Cardiff City v Sheffield Wednesday: free football tips, predictions & team news

Football tips, best bets and predictions for Cardiff v Sheffield Wednesday in the Sky Bet Championship.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Football/Main Event, 7.45pm Friday

Best bet

Draw
1pt 40-17 RedZone

Team news

Cardiff
Sol Bamba is pushing for a return to the squad but Isaac Vassell (thigh) remains sidelined.

Sheffield Wednesday
Massimo Luongo has shaken off a knock and will be available. Fernando Forestieri has completed a six-game ban but Tom Lees (hamstring) is sidelined.

Match preview

Mid-table Cardiff are struggling for consistency and their stuttering Sky Bet Championship campaign could suffer another setback with a failure to defeat Sheffield Wednesday in the Welsh capital.

The points have been shared in four of Cardiff's 11 league games and another draw looks a strong possibility between two well-matched sides.

Wednesday are eighth and could shoot to the top of the table if they win by at least two goals.

However, boss Garry Monk is unlikely to get carried away and will have prepared his team for a stern, physical test.

Cardiff's home record, 13 points from a possible 15, is the second best in the division, but poor away results (three draws and three defeats) are making it difficult for them to stay in touch with the pacesetters.

Neil Warnock's team rarely blow the opposition away and this month's 3-0 success at home to QPR is the only time this season that they have triumphed by more than one goal.

High-profile summer signing Robert Glatzel has started slowly – scoring twice in nine league appearances – and the threat to Wednesday's goal is almost as likely to come from centre-backs Sean Morrison and Aden Flint, who are massive set-piece dangers.

While Wednesday's rearguard will have to steel themselves for an aerial bombardment, Cardiff defenders will need avoid getting dragged too far forward and leaving space in behind.

The visitors' main threat could come from former Cardiff winger Kadeem Harris.

In seven-and-a-half seasons on Cardiff's books, Harris made just 70 league appearances and 41 of them from the bench.

However, Harris is looking a more confident player since his move to Wednesday, demonstrating impressive technique and composure to go with his searing pace.

Harris has contributed two goals and an assist in a productive start to the season and can play a key role in ensuring that the Owls' excursion to Wales is not a wasted journey.

Key stat

Five of the last seven matches between the teams have been drawn.

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