Cardiff v Leicester

Last updated : 12 March 2013 By Michael Morris

bbcsportNPOWER CHAMPIONSHIP

  • Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
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  • Date: Tuesday, 12 March
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  • Kick-off: 19:45 GMT

Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC local radio; text commentary on the BBC Sport website

TEAM NEWS

Cardiff captain Mark Hudson is set to return to the side after missing the last two games.

Striker Craig Bellamy is also available having missed the draw against Derby with knocks to his calf and ankle.

Leicester right-back Ritchie de Laet is a doubt after being carried off in the last match with a leg injury. The fit-again Sean St Ledger or Zak Whitbread are poised to deputise.

Left-back Paul Konchesky's hamstring injury may keep him on the sidelines.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Cardiff and Leicester are going toe-to-toe for the 60th time in a competitive game, and there is nothing between them, with each club winning 23 of the previous 59.

• A Craig Bellamy goal proved enough for three points for Cardiff in the reverse fixture just before Christmas, and gives them the chance of the double over the Foxes last experienced in 2005-06.

• The Foxes are hunting a first away victory over Cardiff since their 3-2 triumph in the second leg of the Championship play-off semi-final in May 2010. That result made it 3-3 on aggregate, and Cardiff went on to win 4-3 on penalties.

Cardiff City

• A second maximum in five league games will be Cardiff's 23rd of the season and match the total they accumulated in 1959-60 when last promoted to the top flight from a 22-club Second Division.

• The table-toppers have dropped only 10 home points and have shipped fewer home goals than any other club in the Championship (12).

• The highest total of points required to gain automatic promotion in any of the last 17 seasons in which this division has had a stable structure was 92, and the lowest 79; Cardiff need to win seven of their 11 remaining fixtures to match the highest return, and just three to beat the lowest.

Leicester City

• Leicester have picked up one point out of nine, but a second win in eight matches will not see them climb higher than their current fifth placing.

• The Foxes have gained just one home victory against the top six clubs, and are yet to take all three away points off any of the top eight.

• Nigel Pearson's side, who have the meanest defence in this division (31 goals shipped in 36 games), also boast the best second-half record in Championship games this term - achieving a scoring advantage in the second 45-minute spell from 19 of their 36 matches.

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