On Saturday afternoon, Cardiff City hosts Leeds United in the Championship with the chance to get closer to the Championship playoff spots.

Leeds is now in fourth place in the standings, seven points out of the automatic promotion spots, while the Bluebirds are in ninth.

Match preview

Leeds could have been forgiven for thinking they were out of the running for automatic promotion after going through their worst run of form this season, managing only seven points from six games.

But Leeds is still in the running for the top two, and this comes at a time when Ipswich Town has scored the same amount of points, giving Daniel Farke hope for the second half of the season.

The FA Cup third round matchup between Leeds and Peterborough United took place on Sunday at the ideal time, with Leeds winning 3-0 thanks in part to a brilliant strike from Patrick Bamford.

Leeds’ first goal will be to get within four points of Southampton, who are in third place, but they are in a situation where they can set even greater goals.

But the Yorkshire giants’ poor away performance in the Championship continues to be a cause for concern as they have lost three straight league games on the road, for a total of six losses in 13 attempts.

Cardiff believes that Errol Bulut needs to find a way to motivate his team following their disastrous 4-0 FA Cup loss to Sheffield Wednesday.

Cardiff may have changed the course of the match if they had converted at least one of the two penalties they were given, but Bulut needs to concentrate on winning back after suffering their sixth loss in ten games across all competitions.

Positively, Cardiff advanced into the top 10 by winning their most recent Championship match, 2-1 on the road at Queens Park Ranger

Just five points separate the Welsh outfit from fifth-placed West Bromwich Albion, highlighting that they have an opportunity to make further rapid progress up the table.

In other developments:

‘It would make sense’… Phil Hay thinks ‘streaky’ Leeds United man will win third start at Cardiff

Daniel Farke has a huge decision to make in the final third when Leeds United travel to Wales to take on Cardiff City on Saturday afternoon, and Phil Hay thinks he will stick with Patrick Bamford up top.Bamford, 30, enjoyed what was one of the best weeks of his career after such a dismal injury and lack of form. Goal against Birmingham on his first start 23-24, New Year’s Day.Then one of the goals in the FA Cup when he hit the net from 25 yards as Leeds beat Peterborough 3-0. A moment of disbelief. Archie Gray believes he will win the Puskas Award.So, does Farke live at Bamford? Or he’ll bring back Joel Piroe, fresh off two straight games from the starting lineup, a player who scored nine goals in 24 games.Hay was asked if he would bring Piroe back into the side or stick with Bamford when Leeds travel to Cardiff on Saturday afternoon. The Sports reporter spoke to The Square Ball about Bamford..

“The most important decision. I would keep Bamford in the starting line-up. It would be strange [to drop him] because Bamford is in good form and his confidence is growing for the first time in a long time, Hay reflected.”I have him downgraded as confident player, even after his best weeks. He is streaked. This is a pretty good time to invest in him..Phil Hay thinks Patrick Bamford will retain Leeds starting spot

Before the game, Bamford was seen facing Piro in training at Leeds, and while the decision to start won’t obviously go to the winner of the 20-yard race – it feels more symbolic.It showed Bamford’s great confidence, a sharp – laugh as he crossed the finish line with Piroe a yard or two behind. Bamford seems to have the momentum now – and he just needs to get going.