Bluebirds setting sights on Sala?
£25M-RATED STRIKER AMONG TARGETS AS BOSS WARNOCK REVEALS NEW PLAYER SEARCH EXTENDS TO RUSSIA BLUEBIRDS:
CARDIFF City host Southampton at Cardiff City Stadium in the Premier League this afternoon.
Here’s everything you need to know about the game...
What time is kick-off?
The match at Cardiff City Stadium gets underway at 3pm this afternoon.
Is it on TV?
Due to the blackout laws on broadcasting matches between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on Saturdays, the game will not be shown live on television.
You can watch highlights on Match of the Day on BBC One from 10.20pm tonight. They will be repeated on the same channel at 8.30am tomorrow morning.
Alternatively, you can follow the buildup, score updates and reaction on our live match blog which will be on Wales Online from midday.
What is the latest team news?
Cardiff City will once again be without striker Kenneth Zohore who is continuing to recover from a calf problem.
In addition to the forward, the Bluebirds will also be unable to call upon the services of Jazz Richards while there are concerns over Danny Ward and Gary Madine (pictured).
Ryan Bertrand is unlikely to feature in the Welsh capital having missed the Saints’ defeat to Tottenham at Wembley on Wednesday night.
Elsewhere for the visitors, striker Danny Ings is in contention to return having missed his side’s last four matches while Mario Lemina is available having served a suspension.
But Republic of Ireland youngster Michael Obafemi has been ruled out of the game in South Wales.
What have the managers said? Neil Warnock
“Southampton have the fillip of a new manager, a spring in their step and they’ll all want to impress,” he said.
“He’s done really well where he’s been, took them up and done well in Europe. That’s the league we’re in.
“Every game against teams outside the top six you have to get points from. I can understand why he didn’t want to take over until they were playing us.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl
“You can expect a very passionate kind of football with 11 characters on the field who know exactly what to do,” said the Austrian.
Match facts
“When you see us playing in the summer it will be different than when you see the team now.
“I can’t guarantee you how many results we will earn for that - if you want guarantees, buy a washing machine. In football, there are no guarantees. I hope it is enough to stay in this division.”
What are the latest betting odds? (Odds courtesy of Sky Bet, correct at time of publishing) Cardiff City win 9/5 Draw 21/10 Southampton win 8/5
Predicted lineups Cardiff City: Etheridge; Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett; Gunnarsson, Arter; Camarasa, Reid, Hoilett; Paterson.
Southampton: McCarthy; Cedric, Stephens, Yoshida, Targett; Davis, Hojberg, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong; Redmond, Gabbiadini.
Who is the referee?
Jonathan Moss will take charge of proceedings at Cardiff City Stadium.
The West Yorkshire official was the man in the middle for the Bluebirds’ 4-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in September.
■■Cardiff and Southampton last faced in league competition in 201314 in the Premier League – Saints won 3-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium but the Bluebirds won 1-0 at St. Mary’s.
■■Prior to winning 3-0 away at Cardiff City on Boxing Day in 2013, Southampton had lost seven consecutive league matches there between 1976 and 2011.
■■Cardiff have won three of their last four Premier League home games (L1), as many as they had in their previous 18 in the competition (W3 D5 L10).
■■Cardiff have come from behind to win their last two home Premier League games – only twice has a club ever done so in three consecutive games at home, Blackburn in November 2009 and Newcastle in March 2013.
■■Cardiff haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 12 Premier League games. Only Fulham are on a longer current run without one in the competition (15).