PREM: Cardiff v Brighton preview

Cardiff v Brighton preview

Cardiff City are without suspended midfielder Harry Arter when they host Brighton on Saturday.

Arter picked up his fifth booking of the season in Cardiff's 1-0 home defeat to Leicester last time out.

That result saw Cardiff slip back into the relegation zone, and manager Neil Warnock thinks they can learn lessons from their opponents this weekend.

"We need to defend like we can, that's what they do," said Warnock. "They make very few mistakes and take their chances.

 

"That's what we've got to do, but it's easier said than done.

 

"Chris' (Hughton) achievements speak for themselves and sometimes you've got to be careful what you wish for.

"Newcastle were in a super position when they got rid of him. He's bad for us as managers, he's so nice and gives us a bad reputation."

 

 Cardiff have only won once in the Premier League this season while Brighton have won three of their last four matches.

They start the weekend 12th in the table, and manager Chris Hughton said: "It goes without saying that when you get used to this league you recognise that trips to teams who aren't in the top six might not be as daunting - but this is still only our second season in the division.

 

"We know them quite well as a team, and their level of performance this season has been relatively good on the whole despite the results.

"They're at home and they'll have good backing from the crowd, so our approach is exactly the same as any other away game - but every game is an opportunity for us."

 

Cardiff are without Arter as well as injured trio Jazz Richards, Kenneth Zohore and Lee Peltier, but Joe Ralls and Danny Ward are available.

Pascal Gross and Davy Propper (both ankle) are out for Brighton and Hughton says Alireza Jahanbakhsh is a doubt with a "slight" hamstring strain.