Premier League: Man City v Cardiff betting preview, odds, tips & TV details

TV: Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 7.45pm Wednesday

Cardiff's survival mission is looking grim, opponents Manchester City are aiming to return to the top of the table, and bookmakers reckon the meeting between the two at the Etihad is the most one-sided in Premier League history.

Betfair pushed Cardiff out to 100-1 on Tuesday, the first time a team have been available at three-figure match odds in the top flight, while Paddy Power briefly went 80-1, although those standout prices were soon forced down again.

Pep Guardiola's City went top of the table after beating Fulham on Saturday but were deposed by Liverpool the next day, and they may feel the need to respond with a convincing performance and result.

But it will be interesting to see how Cardiff manager Neil Warnock approaches the game.

Warnock talked about sending out the Under-23s and hoping to keep the score to ten or 11, although those comments are sure to have been borne out of intense frustration after watching his team's 2-1 defeat at home to Chelsea on Sunday, which was influenced by two decisions from the officials.

Cardiff do not play again until a trip to Burnley on April 13, so there is nothing stopping Warnock from fielding his best team.

But his tactics will be fascinating as it is not in his nature to simply keep the score down.

In any case Cardiff's goal difference is much worse than those of all of the teams they are trying to catch so there is little value in settling for a low-scoring defeat.

Cardiff might as well have a go because the prize of a point or three would be massive.

This season they have lost on three of their four trips to big-six teams but they were prepared to attack and scored at Stamford Bridge, Anfield and the Emirates.

Their problem has been keeping the back door shut.

They have shipped 29 goals in nine matches against big-six clubs – an average of 3.22 per game – and it would be no great surprise if that average is surpassed by City.

Pep Guardiola is more likely to ring the changes as he prepares to steer City through a hectic eight-game month.

He has Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Brighton to consider and will want to send out his strongest possible team for next Tuesday's Champions League tie at Tottenham.

Sergio Aguero seemed to be affected by a minor niggle before his substitution in Saturday's 2-0 victory at Fulham and has been ruled out, but his probable replacement, Gabriel Jesus, will look forward to filling his boots.

In his six starts this year Jesus has contributed eight goals and he should be feeling confident after coming off the bench to score twice in Brazil's 3-1 victory away to the Czech Republic last Tuesday.

Whoever dons the City shirts, it is going to be a team laden with quality and full of purpose.

Cardiff are going to find it difficult to cope but Warnock's teams do not usually go down without a fight and can get themselves a consolation goal.

Premier League standings

Recommendations
Man City to win 4-1
1pt 14-1 bet365
Man City to win 5-1
1pt 20-1 bet365

Bet on this game at Soccerbase.com

Team news
Manchester City
Long-term absentees Fabian Delph and Claudio Bravo are sidelined and Sergio Aguero is out after being withdrawn due to an unspecified injury at Fulham on Saturday.

Cardiff
Callum Paterson, Matt Connolly (both ankle) and Sol Bamba (knee) are ruled out.

Key stat
Cardiff have scored one goal in three of their four games away to big six opposition.

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