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Cardiff City logo
Championship
Sep 13, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Norwich logo

2-4

Ralls (4'), Gunnarsson (22')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Olsson (54'), Hoolahan (58'), Turner (71'), Jerome (87')

Preview: Cardiff City vs. Norwich City

Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday's Championship encounter between recently-relegated duo Cardiff and Norwich.

Two teams that were relegated from the Premier League last season meet in the Championship this Saturday as Cardiff City host Norwich City in South Wales.

Cardiff have made a steady start to the campaign on their return to the second tier, losing just one of their opening five matches.

However, they already find themselves five points behind league leaders Nottingham Forest and, although there is still plenty of time for them to close what is still a small gap, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer won't want to let it grow much bigger.

The Bluebirds are without a win in two matches now following their defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers and disappointing draw against the other recently-relegated team, Fulham, just before the international break - a result that gave the Cottagers their first point of the new campaign.

Kenwyne Jones was the man who rescued a draw for his side in that match, and he should once again start up front having netted four times in five appearances this season.

Bruno Manga arrived on deadline day and could be thrust straight into the starting lineup, but returning defender Danny Gabbidon is unlikely to feature.

Mats Moller Daehli is also a doubt for the hosts having picked up an injury while on international duty for Norway against England.

Norwich have also responded well to the disappointment of relegation, overcoming a shaky start to win four and draw one of their last five matches in all competitions.

Their winning streak in the league did come to an end just before the international break, however, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Bournemouth at Carrow Road.

There have been a number of ins and outs at the club since that result, but perhaps their biggest piece of business was keeping hold of Gary Hooper, who is nearing a return to full fitness.

Saturday's match could come too soon for the striker, however, which will give summer recruit Lewis Grabban the chance to improve further on his sensational start of five goals in five games for his new club.

Fellow new boys Jos Hooiveld and Cameron Jerome will also be pushing for starts, but may have to make do with a place on the bench.

The Canaries had the worst away record in the top flight last season, winning just two games and picking up a meagre nine points overall, so that is an issue that Neil Adams will be keen to rectify this time around.

Recent form

Cardiff: WWWLWD

Norwich: LWWWWD

Possible starting lineups

Cardiff: Marshall; Brayford, Morrison, Manga, Fabio; Pilkington, Dikgacoi, Adeyemi, Whittingham; Jones, Le Fondre

Norwich: Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin, Turner, Garrido; Tettey, Johnson; Redmond, Lafferty, Hoolahan; Grabban

Sports Mole says: 3-2


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Written by
Barney Corkhill
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