It's Cardiff as we search for first league win

The postponement of the game at Birmingham has left us a game behind the rest of the clubs already, but this week has been a brighter one for the Clarets with two signings coming in to boost the squad.

Charlie Austin likely to get first league start

News of the potential signing of Danny Ings broke just ahead of last Saturday's game at Crystal Palace and it was confirmed by the club on Monday and three days later Zavon Hines became the second signing of the week when he arrived from West Ham.

Will Ings be involved against Cardiff? Eddie Howe said: "In an ideal world we would ease Danny in gently. I am aware he is only just turned 19 and there is a lot of improvement and development left in him.

"That's not to say he can't contribute at the moment, but I think there will be a settling in period and we are going to have to be clever with him because I wouldn't say he is ready to play week-in and week-out."

Ings only made his league debut for Bournemouth  on the last Saturday of 2010 and so is very inexperienced. Zavon HInes, however, comes with some Premier League experience at West Ham including 45 minutes against Burnley at the Boleyn Ground in November 2009 when he replaced Carlton Cole at half time.

We found out a little about him that day. He won the free kick against Stephen Jordan, somewhat fortunately, that led to West Ham's fourth goal. He probably should have had a penalty and just a few minutes later was the player fouled when Steven Caldwell was sent off.

He showed some pace and that's something that will of real benefit to us now he's wearing our particular version of claret and blue. He's been with us for a couple of days and certainly trained on Thursday morning with the squad. I suspect he'll be used as a substitute in this game.

What will the team be? It could be the same as the line up that started the Crystal Palace game but I suspect not and we know there will have to be at least one change on the bench with Marvin Bartley, sent off last week, beginning a three match ban.

I think we are more likely to switch back to 4-4-2 and that should mean a first league start this season for Charlie Austin. He's netted twice in two home games and should go into the game with some confidence.

It might be Keith Treacy who has to miss out whilst I'd expect Dean Marney to return at the expense of David Edgar who was utilised, without any success, in a midfield holding role last week.

The team could be: Lee Grant, Kieran Trippier, Andre Amougou, Ben Mee, Brian Easton, Wade Elliott, Dean Marney, Chris McCann, Ross Wallace, Charlie Austin, Jay Rodriguez. Subs from: Brian Jensen, David Edgar, Michael Duff, Keith Treacy, Zavon Hines, Danny Ings, Alex MacDonald.

Our Opponents - A Cardiff View from Michael Morris

Having lost to Brighton in midweek, we asked Michael Morris from our Championship partner site Cardiff City Mad for his views on today's game.

Michael told us: "After a stunning start to the season with three wins in the first week including an opening day success at West Ham, Cardiff came back down to earth on Wednesday this week with a 3 - 1 home loss to Brighton.

"The stats show Cardiff were better than such a defeat but sitting in the stand watching it you just knew it wasn't going to be our day when Kevin McNaughton's wayward pass set up Albion's opening goal. After the game questions were then asked of the defence and the attack. A lack of pace up front, a lack of pace at the back. On another day Cardiff could have won that game on chances created but this week none of them troubled the Brighton keeper.

"So onto Turf Moor and Burnley. A team who have not had a great start. A home draw and an away defeat was followed by a week off. They were due to play Birmingham this week but the Blues are in Europe. So we face a rested side looking for their first league win.

"Will Malky keep Earnie and Miller together or will he introduce the more athletic Gestede into the fray? Turf Moor has not been a great ground for Cardiff in recent visits so I'm am not sure which way this one is going to go. Head tells me a draw is most likely. Heart wants us to win 2-1."

As you'll see below, draws at Turf Moor between Burnley and Cardiff have been common place since they won promotion in 2003. In seven visits since that promotion, no less than five have been draws and that includes the last three.

Cardiff's line up against Brighton on Tuesday was: David Marshall, Kevin McNaughton, Andrew Taylor, Mark Hudson, Anthony Gerrard, Pete Whittingham, Don Cowie, Kenny Miller, Robert Earnshaw, Craig Conway, Joe Mason. Subs: Tom Heaton, Dekel Keinan, Paul Quinn, Darcy Blake, Rudy Gestede.

One player not involved on Tuesday was former Preston striker Jon Parkin. I don't think he was too happy about not being in the side and said on Twitter: "'Does anyone need a gardener. Looking for work Anything. Just looking for work. Is it bad to want to work. ?????"

When questioned, a further tweet read: "Not going to apologise for been unhappy at not playing. Want to play every game. Wow wow wow. Don't want to leave guys. Just want to play. !!!!!"

That's led to him being disciplined by the club with the naive striker suggesting he thought he was just tweeting a mate.

Last Time They Were Here

We don't have to go back so far to Cardiff's last game at Burnley. It was as recent as May when they were visitors for the last game of the 2010/11 season.

It's interesting to look at the team that day, along with the seven substitutes. No less than eight of our players are no longer at Turf Moor. Steven Thompson was released at the end of the season whilst Jack Cork returned to Chelsea.

Graham Alexander - one of five to play his last game

Graham Alexander was then released (before subsequently signing for Preston) and Clarke Carlisle went to Preston on loan. Chris Iwelumo was next out when he signed for Watford before both Chris Eagles and Tyrone Mears signed for Bolton. Finally, and most recently, Danny Fox has gone to Southampton.

Those players were all involved in that Cardiff game giving us some real positives for this season. It was, in the end, an end of season game with nothing to play for. Cardiff were already in the play offs and were hoping for a win to get above Swansea, whilst we had been able to pack the suitcases following the defeat at Leeds a week earlier.

We were in front early in the game. Mears and Cork linked on the right with the ball eventually played back to Andre Bikey (that was his name at the time). He in turn played a brilliant ball through for Jay Rodriguez and the leading goalscorer made no mistake with a shot across goalkeeper Stephen Bywater.

The football was excellent to watch and Phil Thompson (he of the big nose and a leaning towards Liverpool) told Soccer Saturday viewers that we were playing like Brazil.

There were more chances but we just couldn't get that second goal. We paid for it too in the end when, in the last minute of normal time, Brian Jensen came out but didn't get to a ball and that allowed Craig Bellamy to finish and earn Cardiff a draw they simply didn't deserve.

Still, there was much enthusiasm from the home fans and in particular with Chris McCann's performance. On his fourth game back in the side he turned in an outstanding performance.

The season ended and five of those no longer with the club had played their last games for Burnley. Three of them, Graham Alexander, Chris Eagles and Steven Thompson, along with substitute Clarke Carlisle, had been a part of our Wembley success two years earlier. It certainly was signalling the end of an era.

The teams were;

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Tyrone Mears, David Edgar, Andre Bikey (Brian Easton 45), Danny Fox, Jack Cork, Chris McCann, Wade Elliott, Chris Eagles (Graham Alexander 89), Ross Wallace (Chris Iwelumo 73), Jay Rodriguez. Subs not used: Lee Grant, Clarke Carlisle, Dominic Knowles, Steven Thompson.

Cardiff: Stephen Bywater, Paul Quinn, Mark Hudson (Darcy Blake 30), Dekel Keinan, Kevin McNaughton, Pete Whittingham, Jason Koumas, Seyi Olofinjana (Stephen McPhail 72), Chris Burke (Jay Emmanuel-Thomas 56), Jay Bothroyd, Craig Bellamy. Subs not used: Tom Heaton, Gavin Rae, Michael Chopra, Jon Parkin.

Previous Games against Cardiff

Click HERE to see all previous results against Cardiff