Two out-of-form sides face off in South Wales on Sunday afternoon when Cardiff City play host to Leeds United in the third round of the FA Cup.
While the Bluebirds have failed to win any of their last seven Championship matches, the Whites are seeking to end a five-game winless run across all competitions.
Match preview
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After drawing four successive Championship matches, including goalless stalemates in their last two fixtures, Cardiff suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat away against Blackburn Rovers on New Year's Day.
Bradley Dack scored the only goal of the game just three minutes after the break to condemn the Bluebirds to their 12th league defeat of the season.
Head coach Mark Hudson sees his side languishing in 20th place in the second-tier standings, just two points above the relegation zone, and their upcoming FA Cup tie may be welcomed as a timely distraction as they bid to turn their fortunes around.
Cardiff, who won the FA Cup back in 1927 before reaching the final in 2008, have been eliminated in either the third or fourth round in each of the last six years, including last season's 3-1 defeat away against Liverpool in the fourth round.
Indeed, the Bluebirds are winless in their last nine FA Cup meetings against Premier League opposition as a Championship side, although they have won four of their last five encounters with Leeds, which bodes well heading into Sunday's clash.
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Victories have been hard to come by for Leeds so far this season, as they have come out on top in only five of their 19 competitive matches across all competitions.
The Whites have followed up three successive defeats with back-to-back draws in the Premier League, picking up hard-fought solitary points against Newcastle United and West Ham United.
A 70th-minute strike from top scorer Rodrigo – who now has 10 goals this season – rescued a point at home against the Hammers on Wednesday, and Jesse Marsch's side now sit 14th in the top-flight table, just two points above the drop zone.
Leeds now turn their attention to the FA Cup and the club's supporters will be desperate to see vast improvements in the competition, having been eliminated at the third-round stage in each of the last five years and losing to lower-league opposition on two of those occasions (Newport County in 2018 and Crawley Town in 2021).
Sunday's trip to the Cardiff City Stadium will be Leeds' 10th consecutive away fixture in the FA Cup, and they will endeavour to beat the Bluebirds in the third round at the fifth time of asking, after losing all four of their previous third-round meetings with the Welsh side, including a 2-1 away loss back in January 2002.
Team News
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Cardiff trio Callum Robinson, Gavin Whyte and Cedric Kipre have all been suffering with illness and are doubtful for Sunday's contest, as is Kion Etete who has only just returned to training after a spell out with a hamstring strain.
However, Mahlon Romeo is ruled out for between four and six weeks with a hamstring injury of his own, so Tom Sang is set to continue at right-back.
Rubin Colwill, Isaak Davies, Andy Rinomhota, Jaden Philogene-Bidace and Sheyi Ojo, who all began on the substitutes' bench against Blackburn, will be hoping to force their way into the first XI.
As for Leeds, Patrick Bamford returned to training on Friday after undergoing groin surgery last month, but Sunday's game will come too soon for the injury-prone striker.
Stuart Dallas, who recently underwent a follow-up knee operation, is making positive strides in his recovery but remains sidelined for the time being, while Luis Sinisterra (foot) and Adam Forshaw (hernia) are both set to return to first-team training next week.
January addition Maximilian Wober is in contention to make his Leeds debut and is set to compete with Pascal Struijk and Junior Firpo for a place at left-back.
After five years at Elland Road, Mateusz Klich has left the club and is now awaiting a move to the MLS; teenager Darko Gyabi will therefore battle Marc Roca and Tyler Adams for a start in centre-midfield.
Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Allsop; Sang, Ng, Nelson, Simpson; Wintle, Ralls, Rinomhota; Philogene-Bidace, Harris, O'Dowda
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Robles; Ayling, Cooper, Llorente, Firpo; Adams, Roca; Summerville, Aaronson, Harrison; Gelhardt
We say: Cardiff City 1-3 Leeds United
A closely-fought contest between two teams who are desperate to turn their fortunes around is to be expected on Sunday, with Leeds heading to South Wales as favourites to come out on top.
Although Marsch is likely to rotate, the West Yorkshire outfit should have enough quality in their squad to book their place in Monday's fourth-round draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
