Saints Vs Cardiff City

Dave Jones' Cardiff City are the next team to visit St Mary's, where things haven't gone too well for the Saints, having only won on two occasions in the league all season.

However, a 3-1 victory over Preston North End last weekend has given everyone at the club a massive lift, boosting Saints' survival chances in the process.

Marek Saganowski's brace and Andrew Surman's strike ended the St Mary's win drought - which stretched all the way back to the 2-0 win over Norwich City in September.

Cardiff will prove to be tough opposition for the Saints, as they currently occupy fourth place in the league, with 53 points from 31 games. The Welsh side are unbeaten in 14 league games, and ex-Southampton manager Dave Jones will be keen to take all three points off of his former club.

"They have picked up more points over the season, so they've done better, but we also beat Reading, for example, and they are also in the top four, so that shows me that we can beat any team.

"Everybody has to be 100 per cent, everybody has to take their chances and everybody has to be very concentrated at the back and we need a fantastic mentality.

"This is what we did last Saturday, but we have to be better than against Preston, because Cardiff City are a stronger team to beat."

Head Coach Mark Wotte is expected to name an unchanged side from the 3-1 victory over Preston.

Paul Wotton is the only fresh injury doubt for the Saints after picking up a minor injury in training.

French midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin returns to the squad after sitting out last weekend's game through suspension, whilst long-term absentees Wayne Thomas and Lee Holmes remain sidelined.

The Polish striker is on fire at the moment having scored six goals in as many games. If the Saints are to win two on the bounce, it's surely going to be a Saganowski goal which seals the win.

Cardiff have all sorts of injury problems ahead of tomorrow's trip to St Mary's.

Michael Chproa joins fellow striker Jay Bothroyd on the sidelines, whilst Roger Johnson, Kevin McNaughton and Gavin Rae are all doubts.

The Scottish striker has scored 14 league goals for Dave Jones' side this season, and he'll be looking to notch once again for the Bluebirds.

Saints travelled to Cardiff on the opening day of the season, where they were unlucky to lose the game 2-1. Roger Johnson scored a header in the final minute of added time to steal the three points.

Mr. Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire)

Saints 2-1 Cardiff

3rd March - Ipswich (A)
7th March - Birmingham (A)

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