Sunderland will be bidding to bring to an end a seven-game winless run in the Championship when they make the trip to Wales to tackle an in-form Cardiff City outfit on Friday afternoon.
The visitors entered the international break off the back of a goalless draw with Queens Park Rangers, while Cardiff suffered a 2-0 defeat to rivals Swansea City last time out.
Match preview
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Cardiff brought a four-game winning run into their clash with Swansea before the international break, beating Stoke City, Bristol City, Huddersfield Town and Ipswich Town.
However, the Bluebirds were beaten 2-0 at Swansea, with Liam Cullen making the breakthrough in the 34th minute, before Jamal Lowe added a second in the sixth minute of added time at the end of the 90.
Cardiff are 11th in the Championship table, boasting a record of 16 wins, five draws and 17 defeats from their 38 matches to collect 53 points, which has left them eight points off the playoff positions.
The Welsh outfit will need a lot to go in their favour in order to sneak into the top six late in the campaign, but another victory on Friday would be a huge step in the right direction, and they then have another intriguing clash against Coventry City on Monday afternoon.
Erol Bulut's side have picked up 30 points from their 19 home league matches this term, and they will be welcoming a Sunderland outfit that have collected only 17 points from their 19 games on their travels.
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Sunderland, meanwhile, drew 0-0 with QPR before the international break, which ended a six-game losing run in the second tier of English football.
Mike Dodds remains in charge of the Black Cats on an interim basis following the departure of Michael Beale, and there is no getting away from the fact that it has been a tough campaign for the club.
Sunderland finished sixth in the Championship last season, which saw them qualify for the playoffs, but they lost to Luton Town in the semi-finals, with the club remaining in the second tier of English football.
The Black Cats are currently 12th in the table, five points behind 11th-placed Cardiff, and they are 13 points off the playoff positions heading into the final straight.
Sunderland have actually lost four of their last five Championship matches against Cardiff, including a 1-0 defeat when the two teams locked horns at the Stadium of Light back in September, with Mark McGuinness netting the only goal of the contest in the 87th minute.
Team News
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Cardiff will again be missing McGuinness due to a hamstring injury, while Jak Alnwick and Kion Etete will face late fitness tests before it is determined whether they will be involved.
Perry Ng is the team's joint-leading goalscorer in all competitions this season from right-back, managing six goals, and he will again be in the XI on Friday afternoon.
Karlan Grant has come up with five goals this term and will also start, while Ryan Wintle and Emmanouil Siopis are expected to operate as the two central midfielders in the team's 39th league game of the campaign.
Sunderland interim manager Dodds confirmed during his press conference on Wednesday that Jenson Seelt will require an operation on his knee injury, with the centre-back facing six to nine months on the sidelines.
Patrick Roberts is unlikely to be risked despite returning to training after recovering from a hamstring injury, while Jack Clarke "is a question mark", according to Dodd, due to an ankle issue.
Corry Evans and Aji Alese are back in full training, but Nazariy Rusyn, Niall Huggins and Dennis Cirkin remain on the sidelines for the Black Cats.
Luke O'Nien has missed Sunderland's last two matches through suspension, but he will return for this match, while there could potentially be a role at centre-forward for Jobe Bellingham.
Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Horvath; Ng, Phillips, Goutas, Wilson-Esbrand; Wintle, Siopis; Bowler, Turnbull, Grant; Meite
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Hume, Ballard, O'Nien, Hjelde; Neil, Ekwah; Mundle, Aouchiche, Ba; Bellingham
We say: Cardiff City 1-1 Sunderland
There has only been one draw in the last 12 meetings between these two teams in all competitions, but we have a feeling that the points will be shared on Friday. Sunderland managed to end their losing run last time out and certainly have enough quality to avoid defeat in Wales on Friday afternoon.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
