MATCH FACTS: CARDIFF VS BOURNEMOUTH
Club News
17th March
Cardiff City vs AFC Bournemouth
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Date: Tuesday, 17th March 2015, 7:45pm
After three consecutive away wins in a row, the Bluebirds will be aiming to transfer their form on the road into St Patrick's Day home success as league leaders AFC Bournemouth visit Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday night.
CARDIFF CITY PLAYER
For those who can’t make it to Cardiff City Stadium, you can listen in live on Bluebirds Player from 7:30pm.
The Bluebirds will be looking to record a first victory of the season over the Cherries, with Mark Denham and Ashley James sharing all the action via the Bluebirds Player website and App.
Bluebirds Player subscribers will also be able to view the full 90 minutes of action from CCS immediately after 12pm on Wednesday.
Search ‘FLI Player’ on the App Store or Google Play Store to download and App for free, with content available to subscribers 24/7.
You can subscribe to exclusive content on Bluebirds Player for as little as £4.00 per month.
MATCH FACTS
- The Cherries have won their last three games
- There has not been a goalless draw in the last 26 meetings in a run stretching back to 1938
- Kiko Macheda will serve a one-game suspension this evening, and will therefore be available for selection on Saturday against Birmingham
- Yann Kermorgant could return to the Cherries side after injury
- Cardiff have won three of their last five games in the Sky Bet Championship
KEY OPPOSITION PLAYER: Callum Wilson
The step up to Championship football is sometimes a daunting one, well unless you have the undoubted talents of Cherries striker Wilson. The former Coventry City man has already netted on 16 occasions in his first year in the second tier, while playing alongside the likes of Brett Pitman and Yann Kermorgant, both of whom have chipped in with over ten goals apiece. It's been 77 years since Cardiff and Bournemouth fought to a goal-less draw, and this would be a surprising outcome on Tuesday night.
ONE TO WATCH: Matt Ritchie
It's been a great week for the new Scottish superstar. Wide midfielder Ritchie was called up by Gordon Strachan to the Scotland squad for the first time on Monday afternoon, and could make his debut in the upcoming match against Gibraltar. International recognition comes following another impressive campaign for the former Swindon Town man, netting eleven goals to date while topping the Sky Bet Championship assist table with twelve.
RECENT FORM (ALL COMPETITIONS)
Cardiff City: DWLWLW
Last time out: Brentford 1-2 Cardiff City – Saturday, 14th March 2015, Sky Bet Championship
Cardiff City returned to South Wales with all three points from Griffin Park, defeating high flying Brentford, 2-1, despite ending the match with just nine-men on the pitch. Bees top-scorer Andre Gray gave the home side a one-goal advantage at the break but clinical finishes from Kiko Macheda and Alex Revell in the second period gave Russell Slade's side the lead. The Bluebirds were made to work for their victory, especially as Kadeem Harris was sent from the field of play with ten minutes remaining following a 50/50 challenge with Alan Judge. Macheda's second yellow on the 90 minute mark meant nine-man City were firmly under the cosh for the six minutes added time but a spirited display was rewarded with all three points.
Cardiff City: Moore, Peltier (Ralls), Fabio, Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Noone, Kennedy (Harris), Revell (Jones), Macheda. Subs Not Used: Wilson, Malone, O'Keefe, Doyle.
AFC Bournemouth: LLDWWW
Last time out: AFC Bournemouth 4-0 Blackpool – Saturday, 14th March 2015, Sky Bet Championship
Brett Pitman's first-half hat-trick sealed Bournemouth's return to the top of the Championship with victory against bottom side Blackpool. The win, the Cherries' third in a row, was never in doubt from the moment Pitman buried a shot beyond goalkeeper Elliot Parish after a solo run. Pitman headed in a second and then drilled a third as Blackpool capitulated before half-time. Callum Wilson's spot-kick sealed the Seasiders fate after the break.
AFC Bournemouth: Boruc, Francis, Elphick (Stanislas), Cook, Daniels, Ritchie, MacDonald, Surman, Pugh (Smith), Pitman, Wilson (Rantie). Subs Not Used: Camp, Fraser, Ward, O’Kane.
LAST COMPETITIVE MEETING
2014/15: Saturday, 13th December, Championship: AFC Bournemouth 5-3 Cardiff City
AFC Bournemouth rose to the top of the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon, after edging out Cardiff City in an eight-goal thriller. Sean Morrison (2) and Kenwyne Jones with the goals for the Bluebirds in an action packed match.
AFC Bournemouth: Boruc, Daniels, Elphick, Cook, Francis, Pugh, Surman, Arter, Ritchie, Wilson, Pitman (Kermogant). Subs Not Used: Camp, Smith, Gosling, O’Kane, Stanislas, Fraser.
Cardiff City: Marshall, Brayford, Turner, S. Morrison, Connolly, Noone, Whittingham, Gunnarsson (Adeyemi), Kim (Harris), Jones (Macheda), Le Fondre. Subs Not Used: Moore, Fabio, Manga, Ralls.
