Leeds v Bluebirds... who shades it in head-to-head?
THERE’S still a lot of football to play, but this season is already set to throw up a crunch clash at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday night, as Neil Warnock’s side take on top-of-the-table Leeds United.
Only goal difference is keeping United at the Championship’s summit, with Cardiff and Wolves both tied with the leaders on 20 points.
Victory for the Bluebirds would subsequently send out one heck of a statement in regards to their promotion ambitions.
Nevertheless, when broken down man for man, there is plenty of reason for the Yorkshireman to feel positive... Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge v Felix Wiedwald A tough one to call here. Both keepers have enjoyed impressive spells this season and have similarly shown some shaky moments.
Etheridge was arguably at fault for at least one of the goals in the 3-0 drubbing at Preston, while Wiedwald endured a howler himself at the weekend in the 3-2 win over Ipswich.
Mistakes aside, both are fine keepers and most Championship sides would be keen to have either of them in their side. However, Wiedwald probably just shades it for his highly impressive tally of six clean sheets in nine games to Etheridge’s two. Verdict: Wiedwald Right-back Jazz Richards v Luke Ayling Assuming that Lee Peltier remains injured for Tuesday’s game, it’s likely that Richards will again be called up on at right back.
While his performance was never in danger of being anything other than accomplished on Saturday, there’s a real feeling that there’s more to come from Richards, and you wonder whether he would really be considered first choice in a fully fit squad.
In contrast, Ayling is considered one of the star performers for Leeds, and shows a wonderful level of composure on the ball. The hard work and tenacity of the 26-year-old at both ends of the pitch means he arguably wouldn’t look out of place in a Warnock side. Verdict: Ayling Left-back Joe Bennett v Vurnon Anita Bennett has arguably been one of Cardiff’s most reliable performers so far this season, having put in a string of accomplished defensive showings, making him a tough proposition for many an opposing winger.
The only criticism one could possibly make about the former Aston Villa man’s performances is that he perhaps hasn’t quite offered as much going forward. Nevertheless his plentiful defensive contributions make him a highly important member of the team.
Anita has plied his trade as a right-back since his days at Newcastle, but it’s not a position he’s ever looked truly comfortable in.
While confident on the ball, he’s often been found wanting in terms of physicality, and his lack of aerial prowess is surely a weakness Warnock will look to exploit.
He could yet lose his place to the combative Gaetano Beradi, but the Swiss defender still offers little that Bennett doesn’t. Verdict: Bennett Centre-back Sol Bamba and Sean Morrison v Liam Cooper and Pontus Jansson While Bruno Manga produced a good performance in the win on Wearisde, one would expect Bamba to come back into the side to face his former employers.
The two centre-backs have proved a formidable prospect for many sides in the Championship, with the obvious exception being the defeat to Preston.
Leeds have seen their success built on a solid defensive foundation too, with Jansson and Cooper part of a defence that has conceded just five goals in the Championship this season.
Both pairs are strong in the tackle, but Cardiff perhaps edge this one given their duo are a slightly better proposition in the air, winning an average of 58 per cent of aerial duels to Leeds’ 53 - stats that have understandably made them more of a goal threat at the other end. Verdict: Bamba and Morrison Wingers Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Junior Hoilett v Gjanni Aliosk and Pablo Hernandez The wingers on both sides have drawn plenty of plaudits already this season, with Mendez-Laing scooping Player of the Month, while Aliosk recently picked up the Goal of the Month award for his stunning strike against Nottingham Forest.
The latter has become a favourite with the Leeds faithful, but arguably still has some way to go, having contributed just two assists in his last eight outings.
Fernandez has been responsible for just one of his side’s goal, but is still regarded as a trusted and hard-working option, who still has the technical ability to cause problems. However, Hoilett and MendezLaing have bagged three and two assists respectively and, while he’s perhaps gone off the boil recently, Mendez-Laing’s goal tally of four sets him aside from many of his Championship rivals. Verdict: Mendez-Laing and Hoilett Central midfield Aron Gunnarsson and Joe Ralls v Euan O’Kane and Kalvin Phillips Ralls earned plenty of plaudits following his cool-headed performance against Sunderland, and he remains Cardiff’s best passer of the ball - a stat that has propelled his status within the team, particularly in light of recent figures ahead of the trip to the north east suggesting the Bluebirds had the worst passing stats in the division.
Ralls has created 20 chances so far this season as a result, but the work done by Gunnarsson has arguably proved crucial to his success in the middle of the park. That figure dwarfs that of either O’Kane or Phillips, who’ve created nine and seven respectively.
Nevertheless, O’Kane is comfortably the best passer out of the four, with his figures of 485 ahead of Ralls’ 323. However, one could argue that the lack of chances created as a result means Ralls and Gunnarsson are using the ball more effectively.
Phillips is still one to watch for Leeds as he does provide goals from midfield, but Cardiff arguably shade it here. Verdict: Gunnarsson and Ralls Central midfield/Attacking midfielder/ Forward Craig Bryson v Samuel Saiz While the likes of Loic Damour and Lee Tomlin will be in the running for a place in the heart of the midfield, Bryson’s impressive performance in the north east means he surely has a good chance of getting the nod for this clash.
The Scot emerged with plenty of praise after his confident showing at the Stadium of Light, which saw him net for the first time in Cardiff colours after just seven minutes. Given he is a relative newcomer to the Bluebirds set-up, it’s hard to determine his potential influence on this side, but if he can replicate his performances at Derby County, Warnock may will have plenty of reason to believe his side can secure something special.
Meanwhile, Saiz has been in terrific form for United and has often been their biggest attacking threat, and has so often been singled out for praise by many onlookers in west Yorkshire. He’s likely to be a big headache for Cardiff’s back four. Verdict: Saiz Striker Kenneth Zohore v Pierre-Michel Lasogga There is little question that Zohore has plenty of ability, and has often proved a headache for defenders, but there’s no getting away from the fact that his goal drought is becoming a worry.
In contrast, Lasogga has been in blistering form since arriving at Elland Road, bagging three goals and two assists in just four games for Leeds.
Zohore definitely has the technical ability to come good this season, but Lasogga is undoubtedly the man in form. Verdict: Lasogga