Match Previews

Albion v Cardiff City | Match Pack

Albion v Cardiff home colours match pack graphic with both badges on and an image of Paddy McNair smiling at the camera stood in the home shirt

The Baggies return home to The Hawthorns for the first time in three weeks on Saturday afternoon, hosting Cardiff City in the Sky Bet Championship (ko 3pm).

Albion have recorded back-to-back points at Oxford United and Blackburn Rovers already this week, drawing 0-0 at Ewood Park on Wednesday night in their most recent encounter. 

Carlos Corberán's men will be determined to end their winless run this weekend, a run which stretched to five games up in Lancashire in midweek.

Visitors Cardiff had a poor start to the term but have seemingly turned a corner, winning three and drawing one of their last four following a sequence of seven defeats in their opening nine fixtures in all competitions.

The Baggies did the double over the men from Wales last season, claiming a 1-0 triumph away and a 2-0 success in front of their own supporters. 

A general view of the top of the stands at The Hawthorns through a goal net with blue skies and clouds
Albion's last match in B71 was on October 5

Follow the action LIVE

Supporters can listen to live audio commentary of Albion's clash with Cardiff City on Saturday.

Audio passes are available to purchase here.

Gez Mulholland and former Baggie Andy Johnson will provide live commentary, with coverage starting at 2.50pm.

Details for video streaming on WBA TV will be available here from Friday lunchtime onwards.

Supporters are kindly asked to direct any questions or complaints about WBA TV or WBA Radio to wbatvsupport@streamamg.com.

The club are unable to answer queries about WBA TV or WBA Radio sent to fans@wbafc.co.uk or myalbion@wbafc.co.uk.

Regular updates will also be posted across the club's social media channels throughout the day.

WBA Matchday

The visitors 

Heading into the latest round of matches in the Sky Bet Championship, the team in the second tier who have collected the most points in October are visitors Cardiff City.

They've picked up 10 from a possible 12 so far this month, beating Millwall, Plymouth and Portsmouth at home, as well as drawing at Bristol City. 

It's been quite the turnaround for the Bluebirds who had only taken one point from their opening seven fixtures prior to their clash with Millwall on October 1. 

They've scored seven goals and kept two clean sheets already this week and will be full of confidence coming up to The Hawthorns. 

Erol Bulut departed the Welsh capital towards the end of September, with 44-year-old Omer Riza, who joined Bulut's backroom staff before the start of the 2024/25 campaign, taking charge on an interim basis. 

Saturday's encounter with the Albion will be his sixth match at the helm, winning three, drawing one and losing one of his previous five. Riza represented Arsenal, ADO Den Haag, Barnet, Cambridge United, Denizlispor, Trabzonspor and Shrewsbury Town among others during his playing days.

Cardiff City's Ollie Tanner celebrates scoring a goal in the rain
The Bluebirds are flying high on confidence

One from the history books

The Baggies defeated the Bluebirds 2-0 at The Hawthorns in February.

Mikey Johnston scored in the opening minute before Andi Weimann sealed all three points in the closing stages. 

Supporters can watch the highlights below.

The last five at The Hawthorns

Albion 2-0 Cardiff City

February 2024, Sky Bet Championship

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Albion 0-0 Cardiff City

August 2022, Sky Bet Championship

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Albion 1-1 Cardiff City

January 2022, Sky Bet Championship

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Albion 4-2 Cardiff City

October 2019, Sky Bet Championship

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Albion 3-3 Cardiff City 

March 2014, Premier League

Romaine Sawyers scores for Albion against Cardiff at The Hawthorns in October 2019
Romaine Sawyers scored his first Albion goal in the 4-2 win in 2019

The stats

Albion will be determined to extend their unbeaten home run to seven games in all competitions against Cardiff City. The Baggies have won three and drawn three of the last six at The Hawthorns when facing the Bluebirds. December 2009 was the last time Saturday's visitors won in B71.

The Baggies are also six unbeaten at all venues against Cardiff (W3, D3). The Bluebirds' most recent triumph over Albion was a 2-1 success in South Wales in January 2020.

Albion have drawn three games in-a-row. The last time the club drew four on the bounce was during a run of seven between August and October 1999. In 90 minutes, the Baggies drew 24 games that particular term. 

Only Leeds United (11) have won more points in the last five matches than Cardiff City (10).

The Bluebirds have gone seven away matches without a win. Their last triumph on their travels was in the West Midlands - a 1-0 success over Birmingham City in April. 

Former Albion forward Callum Robinson has scored in Cardiff's last two games (Plymouth and Portsmouth). He bagged 17 goals in 95 appearances during his time at The Hawthorns.

Carlos Corberán sat in the dugout at Blackburn Rovers looking to his left
Carlos Corberán has seen his side held to three consecutive Sky Bet Championship draws

The ticket details

Only limited availability remains at The Hawthorns for this weekend's match against Cardiff City - but supporters can now purchase a seat from the ticket exchange.

The Ticket Exchange allows season ticket holders to list their seat for resale, increasing the opportunity for supporters to be at games, while reducing the number of empty seats at The Hawthorns. 

Season ticket holders will receive a credit, equivalent to the pro-rata cost of their match ticket, minus a £1 selling fee, when their seat is sold.

Click here to list seats for resale or to purchase seats from the ticket exchange.

Alternatively, a limited number of tickets remain available online, in-person from the East Stand Ticket Office or by calling 0121 227 2227.

When buying online, supporters will need to be logged into their My Albion account linked to their ticketing ID. Click here for instructions.

Please note, Baggies fans can either opt to use the ‘WBA Tickets On The Go’ app or print their ticket at home - there will be no paper tickets available for the 2024/25 season.

A ticket graphic displaying information for Albion's game against Cardiff

For the fans

Supporters of both West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City with a valid match ticket can enter the Fan Zone free of charge from midday onwards on Saturday. 

A wide range of entertainment will be on offer including inflatable games for junior Baggies, opportunities to grab the perfect selfie with both Baggie Bird and Boilerman and live Sky Bet Championship football on the big screen - Coventry City's clash against Luton Town (ko 12.30pm).

Local steel drum band Tropikal Vizions will also play a 45-minute set from 2pm - 2.45pm. 

In addition, fans can take advantage of plenty of food and drink options, so head on down and soak up the pre-match atmosphere!

The club shop will be open from 9am until kick-off, before reopening after the final whistle for a further half-an-hour. 

A general view of Albion fans in the stand applauding their team

Together Against Racism campaign 

Albion are supporting the EFL’s Together Against Racism campaign this weekend, with several activities planned to mark the occasion.

The club are delighted to be joined by local steel drum band Tropikal Vizions who will be playing two musical sets on matchday. Supporters can listen to the first outside the East Stand Reception from 12.30-13.15, and the second in the Fan Zone from 14.00-14.45. 

In addition, supporters in all home concourses can take advantage of a matchday special of cajun spiced butternut squash and sweet potato soup, accompanied by hardo bread. 

Guests dining in the East and West Stand hospitality suites will have the choices of courses that have been shaped by the ingredients and influences of Afro/Caribbean cuisine. 

Earlier this week, Premier League Inspires students from four local schools were invited to The Hawthorns to take part in a collapsed curriculum day hosted by The Albion Foundation. 

Students participated in a poetry workshop presented by Smethwick-based poet Samantha Jones which explored the theme 'reclaiming narratives' and were then tasked to create a poem in line with the theme. 

The winning poem, chosen by Samantha Jones has been featured in the matchday programme and the winners were rewarded with tickets to attend Albion’s fixture this Saturday. 

A further three poems have been selected to feature on the big screens during half time, along with a poem written and performed by Samantha Jones.

EFL Together against racism campaign graphic

Guest announcer

The club are excited for Junior Baggie Heidi Barker to join us pitch side to announce the starting eleven for our clash against Cardiff City. 

Heidi will also be interviewed at half time to discuss her recent fundraising campaign, 'Heidi Power'.

The nine-year-old is using transport powered by her, like walking, cycling, swimming and even a pedalo to travel the distance between the 12 stadia from the original Football League formed in 1888. 

Heidi will finish that challenge with a walk to The Hawthorns on October 26 before the encounter with the Bluebirds and has so far raised nearly £28,000 for charities such as Alzheimer’s Research U.K.  

Baggies fans can support Heidi’s fundraising here.

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