Enzo Maresca’s Leicester side have been far from convincing during their opening fixtures against each of Coventry City and Huddersfield Town.
Nevertheless, the East Midlands outfit have come through with 2-1 and 1-0 victories, efforts that can only have encouraged Maresca as he continues to build his squad at the King Power Stadium.
Incomings and outgoings are expected to materialise before the end of August, yet there is a feeling that the Foxes are already a step ahead of the likes of Leeds United and Southampton, their fellow relegated sides from last season’s Premier League.
Each of Leicester’s three goals in the Championship have been scored in the 73rd minute or later, arguably an indication that they could emerge as one of the fitter sides in the division.
However, it is still early, and their upcoming opponents have already shown that they are capable of delivering a performance at the home of a title favourite
Cardiff came away from their opening-weekend trip to Leeds feeling disappointed having only posted a 2-2 draw after leading by two goals at half time.
New head coach Erol Bulut would have taken the positives from the display at Elland Road, yet he has since witnessed the Bluebirds fail to impress in home fixtures with Colchester United and Queens Park Rangers.
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The latter would have felt there for the taking when they met in South Wales on August 12, but QPR bounced back from a 4-0 defeat to Watford by edging out Cardiff by a 2-1 scoreline.
Having had a week to react to that disappointment, Bulut needs a response from his team if they are to avoid becoming embroiled in a scrap to avoid relegation from the early weeks of the campaign.
These two teams have not squared off in a competitive fixture since Cardiff prevailed 1-0 at the King Power Stadium in December 2018, back when both teams were in the Premier League
