West Bromwich Albion vs Cardiff City

16th August

Steve Bruce's Baggies will want to bounce back from Sunday's frustrating defeat at Blackburn Rovers by claiming their first league win of the new term against Cardiff City on Wednesday night (ko 8pm).

The setback at Ewood Park left Albion on two points from their opening three matches, despite creating enough chances in each encounter to take maximum points.

Wednesday's opponents Cardiff City will be pleased with their start to the season having collected two victories and six points from their three games.

They recorded a narrow 1-0 win over Birmingham City at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday lunchtime and sit towards the top end of the table ahead of their visit to the Midlands.

Karlan Grant was on target in Albion's first home league game against Watford last week

Follow the match live

Supporters in the UK and overseas can watch Wednesday's Sky Bet Championship clash with Cardiff City LIVE on WBA TV with a video match pass.

WBA Radio duo Gez Mulholland and former midfielder Andy Johnson will provide live commentary from The Hawthorns.

Video match passes are available for £10 and can be purchased here.

Our opponents

Cardiff City have had a major overhaul in the summer following a disappointing 18th-placed finish in the 2021/22 campaign - their lowest league finish since 2002/03.

The Bluebirds have already welcomed 15 new faces to the Cardiff City Stadium, including Albion defender Cedric Kipre on loan and former Baggies Romaine Sawyers and Ryan Allsop on permanent deals.

They've made a decent start to the season, securing six points from their first three games. The South Wales outfit boast two 1-0 home victories over Norwich City on the opening day and then Birmingham City last weekend, however they did lose their one and only away fixture so far this term, suffering a 2-1 defeat at Reading.

Boss Steve Morrison took over from Mick McCarthy at the end of October in 2021 and has since won 15 of his 38 games in charge.

Morrison, a former Wales international forward, played for a host of clubs during an 18-year playing career, including Northampton Town, Stevenage, Millwall, Norwich City and Leeds United among others.

Jaden Philogene-Bidace bagged the Bluebirds' winner against Birmingham City on Saturday

From the Albion Archive

Albion secured three Sky Bet Championship points against Cardiff City in October 2019 thanks to a thrilling 4-2 win at The Hawthorns.

Matheus Pereira, Grady Diangana, Charlie Austin and Romaine Sawyers all found the net for the Baggies, while Danny Ward bagged a brace for the Bluebirds.

One for the stattos

There have been 34 goals scored in the last seven games between the Baggies and Cardiff City at The Hawthorns.

Five of those seven have produced exactly six goals.

Callum Robinson scored in B71 against the Bluebirds back in January

Fan Zone

The Fan Zone will not be open for Wednesday's match, as previously stated here.

The Fan Zone will be open for all home matches played over a weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).

17th August

Albion drew 0-0 with Cardiff City at The Hawthorns on Wednesday evening.

There were opportunities at both ends either side of half time, but eventually the teams were forced to share the Sky Bet Championship spoils.

The Baggies are next in action on Saturday against Hull City.

Steve Bruce made just one change to the starting XI, bringing Okay Yokuslu in for his maiden league start since re-joining the club.

And Albion began brightly – Jake Livermore seeing a venomous effort saved and Conor Townsend heading over for the high-pressing hosts inside the opening 20 minutes.

Cardiff’s first chance came midway through the half when Mahlon Romeo volleyed into the Birmingham Road End and, with the break approaching, Sheyi Ojo then gave the Baggies a scare by side-footing narrowly off-target.

Jed Wallace forced Ryan Allsop into a strong stop and Perry NG shot wide as the sides exchanged opportunities late into the first 45, however it remained goalless on referee Andrew Madley’s half-time whistle.

It was more of the same story after the interval. Ojo struck past the post for the visitors, while John Swift curled over for Albion.

A variety of substitutes in the form of Jason Molumby, Matt Phillips and Callum Robinson were thrown on to try and change the game – yet the Baggies just couldn’t seem to find a winner.

One final chance arrived in stoppage time as Robinson found Semi Ajayi in the box, however his header was brilliantly saved – meaning the points had to be shared.

Albion: Button; Furlong, Ajayi, O’Shea, Townsend; Livermore (Molumby 45), Yokuslu; Wallace (Phillips 68), Swift (Robinson 68), Diangana; Grant (Reach 84).

Substitutes: Palmer, Bartley, Gardner-Hickman.

Attendance: 21,820

Wednesday 17th August 2022 - 20:00