Match Preview | Cardiff City vs. Millwall
Cardiff City welcome Millwall to Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday afternoon (21/01), 3pm KO.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | IN THE DUGOUT
Millwall’s head coach is Gary Rowett, who was appointed in October 2019.
As a player, Rowett represented the likes of Derby County, Birmingham City, Leicester City, Charlton and Burton Albion.
Switching to management in March 2012, Rowett started out at Burton Albion, leading the Brewers to the Play-Offs in League Two in both of his first two seasons.
Rowett also made a great impact at Birmingham City, taking the club from 21st in the Championship to 10th in his first campaign.
During a spell at Derby County, he guided the Rams to the Championship Play-Offs in the 2017/18 season, remarkably securing a sixth placed finish on the final day of the campaign.
After a nine-month spell at Stoke City, Rowett arrived at the Den early in the 2019/2020 campaign. This season, the Lions are currently eighth in the table, two points outside the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | KEY PLAYER
Millwall’s most dangerous player is undoubtedly Dutch playmaker Zian Flemming, who has ten goals to his tally this season.
The 24-year-old has been a revelation since signing in the summer from Fortuna Sittard, averaging a goal every 188 minutes.
His most impressive performance so far this campaign came in a 4-2 win over Preston North End, in which Flemming netted a hat-trick.
In the Championship top scorers chart, the Dutchman is currently joint-fifth, three goals behind current leader Chuba Akpom.
CLUB CONNECTION | SCOTT MALONE
This weekend could see the Bluebirds face off against former left-back Scott Malone.
The defender had a spell at Millwall between 2012 and 2015, before joining City in January 2015.
Malone went on to make 54 league appearances during his stay in the Welsh capital, scoring on two occasions.
After leaving City for Fulham in 2016, the defender has also represented Huddersfield Town and Derby County, prior to re-joining the Lions in 2021.
CITY FLASHBACK | KEOGH NETS LAST-MINUTE WINNER FOR BLUEBIRDS
City went head-to-head with the Lions in September 2010 looking to continue a positive start to the campaign.
Despite the Bluebirds recording 13 points in the opening seven games of the season and sitting second in the table, it was the visitors who took the lead, with Scott Barron firing home from close-range.
City showed great character and struck back swiftly however, as Jay Bothroyd found an equaliser on his 100th appearance for the Club.
Just before the interval, Liam Trotter was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on City defender Darcy Blake, reducing the visitors to ten men.
After waves of second-half pressure, the Bluebirds found a winner in the final minute, with loanee Andy Keogh heading home for his first City goal.
Eventually joining the Lions on a permanent basis in 2012, Keogh scored 18 goals in 78 league appearances for the club.
