Cardiff vs West Brom Prediction: Can new managers inspire improvement?

With just two games to go of the Championship season, it really is now or never for Cardiff City. Having got rid of Omer Riza over Easter, now club legend Aaron Ramsey is at the helm looking to inspire a late survival story. 

It feels like a big ask, but it looks like the Bluebirds will have to win their final two games to stand a chance. Next up for them is West Brom at home on Saturday (15:00), after the visitors parted ways with Tony Mowbray. Below you can find my Cardiff vs West Brom predictions. 

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Ramsey brought Perry Ng, Chris Willock and Cian Ashford into the XI for the game against Oxford but the 1-1 draw felt like a missed opportunity. Yakou Meite could replace Ashford on the right while Rubin Colwill is surely the key to any remaining survival hopes. He has been unable to get into the team of late but could replace Alex Robertson. 

Yousef Salech led the line and scored against the U’s so should keep his place, while Ramsey is unable to pick himself to play due to a hamstring issue. However, he is targeting a return to playing, telling the BBC: "I am just taking these three games. I'm still recovering from a hamstring operation, I'm still in the middle of rehab and I'm focused on getting back to full fitness.”

West Brom’s James Morrison will take charge of this game and it’s hard to know what changes he will make after Mowbray’s exit. Adam Armstrong feels likely to return to the XI up top in place of Will Lankshear having been shifted to the wing too often in recent weeks, while Daryl Dike and Karlan Grant are also alternative options in the final third. 

Dike was criticised by the departed boss for his attitude to training, so it will be intriguing to see how his future develops at the Hawthorns. Alex Mowatt could provide some much-needed calmness in midfield while John Swift and Grady Diangana may be left out given they are expected to leave the club with their contracts expiring at the end of the campaign. 

Cardiff vs West Brom Odds 

Cardiff are priced at 21/20 to win this game giving them an implied win probability of 48%. West Brom are available at 11/5 to take all three points while a draw can be backed at 23/10. Over 2.5 goals can be backed at 10/11 having come in during 43% of Cardiff’s game so far, while BTTS is 8/11. 

In terms of goalscorers, Callum Robinson is the favourite to score first having found the net on 12 occasions in 2024/25. 

BTTS @ 8/11

I can’t see either of these teams keeping a clean sheet in the penultimate game of the Championship season. Cardiff have seen both teams score in six of their last eight home league games, while seven of their last 10 have also seen both teams find the net. 

West Brom have struggled to keep the ball out of their net lately, and both teams have now scored in three of their last four outings. With new managers at the helm, I’m expecting more aggressive and impressive attacking displays from both teams - so I think we will see BTTS come in once again. 

Draw @ 23/10

I can’t call this one, which has led me to sit on the fence. I don’t think a draw will be good enough for Cardiff and I would have backed them to win had Mowbray still been in charge of the Baggies. However, that managerial change - on both sides - could give a slight lift in performance and energy, even if both coaches are lacking experience in the dugout. 

Cardiff have the third-worst home record in the home division which isn’t a surprise given where they stand in the division, while West Brom have lost six of their last seven and their play-off hopes are now over. I think they will pick up slightly here, but ultimately this result won’t help either side. I can’t see Cardiff getting out of danger at this late stage. 

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