West Brom v Cardiff (team news)

Cardiff City face a selection crisis for tonight’s game against West Brom.

Strikers Michael Chopra and Simon Walton are suspended following red cards against Leeds and join Glenn Loovens (ban) and Darren Purse (back) on the sidelines.

Riccy Scimeca has been out of action for several weeks with a torn hamstring, he is nearing full fitness but the game may come to early for him to face his former club. Kerra Gilbert was withdrawn at half-time with an ankle injury on Saturday and Paul Parry will also face a late fitness test after being clattered by Kevin Nicholls.

Jason Byrne, recently recovered from an ankle problem is set to replace Chopra while Chris Gunter will slot into right-back and Kevin McNaughton may again be asked to stand in as an emergency centre-half. Willo Flood is then expected to line-up in midfield alongside Stephen McPhail leaving City short of presence in midfielde and without a dominant presence such as Scimeca or Walton.

Youngsters Matt Smith and Darcy Blake are called up as cover to City’s ravaged squad.



West Brom will be missing their valuable captain Curtis Davies, serving an automatic ban. Martin Albrechtsen is set to step in. The Baggies may choose to rest some players ahead of a gruelling week with a Championship game against Leicester and an FA Cup replay against Middlesborough to come.