Cardiff v Leeds predictions: Leeds to make amends for Cardiff cup calamity

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Cardiff City v Leeds in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.

Where to watch

ITV1, 2pm Sunday

Best bet

Leeds
2pts 5-6 general

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Team news

Cardiff
Right-back Mahlon Romeo is out. Kion Etete is still missing while Callum Robinson, Cedric Kipre and Gavin Whyte have all been ill.

Leeds
Stuart Dallas, Adam Forshaw, Patrick Bamford and Luis Sinisterra are out. Jack Harrison is a doubt.

Match preview

A lot of bad things happened after the last time Leeds United visited Cardiff City in the FA Cup, although Whites fans shouldn't feel any sense of foreboding this time.

Twenty-one years ago Leeds boss David O'Leary boldly prophesied that Leeds's FA Cup journey that season would "begin and end in Cardiff" – and he was right, although not quite how he meant it.

O'Leary meant Leeds would see off Cardiff in round three at Ninian Park and be back for the final in May at the National Stadium, which was being used while Wembley was renovated.

Instead, by May O'Leary was awaiting the sack and Leeds were in financial turmoil, with much of the fallout stemming from that shock 2-1 loss at third-tier Cardiff on January 6.

What it does mean is that this latest edition of Cardiff versus Leeds will be fiery, although there is no obvious reason to think the Premier League side won't come good.

Jesse Marsch has said he will send out a strong side and if we take him at his word, and given selection and form headaches affecting opposite number Mark Hudson, the visitors get the nod.

Cardiff are really struggling under Hudson with the club under a transfer embargo and rumours rife that Neil Warnock is about to be parachuted in to save the day and save the team from relegation.

They haven't won in seven, haven't scored in three and it's entirely possible that if Callum Robinson and Gavin Whyte don't shake off illnesses, only one member of the starting line-up – Ryan Wintle – will have found the net since Bonfire Night.

Cardiff have dropped like a stone in the league and there is no doubt that the visit of bottom side Wigan in a Championship dust-up in six days, will be weighing more heavily on the mind of Hudson.

And don't think Cardiff won't make changes. Hudson was Sean Morison's right-hand man last year when the Bluebirds made wholesale changes for their fourth-round tie at Liverpool. They lost 3-1.

Marsch can tweak his group and still send out a strong side, such is the personnel depth at Elland Road.

The American is, like Hudson, also trying to avoid a relegation scrap. His side also have just a two-point cushion over the trapdoor.

But back-to-back draws against Newcastle and West Ham are commendable efforts and they ought to have too much for their ailing hosts.

Key stat

Cardiff have had only one 90-minute win in their last 11 home cup ties

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