By Chris O'Brien
October 2 2004

Leeds United visit Ninian Park on Saturday in a game many supporters will see as the biggest of the Football League campaign. It is, of course, a repeat of that unforgettable F.A Cup tie on a chilly Sunday evening back in January 2002.

With Swansea City and Bristol City wallowing in the lower regions of the Football League, the Ninian Park clash against Leeds United would have been the first game supporters would have looked out on when the fixture lists were released back in the summer. That memorable day in January 2002, where the Bluebirds dumped Premiership leading Leeds out of the F.A Cup, has seen a great deal of rivalry form between the two clubs and tomorrow's clash promises to be a passionate affair.

City fans will need no reminding of the 2-1 victory against the Yorkshireman nearly three years ago. A stunning free-kick from Graham Kavanagh and a late close-range strike from Scott Young were enough for Alan Cork's side to cause the upset of the season despite an early strike from Whites strike Mark Viduka. Unfortunately, the crowd trouble that followed stole most of the headlines and resulted in an increase of reduced away allocations and altered kick-off times to inconvenience the Cardiff faithful.

Only two Leeds United players from that famous day remain in the squad - Gary Kelly and Michael Duberry - following a mass lay-off of players as the club entered a downward spiral. Many bitter Leeds fans blame the Cardiff F.A Cup exit for the start of their freefall and a tense rivalry has formed between the two sets of supporters. This game means a lot to both sets of fans - and sadly trouble is probably inevitable tomorrow.

The above pin badge is testimony to how Leeds fans fell about Cardiff. There rivalry has traditionally been with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Sheffield United. However, times have changed in recent seasons and the painful Cup exit on that chilly January evening lives long in the memories of Leeds supporters. They are after revenge tomorrow.

Relegation from the Premiership last season put the future of Leeds United in doubt. Big-money players left for minor fees as the club looked to ease huge financial woes, and a new crop of players arrived under the leadership of wheeler-dealer Kevin Blackwell. They are yet to set the Football League on fire, sitting 17th in the Championship table, with a lack of goals a serious problem for the Elland Road outfit. Defensive midfielder Danny Pugh, who made a pre-season move over the Pennines from Manchester United, is out clear as Leeds top scorer with four goals.

Skipper Kavanagh will not be able to repeat his heroics as captain from that famous Cup win. The former Stoke City midfielder is suspended and will be replaced by fellow countrymen Willie Boland, who was harshly dropped for the mid-week trip to Burnley. Boland will be alongside loan signing Gary O'Neil, with the attacking-minded England under-21 captain at the club for a three-month period from Portsmouth. O'Neill will be anxious to impress on his home debut, with the Ninian Park masses difficult to win over.

Another Irish international - Alan Lee - is also banned and this means Andy Campbell will get another chance. The former Middlesbrough forward is under pressure to perform, but something tells me he could prove a point to many on Saturday afternoon. Campbell looks set to partner Peter Thorne up front, with Stuart Fleetwood hoping to return from injury to make an appearance on the bench. Youngster Cameron Jerome is waiting in the wings if needed after impressing for the reserves.

Darren Williams, at the club on a four week loan from Sunderland, will make his home debut and his third Bluebirds appearance as right-back. The experienced defender will be alongside Tony Vidmar, Daniel Gabbidon and Chris Barker as the City backline look to keep out a Leeds attack that has struggled so far this term. Gabbidon has penned a lucrative new contract during the week, which will hopefully be the kick up the backside he has needed so far this campaign.

With the Irish duo suspended and Rhys Weston, Martyn Margetson, Richard Langley and Robert Page all certain to miss the game through injury, City go into this massive clash with a depleted, threadbare squad. In addition to Jerome, young pair Byron Anthony and Joe Ledley could be inline for a place amongst the replacements as Lawrence looks to his impressive crop of Academy players to fill in for absentees.

It's a huge game for Cardiff boss Lennie Lawrence on the weekend. The former Luton Town chief had pleaded with fans to give him 12 games before calling for his head, and the visit of Leeds is that elusive 12th Football League encounter. City remain 23rd, and defeat tomorrow could not only see the Bluebirds go to the foot of the table but could be the end of Lawrence's reign as City manager. Two wins from eleven is simply not good enough.

Bluebird to the Bone Prediction - Cardiff City 1-0 Leeds United
City will be up for tomorrow, and wins at Milton Keynes and Wolverhampton showed that the team is capable of. Andy Campbell to net the only goal of a tight Ninian Park encounter, with the crowd to be in the region of 15,400.