Both aiming to bounce back from defeats last weekend, Cardiff City and Leeds United will do battle in South Wales on Saturday.
The visitors sit at the foot of the Championship table having only managed a single point from their first five outings, while their visitors suffered a first league loss of the season last time out.
Match preview
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Cardiff City return to action on Saturday in search of a first victory of the Championship season, having endured a dismal start to their second campaign under the management of Erol Bulut thus far.
Following a pleasing 12th-placed finish last time around, the Bluebirds headed into the new term with hopes of another top-half finish, but they currently find themselves at the bottom of the division having only managed a single point from their first five outings.
After kicking off with defeats to Sunderland and Burnley, conceding seven goals and failing to score in the process, they earned a first draw in the South Wales Derby away at Swansea City, having drawn level through Callum Robinson 11 minutes from time, but they would head into the international break on the back of a 2-0 home loss to Middlesbrough.
Returning to action at the weekend aiming to correct their poor start, Bulut's men visited newly-promoted Derby County and again came away empty-handed having failed to find an equaliser following Kenzo Goudmijn's first-half opener.
With pressure bound to be growing on the Bluebirds boss, having only managed a single goal and point while conceding 11 in their first five league outings, Cardiff City will be desperate to put a first win on the board to kickstart their campaign.
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They face a tricky test, though, as the visitors travel to Wales aiming to bounce back from a first league defeat of the season and move closer to the leading pack in their bid for a return to the Premier League at the second time of asking this term.
Heading into a second campaign under the management of Daniel Farke after falling short in the playoff final last time around, Leeds United made an unbeaten start prior to the September international break, beginning with draws against Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion.
The Whites then kickstarted their term with back-to-back 2-0 triumphs over Yorkshire rivals Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday in late August, with Mateo Joseph and Joel Piroe on the scoresheet against the latter, before they returned to action for a crucial meeting with fellow promotion-chasers Burnley at Elland Road on Saturday.
Farke's men were unable to make it three on the bounce in that contest, though, instead coming away empty-handed having failed to find a leveller after Luca Koleosho put the visitors ahead in the 18th minute.
Left disappointed by that first defeat, having dropped to ninth spot in the Championship at this early stage as a result, Leeds United will be keen to rebound quickly and make a return to winning ways on Saturday with the chance to climb back into the top six.
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Team News
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In a bid to inspire an upturn in form, Erol Bulut may opt to make several changes to his Cardiff City starting XI on Saturday, although Jamilu Collins, Kion Etete, Jesper Daland, Ryotaro Tsunoda and Isaak Davies are all set to remain sidelined by injuries.
Will Fish should earn a first start in defence, while Calum Chambers and Dimitrios Goutas will likely continue their partnership at the heart of the back four.
David Turnbull and Alex Robertson will fight for midfield spots, while Chris Willock and Ollie Tanner will both hope to come in and support front man Wilfried Kanga, with Callum Robinson also set to remain out of action.
Leeds United are set to head into Saturday's trip without key defender Joe Rodon, who sustained a head injury in last week's defeat to Burnley, while winger Daniel James has missed the last two games and could also be absent again.
In Rodon's absence, captain Ethan Ampadu could drop into the defence alongside Pascal Struijk, leaving room for either Ao Tanaka or Joe Rothwell to join Ilia Gruev in the midfield.
In the Whites' 4-2-3-1 setup, Willy Gnonto, Brenden Aaronson and Tottenham Hotspur loanee Manor Solomon lined up in support of striker Mateo Joseph last time out, with Joel Piroe and new arrival Largie Ramazani fighting to come in from the outset.
Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Horvath; Fish, Goutas, Chambers, Bagan; Ralls, Siopis; El Ghazi, Colwill, Willock; Kanga
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Bogle, Ampadu, Struijk, Firpo; Gruev, Tanaka; Gnonto, Piroe, Solomon; Joseph
We say: Cardiff City 0-2 Leeds United
Saturday's game promises to be an intriguing one in South Wales with both sides desperate to bounce back to winning ways.
Even without Rodon and James, Leeds United have the quality to outclass their hosts, and we back them to return to Yorkshire with all three points and compound the hosts' early-season struggles.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
