Burnley vs Cardiff City
Date: 13/04/2019
K/O: 15:00
Venue: Turf Moor
Referee: Mike Dean
Cardiff will travel to face Burnley as they aim to keep their slim hopes of Premier League survival alive.
Two successive losses have left Cardiff in a bad spot, and the Bluebirds are now five points adrift of safety. Neil Warnock’s side are in 18th place and they have a lot of work to do in the remaining six games of the season.
Last week saw them lose to Chelsea and Manchester City, and the former were lucky to win courtesy of some contentious refereeing decisions. With some tough games to come for Cardiff, this game presents a great chance to make up some ground.
Burnley were in the relegation race some weeks ago, but recent results have wiped that fear. Successive wins have lifted Sean Dyche’s to 14th place, and they have an eight-point cushion over the Bluebirds.
They claimed an impressive 3-1 win last week at Bournemouth, which all but sealed their Premier League status for another season. That result was preceded by a 2-0 win over Wolves, which was their most recent home game.
Turf Moor will provide all the support Burnley need as they hope to land yet another blow on Cardiff. This game is a must-win for Cardiff if they have any hopes of avoiding relegation. They will play Brighton after this one, and this week can have a huge say over Cardiff’s season.
Team News
Burnley
Sean Dyche is fortunate in the injury department, as there are few injury absentees. Steven Defour remains sidelined, as he continues to recover from a calf problem.
The Belgian midfielder is set to miss the rest of the season. Aaron Lennon is also out, and he could take a couple of weeks to return to action. January recruit Peter Crouch joins this duo, as an appendicitis problem will keep him out.
Phil Bardsley is suffering from a thigh problem, and he could recover to feature against Cardiff. A late call will be made regarding the veteran defender. Matt Lowton will feature again if Bardsley fails to recover. The starting lineup is set to remain similar for Dyche, as Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes will line up again in attack.
The duo have been in great form for Burnley, and both of them were on the scoresheet against Bournemouth. Dwight McNeil has emerged as a young talent, and he will start from the left wing again. Johan Berg Gudmundsson will battle with Jeff Hendrick for a spot on the other wing, and the rest of the lineup should remain the same.
Cardiff City
Sol Bamba and Callum Paterson will continue to be sidelined for Cardiff, as both are recovering from long-term problems. Bamba is dealing with a ruptured ACL, and Paterson is nursing a serious ankle injury. It is likely that both of them will miss the rest of the season.
Harry Arter is also a doubt for Cardiff, and his absence will be felt keenly. The midfielder has provided the bite in the centre of the park, and he has formed a good partnership with Aron Gunnarsson.
If he failed to recover from his ankle problem, Joe Ralls should start instead. Victor Camarasa will be the other midfielder; the Spaniard became Cardiff’s top-scorer for the season this week.
Oumar Niasse should lead the line again, but the places on the wing are up for debate. Junior Hoilett and Josh Murphy started against City, but few players are waiting in the wings. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Bobby Reid came off the bench that game, and they will be pushing for a start against Burnley.
Predicted Starting XIs
Burnley (4-4-2): Heaton; Taylor, Tarkowski, Mee, Lowton; McNeil, Westwood, Cork, Gudmundsson; Wood, Barnes.
Cardiff City (4-1-4-1): Etheridge; Bennett, Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Peltier; Gunnarsson; Murphy, Camarasa, Arter, Hoilett; Niasse.
Score Prediction: Burnley 1 Cardiff City 1
The game is bound to be a close one, and neither side will go all out in the attack. Burnley’s recent form should shine through, but Cardiff are also likely to impress considering the importance of the game to their season. A draw seems the most likely outcome.
