Preview: Cardiff City vs. Peterborough United - prediction, team news, lineups

Cardiff City are aiming to record three back-to-back wins in the Championship for the first time this season, while Peterborough United need to end a five-game winless run in the league to climb out of the relegation zone.

The Posh currently sit in 22nd spot but are only two points away from safety with a game in hand to their advantage, and the Bluebirds have managed to lift themselves away from the bottom three, now sitting nine points above Wednesday's visitors.

Match preview

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Steve Morrison's side faced a tough trip to Anfield on Sunday in the fourth round of the FA Cup, and despite youngster Rubin Colwill netting in front of the travelling fans, Liverpool progressed with a 3-1 win.

Cardiff will be looking to continue their good domestic form after a 1-0 win against Barnsley last week, thanks to Uche Ikpeazu's 71st-minute strike, giving the Bluebirds some breathing space above the relegation zone.

Morrison needs to help his side improve their home at the Cardiff City Stadium, having won just three times on their own patch, returning 10 points from a possible 39.

Wednesday's hosts will want to collect another clean sheet this week, with their clean sheet against Barnsley last week just their second of the campaign, and they will be confident about doing so, given Peterborough's low scoring tally so far.

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Darren Ferguson's side have netted on just eight occasions on their travels this season, conceding 38 goals along the way, winning just once away from home.

That does not bode well for the Posh ahead of this week's fixture, but they will be looking to build upon their triumph in the FA Cup on the weekend, when they secured a 2-0 win against Queens Park Rangers.

Goals from Joe Ward and Ricky Jade-Jones sent Peterborough into the next round, and they were the only two shots that the home team recorded on the day.

Peterborough will feel that this encounter is a crucial one in their quest to survive their first season back in the Championship, as three points could see them climb out of the bottom three, and go within six points of the Bluebirds.

The Posh were left disappointed in the reverse fixture in August, when they surrendered a 2-0 lead to a late brace from Cardiff centre-back Aden Flint, with the spoils being shared on that occasion.

Team News

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Cardiff centre-back Sean Morrison was forced off after just 10 minutes against Barnsley, and the 31-year-old is expected to miss the remainder of the campaign with a long-term injury.

Morrison made eight changes to his side on Sunday, but the Bluebirds are expected to name a similar team to the one which defeated Barnsley last week, meaning that Max Watters and Jordan Hugill are likely to lead the line.

Flint will come into the defensive three, alongside Mark McGuinness and Perry Ng, while Alfie Doughty and Cody Drameh are expected to provide the width from their wing-back roles.

Dan Butler has not featured for Peterborough since the beginning of December and he will continue to be sidelined for the rest of the campaign due to a ligament injury.

The Posh will also line up with a back three, including Frankie Kent, Nathan Thompson and Josh Knight, and behind them Swansea loanee Steven Benda will operate between the sticks.

Jonson Clarke-Harris and Jack Marriott, who have seven goals between them this season, will want to add to their tallies, and they will start up top with Kwame Poku linking the midfield to the attackers.

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Smithies; McGuinness, Flint, Ng; Doughty, Vaulks, Wintle, Doyle, Drameh; Watters, Hugill

Peterborough United possible starting lineup:

Benda; Knight, Thompson, Kent; Tomlinson, Grant, Fuchs, Mumba; Poku; Marriott, Clarke-Harris

We say: Cardiff City 1-0 Peterborough United

Taking into consideration Peterborough's goals record away from home, they are unlikely to get on the scoresheet this week, in what could be a low-scoring affair.

Cardiff will be confident after two Championship wins on the bounce, and will know that three points will put them in a strong position to climb away from the relegation-threatened pack.