Cardiff City v. West Ham United - Preview

City advanced to the second phase of the 42 year-old Cup with a convincing 4-1 victory over Leyton Orient at Ninian Park, whilst the visitors overcame Rushden & Diamonds with a 3-1 win.

Lennie Lawrence is expected to make a few changes from the side that leaked 5 goals at Brammal Lane on Saturday. Daniel Gabbidon is the most high-profile player to return after another frustrating spell out with injury. The Welsh international has missed City's last five fixtures, but James Collins has done a superb job in Gabbidon's place, and the highly-rated defender knows he will have to battle hard to regain a starting place in the Bluebirds defence.

Martyn Margetson is another surprise inclusion into the City line-up. The former-Everton 'keeper will replace Neil Alexander between the sticks for the home side, after a poor display at Brammal Lane. However, Lennie Lawrence has insisted that Alexander's performance on Saturday has nothing to do with the change.

The experienced Margetson has only made a handful of appearances since arriving at Ninian Park from Huddersfield Town at the beginning of last season, but he has provided superb back-up for Alexander. Margetson has always vowed to battle for the number 1 shirt tomorrow, and after Alexander's below-par showing at Brammal Lane, the Welsh 'B' International will have a great chance to prove a big point tomorrow.

Jason Bowen is also expected to start, and should be included in Lawrence's starting XI, the out-of-favour attacker will have a massive chance to prove himself in front of the live Sky television cameras.

Gavin Gordon, Spencer Prior and Layton Maxwell are all in with a chance of a place on the substitutes bench, but none are expected to start against the leagues favourites. The visitors will be without on-loan striker Neil Mellor, and Michael Carrick is unlikely to shake off a niggling groin injury.

The last time the two clubs met was back way back in 1981. City battled to a 0-0 draw against that seasons second flight champions, in what was the last league game of the season. The two clubs will now play each other twice in a month, as West Ham visit the Welsh capital in a league fixture in October, also to be shown live on Sky TV.

Only a few seasons ago this would have been a game relished by supporters, but life at this level have seen this game snubbed by many City followers, and with the game being shown live on Sky Sports 2, a crowd of 9,000-10,000 is expected at Ninian Park, with a following of around 1,000 from the Hammers.

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