Cardiff v Burnley.

18 March 2012 13:20
Big match today at CCS. Kick off 3:00pm. Updates during game via Twitter and Facebook.

https://twitter.com/#!/cardiffcitymad 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cardiff-City-Mad/127077793978181

Match preview from Sporting Life:

Striker Rudy Gestede will continue to miss out for Cardiff as they look to put their recent poor form behind them when Burnley visit the Welsh capital.

The Bluebirds have won just once in their last five outings and the French forward has missed three of those with a hamstring injury.

A surprising 3-0 home defeat to Hull on Tuesday night has left manager Malky Mackay considering his attacking options, particularly with Gestede expected to remain sidelined for another week, and Rob Earnshaw will hope to profit.

The fans' favourite came off the bench against the Tigers to feature in his first competitive game since October and Mackay could welcome him back into the starting line-up.

Midfielder Stephen McPhail, who has been sidelined with Sjogren's Syndrome, is back training again and is targeting a return before the end of the season, although this clash may come too soon.

Junior Stanislas will, meanwhile, chase his first start for two months when Burnley travel to Cardiff.

Stanislas suffered a hamstring injury during January's victory at Middlesbrough, but returned to make a brief cameo from the bench in the closing minutes of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at Turf Moor.

The winger followed up that appearance with a 67-minute stint for the Clarets' reserves in Tuesday's 4-0 victory over Morecambe, where he opened the scoring.

Stanislas, an August signing from West Ham, told Burnley's official website: "It was my first goal for the club. Even though it wasn't for the first team, it's still good to score and it was good to get back out on the pitch playing again.

"It would be nice to get another on Sunday and progress from there."

Elsewhere, Burnley are monitoring the fitness of top scorer Jay Rodriguez, who was withdrawn at half-time after opening the scoring against Palace due to groin and gluteal pain, but the striker is expected to be passed fit.

Source: FOOTYMAD