Sheffield Weds v Cardiff. Preview

Last updated : 22 November 2024 By Michael Morris

Saturday 23rd November, ko 12:30pm
Live on Sky Sports +

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Omer Riza has been on his travels over the international break having met Vincent Tan in Malaysia. No official announcement has been made yet on Riza's short term, or long term future. He just continues in the interim manager's role.

After a superb six game unbeaten run where City picked up 14 points from 18 available the last two games have been lost.

In his press conference on Thursday Riza looked ahead to facing Sheffield Wednesday.

"From where they were last year to where they are now, there’s a consistent element to the way they play,' he said.

"It’s Sheffield Wednesday at the end of the day, it’s Hillsborough, it’s a tough game and it will be a difficult one for us. 

"We’re preparing the way we normally do, we want to be creative, we want to cause the opposition problems and we’ve got to be defensively solid.

"We’ve been focusing on that this week and hopefully, we’ll approach the game with the right mindset and have a bit more energy and intensity to try to win the game."

Riza also gave an injury update with setbacks for Aaron Ramsey and Kion Etete who are both no closer to a return. Meanwhile Callum Robinson and Joe Ralls are in contention for a place in the squad for Saturday's trip to Hillsborough.

And on those last two matches:

"The last two games, the two defeats, tiredness crept in I think and also obviously, we just weren’t good enough in certain parts of the games. 

"In general, the block was good and they needed that rest to go away, come back in refreshed and ready to go again hopefully."

Match Facts:

  • Sheffield Wednesday lost both of their two league games against Cardiff City last season 2-1, having lost just one of their previous 11 against the Bluebirds (W4 D6).
  • Cardiff City will look to win successive away league games against Sheffield Wednesday for the first time since 1976 after beating the Owls at Hillsborough 2-1 last season.
  • Sheffield Wednesday have conceded 13 set-piece goals in the Championship this season (including penalties), four more than any other side.
  • Cardiff City have lost 19 Championship matches in 2024, two more than any other side. The Bluebirds have lost each of their last two games.
  • Cardiff have lost their last four Championship matches against Yorkshire teams, conceding 14 goals across these defeats.

 

Match Officials:

Referee: ANDREW KITCHEN
Assistants: Shaun Hudson and Carl Fitch-Jackson
Fourth Official : Martin Coy