South Wales derby impacted by Bothroyd and Pratley suspensions
Published:Two suspensions are set to have a major impact on potentially the biggest South Wales derby ever when Cardiff host Swansea next in a crunch game at the head of the Championship.
Cardiff currently top the standings by two points from QPR, while Swansea sit six points adrift of their rivals in third spot.
The pair have both started impressively as they look to appear in the top-flight together for the first time and their clash at the Cardiff City Stadium could have a major bearing on their final positions.
However, both teams will be missing one of their most influential players as Cardiff will be without top-scorer Jay Bothroyd and energetic midfielder Darren Pratley is out for Swansea.
The pair have both collected five bookings this season, which means they will miss the game due to serving a one-game suspension.
Pratley has starred in the derby before as he scored twice for Swansea in the 3-2 home win last season, including the second-half winner, while also finding the target at the Liberty Stadium in the previous season.
Bothroyd has scored against Swansea for Cardiff before, but it has been his goals against other Championship opposition this campaign that will be their biggest miss.
The striker has netted ten times already in the league after 14 games and this is one of the reasons that they are the new 13/8 favourites to win the Championship.
Swansea are 10/1 in the same market, but these odds will no doubt shorten should they inflict a first home defeat on Cardiff this season.
Key for Swansea will be keeping Bothroyd’s strike partner Michael Chopra quiet, as he has proved their chief nemesis in recent campaigns.
He has scored three goals in Cardiff’s last two home games with Swansea, including an injury-time winner in their most recent clash in April.
QPR are still unbeaten in the Championship this season and are 2/1 to win the title. See the full Championship winners betting odds market.
