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

Cardiff City will be aiming to book their spot in the third round of the EFL Cup when they welcome League Two outfit Cheltenham Town to the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Welsh outfit were 2-1 winners over Swindon Town in the last round of the competition, while their visitors progressed to this stage courtesy of a 2-0 home success over Exeter City.

Match preview

Cardiff have made an excellent start to their 2025-26 campaign, and they currently sit atop the League One table, boasting 13 points from their opening five matches of the season.

The Bluebirds finished bottom of the Championship last term, and there is no question that their main aim for 2025-26 is to secure a return to the second tier, but a cup run is always good for the confidence.

Brian Barry-Murphy's side progressed to the second round of this season's EFL Cup courtesy of a 2-1 win over Swindon Town; Cardiff have never won the League Cup, but they did famously reach the final in 2011-12, losing to Liverpool.

The Welsh outfit will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 success over Luton Town, and they have won five of their six games in all competitions this season, including victories in their last four matches.

Cardiff have only actually faced Cheltenham on seven previous occasions, winning four times in the process, while they have lost just once - a 3-1 defeat in Division Three back in 2001.

The last contest between Cheltenham and Cardiff took place in January 2003, and it was the Welsh side that ran out 2-1 winners in their meeting in Division Two.

Tuesday's fixture will be the first-ever League Cup contest between the two teams, but they have previously locked horns on three occasions in the FA Cup, with Cardiff posting two wins in the process.

Cheltenham finished 15th in the fourth tier last season, and they currently sit rock bottom of the League Two table, having lost each of their opening five matches, scoring once and conceding 11.

The visitors will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 home defeat to Barnet, and there is pressure on head coach Michael Flynn to deliver a victory as soon as possible.

Cheltenham booked their spot in the second round of this tournament courtesy of a 2-0 success over Exeter, but this will be a step-up in class against Cardiff for a place in round three.

Cardiff City EFL Cup form:

Cardiff City form (all competitions):

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Cheltenham Town EFL Cup form:

Cheltenham Town form (all competitions):

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Team News

Cardiff head coach Barry-Murphy could name the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Swindon in the previous round of the competition.

Calum Chambers started on the bench in League One on Saturday but is now in line for a spot in the XI, while Joel Colwill is also set to be introduced into the starting side for this match.

Isaak Davies was also a substitute against Luton in League One last time out, but he is likely to feature in the final third of the field for the second-round fixture.

As for Cheltenham, head coach Flynn will also make changes from Saturday's league affair.

Mamadou Diallo is in line for a spot between the sticks, while Bryan Broom and Jake Bickerstaff should also be introduced, with Lee Angol likely to feature in the final third of the field.

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Trott; Kpakio, Fish, Chambers, Bagan; Turnbull, Wintle, Colwill; Ashford, Robinson, Davies

Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:

Diallo; Mazionis, Cundy, Wilson; Power, Young, Broom, Harmon; Archer, Bickerstaff, Angol

We say: Cardiff City 2-0 Cheltenham Town

Cardiff are on a roll at the start of the 2025-26 campaign, and we are finding it incredibly difficult to predict anything other than a routine victory for the Welsh team in the second round of the EFL Cup.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.