Cardiff City vs Leicester City
Date: 03/11/2018
K/O: 15:00
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Referee: Lee Probert
Leicester City travel to Wales this Saturday afternoon as they continue to mourn the loss of their owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who sadly passed away in last weeks helicopter crash following their 1-1 draw with West Ham United. The fate of the match was in the balance during the week yet players and staff have decided the game should go ahead to honour their late owner; a decision in which Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha has supported.
The hosts fell to a 4-1 drubbing at Liverpool last time out and will be looking to bounce back in the best way possible come Saturday. Having said this, the last time the Bluebirds lined up at the Cardiff City Stadium, they cruised past newly promoted rivals Fulham in a 4-2 victory – so there is reason for optimism.
The fixture will without doubt be a difficult one with Claude Puel stating in his pre-match press conference on Thursday that this week has been “the hardest in the club’s history”. The Leicester boss has said that the fixture vs Cardiff is “not important” but it is a chance for the Foxes to honour the man who gave them so much. Whatever the end result it will pale into insignificance after the loss of a great footballing man last Saturday.
Cardiff have offered their full support ahead of Saturday’s fixture and both sets of players will observe a minute’s silence before the match kicks off as well as wearing black armbands. Although it has been a difficult week for the Foxes, the team returned to full training on Wednesday and will have to recollect themselves ahead of Saturday. Puel’s side have beaten two sides below Cardiff already this season in Newcastle and Huddersfield respectively so despite the demanding conditions Saturday will present, they will be hopeful of coming back to the King Power with all three points in hand.
In fact, after the fixture the Leicester players intend to fly to Thailand for the funeral of “the Boss” which will give them added motivation ahead of the fixture.
Head to Head:
Cardiff have lost just one of their last six meetings with Leicester in all competitions having won two and drawn three. It will be the first top-flight meeting between the two sides since 1962.
Team News
Cardiff City: Although the result will seem of little importance this weekend, Cardiff and Warnock will be hoping to pick up another three points and continue to build on an impressive win last time out at the Cardiff City Stadium. Midfielder Joe Ralls is serving the final game of his three-match ban so will not be available with Harry Arter, who is one booking away from suspension, set to be risked in the centre alongside Gunnarsson. Hoilett will likely be the one to miss out with Camarasa moving across to the right flank.
Defender Jazz Richards is a major doubt and will almost certainly not feature against the Foxes with Warnock saying that he “didn’t think” the Welsh international would be ready. With the Bluebirds looking to claim consecutive top-flight home wins for the first time since 1962, Warnock will be desperate to put out the most competitive and able squad and having conceded 29 goals in their last 11 home Premier League games, keeping a clean sheet will surely be a motive.
Lee Peltier and Mendez-Laing are both absent for the fixture suffering with shoulder and knee injuries. Danny Ward could be fit for the Bluebirds but hasn’t featured since the October international break so will unlikely feature.
Leicester City: The main injury news concerning Puel this week is the injury sustained by defender, Daniel Amartey, in last weeks draw with West Ham. The Ghanaian has had surgery on his ankle this week but is expected to be absent from the match day squad for the next four months. As a result, Ricardo Pereira, who had a consistent start to his life at Leicester but has since been dropped and recalled, will replace the injured Amartey.
Surprisingly to many, Jamie Vardy was dropped to the bench against the Hammers but there are no worries about this happening again as Leicester’s number nine will without doubt be leading the line again. Damarai Gray who is now be back to full fitness after his ankle injury a few months back is in strong contention to return to the starting XI after impressing late on in the second half against West Ham.
Wes Morgan is set to return for the Foxes after missing two matches due to suspension which means Puel has a fully fit squad ahead of the trip to Cardiff. It would be no surprise to see Puel remain faithful to the club captain which will see him recalled into the centre alongside Harry Maguire. Matty James who has been suffering with an Achilles injury is even in contention and back in training but this fixture will no doubt be too soon.
Predicted Starting XI’s
Cardiff City (4-4-1-1): Etheridge; Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett; Camarasa, Gunnarsson, Arter, Murphy; Reid; Paterson
Leicester City (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel; Pereira, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell; Ndidi, Iborra; Gray, Maddison, Iheanacho; Vardy
Score Prediction: Cardiff City 0 Leicester City 1
The fixture will be full of emotion for both sides and although the Leicester players will not have football at the forefront of their mind, we have seen in years gone by that this side are a family and a family who will gather together and do their utmost best to honour their late chairman with a victory this weekend.
