Cardiff City play host to Burnley on Saturday afternoon looking to find the victory that would move the club to within touching distance of a place in the top six in the Championship table.

Burnley make the trip to South Wales without a defeat in eight games, and three points could potentially move them closer to the top of the standings, with just two points between the Clarets and leaders Hull City.

Cardiff City

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Suffering just two defeats during a nine-game spell would usually be considered respectable in such an unforgiving league as the Championship, but not from the perspective of Cardiff City supporters.

Russell Slade has kept the Bluebirds in the top 10 of the table for much of the season, but in recent weeks, they have slipped three points behind the playoff places and eight behind Saturday's opponents Burnley, who sit in fifth.

Victory this weekend may change the mood at a club who have won just once in five outings, but improvements will be required after they succumbed tamely at Derby County last Saturday, making it half-a-dozen league fixtures without a win on the road.

That said, Slade deserves plenty of credit for putting together an excellent record at the Cardiff City Stadium at a time when attendances have been on the decline. Seventeen points have been recorded from just eight games, while only four goals have been conceded, two of which came in the same game against Hull City.

Slade does not appear to be under any immediate pressure but with a number of Championship clubs showing little patience recently when it comes to changing managers, it remains to be seen what Cardiff's stance will be should they under-perform in their next three games.

However, maximum points on Saturday will haul Burnley, and potentially other promotion rivals, back towards them, and that could prove key for Slade over the coming weeks.

Recent form: WDDLWL

Burnley

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Consecutive draws with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton & Hove Albion have resulted in Burnley dropping to fifth place in recent weeks, but the Clarets remain well-placed to continue their quest to try to earn an instant return to the Premier League.

It has been two months since Sean Dyche's side suffered defeat in the Championship - a run stretching eight games - and with a little bit more luck against Brighton, they would have been making the trip to Cardiff in second position.

Dyche would have been slightly frustrated that his team did not become the first club to defeat Brighton in the league this season, but he will be aware that they need to re-focus ahead of a testing four-game run, with Saturday's match being following by the derby against Preston North End and visits to Queens Park Rangers and Middlesbrough.

With just two points separating them from the top of the standings and six points between the North-West outfit and seventh position, the Clarets have their sights on what is ahead of them rather than what is behind, but defeat on Saturday could bring the chasing pack back into contention.

With three of the next four games away from Turf Moor, Dyche will be hoping that Andre Gray can improve his output on the road. While the 24-year-old has scored eight goals in half-a-dozen fixtures at home, he has netted just once on the road since he joined the club in August.

Recent form: DWWWDD

Team News

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Striker Tony Watt, who has been signed on loan from Charlton Athletic, could be thrown straight into the starting lineup after Cardiff's poor showing in front of goal last weekend.

Further changes are also possible, with Stuart O'Keefe and Matthew Kennedy potential starters in midfield.

Burnley boss Dyche has said that he will leave it until the last minute before deciding whether to include striker Sam Vokes.

The Welsh international has been suffering with a groin problem, but he could take his place in the team ahead of Rouwen Hennings and Chris Long

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Marshall, Peltier, Morrison, Connolly, Malone, Noone, Dikgacoi, Whittingham, Ralls, Jones, Watt

Burnley possible starting lineup:
Heaton, Darikwa, Duff, Keane, Mee, Boyd, Jones, Barton, Arfield, Vokes, Gray

Head To Head

The two teams have previously met on 81 occasions, with Cardiff earning 29 wins compared to 28 for Burnley.

However, while the historical record is close, the recent record is not. Cardiff are currently 11 games unbeaten, while they have suffered just one setback in 16 matches against the Clarets.

The Bluebirds are also on a 10-match undefeated streak at home against Saturday's opponents, with Burnley not winning in the Welsh capital since April 2000.

We say: Cardiff City 1-1 Burnley

While Burnley hold one of the longest unbeaten records in the division, Cardiff are arguably favourites for Saturday's match due to their home record. However, it is difficult to decide on a victor, so we are predicting that the spoils will be shared in South Wales.

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