Cardiff City seeks to solidify their promotion hopes in League One as they face Exeter City at St James’ Park on Saturday. Currently, Cardiff holds second place in the League One table, while Exeter is positioned 16th.
Match Preview
Exeter City recently underwent a managerial change, with Gary Caldwell departing for Wigan Athletic. Matt Taylor, who managed Exeter from 2017 to 2022, was appointed as interim manager until the season’s end. Under his leadership, the Grecians have struggled, earning just one point from their last three matches.
- Exeter’s recent results:
- 1-1 draw against Burton Albion
- 2-1 loss to Barnsley
- 1-0 defeat to Lincoln City
- Current streak: 10 league matches without a win.
Exeter’s last victory in the league came on January 24, when they defeated Port Vale 3-1. They are currently four points above the relegation zone and aim to break a winless streak against Cardiff, with their last victory dating back to December 1996.
Cardiff’s Recent Form
Cardiff City is pushing for an automatic promotion spot but faces pressure after inconsistent performances recently. They suffered a heavy 5-2 loss to Plymouth Argyle but bounced back with a 4-0 victory against Doncaster Rovers. However, they faced another setback, losing 2-0 to Lincoln City.
- Recent results:
- 4-0 win over Doncaster Rovers
- 2-0 loss to Lincoln City
- 1-1 draw against Barnsley
Cardiff remains nine points clear of third and fourth place, maintaining their promotion viability. They have performed well away from home, securing 30 points from their 18 road matches this season.
Team News
Exeter City will be missing key players due to injuries:
- Timur Tutierov (hamstring injury)
- Pedro Borges
- Johnly Yfeko
- Jack Fitzwater
- Jake Doyle-Hayes
- Ed Burns
Reece Cole and Danny Andrew may be called upon to refresh the lineup for this match. Meanwhile, Cardiff City also faces injury challenges:
- Yousef Salech (neck injury, out until after the international break)
- Isaak Davies (unlikely to return)
- Harry Tyrer (setback in recovery)
In positive news for Cardiff, defender Gabriel Osho will return after missing the last match.
Predicted Lineups
Exeter City
- Whitworth
- McMillan
- Sweeney
- Woodhouse
- Niskanen
- Cole
- Brierley
- Andrew
- Aitchison
- Wareham
- Magennis
Cardiff City
- Trott
- Ng
- Lawlor
- Osho
- Bagan
- Wintle
- Robertson
- Tanner
- R. Colwill
- Ashford
- Kellyman
As the teams prepare for this crucial League One match, Cardiff City is favored to harness their experience and capable squad. We predict a final score of Exeter City 1 – 3 Cardiff City, showcasing the Bluebirds’ strength against a struggling Exeter side.
