The Leeds United soap opera continues to rumble on as another manager has fallen victim to the trigger-happy chairman Massimo Cellino.

The Italian has now sacked three managers since taking charge of the club in April, including two this season, neither of whom have lasted more than six games at the helm.

The situation became even more farcical earlier this week when the latest man to be pushed, Darko Milanic, claimed that he was on "paid leave" and had not officially been relieved of his duties by the club.

Even so, it is expected that Neil Redfearn will be handed the reins on a permanent basis sooner rather than later having impressed during his time as caretaker earlier this season.

While Cellino was searching for the right man to replace Dave Hockaday, Redfearn guided the club to 10 points from a possible 12 in the league, while Milanic's subsequent 32-day reign yielded just three points from six outings.

The combined 102-day reigns of Hockaday and Milanic are as much a signal of Cellino's shortcomings as they are of the individual managers', but fans must now be feeling an alien sense of optimism with a familiar face due to take charge.

Given Cellino's record, though, the pressure is on Redfearn to turn things around fast, with Leeds now sitting in 18th place in the Championship table, just five points clear of the relegation zone.

Victory this weekend would draw them level on points with Cardiff and could lift them into the top half, but they have won just once on the road all season.

Redfearn is unlikely to make too many changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out, with that XI being not too dissimilar to the side he fielded in his final match in caretaker charge.

Cardiff have had their own managerial issues this season, although Russell Slade has made a steady start to his time in charge of the club.

The new boss won his first two matches in charge to lift the underperforming Bluebirds into the top half of the table, although his first defeat came on Saturday as Millwall edged to a 1-0 victory at The Den.

Even so, they remain just four points adrift of the playoff places now, and a good string of results should be enough to see them breach the top six given that many of the teams above them are regularly dropping points.

They do boast an impressive run of results at home having won each of their last three at the Cardiff City Stadium, while only Wolves have amassed more points at home in the Championship this season.

Aron Gunnarsson was forced off early in the defeat to Millwall and is a doubt this weekend, while Ravel Morrison and Nicky Maynard are both pushing for starts.

Recent form

Cardiff: LDDLDW

Leeds: LDLDDL

Possible starting lineups

Cardiff: Marshall; Brayford, Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Fabio; Pilkington, Ralls, Whittingham, Noone; Macheda, Le Fondre

Leeds: Silvestri; Berardi, Bellusci, Pearce, Warnock; Bianchi, Sloth, Murphy, Adryan; Antenucci, Doukara

Sports Mole says: 2-1