Cardiff City VS Everton Match Prediction
2019-02-26
19:45:00
Cardiff City
VS
Everton
Our Prediction Tip
Cardiff City will win this match.
2019-02-2619:45:00 Cardiff City will win this match.
Everton’s 1-0 win at Goodison Park in November, courtesy of former Swansea man Gylfi Sigurdsson’s strike, means the Toffees just edge the head-to-head with 14 wins to Cardiff’s 13. There have also been nine draws. Cardiff last beat Everton in the League Cup in 1979 (and still lost on aggregate) but the teams have only met three times since.
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Everton’s long gap between fixtures has given them plenty of time to reflect on their stuttering form but there are plenty of answers needed if they are to get out of this rut.
Cardiff, on the other hand, started the month in winning style before hosting Watford on Friday night, and look revitalised after a difficult January on the pitch and a tragic one off it.
Goals will be their biggest issue going into the business end of the season, but Bobby Reid stepped up to provide two at the start of the month and Sol Bamba has been weighing in from defence as well.
For Everton, Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson are their top dogs in front of goal – the Icelandic ace having scored the winner in the reverse fixture too.
But their goals have dried up of late too – just two in their last four league matches – and with defensive frailties and an obvious weakness defending set pieces that is a bad sign.
Bamba is the sort of player who can take advantage of Everton’s slack marking from corners, and with Kurt Zouma absent it will be down to Yerry Mina to get straight back to match sharpness to stop him.
The Bluebirds are very much in a relegation battle, and start the match as outsiders as a result, but Everton’s recent form makes it hard to trust them.
If they do not fix their defensive issues, Cardiff can take advantage – upsetting the odds and grabbing a vital three points in their bid for survival.
Everton are favourites with the bookmakers, at a best price of 13/10 with Betfair, but they have lost five of their last six matches. Cardiff could be worth backing at a best price of 13/5 with Betway.
Attacking issues dog both sides, and you can bet against both teams to score at 19/20 with Bet365 and 888sport.
Likewise, under 2.5 goals returns a best price of 4/5 with Bet365, and a one-goal winning margin either way is worth 13/10 with Betway.
Defending set pieces has been one major issue for Everton of late, and Sol Bamba has already scored three times this season – backing the big defender to find the net at any time could prove profitable.
Everton’s struggles mean Cardiff should be looking at this game as an opportunity to upset the odds and claim a valuable three points in the relegation battle.
Sean Morrison will miss out again, though he is closing in on a return to action. The Bluebirds have tended to be more consistent with their starting XI lately but could be tempted to make changes on the back of their Friday night fixture with Watford. Victor Camarasa is managing an ongoing calf injury and could be one of the players rested.
Bobby Reid – The former Bristol City man seems to have found his feet in the Premier League, scoring both goals in the win against Bournemouth earlier this month.
Neil Etheridge – The Filipino goalkeeper has been crucial for Cardiff this season – his saves, including three from the penalty spot, could prove vital in the relegation battle.
Sol Bamba – The big centre-back is actually among Cardiff’s top goalscorers this season offering height and power in both penalty areas.
Prior to the game against Watford on Friday night, Cardiff had bounced back from a winless January – which concluded with the narrow 2-1 defeat at Arsenal – by winning both matches in February. The month started with Bobby Reid scoring both goals in a 2-0 win at home to Bournemouth, before late drama at Southampton. Sol Bamba’s goal was cancelled out late on, but substitute Kenneth Zohore scored a stoppage-time winner for Cardiff to make it two wins from two.
Kurt Zouma will be suspended for the match against Cardiff after being sent off after the final whistle against Watford for a second yellow card. Yerry Mina is due to return from an ankle injury, however, so the Colombian can slot in for the Chelsea loanee. Phil Jagielka is another option after returning to training following his long absence with a knee injury. Leighton Baines is recovering from a rib injury, but Lucas Digne might continue at left-back anyway.
Gylfi Sigurdsson – Scored the winner in the reverse fixture – one of ten goals the Icelandic ace has scored for the Toffees this season.
Richarlison – The Brazilian has one more goal than Sigurdsson, leading Everton’s charts with 11 from 28 matches so far.
Bernard – Could be in line for a return to the starting XI, where he will look to add to his four assists so far this season.
Everton have lost all three games they have played in February so far, and five of the last six in total. Their only win was away to struggling Huddersfield courtesy of Richarlison’s early goal. Since then, they suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Wolves despite Andre Gomes’ goal, before a 2-0 loss to Manchester City and 1-0 defeat at Watford.
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