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

Aiming to continue an unbeaten start to life in League One, Cardiff City will welcome Rotherham United to South Wales on Saturday.

The hosts have earned four points from their first two outings after last season's relegation and advanced in the EFL Cup in midweek, while the visitors' first two league games have produced a victory and a defeat.

Match preview

Cardiff City return to action at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday in search of a second victory of their League One campaign, having made an unbeaten start in the early stages of the term.

After suffering relegation last time around, the Bluebirds began life in England's third tier for the first time in 22 years and turned to Brian Barry-Murphy to take the reins over the summer in their bid to make an immediate return to the Championship.

They would quickly open their account on the opening day with a 2-1 home victory over Peterborough United, having come from behind thanks to second-half goals from Rubin Colwill and Ronan Kpakio, before visiting Port Vale last Thursday and leaving with a point from a goalless stalemate.

Barry-Murphy's side now head into the weekend on the back of a midweek triumph, having advanced to the EFL Cup second round with a 2-1 home win over fourth-tier Swindon Town courtesy of goals from Cian Ashford and Colwill.

With plenty of encouragement to take from their pleasing start to life under the new boss, Cardiff City will now bid to make it three wins from three home games this term and move onto seven points in League One in a bid to establish themselves as frontrunners from the outset.

Their visitors, meanwhile, head to Cardiff aiming to return to winning ways in the third tier after a mixed start to their second straight campaign in League One.

After a disappointing term last time around following their own relegation, in which they finished 13th on 59 points, 19 short of the playoff spot, Rotherham United headed into the 2025-26 season under the permanent management of Matt Hamshaw with the hopes of a sustained top-six bid.

The Millers began at home to Port Vale in early August and took all three points at the New York Stadium, prevailing in a 2-1 victory thanks to Sam Nombe's first-half brace.

A trip to Stevenage then followed last weekend, but Hamshaw's men were unable to make it back-to-back wins, instead leaving empty-handed as Jamie Reid netted the only goal of the game late in the first half.

Now on the back of a penalty shootout win over Salford City to advance to the EFL Cup second round after a goalless draw in normal time, Rotherham United turn their focus back to league action and will hope to make it six points from three outings in a tough trip on Saturday.

Cardiff City League One form:

Cardiff City form (all competitions):

WDW

Rotherham United League One form:

Rotherham United form (all competitions):

WLW

Team News

Brian Barry-Murphy should field a similar Cardiff City starting XI to their first two league games of the season, with key men Perry Ng and Alex Robertson remaining sidelined by injuries.

After dropping to the bench for the midweek EFL Cup tie, Yousef Salech should return from the outset and lead the attack, having eight goals in 20 Championship appearances in the second half of last season following his January arrival.

Callum Robinson, who led the squad with 12 league goals last term, will also hope to earn an attacking spot, while 20-year-old Joel Colwill should continue alongside brother Rubin Colwill and Ryan Wintle in midfield.

Rotherham United are set to remain without key attacker Sam Nombe, who sustained an injury against Stevenage after netting a brace on the opening day and 14 league goals last season.

They are also unable to call on Cardiff City loanee Kion Etete, meaning Jordan Hugill will be heavily relied upon to lead the line.

Sean Raggett was fit to return against Stevenage, and the experienced defender should join Zak Jules and Joe Rafferty in a full-strength back three.

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Trott; Kpakio, Lawlor, Chambers, Bagan; Wintle; Robinson, R Colwill, J Colwill, Willock; Salech

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:

Dawson; Rafferty, Jules, Raggett; Hall, Yearwood, McWilliams, Powell, James; Hugill, McGuckin

We say: Cardiff City 1-0 Rotherham United

Cardiff City have shown encouraging signs under the new management of Barry-Murphy, and we back them to make it three wins from four games this season at home to a Rotherham United side who have seen their attacking ranks depleted.

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