Preview: Blackburn v Cardiff

Aug 8, 2014

3 min read

Making strides: Both Cardiff and Blackburn, who have recently tasted Premier League football, will have an optimistic outlook heading into the new season (Picture from Sky Sports.com)

BLACKBURN and Cardiff launch the new SkyBet Football League season when they meet at Ewood Park on Friday night.

Rovers ended last term with an unbeaten run of 12 league games but narrowly missed out on a play-off berth by two points.

Meanwhile, Cardiff endured a turbulent first season in the Premier League which resulted in the disappointment of relegation.

The two sides, who are expected to challenge for promotion, will be hoping to get off to a winning start in the first Championship fixture of 2014-15.

Boss Gary Bowyer guided Rovers to eighth position in his first full season in charge after a particularly strong finish to the campaign, in which they won five of their last seven games.

The reliance to provide goals will fall to Jordan Rhodes - their top scorer in each of the past two seasons - after the Scottish international agreed a new contract extension over the summer.

In contrast, it has been a summer of change for Cardiff with the South Wales club undergoing a squad overhaul in preparation for life back in the second tier.

Ole Gunnar Solksjaer won just three of his 17 league games in charge after replacing Malky Mackay in December as they fell through the relegation trap door.

But with the arrivals of strikers Adam Le Fondre, Javi Guerra and Federico Macheda to boost their goal-shy attack, owner Vincent Tan will expect the Bluebirds to fulfil their promotion favourites tag and make a swift top-flight return.

Cardiff won just two away Premier League games last term while Blackburn's home form was patchy therefore the final outcome of a draw would be highly likely.

Team News:

Blackburn could hand debuts to new signings Chris Brown and Alex Baptiste but winger Ben Marshall and former Bluebirds striker Rudy Gestede are doubtful after contracting a sickness bug.

Cardiff have only two centre-backs - Matthew Connolly and Mark Hudson - available with Juan Cala suspended after his red card against Sunderland back in April while Ben Turner's ankle injury, sustained in pre-season, will keep him out until September's international break.

Possible Line-Ups:

Blackburn (4-4-1-1): Robinson; Baptiste, Hanley (C), Kilgallon, Spurr; Conway, Evans, Lowe, King; Cairney; Rhodes.

Cardiff (4-4-2): Marshall; Brayford, Hudson (C), Turner, Fabio da Silva; Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Dikgacoi, Kim Bo-Kyung; Le Fondre, Maynard.

Match Facts:

Cardiff won just seven of their 38 Premier League games last term, with just two victories coming away from home.

Cardiff won the last meeting 3-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium in the Championship in April 2013.

The Bluebirds also won the last meeting at Ewood Park - 4-1 in the Championship in December 2012 - their only win in the last five meetings there in all competitions.

Cardiff won only one of their final nine games of last season in the Premier League. Their only win since early March was 1-0 at Southampton on 12 April.

Blackburn have managed just one clean sheet in their last 11 opening day fixtures and won only three of them.

Blackburn have not won any of their last three games on the opening day, drawing two and losing one. Their last win was 1-0 against Everton at home in the Premier League in August 2010.

Cardiff have won four of their last six games on the opening day, drawing one and losing one. Their only defeat since 2007 was 2-0 at West Ham in the Premier League last season.

Cardiff scored only 32 league goals last season - only Norwich scored fewer in the Premier League.

Match Officials:

Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire)

Assistant Referees: Steven Copeland (Merseyside) and Graeme Fyvie (Tyne & Wear) Fourth Official: Richard Clark (Northumberland)