Our prediction for this Championship match:
Buoyed by back-to-back wins over Swansea City and WBA, Birmingham City will look to give fans yet another reason for celebration when they face Cardiff City on Tuesday evening. The Blues have been impressive in front of goal of late, and they are likely to adopt yet another attack-minded approach against the Bluebirds. Reda Khadra, who missed the last league match with injury, faces race against the clock to be fit for the midweek showdown.
Meanwhile, the visitors, have been struggling in the Championship ever since full-back Jamilu Collins suffered a serious injury. Since the 28-year-old remains in the recovery room, alongside Ebou Adams, we believe that there is a big value in betting on the in-form hosts. In the first half of the season the Bluebirds defeated the Blues thanks to Philogene-Bidace’s goal, meaning that the hosts are hungry for revenge.
Highlighted Player (George Friend):
George Friend has played for no less than nine English clubs so far in his career. Friend made his first-team debut for non-League club Exeter City on April 17, 2006 in a goalless draw with Forest Green Rovers and he stayed at St James Park until 2008. After ending his loan spells with Tiverton Town and Team Bath he joined Wolverhampton, but he made no more than seven appearances for the Wolves in the league.
The 188-cm-tall left-back, who is capable of playing as a centre-back as well, played for the likes of Millwall, Southend, Scunthorpe United and Exeter City on loan during his spell with Wolverhampton and at the end of the 2009/2010 season he signed a two-year deal with Doncaster Rovers. Friend made his Doncaster debut on August 7, 2010 in a 2-0 win over Preston and after three years at the club he was sold to Middlesbrough for a fee of £100,000.
The left-footed defender has been playing for Boro ever since and you should know that he made 24 appearances for the club in the 2016/2017 Premier League campaign.
Highlighted Team (Cardiff):
Cardiff City are a Welsh football club that compete in the English second tier (Championship). In 2009 they moved from Ninian Park to Cardiff City Stadium, the venue that officially holds 33,280 spectators.
The Bluebirds played their first ever Premier League match on 18 August, 2013, but they were beaten by West Ham United (0-2) on their debut in the English top flight. However, a week later Fraizer Campbell (two goals) and Aron Gunnarson helped Cardiff City record their first ever win in the Premier League.
The Bluebirds outplayed Manchester City back then, but they eventually dropped to the Championship at the end of the season. Fellow Welsh outfit Swansea City are considered Cardiff’s fiercest rivals and the two teams take on each other in the South Wales derby.
The colour of Cardiff City’s home kit is blue, whilst they wear red shirts and shorts when playing on the travels.