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Cardiff City take on Blackburn Rovers in this afternoon’s early kick-off.
It represents Omer Riza’s final chance to stake his claim for the Bluebirds job on a permanent basis, with Cardiff having seen their six-game unbeaten run ended by a narrow defeat by Luton Town in midweek.
The table is concertinaed and a win can catapult a club up the table. Given how Cardiff started the campaign, getting away from those relegation spots before heading into the international break would be a real boost. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.
The game, which kicks off at 12.30 p.mwill be shown on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, which can be accessed via Sky Go for streaming. However, you can also follow all the build-up, team news and live match action below.
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Top Stories Tamfitronics Key Events
KICK-OFF!
TEAM NEWS
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Daland with a couple of crucial interceptions there before Hedges mis-hits a low shot, which is gathered by Alnwick.
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El Ghazi with a powerful, driving run on the outside. Wins a corner.
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Rovers have it in the net again. Goutas puts Robertson in trouble in the middle of the pitch and the visitors break. Ohashi slides in Weimann, whose shot is saved before Cantwell taps in – but the assistant has his flag up!
KEY EVENT
GOAL! Cardiff City 0-1 Blackburn Rovers (Weiman 15)
Goal. Weimann taps home.
You have to say that is a wonderful goal. Blackburn held on to the ball for ages and completed a full-length-of-the-pitch move which saw Travis slide in a pinpoint cross for Weimann to tap in.
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Rovers trying to take the sting out of it at the minute, passing it about at the back.
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Cardiff with sustained possession but Blackburn cut out a pass and break rapidly. Ng cynically hauls down Travis but escapes a yellow.
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Ng clips a ball inside to Colwill, who lets it run across him before hitting one with his left. It’s straight at Pears.
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David Turnbull hammers one from 25 yards out – but it’s deflected off El Ghazi and out for a goal kick.
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Cardiff are pinned for an infringement in the area while the cross was lofted in. Ng the culprit. Free-kick to Rovers.
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Cardiff rocket up the other end and El Ghazi is found by a low cross. He beats one man but cannot get his shot away in the area! Free-kick is given to City 25 yards out.
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Too casual from City’s back line and the ball is lost in a dangerous area. Cantwell is bearing down on goal and Alnwick has to slide in and dispossess him. Real chance for Cantwell goes begging!
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A minute of remembrance
A minute’s silence is set to be observed before kick-off.
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Half an hour to go
Ground starting to fill up now. Not long until we are under way.
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Latest odds
Cardiff 13/10
Draw 23/10
Blackburn 2/1
(via BonusCodeBets, 18+)
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Verdict
A couple of big calls, including Callum Robinson’s omission. He has been nursing an Achilles problem and it looks like that has got the better of him today.
Another big omission is Calum Chambers. There has been no indication of an injury to him but we can only presume that’s the reason he’s not in the side today.
So it sees a forward line of El Ghazi, Willock, Colwill and Tanner – how that quartet lines up remains to be seen, potentially two false nines in Colwill and Willock? Or El Ghazi as more of a target due to his size? Interesting.
Siopis drops to the bench and it’s a big boost for the Bluebirds to see Alex Robertson recalled into the starting XI after injury.
KEY EVENT
TEAM NEWS
Cardiff City XI: Alnwick; Ng, Goutas, Daland, O’Dowda; Robertson, Turnbull; Tanner, Colwill, Willock; El Ghazi.
Subs: Horvath, Fish, Bagan, Collins, Siopis, Rinomhota, Ashford, Meite, Kanga.
Blackburn Rovers XI: Pears; Brittain, Batth, Hyam, Pickering; Tronstad, Travis; Weimann, Cantwell, Hedges; Ohashi.
Subs: Toth, McFadzean, Gueye, Rankin-Costello, Leonard, Buckley, Tyjon, Duru, Baker.
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Colwill: Riza has given me confidence and freedom
Speaking to the Bluebirds’ matchday programme, Rubin Colwill said: “I’ve really enjoyed the last couple of weeks. We’ve changed our style, there’s been a difference to us, and I think we were always going to pick up results.
“It’s been really free-flowing football and we’ve created a lot of chances, but defensively we have been solid as well.
“We can give massive credit ti Riz (Omer Riza) for changing the mindset, and also tactically with some little tweaks. He’s given me confidence and freedom to try different things, but also to hold myself accountable if I make mistakes.
“Credit to all the staff, really, because they’ve been very good.”
Rubin Colwill
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Welcome
Hello and welcome to our coverage today. Can Cardiff get back on the winning trail? We’ll find out soon enough.
We will have team news for you in a little over half an hour, how many changes will Omer Riza make to the side which suffered defeat at Luton in midweek?
Say tuned to find out.
