Cardiff look to continue strong recent form with trip to Luton

Cardiff City travel to Luton Town full of confidence after earning nine points from their last nine available.

Luton are enjoying a Championship campaign with little relegation fear. With nine points from the top six and also nine points from the drop zone, Nathan Jones’ men are a very steady side in the second tier this season.

Their midweek opponents, Cardiff have burst into life since the appointment of Mick McCarthy as manager and have picked up wins in each of their last three matches.

Of course, many teams undergo a ‘honeymoon period’ under a new manager and Cardiff aren’t going to be untouchable for the rest of the season. However, McCarthy seems to have introduced a system which the players are comfortable with.

With three centre-halves, the Bluebirds have been much more defensively astute. That defensive cover has been allowing Joe Bennett and new recruit Perry Ng to get forward and provide the width. With Harry Wilson in behind a front two including in-form Kieffer Moore, City should never be short of goals.

In truth, with the squad available, Cardiff have been underperforming for some time and under new leadership, there is no reason why they cannot push for a top-six spot. They currently sit one place and six points away from a play-off place.

Luton are no pushovers though, and the tightness of the league table this season sees them in an unflattering 15th position. In fact, should the Hatters beat Cardiff, they will both be level on points.

So both sides will be well up for it since just three points separate the two sides that are eight league places apart, Cardiff will want to avoid slipping down whilst Luton will be very eager to rise up the tight mid-table battle.

The Bluebirds will be without long term absentees Sol Bamba, Jordi Osei-Tutu, Lee Tomlin and Isaac Vassell. The more short-term injury bearers, Jonny Williams and Joe Ralls are unlikely to be fit to face the Hatters.

Tuesday night’s home side have a lighter injury list with Eunan O’Kane ruled out as he continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines and, whilst Jones isn’t giving much away, it is believed that Joseff Morrell has been kept out of the squad with a heel injury.

Despite Cardiff’s problems under their previous manager Neil Harris, they did earn a resounding 4-0 victory against tomorrow night’s opponents earlier in the season. It has been Jones’ side’s most significant drubbing this campaign and significant lessons need to have been learnt going into this match.

McCarthy’s side are flying but Luton have shown that they can match anyone in the Championship if they’re at it. It will certainly be a battle but one that both sides will we well up for.

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