Ipswich Town are one of the teams looking to secure a play off place after their hopes of automatic promotion have faded in the past few weeks.
Just four wins from the last ten games have taken Ipswich from title contenders to play off hopefuls. They are in a battle with Derby, Brentford and Wolves for two play off places after the top four of Bournemouth, Norwich, Watford and Middlesbrough pulled clear.
Top half of table:
| Home | Away | Overall | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | Pl | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GD |
| 1 | AFC Bournemouth | 42 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 43 | 23 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 46 | 20 | 23 | 11 | 8 | 89 | 43 | 80 | +46 |
| 2 | Norwich City | 42 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 46 | 21 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 35 | 23 | 23 | 10 | 9 | 81 | 44 | 79 | +37 |
| 3 | Watford | 42 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 46 | 21 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 38 | 27 | 24 | 7 | 11 | 84 | 48 | 79 | +36 |
| 4 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 40 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 9 | 10 | 62 | 32 | 78 | +30 |
| 5 | Derby County | 42 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 44 | 21 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 30 | 25 | 20 | 12 | 10 | 74 | 46 | 72 | +28 |
| 6 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 35 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 29 | 32 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 64 | 48 | 71 | +16 |
| 7 | Brentford | 42 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 41 | 26 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 30 | 30 | 21 | 8 | 13 | 71 | 56 | 71 | +15 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton W'drs. | 42 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 37 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 26 | 31 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 63 | 51 | 71 | +12 |
| 9 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 35 | 27 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 30 | 32 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 65 | 59 | 58 | +6 |
| 10 | Blackburn Rovers | 41 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 29 | 23 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 25 | 27 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 54 | 50 | 58 | +4 |
| 11 | Charlton Athletic | 42 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 30 | 23 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 21 | 31 | 13 | 17 | 12 | 51 | 54 | 56 | -3 |
| 12 | Cardiff City | 42 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 28 | 28 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 23 | 27 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 51 | 55 | 55 | -4 |
Cardiff's aims for the last four games is to keep a top half place and hopefully secure a top ten finish. The record generally at Portman Rd is poor for City but they did win their last time out in 2012 and City have won twice in the last five visits.
Russell Slade:
'Our away form is really pleasing. If we can match that at home it will be a nice end to the season but first things first, we have a difficult away game at Ipswich Town. We would like to keep the run going. Ipswich are a tough and very physical side though, a strong side who have plenty to play for.'
Teams:
Ipswich will assess the fitness of Luke Varney ahead of the visit of Cardiff to Portman Road.
The on-loan Blackburn forward lasted just 23 minutes of the 3-2 home win over relegated Blackpool on Saturday when sent Town back into the top six.
But boss Mick McCarthy will again be without David McGoldrick (thigh), Luke Hyam (knee), Darren Ambrose (hamstring), Kevin Bru (calf) and Noel Hunt (knee) remain sidelined.
Jonny Williams, on loan from Crystal Palace, has made two substitute appearances since returning to the club for a third spell and may now be in contention for a start.
Cardiff look set to be without Conor McAleny when they make the long trip.
The Everton loanee was forced out of Saturday's 2-1 win at Leeds with a recurrence of a hamstring injury and so Eoin Doyle, who replaced him at Elland Road, looks set to partner Joe Mason on Tuesday night.
Mason, arguably Cardiff's man of the match, will get another chance to impress with Alex Revell and Federico Macheda both expected to miss out once more with back injuries.
Anthony Pilkington and Kagisho Dikgacoi yet again miss out as they continue their return to full fitness as Cardiff look to continue their impressive away form.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Cardiff won the earlier meeting this season 3-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium in October.
- City have won two of the last three meetings, drawing the other. Ipswich's last win was 3-0 at Portman Road in February 2012.
- The Bluebirds won the last meeting at Portman Road 2-1 in October 2012 - their only win in the last four meetings there.
Ipswich Town
- Ipswich have lost only one of their last five games. Their only defeat since mid-March was 2-1 at Huddersfield on 6 April.
- Town are unbeaten in their last five home games, winning three. Their last defeat at Portman Road was 1-0 against Reading on 21 February.
Cardiff City
- Cardiff have lost only one of their last six games. Their only defeat since 7 March was 3-0 against Bolton at home on 6 April.
- City are unbeaten in their last seven away games, winning four. Their last defeat on the road was 2-1 at Middlesbrough on 20 January.