Cardiff City v Brentford Tuesday 15 December 2015 Cardff City Stadium Kick-off: 7.45pm
The season so far
Cardiff’s supporters can be pleased with their season so far, which sees them nestling below the Play-Off places with a second half of the season to run. Saturday’s draw with Sheffield Wednesday left them in seventh place.
They started the campaign unbeaten (three wins, three draws) and rose to second place on 12 September after a 2-0 over Brentford’s opponents on Saturday, Huddersfield Town. They are unbeaten in their last three matches, but threw a 2-0 lead away on Saturday for the second consecutive home match in a row.
Manager Russell Slade signed five players in the summer transfer window: Semi Ajayi [Arsenal]; Jordan Blaise Girondins de Bordeaux; Gabriel Tamas [unattached]; Idriss Saadi [Clemont Foot]; and Marco Weymans [PSV Eindhoven], with only the latter two costing a transfer fee.
Sammy Ameobi, brother of Shola and Tomi, is on a season long loan from Newcastle United. Tony Watt’s loan from Charlton Athletic expires next month.
Nine players left Cardiff over the summer, two of which realised transfer fees [Kevin Theophile-Catherine and Javi Guerra]. City have several players out on loan as they try to slim down their wage bill 12 months after their relegation from the Premier League. Joe Mason is The Bluebirds top goalscorer so far with five goals from 18 league matches.
The Gaffer
City boss Russell Slade is no stranger to managing teams against Brentford. He has been a manager or coach for more than 20 years now. He was appointed Cardiff City manager in October 2014 after four successful years at Leyton Orient, where he turned the squad into League One promotion contenders. His win percentage sits at a reasonable 37.3%, as he bids to take Cardiff back to the Premier League.
Slade did not play professional football and started his managerial career at Notts County after being a PE teacher previously. Spells at Scarborough, Grimsby Town and Yeovil Town followed before a short tenure at Brighton and Hove Albion in 2009.
The officials
Match Referee: Adam Matthews and Marvyn Amphlett
Fourth Official Stephen Martin
Bees Player
You can hear live match commentary of the entire match on Bees Player from 7.15pm, with commentators Mark Burridge and Mark Chapman.