Cardiff City vs Southampton: Betting Odds & Prediction
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Mid-table Cardiff City host an in-form Southampton side pushing for automatic promotion in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday.
The away side moved within four points of the top two with a 3-0 win over Preston North End in midweek and still have a game in hand on the sides around them. Southampton won the reverse fixture 2-0 back in December.
Kick-off is set for 3pm UK time at the Cardiff City Stadium.
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Cardiff City
The hosts' own push for promotion has tapered in recent weeks after they suffered four defeats in their last six outings in the Championship. Cardiff now find themselves thirteen points off the play-off spots in eleventh but will be targeting a first top-half finish in three years with three games remaining.
Erol Bulut's side have fared better at home overall this season, averaging 1.43 points from their 21 matches so far, but have suffered back-to-back losses on home soil in their most two recent outings.
The Bluebirds have struggled for goals both home and away, averaging just 1.12 goals all season, and have failed to score in 33% of their home fixtures so far. While Cardiff have bagged two or more in 43% of these games, they've also conceded at least two in the same amount. The Cardiff City Stadium has averaged 2.43 total goals this season.
The race for automatic promotion is well and truly ON! 🔥#EFL | #SkyBetChampionship pic.twitter.com/s06AlgeMSv
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) April 16, 2024
Southampton
Russell Martin's side have bounced back from a damaging 3-2 defeat at Ipswich Town at the start of the month, going unbeaten in their last four including three consecutive victories. The 3-0 ousting of Preston on Tuesday moved the Saints within four points of an automatic promotion spot with a game in hand, and another win this weekend will pile the pressure on the three sides above them.
Two defeats have came in their last five away matches though, and Southampton have averaged just 1.8 points on the road compared to the 2.18 they've managed on home turf. Goals have been harder to come by in away fixtures, with an average of 1.5 per game compared to 2.45 at home, though Southampton have failed to score in only 10% of their away games.
68% of Southampton's home games have seen two or more goals from Martin's men, compared to only 45% on their travels, while their record at the back has been consistent regardless of the venue. They've shipped slightly more on the road (1.3) than at home (1.27), but their drop in goalscoring exploits in away fixtures has largely contributed to their faltering form on the road.
Southampton's last five matches have seen plenty of goals, averaging 3.2 in total.
Prediction
Though Southampton have dipped on the road compared to their games at St. Mary's, they rightly enter the fixture as firm favourites on the moneyline (10/21). OddsNow also anticipate plenty of goalmouth action in the Welsh capital as Southampton continue their push for a Premier League return.