Cardiff vs Leeds Predictions

• Cardiff have lost only two of their 18 home games, sharing the spoils on eight occasions
• Leeds are unbeaten in six games, conceding only one goal in that time
• League leaders Leeds have won only three of their last eight games on the road

Stubborn Bluebirds tough to thwart

Cardiff are one of a host of teams still in playoff contention with nine games remaining and previous evidence this term suggests their results at home are going to be a determining factor in their bid to extend their season.

The Bluebirds have lost only two of their 18 home games this season, with January’s 2-1 win at home to title chasers West Brom illustrating their class.

Playing behind closed doors after a three-month break is unknown but their best performances have been on home soil and there’s no reason to think they won’t return to action in a similar vein.

However, Cardiff are the Championship’s draw specialists having shared the spoils in 15 of their 37 league games and a point may be the best they can hope for against league leaders Leeds.

Neil Harris’s men have drawn eight times from 18 games on home turf, holding Fulham, Preston and Brentford to a point, and may be in for a similar result against Leeds.

Three of Cardiff’s last four home games have finished level and this looks like following suit.

Leeds may have to settle for a point

Leeds were held to a 3-3 draw against Cardiff at Elland Road in December and at odds-on are worth opposing in the reverse fixture on the back of a three-month layoff.

The league leaders have won only three of their last eight games on the road, failing to score in defeats at QPR and Nottingham Forest and being held to a point by fellow promotion rivals Brentford and West Brom.

There is little doubt that on their day Leeds are the Championship’s best team but they have dropped points in nine of their 19 away games and there are enough reasons to take them on against such reliable hosts.

Marcelo Bielsa’s men have scored more than once in only two of their last eight away assignments – trips to Hull and Birmingham – and 13-goal striker Patrick Bamford doesn’t always convince given the number of chances he is often gifted with.

Goals can occur at both ends

Both teams have scored in four of Cardiff’s last five home games and we predict a visit from highflying Leeds to extend that sequence.

Both teams have netted in each of the last three league encounters and although Leeds have managed consecutive away clean sheets, they had conceded in six previous road trips prior to that.

Four of Cardiff’s eight home draws have ended 1-1 and our correct score prediction suggests the same outcome against a Leeds side who have drawn three of their four away games by the same scoreline.