Sheffield Wed vs Cardiff prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-12-22 15:00.
Goals in the 86th and 94th minutes saw Sheffield Wednesday come from behind and secure three points against fellow strugglers QPR 2-1 at Hillsborough last Saturday. An understandably jubilant manager Danny Röhl proclaimed the result illustrated their “character as a team to stay in the game and keep fighting”, which is what they must continue to do as their attempt at the ‘great escape’ builds momentum.
Ahead of this round of fixtures, the Owls were still six points from safety, but have the potential to bridge the gap after winning three of their last four matches (L1) including two crucial victories against fellow relegation contenders Stoke City (1-0 away) and QPR. At home, their form is also indicative of a side that should be further up the table, with only one defeat from their last six games (W3, D2).
All of this could make for worrying reading for Cardiff City supporters who have seen their team drop out of play-off contention for the time being after losing four of their last five games (W1), failing to score in each of the losses. Head coach Erol Bulut appealed for patience from frustrated supporters after their 3-0 loss to Hull on Saturday, conceding that their recent rut “will not change from today to tomorrow.”
With the Bluebirds now six points behind the top six and occupying a mid-table position, the dizzy heights of their fifth place position at the end of October already seems a distant memory. Moving back up the table this weekend appears a tough assignment on the basis of Cardiff winning only two games at Hillsborough from 2006 onwards (D3, L6), whilst most recently they were thrashed 5-0 on their last visit in April 2021.
Players to watch: Bailey Cadamarteri signed a new contract earlier this month and the 18-year-old forward responded with Wednesday’s first goal in their last two games. Cardiff’s Canadian favourite Iké Ugbo opened the scoring in a 2-1 win in the reverse fixture in August, and he was also the last Cardiff player to score in an away fixture when he got the winner against Preston last month.
Hot stat: Cardiff scored the opening goal in only one of their last eight games (W2, D1, L5).