Preview: Cardiff City vs. Barnsley

Three points for Cardiff City on Tuesday night against Barnsley will see the Welsh club needing just two more from five games to guarantee automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Saturday's goalless draw at fellow promotion hopefuls Watford left Malky Mackay's side five points clear of Hull City at the top, and Tuesday's visit of the Tykes is their game in hand before the final run-in.

Mackay rested Peter Whittingham at Vicarage Road and a return to the starting lineup is likely for the midfielder. Heidar Helguson could also get a starting berth after remaining on the bench as well.

Barnsley go into the match as one of a number of clubs nearer the foot of the table who keep picking up wins to make the bottom of the division extremely volatile.

David Flitcroft's men currently lie just a point above the drop zone on 48 points after an encouraging 0-0 draw at high-flying Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The reverse fixture back in November went Cardiff's way as they edged a three-goal contest 2-1 at Oakwell.

Recent form

Cardiff: DWLWDD

Barnsley: DWLWWL

Possible starting lineups

Cardiff: Marshall; Taylor, Turner, Barnett, McNaughton; Conway, Mutch, Gunnarsson, Whittingham; Bellamy, Helguson

Barnsley: Steele, Hassell, Foster, Dawson, Perkins, Kennedy, Wiseman, Mellis, Etuhu, O'Grady, Scotland

Sports Mole says: 2-0