November
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Cardiff City's biggest game of the season so far kicks off in just over 48 hours. The third round of the FA Cup is a massive occasion and the chance of an upset is on the cards. City go into the game on a poor run of form with defeat in the last two matches, a 2 - 0 reverse at Millwall last Saturday and the 1 - 0 defeat away at Northampton in midweek which saw the Bluebirds knocked out of the AutoWindscreen Shield in the first round.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce has started the mind games by saying he will field a weakened team against City, prefering to keep his best players and those returning from injury until next weeks Worthington Cup clash against Wimbledon. Bolton say that is a bigger game for them. The Wanderers are awaiting the return from injury of keeper Branagan, Warhurst, Holdsworth, Whitlow, Bergsson, O'Kane and Phillips. All of them are likely to be given the extra couple of days to recover and stake their claim for a return v Wimbledon. Bolton's last match was a 3 - 1 reverse at Blackburn in midweek with ex City player Nathan Blake on the scoresheet for Rovers.

Cardiff are forced into changes themselves. Russell Perrett and Tony Vaughan are suspended. Vaughan is ineligable anyway but the FA have allocated this game for his one match ban, earned for acruing 5 yellow cards. Vaughan only has one match left to play for City before a decision on his future is made.

Scott Young, who came through 90 minutes against Northampton is available as is Jorn Schwinkendorf, the German has yet to play for the first team after sitting on the bench for the last two matches. Mike Ford is hoping to recover from injury to be able to play. It would look like our back three then will be selected from Eckhardt, Young, Ford and Schwinkendorf.

Andy Legg returns after serving his one match ban for the Northampton game. Winston Faerber who was poor against the Cobblers will probably start as the right wing back. We know that Frank is reluctant to change things around. Fans at the game on Tuesday would prefer to see Josh Low, who came on for Winston replace him in the starting line up.

The midfield three will be selected from Fowler, Hill, Bonner, Boland, Carpenter and Brazier. Chippy and Brazier have done enough to keep their places so expect one of the other 4 to fill the third place.

Jason Bowen and Richie Humphreys are likely to start in attack with Chris Roberts on the bench. Sheff Wed have kindly allowed Humphreys to be cup tied, maybe something can be read into that, they probably have no future plans for him making him a possible full time transfer target.

I will have details of the 18 man squad who travel to Bolton on tomorrows update. I am also hoping for the next statistical installment from John Heyda to be available as well.

This is City's third away match in the cup this year. In both previous rounds City have drawn away and won the replay at Ninian Park. I would settle for that again.