Match Preview

The Bluebirds travel to Ashton Gate tomorrow, to try and beat arch-rivals Bristol City in a league game for the first time in over 30 years.

The disappointing results in City's last two games, and Crewe's victory today leaves the Bluebirds 5 points off the automatic spots. Defeat at Ashton Gate tomorrow would surely end City's hopes of an automatic place, and a draw wouldn't be much better either!

Games between the two major clubs either side of the Severn Bridge are always tense, but the meeting on Tuesday has all the ingredients to make it a cracker, with the Robins still in the hunt for automatic promotion.

Danny Wilson's side are unbeaten in their last 7 league games and are still in with a good chance of clinching that second automatic promotion slot, but a win tomorrow would be crucial for their hopes. The Robins also recently won the LDV Vans Trophy in front of 41,000 of their own supporters at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, showing the massive support they potentially have.

Lennie Lawrence is expected to make changes from the side that were beaten 3-0 by Colchester on Saturday in one of the shocks of the day. Steve Jenkins, Spencer Prior and Gareth Whalley could all return to the starting line-up, with Andy Campbell returning to the substitutes bench.

Chris Barker is unlikely to start following two dire performances against Peterborough and Colchester. Steve Jenkins would be likely to swap with Rhys Weston should he be called upon, and Gareth Whalley looks likely to replace an off-form Alan Mahon.

There is no news on whether Andy Legg will keep his place, or Gary Croft will return to the left back slot.

A physical 2-2 draw away at Luton Town saw a few of the Robins players pick up knocks and several members of the team are facing fitness tests before the game. Tommy Doherty, Brian Tinnion and former Cardiff City striker Christian Roberts all doubts for Danny Wilson

Bristol took all three points from the game at Ninian Park earlier in the season (they've made a habit of that for 30+ years!) with Brian Tinnion and Christian Roberts getting the goals for the Bristol outfit in their 2-0 victory.

City will be backed by 1,500 City fans who are travelling on specially organised coaches over the bridge to Bristol.

Whatever the outcome of tomorrow's game, it promises to be an excellent game and a good advert for the Second Division.

Former Bluebird and life-long City supporter Christian Roberts will be one to watch for City fans tomorrow.

The 23-year-old has been on good form for the West Country side, and scored in the meeting between the two clubs earlier in the season at Ninian Park.

Roberts spent 3 seasons with Cardiff, but Robert Earnshaw was preferred by manager Billy Ayre to Roberts and he was sold to Exeter City for a small fee.

The City need to start performing, and I can see Lennie Lawrence's men coming away from Ashton Gate with three points.