One of the most interesting ties in FA Cup 3rd round will see Premier League side West Bromwich play host to Championship high-flyers Cardiff City. However, with the hosts hit by a major injury crisis and the visitors playing the Carling Cup semi-final just three days later, we are set to see a lot of players who are not normally considered first team regulars.

Good performance at White Hart Lane

West Bromwich are on the road to become genuine Premier League mid table side, and there are no doubts they have progressed a great deal under Roy Hodgson. The experienced boss managed to find the right balance between attacking flair and defensive solidity, so nobody is surprised by team’s good displays this season. The Baggies did suffer a bit from having too many players on the sidelined, but the impressive performance against Tottenham at the Lane proves that Hodgson has decent replacements for first team regulars. It is exactly players like Dawson, Dorrans, Thorne and Cox that will be given another opportunity to impress against Cardiff City, and with Fortune, Jara and Morrison also likely to start, the hosts have no reason to worry for the outcome of this clash. Several usual first team regulars should also be in the starting line-up, as the hosts will give their best to make it to the next round.

Chris Brunt, Zoltan Gera, Shane Long and Steven Reid are all out, whereas Jonas Olsson, Jerome Thomas, James Morrison and Youssouf Mulumbu are doubtful.

Cardiff have other things on their minds

Over the last few years, Cardiff have been one of the main candidates for promotion to the Premier League, but the Bluebirds have yet to make that final step and ensure their place in world’s most popular football competition. Taking that into account and team’s solid showings this season, West Brom would probably have their work cut out for them in this match if it wasn’t for the fact that Cardiff are set to face Crystal Palace just three days later in the most important game in their recent history. The Bluebirds have a chance to qualify for the Carling Cup final, so nobody is surprised that boss Malky Mackay is set to sacrifice this clash in order to have his key players fit for the Palace game. He has already announced plans to rest his star players, and everything suggests that the visitors will face West Brom with second string line-up.

Key players Kenny Miller, Peter Whittingham, Mark Hudson and others will be rested, with Tom Heaton, Lee Naylor and Robbie Earnshaw among those expected to start.

Verdict

West Brom may be missing quite a few first team regulars, but the back-up players have already shown they can step up the plate and I have no doubts the Baggies will be able to beat what would be Cardiff’s second string line-up. This is clear home win for me.

Our prediction: Home win

Odds: 1.83 (5/6)

Bookmaker: William Hill