Preview: Luton Town vs. Cardiff City - prediction, team news, lineups

Luton Town welcome Cardiff City to Kenilworth Road on Saturday, in a vital fixture for the Championship's bottom side.

Cardiff too have plenty to play for and are still within touching distance of the playoffs, but a run of one win in five matches has left them on the back foot.

Match preview

Bottom of the Championship and seven points adrift of safety, a run of eight defeats in 10 Championship fixtures has given Luton it all to do if they wish to stay up.

A win in their last home match against Derby County was their first taste of victory since early December and head coach Graeme Jones will hope they can take some momentum from the result.

Luton's home form has been far better than their away form this term, with 18 of their 24 points and five of their seven wins coming at Kenilworth Road.

In fact, the Hatters have taken 10 points from their last six home games and will need to build on that if they are to have any hope of staying up.

Cardiff came away victors in the reverse fixture, with Isaac Vassell scoring a 96th-minute winner to seal a 2-1 win, but Luton did beat the Bluebirds 3-0 in the EFL Cup a few weeks later.

Neil Harris's side are now seven points adrift of the playoffs, but have picked up just two wins on the road all season.

With the 18th-worst away record in the league, this is an area they will need to find significant improvement if they are to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Cardiff have been good in attack this season with 42 goals, but are conceding far more often than in previous seasons.

With 31 goals conceded in just 15 away matches, Luton should look to take advantage of this vulnerability in Cardiff's game.

However, if results elsewhere go their way, Harris's team could find themselves eighth if they secure a win.

Luton Town Championship form: LLLLWL Luton Town form (all competitions): LLLLWL

Cardiff City Championship form: WLDDWD Cardiff City form (all competitions): WDDWDL

Team News

Luton will still be without Brendan Galloway and Sonny Bradley, as both players continue to rehabilitate from injury.

Danny Hylton and Martin Cranie are closing in on full fitness though and could feature on Saturday after training this week.

Cardiff will still be without dangerous winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who will not be seen this season due to a hamstring injury.

There also doubts over Matthew Connolly, who is being assessed day to day following an ankle injury he picked up early last month.

Meanwhile, Joe Ralls, Daniel Ward and Vassell have all been ruled out.

Luton Town possible starting lineup: Sluga; Bree, Pearson, Daniels, Potts; Tunnicliffe, Rea, Mpanzu; Cornick, Collins, LuaLua

Cardiff City possible starting lineup: Smithies, Richards, Morrison, Nelson, Bennett; Vaulks, Pack, Bacuna, Tomlin; Paterson, Glatzel

We say: Luton Town 0-1 Cardiff City

Cardiff have not been in the best form of late, but with the playoffs still a distinct possibility they should have just about enough to see off this struggling Luton side.