Cardiff Vs Derby
Cardiff Vs Derby Tuesday 2nd March 2021 – 19:00
English Championship
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 5/6
Bookmaker: BetVictor
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 28th February 2021)
Preview: The appointment of new managers midway through the season has worked minor miracles for these two clubs, with Cardiff City welcoming Derby County to Cardiff City Stadium for what should be an enjoyable encounter between teams currently in the midst of a mid-season renaissance.
English Championship Betting at Bet365
Table of Contents
Cardiff – McCarthy getting tune from Bluebirds?
The Bluebirds remain the in-form side from England’s second tier, claiming more points (20 from a possible 24) across their past eight fixtures than any other team – three more than leaders Norwich, for some context. This despite a listless performance on Saturday in their 1-1 stalemate at the Riverside, away to a Middlesbrough team which had succumbed to more defeats at home in 2021 than anyone else.
Since appointing Mick McCarthy as manager in late January, Cardiff (W13 D8 L11) have been a team reborn. The Welsh outfit remain unbeaten in nine league games under the former Ipswich Town and Wolves boss, including a run of six straight wins prior to the weekend’s result, and gone from 15th in the table to eighth, two points shy of the play-offs. All of a sudden a return to the Premier League seems plausible.
McCarthy watched his confident side labour last time, though, creating next to nothing other than the goal which came courtesy of a long throw. In contrast to some of their recent displays, particularly here in Wales. Cardiff are averaging 1.97xG and 2.66 goals per game across their three home matches since a change of manager, recording 3-1 and 4-0 wins in the last two against Coventry and Preston, respectively.
Derby – Rooney searching for away consistency?
Friday brought Wayne Rooney his first taste of an East Midlands derby as a manager, albeit without the feverish atmosphere we are accustomed to seeing inside Pride Park for such an occasion, one which Colin Kazim-Richards’ late volley spared the home side’s blushes. A 1-1 draw a fair result as Derby, who had previously gone thirteen league games since their last drawn fixture, extended their fine recent form.
The Rams (W10 D8 L14) are heading in the right direction, which is up the Championship standings, after a run of two defeats in nine (W6 D1 L2) has seen them put nine points between themselves, in 18th, and the relegation places. Their sole loss across their past five league outings being at Vicarage Road, going down by the odd goal against a Watford side boasting the leanest home record in the second tier.
Rooney has undoubtedly made this team harder to beat, culminating in their ascent of the Championship table. Since taking charge for the 1-0 loss at Ashton Gate against Bristol City in November, Derby have lost seven of 21 league outings under the stewardship of the former Manchester United forward – however, six of these would occur away from Pride Park, which includes three of their past five away fixtures.
Don’t miss out on other Betting Tips & Predictions
Click here for more Betting Tips
Cardiff Vs Derby Betting Advice
The recent upper hand in this fixture belongs to Cardiff having lost just one of the previous six meetings (W2 D3 L1), including a 2-1 victory in last season’s corresponding fixture in Wales. Derby, meanwhile, last won here, at Cardiff City Stadium, in 2016 but would earn draws in their two subsequent visits prior to defeat last term. Five of their encounters across this period saw both teams score, including the past four.
Cardiff Vs Derby – Key Facts:
- No team has collected more points across their past eight Championship matches than Cardiff (20), followed closely behind by Derby (16).
- Six of the last nine Championship fixtures for Cardiff returned both teams to score, as have four of the last five for Derby.
- Each of the last four meetings between the teams featured both teams among the goals, including last season’s corresponding fixture which Cardiff won 2-1.
Considering both these teams arrive in such rich veins of form – Cardiff unbeaten nine (W6 D3) and Derby with one defeat in five (W3 D1 L1) – another competitive renewal seems likely. Both teams found the back of the net in six of Cardiff’s nine-match unbeaten run, keeping a single clean sheet in their past eight home matches, while all-but one of Derby’s last five, home or away, returned the same.
Best Betting Odds – Cardiff Vs Derby
Cardiff – 21/20 (Betway)
Draw – 12/5 (Bet365)
Derby – 3/1 (BetFred)
