Cardiff vs Sunderland: Match Preview, Team News & Likely Line-Ups
Date: Saturday, 28 December; Venue: Cardiff City Stadium; Kickoff: 17:30 GMT
Sunderland have won on their last two visits to Cardiff City, but face the Bluebirds for the first time since they left Ninian Park. The Black Cats will start in the Welsh capital bottom of the Premier League despite a four-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
Gus Poyet's side followed up two goalless draws and knocking Chelsea out of the Capital One Cup with a win over ten-man Everton on Boxing Day. If two teams from fellow strugglers Crystal Palace, Fulham and West Ham win earlier on Saturday, managerless Cardiff could also kickoff in the relegation zone.
Malky Mackay was offered the festive olive branch of keeping his job as Bluebirds boss for "the foreseeable future", but club owner Vincent Tan snapped it on Friday after heavy defeats at Liverpool and home to Southampton either side of Christmas. It seems this is not the season of goodwill in Malaysia.
Team News
Cardiff's Chilean midfield anchor Gary Medel should be fit to return from a bout of flu. Whoever takes charge of the Bluebirds for this game has no fresh injury worries. Craig Bellamy will miss the match with a knee problem, however.
Sunderland are likely to be without their senior central defenders for this trip to South Wales. Wes Brown serves a ban, Carlos Cuellar is still out with a thigh knock and skipper John O'Shea is struggling with a shoulder injury.
Black Cats boss Poyet could keep faith with the XI that inflicted a rare home defeat on Roberto Martinez's Everton on Boxing Day. He may also be tempted to rotate his wingers, however. Vito Mannone will play in goal in Keiren Westwood's continuing absence.
Source: BBC
Likely Line-Ups
Cardiff: 1 David Marshall, 28 Kevin Theophile-Catherine, 4 Steven Caulker, 6 Ben Turner, 3 Andrew Taylor, 8 Gary Medel, 11 Peter Odemwingie, 18 Jordon Mutch, 17 Aron Gunnarsson, 7 Peter Whittingham, 10 Fraizer Campbell 4-1-4-1
Sunderland: 25 Vito Mannone, 12 Ondrej Celustka, 21 Modibo Diakite, 29 Valentin Roberge, 2 Phil Bardsley, 33 Lee Cattermole, 7 Sebastian Larsson/21 Adam Johnson, 4 Ki Sung-Yueng, 14 Jack Colback, 23 Emanuele Giaccherini/31 Fabio Borini, 9 Steven Fletcher 4-1-4-1