Premier League: Cardiff City v Fulham match preview

A look ahead to this weekend’s fixture at the Cardiff City Stadium

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks on from the touchline (GETTY IMAGES)

Fulham will travel to Wales on Saturday in a match that that features the two bottom teams in this seasons Premier League.

Cardiff City have had an exhausting season. The Wales club were promoted to the English top flight after finishing first and compiling an eight point gap at the top of the Championship table last season. This season, their Malaysian owner Vincent Tan has had his share of involvement with the media and has been scrutinized for decisions regarding changing the club’s kit colour and replacing manager Malky Mackay with former Manchester United favourite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer midway through the season.

With more activity surrounding the club this season has been to do with their off the pitch antics, the Bluebirds find themselves one point off the bottom of the Premier League, with relegation threats becoming a definitive reality with every passing game week.

Cardiff City have conceded 49 goals this season, second only to their visiting opponents Fulham. The club has managed just 19 goals in their favour against this, a league low they share with Crystal Palace this season. This poor performance on the pitch has resulted in the club winning only five of their 28 league fixtures this season, the lowest in the domestic league up till now. Having lost their last three fixtures coming into this game, Cardiff are experiencing a torrid time with regard to performances on the pitch this season.

Much like their hosts, Fulham’s season has been plagued by a poor display of football compounded by impulsive management changes in the dug-out. The Cottagers now with their third manager of the season, have remained bottom of the Premier League thanks to a string of poor performances that date back from mid-October 2013. Since their 2-1 victory at Selhurst Park on 21st October, the club that is owned by the American Pakistani businessman Shahid Khan has managed to win only four of their last 25 fixtures.

Owing to various shuffles in the manager’s office, Fulham have seen players such as Bryan Ruiz and Adel Taarabt deciding to play football away from the club and have conceded 62 goals this campaign, the worst defensive record across the Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A this season.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3.00pm (BBC One MOTD 10.30pm)

PAST THREE MEETINGS

Fulham 1 (Ruiz), Cardiff 2 (Caulker, Mutch), Premier League, September 2013

Cardiff 1 (Eckhardt) Fulham 2 (Salako, Morgan), League Cup, August 1998

Fulham 2 (Beardsley, Lehmann) Cardiff 1 (Williams), League Cup, August 1998

STATS

Cardiff have the best disciplinary record in the top-flight picking up just 34 yellow cards and no reds.

Fulham have gone 13 Premier League away matches without a clean sheet.

Fulham have conceded 62 goals this season, the worst amongst clubs in the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A and La Liga.

ODDS:

Cardiff to win: 2.4

Fulham to win: 3.25

Draw: 3.5