Cardiff vs Bristol City prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-03-03 12:30.
The 100th edition of the Severnside derby between Cardiff City and Bristol City will take on extra importance for the Bluebirds, with just four points separating them from the relegation zone. A two-game winning streak had helped ease their relegation fears, but that came to an end with a recent 2-0 loss at Norwich that left manager Sabri Lamouchi lamenting his side’s inability to “take our chances”.
It’s no surprise that he is frustrated by his side’s inability to hit the net, with no team in the division scoring fewer goals than Cardiff’s 25 this term. Lamouchi may be hoping a hostile derby atmosphere inspires a fast start from his side, although that appears unlikely as the Bluebirds have led in a league-low four of their 34 league games at half-time this season (HT: W4, D20, L10).
Bristol City have enjoyed their recent trips to the Welsh capital, winning each of their last three trips to the Cardiff City Stadium. While they all came by a one-goal margin, the Robins should be full of confidence that they can extend that run given that they’re unbeaten in the Championship since Boxing Day (W4, D5).
A tenth game without defeat would secure their longest undefeated run since October 2019, with this purple patch handing the Robins an outside chance of threatening the play-off places in the final stages of the season. Closing that gap could depend on Nigel Pearson’s side extending their solid form on the road, and they last lost a Championship away game in October (W2, D4).
Players to watch: January arrival Connor Wickham will hope to solve Cardiff’s scoring troubles. He’ll be looking to score his first Championship goal since June 2020 against an opponent he enjoys facing, never having lost a personal H2H with Bristol City (W2, D2). Opposite number Nahki Wells is looking to score in three consecutive league games for the first time since January 2020 – a sequence that included a hat-trick against Cardiff.
Hot stat: Cardiff’s home games have produced just ten first-half goals, the second-lowest tally of any side in the division going into the round.