Cardiff v Shrewsbury. Match preview

Last updated : 10 January 2016 By Michael Morris

C:WindowsTempphp5798.tmpWith S4C televising today's FA Cup tie between Cardiff and Shrewsbury kick off has been set at 6pm . I'm not sure I can ever remember City playing at that time on a Sunday before?

Last season City played Colchester on a Friday evening in front of just 4194 people. Today's attendance could similar in size.

Peter Whittingham and Kagisho Dikgacoi seem set for recalls as Bluebirds boss Russell Slade considers changes.

Both central midfielders have been out of favour in recent weeks but first-choice pair Joe Ralls and Aron Gunnarsson could be rested for the home tie on Sunday evening with the Sky Bet Championship trip to Hull coming just three days later.

Simon Moore is also on standby for his first start since the beginning of October as Scotland goalkeeper David Marshall is another who may be rested.

With Kenwyne Jones having joined Al Jazira in Abu Dhabi, Slade's striking options rest between Tony Watt, Joe Mason, Sammy Ameobi and Federico Macheda.

Abu Ogogo is out for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury as Shrewsbury clear the decks in January.

Jack Grimmer could play after rejoining the club on loan from Fulham following a similar spell last season and Andy Mangan has rejoined from Tranmere after only leaving Shrewsbury in the summer.

Anthony Gerrard may feature against his former club after a hamstring injury but James Collins has joined Northampton and Tyrone Barnett has moved to Southend on loan, with Liam Lawrence poised to move to Bristol Rovers.

James Wesolowski remains out for the season with a knee injury.

 

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

This is the first FA Cup meeting between Cardiff City (winners in 1927 and beaten finalists in 2008) and Shrewsbury Town, who have twice been quarter-finalists (1979 and 1982).

The two clubs have not met since April 2001, when the Bluebirds won 3-0, the most recent of four straight wins, all of them in which the Welsh side scored at least three goals.


Cardiff City

Cardiff will be playing in their fourth successive home FA Cup tie, of which they have won just one.

Since reaching the final in 2008, when they lost to Portsmouth, Cardiff have made it though to the fourth round four times, progressing last season at the expense of third-tier side Colchester United. But they were upset by non-league Macclesfield in 2013.


Shrewsbury Town

Shrewsbury have progressed from just one of eight FA Cup ties against sides from a higher division since Kevin Ratcliffe's side beat Everton (and a young Wayne Rooney) in the third round in 2003.

The Town last made it to the third round four seasons ago when Graham Turner's side lost 1-0 at Championship side Middlesbrough.

They have been drawn away from home in all three rounds this season, but are yet to concede a goal. They won 1-0 at Gainsborough Trinity in round one before beating another non-league team, Grimsby Town, by the same scoreline at the Meadow after a 0-0 draw in the first game at Blundell Park.