Preview: Luton Town vs. Cardiff City - prediction, team news, lineups

Cardiff City will be hoping to continue their unbeaten start to life under Mick McCarthy when they travel to Luton Town on Tuesday evening.

The Bluebirds moved up to seventh in the Championship courtesy of their 3-1 win over Coventry City on Saturday, while the Hatters are currently 15th.

Match preview

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Cardiff were 15th in the Championship table when veteran boss McCarthy took over three weeks ago but after two draws and now three successive wins, they are within six points of the playoff places.

Only Brentford have won more points or scored more goals in the Championship since McCarthy has been at the Bluebirds helm.

A brace from Kieffer Moore and Josh Murphy's first goal of the season earned their latest victory, and the most impressive, over Coventry on Saturday.

However, Dominic Hyam's late consolation goal at the Cardiff City Stadium means that the Bluebirds have kept just one clean sheet in their last 14 matches.

At the other end of the pitch, the Welsh side are the fifth highest scorers in the Championship and only three players have netted more than frontman Moore.

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Meanwhile, Luton are the division's fifth lowest scorers and have not netted more than once in a game so far in 2021.

The Hatters won for the first time in four matches on Saturday as they beat Birmingham City 1-0 thanks to Daniel Potts's first half header.

Despite being in 15th, Nathan Jones's side are only three points behind Cardiff in seventh, emphasising how tight the mid-table pack in the Championship is right now.

It could be a vital week ahead for Luton, as after hosting the Bluebirds, they face Stoke City (10th) and Millwall (14th).

The Bedfordshire side have lost only one of their last eight league matches at Kenilworth Road but equally they have only won once in their four most recent home games.

Cardiff's 4-0 win over Luton in November stands as their biggest win of the season to date. The Hatters, meanwhile, have only beaten the Bluebirds once in their last seven attempts.

Luton Town Championship form: LWLLDW
Luton Town form (all competitions): WLLLDW

Cardiff City Championship form: LDDWWW

Team News

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Jones could name an unchanged team after earning a win and a clean sheet against Birmingham.

January signings Tom Ince, Kal Naismith and Elijah Adebayo are all still looking for their first league starts for Luton but are likely to be called upon in the next few weeks as Jones seeks to increase his side's attacking output.

Jonny Williams is in contention to make his Cardiff debut, having picked up a knock in training soon after his deadline day move from Charlton Athletic.

Joe Ralls, Junior Hoilett and Sheyi Ojo all missed the win over Coventry with injury problems and are doubts for the trip to Kenilworth Road.

Alex Smithies is still absent with illness so Dillon Phillips will continue in goal, while Lee Tomlin's return date after injury has been pushed back.

Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Sluga; Pearson, Lockyer, Bradley, Potts; Rea; Cornick, Mpanzu, Dewsbury-Hall, Clark; Collins

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Phillips; Morrison, Flint, Nelson; Ng, Vaulks, Pack, Bennett; Wilson; Murphy, Moore

We say: Luton Town 1-2 Cardiff City

Cardiff are building momentum under McCarthy, and they will see this as another winnable game. Luton show plenty of encouraging signs but are too inconsistent and struggle in front of goal, and we are backing an away victory at Kenilworth Road.