Relegation battling Cardiff City host Reading at Cardiff City Stadium in Friday Night Football.
Victory would see Cardiff climb into 20th position and move five points clear of the relegation zone until Saturday afternoon at minimum, whilst Reading can move into 11th with a win.
Team News
Rubin Colwill could return for Cardiff after he missed their last two matches with an ankle injury.
Ebou Adams (knee) and Jamilu Collins (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) both remain absent.
Reading will be without Andy Yiadom because he is suspended after he picked up his 10th yellow card of the season in their midweek win against Rotherham.
Shane Long (concussion) is a doubt but Baba Rahman (ankle) definitely won’t be involved in this game after the pair were substituted in midweek.
Lucas Joao (knee) and Mamadou Loum (suspension) both could return but Tom Holmes (calf), Sam Hutchinson (Achilles), Liam Moore (foot), Ovie Ejaria (knee) and Dejan Tetek (unspecified) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Cardiff host Reading on Friday 17 February at Cardiff City Stadium in a 8pm GMT kick-off, live on Sky Sports.
Stat Attack
- Cardiff have won just one of their last five meetings against Reading (W1, D1, L3).
- Reading are unbeaten in their last five league visits to Cardiff (W3, D2).
- Both teams have scored in three of their last four meetings at the Cardiff City Stadium in all competitions, except for a 1-0 win for Reading in October 2021.
- Cardiff have failed to pick up a single booking in each of their last two home matches.
- Reading have conceded six league goals away from home in 2023 without scoring (L3).
Prediction
Having ended their 14-match winless run in all competitions with a clinical win at Birmingham City in midweek, Cardiff now need to bring that new-found desire into this match and continue to play on the front foot if want to begin moving further away from the drop.
Reading though have been inconsistent in recent weeks but their aerial presence seems their biggest asset as it proved against Rotherham in midweek, with both goals scored from set pieces so I would like to see them show more quality in open play here.
Paul Ince’s Royals also seem to fare well in Cardiff but if the Bluebirds can produce another disciplined yet clinical performance, I do anticipate a draw otherwise Reading could well have the edge given their better attacking quality.
Prediction: Cardiff 1-2 Reading
Result: Cardiff 1-0 Reading
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