Cardiff City's mixed Championship week included a defeat at Queens Park Rangers and a draw with Welsh rivals Wrexham. The results leave Julien Stéphan's side 19th in the table with three points from four matches, seven points behind leaders Swansea.
How did Cardiff fare against QPR?
According to a report from the Guardian, Cardiff lost 2-1 away to Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road. Rumarn Burrell scored both goals for the home side to extend their strong start to the season. Perry Ng managed to pull a goal back for Cardiff, but it wasn't enough to prevent a defeat. The loss means QPR moved up to second place with ten points, while Cardiff's search for a first league win continues.
Cardiff's current league standing shows they have scored six goals but conceded seven, giving them a negative goal difference of one. Their next opportunity to improve their position comes at home against Stoke City on September 8th, a fixture detailed on the club's fixtures page. The squad is also dealing with several absentees, with Calum Chambers, Dylan Lawlor, and William Fish all currently sidelined, as listed on the injuries page.
What happened in the Wrexham match?
The Guardian's Championship roundup also covered Wrexham's first league victory, which came after they had drawn with Cardiff earlier in the season. Wrexham powered to a 3-0 win over Millwall in south London, with goals from Kieffer Moore and Jacques Ekomié plus an own goal. That result followed their opening-day stalemate with Cardiff, a point that now forms part of the Bluebirds' three draws from four games.
Cardiff's recent form reads as three draws and a loss, a sequence they will be desperate to break. The team's defensive record will be a concern, having kept just one clean sheet so far. You can track the team's defensive and offensive metrics on our comprehensive stats page.
What are Portsmouth planning for Cardiff?
A separate report from portsmouth.co.uk looks ahead to Portsmouth's upcoming match against Cardiff this Saturday. The article predicts John Mousinho could make five changes to his Pompey side following a midweek defeat to Derby County. It suggests new signings could come into the team as they prepare to host Brian Barry-Murphy's newly-promoted Cardiff at Fratton Park.
The predicted line-up includes goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid, who may return after being dropped, and defender Benjy Arthur. Portsmouth currently sit 21st in the early standings, making this a key match for two teams near the bottom. For Cardiff, facing a struggling side represents a clear chance to secure that elusive first victory and climb the standings.
Cardiff's immediate focus is on preparing for the visit of Stoke City next Tuesday, a match that concludes a busy period for the squad.
