Peterborough United travel to Welsh side Cardiff City, hoping to record their first win since boxing day.
Cardiff City -Vs- Peterborough United
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Date: 14th February, 2012
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Posh beat Cardiff 4-3 in a thrilling encounter at London Road earlier this season. Thanks to a goal from striker Paul Taylor.
Despite losing their last 2 games, Cardiff are in a good position to make the play-offs, finding themselves in 4th place.
TEAM NEWS
Peterborough United
Posh only have 2 injury problems. Goalkeeper Joe Day, and striker Dave Hibbert. Who both probably wouldn`t have played a part in the game anyway.
Left back Matt Briggs looks in line to make his debut. This leaves Darren Ferguson with a dilemma. He has a choice, of dropping in form full back Craig Alcock, or moving Alcock to right back, and leaving Mark Little on the substitutes bench.
This will see Tommy Rowe put into the mix of who starts in midfield. Ferguson has Grant McCann, Lee Frecklington, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Lee Tomlin, George Boyd, Daniel Kearns, Rowe and youngster Joe Newell to choose from.
Macclesfield centre-back Shaun Brisley is set to sign for the Posh on loan, but the deal will not go through until Wednesday, so the young defender will not play any part on Tuesday night.
Ferguson has a few options in attack. But the expectancy now is that Paul Taylor, will start alongside David Ball, who has impressed since he came back from his loan at Rochdale. This will leave Lee Tomlin, and Emile Sinclair, on the subs bench.
Vital Posh predicts the starting line-up could be:
Lewis
Alcock, Bennett, Zakuani, Briggs
McCann
Frecklington Rowe
Boyd
Taylor, Ball
Cardiff City
Newcastle United loanee Haris Vuckic looks set to make his home debut on Tuesday. After making his debut in Saturday`s 2-1 loss at Leicester.
Striker Kenny Miller is expected to continue up front for Cardiff, but Rudy Gestede is also in contention, after he came on for Cardiff on Saturday.
PRE-MATCH QUOTES
‘I suppose we’ve had a nice rest ahead of a tough trip, but I’d rather have played. As it is we took the day off on Saturday, trained yesterday and we’ll have a good, relaxing trip to Cardiff. We’ll be up against it down there for sure. They are an excellent side, but we have proved we can beat them so we can take confidence from that. I wouldn’t expect it to be 4-3 either way again, but we will be very positive down there,’ Ferguson said to the official club website.
Paul Taylor had this to say.
‘I am looking forward to playing Cardiff. Obviously it was a great game to be involved in earlier in the season and it is one of the best moments here, scoring the winner in the circumstances that I did so late on. I had so many texts that night and it would be great to score again. Cardiff are a good side and it will be a difficult game for us but after our match was postponed at the weekend, we are all raring to go. For me personally, it was great to score against Burnley, I enjoyed playing up front with bally. We are good mates and I think we can have a good understanding together,’ Taylor said to the official club website
STATS & FACTS
Cardiff have only lost 3 of their last 18 games, since they lost to Peterborough in October.
The Bluebirds have now lost 2 in a row, and will be looking to end the run against Posh
Head to Head statistics between these two teams can be found HERE.
A form guide to Cardiff and Posh can be found HERE.
HOTSHOTS
Peterborough United
8 – McCann
7 – Taylor
7 – Sinclair
5 – Tomlin
5 – Frecklington
5 – Boyd
Birmingham City
10 – Miller
9 – Whittingham
7 – Mason
PREDICTION
The home game against Cardiff was an open game with lots of free flowing, end to end football. The game ended in a 4-3 win for the Posh thanks to a late goal from Paul Taylor.
This will either be a scrappy, low scoring game, or the complete opposite?
Vital Posh predicts an open game ending in a deserved 3 – 2 win.
REFEREE
Michael NAYLOR is the referee for Tuesdays game. He has given 15 yellow cards in the 5 matches he has reffed in the championship so far this season! He also gave a penalty in a game between Burnley and Nottingham Forest, which ended 2-0 to Burnley.
He will be assisted by John Busby and Paul Hobday.
The fourth official is Derek Eaton.
UP THE POSH Follow me on Twitter: @TommLeaa
Photos/images courtesy of www.theposhpics.com
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