Preview: City v Cardiff

It always feels good to get some revenge, even if that means pistol-whipping a Cardiff team that finds itself in the relegation zone. They've only won 1 out of their last 11 matches in the league, changed managers, and brought some new players in. Add in fan dissatisfaction with the owner, and you have a team in massive turmoil.

Squad Updates: David Silva and Yaya Toure are available for tomorrow, while Jovetic and Rodwell are out for at least another week or two.

Expected starting XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Clichy, Garcia, Fernandinho, Silva, Navas, Negredo, Dzeko.

My reasoning for that lineup is that Pellegrini will want to keep his options for substitutions open. Kolarov can play on the wing if Silva doesn't feel up to the full 90, or sub in for Clichy. I think that Yaya will be on the bench, ready in case we need a better option in the center. I don't think he'll start, since Pellegrini will want to make sure his back issues are completely resolved for important fixtures coming up. Same goes for Aguero, who might make another appearance off the bench. No point in risking him for a rainy game where he could re-aggravate his calf issue.

Cardiff have only scored 4 goals in their last 9 league games, and I don't think that they'll threaten too often. They scored from 2 corners last time we played, and that will probably be their best chances of scoring here too. Cardiff's road record is pretty bad, and it's about to get a whole lot worse.

I will be absolutely flabbergasted if City score less than 3 goals, and that's about what the betting lines have this as. Look for Dzeko and Negredo to combine for 3 goals, and then for Aguero to come on late and add another one.

Prediction: City 5 - 0.