Hope this is not a game that ends our good run, and sets us back, we are so close and well positioned! Imagine that we win this game and take a point at Derby at least. Going for a 2-1 win.... Dean Smith’s side currently occupy 11th place in the Sky Bet Championship table, with 14 wins from 36 games thus far. Eight points separate the Bees and the play-off places, who still have to host promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough and Sheffield United. Forward Ollie Watkins tops the Brentford goal-scoring charts in this campaign, netting on 11 occasions, including a brace in their 5-0 win over Birmingham City in their last home fixture. The 22 year-old has also registered five assists in all competitions this season. Frenchman Neal Maupay is just behind his teammate on nine goals and the same number of assists. Denmark international Andreas Bjelland has been an important figure in the heart of defence for the Bees, making 33 appearances so far this season. He was forced off in Saturday's defeat to Millwall though, and looks likely to miss out this Tuesday. The reverse fixture in November saw the Bluebirds run out 2-0 winners as Joe Ralls and Danny Ward both netted in the first half to secure the three points. City are undefeated in the last three meetings between the two sides, with a 2-1 win in April of last season at Cardiff City Stadium and a 2-2 draw the last time the two sides met at Griffin Park.
Brentford will be without Andreas Bjelland for the visit of second-placed Cardiff City in the Championship. The defender is expected to be replaced by Chris Mepham after going off injured in Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Millwall. Cardiff have Gary Madine and Sean Morrison fighting for a starting place, but Craig Bryson is a doubt and Joe Ralls (knee) remains injured. The Bluebirds, who are looking for a seventh successive league win, should also have Callum Paterson available. Match facts Brentford have not kept a clean sheet in a league match against Cardiff since December 1998, conceding in 14 consecutive games since. The Bluebirds have not completed a league double over Brentford since the 2002-03 season. In the reverse fixture, Brentford had 25 shots without scoring against the Bluebirds - only one team has had more in a Championship match this season without scoring (Brentford v Norwich, 27 in January). Cardiff's current run of six consecutive Championship wins is the longest current run in the division. The Bees have scored the most goals from outside the box in the Championship this season (13). Ten of the last 11 Championship goals conceded by Cardiff have been scored in the second half.
Can we overcome the sky away jinx? Still have shudders of recalling the pathetic displays at Bham, and most of the games at Reading, Millwall, and Hillsborough. Our best bet surely is to attack them for the whole game and not get deep. Some decent refereeing decisions going our way and no injuries or bad luck are overdue.
James Linnington. He’s overseen 2 Brentford home defeats this season and our home games v Derby & PNE.
Decent looking side and bench. Cardiff City: Etheridge; Manga, Bamba, Morrison, Bennett; Mendez-Laing, Grujic, Damour, Paterson, Hoillett; Zohore. Subs: Murphy, Pilkington, Halford, Connolly, Traore, Wildschut, Madine.
OK going to watch it on the box so wont be back on tonight and here it is..... City are 2/1 outsiders to win this - decent odds so had to stick £20 on them. Big Ken (who let me down on Saturday ) a tenner on him to score first goal @ 6/1 Let's see how that goes
This could be a defining night in our season. Just need reading to do us a favour. And for us to hold out!!!!
