Cardiff City welcome Leeds United to South Wales tonight looking to plummet themselves into the fight for the top six.
The Bluebirds have been showing encouraging signs of late and have written off their critics as they are within touching distances of the play-offs.
The South Wales side has only lost their last two in 10 games, and Russell Slade will will have been delighted with their 2-0 victory over their Severnside neighbours Bristol City at the weekend.
It hasn’t been such a positive vibe surrounding the Yorkshire club, Leeds United, with the controversy surrounding the chairman severely affecting their league form.
Steve Evans will be relieved that they picked up their first victory in 7 games over Championship strugglers Bolton Wanderers at the weekend.
It is expected to be a feisty affair tonight as the two clubs have a big history when they clash together.
Leeds need the points to enhance their confidence and to put worries aside over their status in the Championship.
Nothing less for a win for Cardiff would be disappointing result that could see them put one foot into the top six.
Football League World Writer, Ashley Williams identifies THREE things to look out for in the game…..
1) Will the glory supporters make a return?
This Championship clash has always been a big game for both clubs due to their history.
However the Bluebirds fans are starting to reignite their belief that they will finally make their awaited return to the top-flight.
The South Wales recorded their lowest ever attendance at the Cardiff City Stadium in their 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough – just 13,371 turning up to the game.
Russell Slade issued that the only way that the supporters will stop dwindling is if they begin to start winning again.
It will be interesting to see if the supporters will think that it is worth turning up to support their side tonight, now they are in contention for the top six.
The Bluebirds supporters are a highly ambitious crowd, and we could see the figures into the twenty thousands tonight.
2) Can Leeds ends their long wait for a victory in South Wales?
The Yorkshire side have not had much luck in the capital city of Wales of late.
The last time Leeds recorded a win over Cardiff was back in February 1984, with just nine visits to the Bluebirds home – only picking up 2 draws.
Tonight is the perfect time for Steve Evans’s men to change that record that could see them open the gap from the bottom 3.
Leeds enjoyed a welcome tonic with Saturday’s 2-1 win at home to Bolton, and Evans firmly believes his team are capable of defying the odds tonight.
Leeds beat Cardiff 2-1 back in November on their own turf and will be looking to record back-to-back wins over the Bluebirds and in their current form.
3) Chris Wood return
Steve Evans will be encouraged by their target man Chris Wood anticipated return from injury tonight. Apart from Mirco Antennucci, the Leeds front line as seemed tame in Wood’s absence.
Wood started his last game back in their 1-1 draw over Brentford and has only picked up 5 points out of a possible 15.
The New Zealand international, who is also Leeds’s top scorer with 8 goals this season, has been sidelined for over two months after an extended battle with hamstring problems.
The big hitman is expected to start on the bench tonight, and it is highly likely that he will feature for a considerable amount of time in the game.
Cardiff and Leeds fans… What is your score prediction? Can Leeds break their record in the Welsh capital? Can Cardiff slip into the top six? Let us know in your thoughts and opinions below!