat for you - Villa have the away wins in the Premier League over the past 20 matches. Surprising...
Cardiff are attempting to use both flanks, but their wingers are being double-teamed by Villa's wide players.
Marc Albrighton does superbly down the right-hand side to engineer a crossing opportunity, and although his delivery is far too strong, the visitors earn a corner. The initial set piece found no-one, but a second cross saw Nathan Baker head over.
Cardiff win a free kick in the centre of Villa's half, but despite Craig Noone's cross finding the head of Steven Caulker, the England international can't divert the ball into the path of Jordan Mutch.
SHOT! Fabian Delph, who has arguably been Villa's player of the season, breaks with promise from the centre circle but his effort from 20 yards narrowly misses the near post.
The speed of Villa's wide players is already proving to be a problem to Cardiff, who are fortunate that the final ball is lacking in accuracy. On this occasion, Gabriel Agbonlahor accelerated down the left, only to see his cross fail to beat the first man.
WOODWORK! How are Cardiff not ahead! They've hit the woodwork twice in the space of 30 seconds. First of all, Fraizer Campbell saw a dinked effort from 10 yards diverted onto the post by Brad Guzan, before Craig Noone's 30-yard attempt was deflected onto the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.
You could feel the tension inside the stadium during the opening 15 minutes, but that flurry of action has brought the home supporters to life.
Wilfried Zaha does superbly down the left, but his cross is cleared by the Villa defence. The visitors then move the ball forward, and they are unfortunate not to take the lead when Christian Benteke makes decent contact with a header at the far post.
Craig Noone's influence on this game is growing by the minute, and another cross from the winger is excellently headed away by Ron Vlaar. Moments earlier, Cardiff have a big shout for a penalty when Kenwyne Jones was dragged to the floor, but the referee ruled otherwise.
The possession statistics must be heavily in favour of Cardiff, but as of yet, they have failed to do anything with the ball apart from when they struck the woodwork twice in a minute. Villa are happy to sit deep for the moment, but Gabriel Agbonlahor is ready to pounce behind the Cardiff defence should they opt to go long.
WIDE! Jordan Mutch floats over a corner from the left, but Kenwyne Jones's header goes wide. That cross from Mutch has put paid to his night, with the midfielder indicating that he has pulled his hamstring. Magnus Eikrem is being introduced.
Fraizer Campbell holds off the attention of a couple of defenders to earn a corner kick for Cardiff. The corner that is whipped in is won by Steven Caulker and diverted into the net by Wilfried Zaha, but the winger is offside. Correct decision.
Just seven minutes to go until half time and we are still awaiting a goal...which is also the case for the other three matches in the Premier League this evening.
Craig Noone cuts in from the right-hand side, but his left-foot strike is nearer to the corner flag than the goal. The crowd are growing restless, but they need to be realistic - their side are well on top in this match.
Joe Bennett gets down the left for Villa, but his cross is too strong for Gabriel Agbonlahor. The visitors have a second opportunity to create an opportunity before the break, but Fabian Delph's delivery has too much pace on it.
There will be one minute of added-on time.
HALF TIME: Cardiff City 0-0 Aston Villa
The referee blows the half-time whistle in Wales, and we remain goalless between Cardiff City and Aston Villa.
What was I saying about Cardiff bossing possession? According to the stats, Villa shaded possession during that opening half. I'm not convinced about that! The Welsh outfit lead the shot count by 4-3, while they have also had six corners compared to Villa's two.
I would say that it is far too soon for either side to consider making a change, but towards the end of that first half, you got the impression that the home supporters might demand an alteration if they can't find the breakthrough during the opening 20 minutes of the second half.
We are still awaiting a goal in the other three Premier League fixtures, too. Surely we can't have a night with no goals whatsoever...
We are back underway in Cardiff.
Villa have started the second half very much on the front foot, but after earning a corner on the right, it is easily cleared by Cardiff.
There's been a goal at The Hawthorns! Chelsea have taken the lead away at West Bromwich Albion, with Branislav Ivanovic getting on the scoresheet. Both of these two teams will be delighted with that development.
Villa are really taking it to Cardiff, and they earn their third corner in quick succession after good defending from Ben Turner. However, they can't take advantage of the pressure, and Cardiff clear.
CHANCE! Fraizer Campbell latches onto a flick from Kenwyne Jones, and after the former Hull City striker weaves his way past Ron Vlaar, he can only drag his half-volley well wide of the post.
How deep are Cardiff sitting now?! The are inviting Aston Villa onto them, and they are leaving themselves open to conceding the opening goal. A couple of crosses go begging for Villa, but they have seized the momentum in this game since half time.
CHANCE! What a break from Villa. Gabriel Agbonlahor sends Leandro Bacuna accelerating down the right and the Dutchman has a decision to make - cross or shoot. He decides to shoot, but he can only drag his effort wide of the far post out of the reach of Christian Benteke, who is not best pleased.
SUBSTITUTION! Mats Moller Daehli has entered the fray in place of Wilfried Zaha, who could have been carrying a knock.
Villa are continuing to pile the pressure on, but somehow, Cardiff are managing to survive. Something needs to change for the Welsh outfit - it's going to be hard to survive without conceding until full time. They should take the lead up the other end after a break down the right, but Kenwyne Jones's header is straight at Brad Guzan.
CHANCE! Christian Benteke is played in with a delightful through ball, but the Belgian looks intent on passing the ball rather than shooting, and the chance disappears. Strange decision! Just over 20 minutes to go.
Andreas Weimann has been thrown on in place of Joe Bennett. That isn't going to help the Cardiff defence...
SHOT! That's superb from Marc Albrighton, who collects the ball on the edge of the area, before flicking the ball up and striking a dipping volley on goal, but it's well dealt with by David Marshall.
Steven Caulker has been a constant threat from set pieces for Cardiff, but on this occasion, his header goes straight at Brad Guzan.
SAVE! Super save from David Marshall! Fabian Delph's shot from 25 yards is deflected towards the corner, but the Scotland stopper has pulled off a stunning save.
There are just over 10 minutes remaining in Wales. Both teams have come close on numerous occasions, but the score remains goalless. Villa would take this, but I'm not too sure Cardiff would.
CHANCE! Gabriel Agbonlahor - what are you doing?! Christian Benteke flicks the ball into the path of the Birmingham-born player, and despite it seeming that he only has to slot the ball into the corner, he takes too much time, and his shot is blocked. What an opportunity.
West Ham United have taken the lead at home to Norwich City! That's a huge goal for the Hammers...and for Cardiff...and for Aston Villa.
Declan John tries his luck from 30 yards, but it was never threatening the goal. It looks like we are going to end goalless.
West Ham look likely to move into 10th position with that goal. They were 19th a few weeks ago! Cardiff are finishing strongly here, but they are struggling to test Brad Guzan.
There will be just two minutes of added-on time.
So close for Villa. Ryan Bertrand drills an enticing ball across the six-yard box, but no-one can find the finishing touch.
SAVE! Oh my word - what a save from David Marshall! That's ridiculous. Andreas Weimann thinks that he has scored from close range, but Marshall has stuck out a hand to prevent the ball finding the roof of the net. Definite contender for save of the season.
FULL TIME: Cardiff City 0-0 Aston Villa
The final whistle goes in Wales and we end goalless. Although, I'm not quite sure how. That save from David Marshall was incredible.
The other three games in the Premier League are yet to finish, but as it stands, Villa will end the evening in 11th position, with Cardiff failing to move from 19th.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening - I'm sorry that we weren't able to bring you any goals! Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
