Get our Derby vs Cardiff City prediction, bet builder tips, latest odds, and expected lineups ahead of this English Championship match. Who will win?
Derby vs Cardiff City Match Summary
Competition | English Championship |
|---|---|
Match Date | Saturday 22 August 2026 |
Match Time | 15:00 UK time |
Venue (City, Stadium) | Derby, Pride Park Stadium |
Derby host Cardiff City at Pride Park in the English Championship, and both sides arrive still chasing their first win of the new campaign. The Derby vs Cardiff City tie is finely poised.
The Rams opened with a 2-1 defeat away at Charlton, leading through Sam Szmodics before conceding twice late on. A quiet summer window has dimmed the optimism around Pride Park.
Cardiff marked their return to this division with a point against Wrexham in gameweek one, Rubin Colwill's stoppage-time free-kick cancelling out an early opener. They will fancy their chances here.
History leans towards the visitors, who have won four of the last six meetings between these clubs in the Championship, with one Derby win and one draw across those fixtures.
Derby vs Cardiff City Form
Derby are misfiring at both ends, having conceded at least two goals in each of their last four Championship matches, and there have been over 2.5 goals in their last four league outings too. They also suffered back-to-back 2-1 defeats to Lincoln City in the EFL Cup and Charlton in the league. Alex Mowatt could hand the engine room some steel after arriving from West Brom.
Cardiff are stubborn but toothless, failing to win any of their last nine Championship matches, and there have been under 2.5 goals in five of their last six league games. They did beat Swindon Town 3-2 in the EFL Cup before drawing 1-1 with Wrexham, Rubin Colwill the late hero. Yannick Salech leads the line at Pride Park.
Derby vs Cardiff City Lineups & Team News
Injuries & Suspensions
Derby: Derry Murkin (Injured/out), Palmer Agyemang (Injured/out), Matt Clarke (Injured/out), Sam Szmodics (Injured/doubtful)
Cardiff City: Will Fish (Injured/out), Dylan Lawlor (Injured/out), Calum Chambers (Injured/out)
Derby
Matt Clarke has been ruled out for up to two weeks, while Derry Murkin has suffered a setback on his road to recovery. Derby are also sweating over Sam Szmodics' fitness after he picked up a thigh injury against Charlton. Alex Mowatt could make his full league debut after his summer move.
Cardiff City
Rubin Colwill could be rewarded with a start after his late equaliser against Wrexham, a change that would drop Chris Willock to the bench for the trip to Pride Park. Will Fish, Dylan Lawlor and Calum Chambers are all sidelined for the visitors.
Derby vs Cardiff City Predicted Lineup
Derby
Formation: 3-5-2
Predicted Starting Lineup: Zetterström; Forsyth, Sanderson, Langås; Taylor, Travis, Fraulo, Mowatt, Ward; Salvesen, Morris
Cardiff City
Formation: 4-1-4-1
Predicted Starting Lineup: Trott; Scanlon, Bagan, Osho, Ng; Robertson; Ashford, Colwill, Moylan, Tanner; Salech
Derby vs Cardiff City Key Stats & Match Facts
Derby have conceded at least two goals in each of their last four Championship matches.
There have been over 2.5 goals in Derby's last four Championship games.
Cardiff have failed to win any of their last nine Championship matches.
There have been under 2.5 goals in five of Cardiff's last six Championship games.
Rubin Colwill scored a 97th-minute free-kick equaliser for Cardiff against Wrexham on 16 August 2026.
Derby vs Cardiff City Prediction & Best Bets
Our prediction: This has the look of a tight, messy afternoon. Derby are marginal favourites at 21/20 with Betfred and edge our numbers, but a leaky home defence against a stubborn Cardiff side points to a shared spoils feel. Our prediction is a 1-1 draw.
Best Bets
Both Teams To Score - Yes With a projected 1.53 to 1.25 scoreline and Derby shipping two or more goals in each of their last four league games, both ends look vulnerable. That gives a genuine reason to expect goals at either end here.
Bobby Clark Over 0.5 Shots On Target Clark rates as strong value in this market on the underlying numbers, with the AI-predicted probability sitting above 56%. A forward getting at least one effort on target in a game with goals in it stacks up nicely alongside the both-teams-to-score angle.
Derby vs Cardiff City Bet Builder
A four-leg bet builder leaning on proven individual trends: shots on target from Callum Robinson and Carlton Morris, plus cards for Perry Ng and Carlton Morris in a fixture that has plenty of previous.
Callum Robinson Over 0.5 Shots On Target is the anchor, with Robinson having recorded 1+ shot on target in six of his last seven appearances against Derby in the Championship.
Carlton Morris Over 0.5 Shots On Target follows on, the forward hitting the target in each of his last four apps against Cardiff in the Championship, a perfect run.
Perry Ng to be carded is a sensible add, with Ng shown a card in two of his last three appearances against Derby in the Championship.
Carlton Morris to be carded completes it, the striker having picked up a booking in two of his last three apps against Cardiff in the Championship.
At the time of writing, this bet builder pays a best price of 25/1 and is as short as 18/1 elsewhere. That's a difference in potential winnings of £80 from best to worst price.
Make sure to get the best odds on your Bet Builder with Oddschecker's Exclusive Bet Builder Comparison Tool.
Bet builder odds correct at time of publishing.
Derby vs Cardiff City Talking Points
The story here is Derby's soft centre against a Cardiff side who simply cannot find a win. The Rams are strong in the air and dangerous down the flanks, but protecting a lead has been a genuine weakness, and four straight games conceding two or more tells its own tale. Cardiff, meanwhile, boast the aerial threat and set-piece menace to punish that, with Rubin Colwill's late free-kick against Wrexham a reminder of their dead-ball danger. Nine games without a win in this division is the number Cardiff's men are desperate to shake, and a leaky Derby back line offers them a way in.
Derby vs Cardiff City Predictions FAQs
What is the prediction for Derby vs Cardiff City?
Explore our comprehensive Derby vs Cardiff City match preview for detailed predictions, best bets, and recommended bet builder selections.
Where is Derby vs Cardiff City being played?
The English Championship fixture between Derby and Cardiff City will be played at Pride Park Stadium in Derby.
What are the latest betting odds for Derby vs Cardiff City?
Match odds for Derby vs Cardiff City are available in our betting preview, featuring the latest head-to-head prices and key betting markets.
Where can I find Derby vs Cardiff City lineups?
Probable lineups and team news for Derby vs Cardiff City are updated in our match preview ahead of kick-off.
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