Cardiff City head into Tuesday night's home match against Hull City as one of the Championship's three unbeaten clubs.
They will go up against a Hull side who have made a solid start to the new campaign following their relegation from the Premier League last term.
Cardiff City
Cardiff manager Russell Slade was the subject of criticism from some sections of the club's support after the team laboured to a mid-table finish last term.
However, he has gone some way to winning them over after an impressive start to the new season. Three wins and three draws put the Welsh side second in the table, four points adrift of leaders Brighton & Hove Albion.
Slade has put a settled side in place at the Cardiff City Stadium with the quality required to challenge for promotion. A lack of consistency put paid to their promotion hopes last season, but early signs suggest that they are putting that right this time around.
Anthony Pilkington and Joe Mason were on the scoresheet on Saturday as Cardiff saw off Huddersfield Town at home. They created the best of the chances in the first half, but had to wait until the 69th minute before Pilkington opened the scoring. Mason then wrapped up the points late on with a neat finish.
Hull are a tough side to beat, though, and will provide them with the ideal test of their promotion credentials.
Recent form: DDWWW
Hull City
© Getty Images
Hull were immediately placed among the favourites for promotion at the start of the campaign after dropping out of the top flight and they have already made a good start to the season.
Steve Bruce could have left the KC Stadium over the summer, but new contract talks were successful and the Tigers are benefiting from having his experience at Championship level in the dugout.
However, their recent form has not been up to expectations. After going unbeaten in their first four games, Hull have lost the last two. A 2-1 loss at Charlton Athletic before the international break was followed up by a tricky trip to Brighton, where they were again on the receiving end of a defeat.
Bruce's men fell behind in the fifth minute at the Amex Stadium on Saturday through Tomer Hemed's strike, but they could not break down a stubborn home defence and succumbed to a 1-0 defeat.
The result leaves them sixth in the standings, six points adrift of Brighton at the top.
Recent form: DWLWL
Team News
© Getty Images
Cardiff are likely to be without defender Lee Peltier, who picked up a knock against Huddersfield.
As a result, Slade will have to change his side for the first time in three games, with Scott Malone in line to replace Peltier. Sammy Ameobi could also start after he impressed when coming off the bench at the weekend.
Ben Turner and Federico Macheda are still out with ankle and back injuries respectively.
For Hull, Bruce has no new injury or suspension concerns but he has hinted that he could make changes to the side that lost at Brighton.
Sone Aluko and Tom Huddlestone could come into the team after they had to settle for a place on the bench on the South Coast, while Greg Luer is also pushing to start.
Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Marshall; Malone, Morrison, Connolly, Fabio; Pilkington, Dikgacoi, Whittingham, Ralls; Jones, Mason
Hull City possible starting lineup:
McGregor; Odubajo, Dawson, Davies, Clucas; Elmohamady, Meyler, Diame, Hayden; Akpom, Hernandez
Head To Head
The two sides have similar records in this fixture from 61 meetings. Cardiff have won 19 times, Hull 22 and there have been 20 draws.
Cardiff and Hull were both Premier League sides when they last faced each other in the 2013-14 season. They played out a 1-1 draw at the KC before Hull ran riot in the return game, running out 4-0 winners at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Cardiff's last home win against the Tigers came in the Championship in November 2012, when the hosts secured a 2-1 success.
We say: Cardiff City 1-1 Hull City
This is a clash of two of the division's early pacesetters, and both teams will be keen to give little away. Cardiff have been strong on home turf so far, but Hull are an experienced outfit and should have enough to take something from this game.
No Data Analysis info
