West Brom v Cardiff City: Inside track on Neil Warnock's side

We spoke with Glen Williams, Cardiff City correspondent for Wales Online, to get a proper look at Neil Warnock's side.

See what he had to say here...

How have Cardiff started this season, have things been promising?

Things have been far more promising in recent weeks. Cardiff were hammered 3-0 at Reading back in August and it left them in a precarious position. However, they are now unbeaten in the last seven league games and are beginning to look like their old selves again.

They have, however, struggled to get wins on the road. They are yet to register an away win this season and that will be a concern, but, for a team pipped for promotion at the start of the season, it has been a somewhat middling start.

Is it a matter of the same style of football from Neil Warnock's side this campaign so far compared to previous years?

Certainly is. Warnock prides himself on building teams which are difficult to break down and thrive at the set piece. That is definitely the case once again.

We could see that after Bobby Reid left on deadline day that Warnock was going to revert to a more solid style of play with very little need for a creative man in midfield.

They sit deep and try to hurt with quick wingers on the counter-attack, but also try to nick goals from set pieces.

What are the expectations at Cardiff this year, is promotion the key aim?

Cardiff should 100 per cent be aiming for promotion. This squad, on paper, is better than when they were promoted two seasons ago and, truth told, they will have expected to be higher in the table at this stage of the campaign.

Whether this side is capable of a top-two finish is debatable, but they should certainly be in the play-off mix.

What sort of business did Cardiff do over the summer, and how have you rated that business so far this season?

In terms of outgoings, Bruno Manga and Bobby Reid were big losses, while the club believe they got a very good deal for Kenneth Zohore.

The loss of Aron Gunnarsson threatened to leave them looking light in the middle of the park, but the acquisition of Marlon Pack has been incredibly shrewd. Leandro Bacuna has felt like a new signing, too, given how well he has played in recent weeks.

Gavin Whyte was a snip of a signing at £2m from Oxford, he has improved week on week and is quickly becoming a key man in an important position out on the right wing.

Robert Glatzel was the marquee signing up front. He has shown glimpses of real quality but goals, at the beginning, were difficult to come by. But he now has two in his last three games and is hitting a bit of form.

But, as can be expected when a team is relegated from the Premier League, the squad is obviously weaker than last term.

Who are the big danger men in Cardiff's ranks and why?

Glatzel is in form and looks a handful for defenders, but it is Whyte who is doing the damage on the wings. He is growing in confidence and is developing an attacking edge, with his pace proving a real problem for wing backs.

Josh Murphy, on his day, is one of the best wingers in the league, but many City fans are often left frustrated by his inconsistency.

Also, never rule out Aden Flint and Sean Morrison when it comes to set pieces.

What's your predicted XI for this game? And are there any injury worries?

Smithies; Peltier, Morrison, Flint, Bennett; Pack, Bacuna, Tomlin; Whyte, Glatzel, Murphy

Joe Ralls was missing for the win over QPR through injury, given the result it may be hard to drop Tomlin for him - although the former has been brilliant so far this season.

What have you made of West Brom from afar, do you think they could successfully gain promotion to the top flight?

There is no denying that West Brom have been mightily impressive so far this season. It is no mean feat to be where they are in the Championship after ten games, especially when you look at the quality of the sides sitting just below them.

They are definitely candidates to gain promotion to the Premier League – especially if they manage to stave off injuries to key players, which Cardiff have fallen foul of at the start of the campaign.

Your match prediction?

West Brom 2-1 Cardiff City

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