Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's Championship clash between Cardiff City and title-chasing Newcastle United. Newcastle's primary goal for the season was achieved on Monday with promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, and they will now set their sights on the outside chance of catching leaders Brighton & Hove Albion over the final two games of the campaign. Cardiff could end those hopes tonight, though, so it promises to be an intriguing encounter. Let's start with a look at the team news...

CARDIFF STARTING XI: McGregor; Bennett, Morrison, Ecuele Manga, Richards; Whittingham, Halford, Gunnarsson, K Harris, Hoilett; Zohore

CARDIFF SUBS: Murphy, Peltier, Ralls, Noone, Pilkington, Connolly, Lambert

NEWCASTLE STARTING XI: Elliot; Yedlin, Mbemba, Clark, Dummett; Atsu, Hayden, Colback, Perez; Diame; Murphy

NEWCASTLE SUBS: Darlow, Sterry, Haidara, Lazaar, Shelvey, Gouffran, Mitrovic

What can we make of those two sides, then? Well the big news as far as Cardiff are concerned is that top-scorer Kenneth Zohore returns to the starting XI having been rested against Wigan due to a heavy workload. The striker has scored 11 goals for Cardiff so far this season and will be hopeful of adding to that tally between now and the end of the season, and manager Neil Warnock has given him the chance to do that tonight as he replaces Pilkington in the starting XI.

At the opposite end of the field, Allan McGregor returns in goal for the Bluebirds having missed the Wigan draw through illness, with Amos dropping out of the squad entirely following the Scot's inclusion. It is one of a number of changes made by Warnock from that stalemate with the Latics - six in all, including one more in the defensive area as Jazz Richards comes into the starting lineup in place of Connolly, who drops to the bench.

Further forward, there is a notable inclusion for Peter Whittingham in what looks highly likely to be his final Cardiff City home game. The veteran's contract is due to expire at the end of the season and he has so far not come to terms over an extension, so it looks increasingly like he will depart this summer. The midfielder joined Cardiff way back in January 2007 and, during his 10-and-a-half years in South Wales, has made 455 appearances and scored 96 goals for the Bluebirds.

Whittingham comes into the side in place of Craig Noone, who also drops to the bench in another one of Warnock's six changes. Greg Halford and Junior Hoilett - both of whom boast Premier League experience - are the remaining two changes which I haven't mentioned so far, with Ralls and Harris missing out to make room for the new faces.

Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez has also rung the changes for tonight's match, although his decisions were expected following their promotion to the top flight on Monday night. The Spaniard revealed that Lascelles, Anita, Hanley, Gamez and Ritchie have all been playing through the pain barrier in recent weeks, and sure enough none of them even make the bench this evening, although Ritchie is also starting a two-match suspension that will see him miss the remainder of the campaign.

There are changes beyond the expected ones too, though, with Daryl Murphy amongst those to come into the side as Mitrovic drops to the bench for tonight's match. The Serbian striker did not get on the scoresheet during the win over Preston, but he played a big part in the game and may be upset to have been dropped tonight. Ayoze Perez was on the scoresheet against Preston - twice, in fact - but he is expected to play in a slightly wider role tonight.

That is to make room for the returning Mohamed Diame just behind Murphy - one of five changes made by Benitez from that win against Preston. He effectively replaces Ritchie in the starting XI, albeit in a slightly different role, while in central midfield Jack Colback will start in place of Jonjo Shelvey, who is given a rest tonight and starts on the bench. Hayden and Atsu, meanwhile, retain their places in midfield.

Another player who keeps his place is goalkeeper Rob Elliot, who was a surprise starter against Preston having not featured for 13 months before that due to injury. He came through his first game back unscathed and so starts again tonight, while in front of him DeAndre Yedlin is also back in the side having recently returned from his own spell on the sidelines. Mbemba is the other new face in the side, replaces Lascelles at the heart of the defence.

Changes galore for both teams, then, and the fact that Newcastle are missing some big-hitters - including top-scorer Dwight Gayle - should give Cardiff some extra belief that they can get one over on their promoted visitors tonight. Cardiff themselves have very little left to fight for this season, with a top-half finish seemingly the biggest goal they have left. A win tonight would take them into that top half, although that could only last until the bulk of the fixtures are played tomorrow.

Cardiff have proved to be a very much mid-table side this season, currently sitting 13th in the league, 14 points clear of the relegation zone and 17 adrift of the playoff places. They haven't had too much to fight for, aside from pride, of course, for some time now, but considering how this season started the fans will not be too upset about that. At one stage early in the campaign it looked as though Cardiff could become embroiled in the relegation battle, but that has not been the case after all.

The arrival of Neil Warnock had a lot to do with that as the veteran boss repeated the feat that he achieved with Rotherham United last season by keeping them in the division and steering them away from any sort of danger. You only need look at Rotherham's plight this season to see how big an impact Warnock can have at a club, and the Cardiff fans will have been delighted to see him sign a one-year extension back in February. With Warnock at the helm throughout the 2017-18 campaign, there will be plenty expecting them to at least make a push for the playoffs next season.

Cardiff sat 23rd in the table with just eight points from their opening 11 games when Warnock took over back in October, so to be in mid-table now is a lot better than things could have been for the club. The veteran boss does not have the best record against Newcastle United, though, having failed to win any of his last six meetings with the club - including five defeats. The last time Warnock was in charge of a team that beat the Magpies was during his time at Notts County in April 1991.

Cardiff may not have any relegation concerns during the closing stages of this season, but they come into tonight's match in very mixed form. They have only lost three of their last 14 Championship outings, so they are a tough team to beat, but over their last 11 games they have won three, drawn five and lost those three too. It has comfortably been enough to keep them away from any danger, but they will need more consistency if they are to launch a genuine playoff bid next season.

The Bluebirds have been consistent at home, in fairness, where they are unbeaten in their last six outings and having suffered just one league defeat in 10 since the turn of the year, winning seven of those. That includes a run of three consecutive home wins heading into tonight's match, and another triumph this evening would make it four in a row for the first time since November 2014. Compare that to Cardiff's away form, where they have gone six without a win and have triumph just five times all season, it is easy to see where their strengths lie.

One concern for the hosts heading into tonight's match will be their record against the teams in the upper reaches of the table so far this season. Cardiff have won just one of their 11 matches against teams currently in the top six of the Championship table this term - including a defeat to Fulham in the FA Cup. In the Championship alone they have picked up just seven points from a possible 30 against top-six opposition, although six of those seven points have come at home, where they have won one, drawn three and lost one against top-six teams.

The intriguing thing about tonight's match is that most of those top-six teams will have had more to play for than Newcastle do tonight. The Magpies went into this season with the primary objective of achieving promotion back to the top flight, and that is something they achieved at the first time of asking. Many people expected them to cruise to the Championship title with the squad and the manager at their disposal, and so in some respects it could be regarded as a bit of a disappointing campaign, but the bottom line is that they will be playing Premier League football again next season.

Newcastle's 4-1 victory over Preston on Monday saw them become the 21st team to secure an immediate promotion back to the Premier League in their first season after being relegated, but doing it via the automatic route has been relatively rare in recent seasons. Burnley, who went up as champions last term, are the only team to have managed it in the past six season, incidentally since Newcastle last achieved the feat in 2010.

The Magpies would, of course, prefer to go up as champions, like they did in 2010, but that is looking increasingly unlikely at the moment. Victory tonight would close the gap on leaders Brighton down to just one point, while a draw would also keep them in the race at three points behind and with superior goal difference, but no matter what Newcastle do tonight, Brighton could win the title tomorrow regardless. Should the Seagulls match or better Newcastle's score when they host Bristol City tomorrow then they will be crowned champions, while if Newcastle lose tonight then Chris Hughton's side will have won the league even before kickoff at the Amex.

The Magpies must hope for slip-ups from Brighton in their last two matches if they are to snatch the title from under their noses, then, and that is down to Newcastle themselves having slipped up in recent weeks. They made hard work of actually getting over the line before their win against Preston, heading into Monday's game on the back of a three-match winless streak. Their mixed form stretches back even further than that, with three wins, three draws and three defeats from their last nine outings almost handing the title to Brighton.

Newcastle's form away from home has dipped most of all during that period, with the Magpies coming into tonight's match off the back of consecutive defeats on the road. That means that they have lost as many away games in their last two trips as they had in their previous 19, and have lost as many in the month of April as they had over the previous eight months. Newcastle's winless run stretches back four games, meanwhile, with their last away victory coming against Huddersfield on March 4.

Newcastle have not lost three consecutive away games for more than a year, last doing so in April 2016 on their way to relegation from the Premier League. The Magpies have not done it at all in either of their recent stints in the second tier, so will be eager to avoid doing so in their final away match of this season. Despite that recent dip, the Magpies still boast the best away record in the Championship this season, picking up just two points fewer on their travels as they have at home.

This match pits together two interesting records, with Newcastle having scored the opening goal in a league-high number of their matches this season, including 11 goals inside the opening 15 minutes, but Cardiff have recovered 25 points from losing positions this term - second only to Fulham. Newcastle will no doubt be looking to make a quick start again tonight as some of their fringe players try to make an impact, but Cardiff are more than capable of responding.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes from kickoff at the Cardiff City Stadium, which means that it is time for a prediction! This is a tough one to call considering the team selections and the fact that Newcastle could well take their foot off the pedal following their promotion. Both teams have been in mixed form of late so it is difficult to know what to expect, but I am going to go for a 1-1 draw that would just about keep the title race alive.

This fixture has been dominated by Newcastle in recent years, to a club-record extent. The Magpies have won each of their last nine league meetings with the Bluebirds, during which time they have scored 24 goals and conceded just five. That run stretches all the way back to 1981 and should Newcastle emerge victorious again tonight then it would be their longest ever winning run against a single team in league competition, overtaking their nine-match streak against Walsall from 1893 to 1961.

It has not always been a story of such dominance for Newcastle, particularly not here in South Wales. Cardiff remained unbeaten in their first 21 home league meetings with the Magpies from 1922 to 1981, but they have lost each of their last four since then, conceding nine goals in the process. The most recent of those was a Premier League fixture in 2013 when a Loic Remy brace fired Newcastle to a 2-1 win, with Peter Odemwingie getting Cardiff's reply.

The reverse fixture this season ended in the same scoreline, and it was a similar story too as Newcastle moved into a two-goal lead before being pegged back. Atsu and Gouffran got the goals for the Magpies on that occasion, scoring at either end of the first half before Whittingham scored for Cardiff with 13 minutes remaining.

Right, the players are on their way out now and we're just about ready to go in South Wales. Will this be the night Brighton clinch the title, or can Newcastle extend their hopes for another day at least.

KICKOFF: Peter Whittingham gets us underway at the Cardiff City Stadium, and it takes about 10 seconds for the big travelling support to start singing Rafael Benitez's name.

Some news emerged from the Cardiff camp during the build-up to this game as the club announced that Zohore has signed a new contract. Can he celebrate with a goal tonight?

SAVE! The first shot of the night comes for Cardiff as Gunnarsson is allowed to cut in from the right and get a shot away from just outside the box all too easily. It is a powerful low strike, but Elliot makes a comfortable enough save.

Newcastle are just knocking the ball about amongst themselves at the moment, settling into the match nicely. If the players may show any signs of an end-of-season game, the fans certainly don't look likely to. They are in fine voice here!

Halford stays down after clattering into Diame, coming off from the challenge worse himself. He requires a quick looking-over from the medic, but he should be fine to carry on.

This one is yet to really get going in the opening 10 minutes. It is still early days, of course, but let's hope it doesn't develop into a traditional end-of-season clash with neither side playing with any particular urgency.

Warnock and Benitez aren't exactly the type of managers who will accept anything less than 100% from their sides, so hopefully this one will catch fire eventually...

SHOT! Newcastle have their first hint of a shooting chance as Hayden finds himself in a bit of space 25 yards from goal, but he fires his effort well over the crossbar.

Perez gets a stern talking-to from Graham Scott following a poor challenge on Harris that caught him right on the ankle. Perhaps a little fortunate to get away without a booking there.

Harris is still feeling the effects of that challenge, while Hayden is down inside his own area now following an innocuous-looking aerial challenge with Halford.

Harris and Hayden both receive treatment before leaving the field, but both will try to carry on here.

DISALLOWED GOAL! Cardiff have the ball in the back of the net as Morrison rises above Clark in the area to nod Whittingham's corner past the keeper. The referee, though, rules that he fouled Clark in the process of beating him to the ball.

Well, Kadeem Harris has tried to carry on here but it looks as though he will be forced to admit defeat. Craig Noone - a former Brighton player, by the way - is getting ready to come on.

Good chance for Newcastle to get in behind as Dummett slides a pass inside Richards for Atsu to run on to. Richards recovers really well to make a good, clean sliding challenge inside his own area, though.

CARDIFF SUB: There is the change we expected as Craig Noone replaces Harris.

Newcastle are a little unhappy with the referee here as he doesn't play advantage when they looked to be making good progress down the right. Instead it is a free kick in a decent crossing position, but it comes to nothing.

We're almost half an hour in to this one, and we're still waiting for something, anything of note to happen. Cardiff have had the ball in the back of the net, but that disallowed goal is all either set of fans have had to shout about so far.

SAVE! A little better from Newcastle as they play a short corner and Hayden collects the ball back on the right side of the area. The midfielder tries to fires a cross into the middle, but McGregor collects at the second attempt after fumbling it initially.

Cardiff have the ball in the back of the net once again, but this time the whistle has gone before the finishing touch is applied for offside against Hoilett. It was the winger who put it in the back of the net, but only after a couple of miskicks had seen the ball fall into his path.

SAVE! Whittingham swings a brilliant corner into the middle which Morrison attacks, but Elliot does really well to get there first. A second corner is again towards Morrison, this time at the back post, but his header is tame and Elliot collects it comfortably.

This one has not been great, I must be honest. We're 10 minutes from half time and we have barely had a sniff of goalmouth action.

SAVE! Finally, a genuine chance! It falls to Newcastle as Yedlin races forward down the right flank and drives a powerful low strike towards goal which McGregor does well to get down to. The Cardiff keeper still needs a bit of luck as he has no idea where the ball has gone until it drops just past the post.

CHANCE! Half a chance for Newcastle again, and by the standards of this game we'll count it as a clear sight of goal. Mbemba peels away from his marker from a corner, but it is a difficult one for him as he tries to steer a first-time side-footed volley in. He doesn't connect with it as he would like, though, and it doesn't test the keeper in the end.

Newcastle win another corner here, but Perez wants more. Halford clearly had a handful of his shirt to prevent Perez from getting a cross away, but referee Graham Scott waves away the muted claims for a penalty. Halford was taking a risk, but it would have been a bit soft.

Newcastle have seen more of the ball tonight, but there has been a distinct lack of quality in the final third - and that applies to both teams. There can be no complaints from either side with this one heading into half time at 0-0.

There will be two minutes of added time at the end of this first half.

SAVE! Bennett decides to have a crack at goal himself, and who can blame him after a half this dour? He lets fly from a good 30 yards, but it flies straight into the gut of Elliot.

Referee Graham Scott brings an end to the first half at the Cardiff City Stadium, and in truth it was a dire 45 minutes of football. Clean chances have been very few and far between for both sides and it is no surprise that we've gone into the break goalless. The main positive is that it can't get any worse in the second half!

It is around this time that I usually look back on the highlights of the first half, but it was been slim pickings in this one so far. The best chance either side have had saw Yedlin drill a powerful low strike across goal from the right side of the area, but McGregor got down to it really well and manage to push it narrowly past the post - albeit with a stroke of luck too.

Newcastle felt that they should have had a penalty towards the end of the half when Perez saw his shirt tugged by Halford inside the area, but the referee waved the claims away. At the other end, Cardiff have had the ball in the back of the net, but Morrison's header was chalked off due to a foul on Clark.

KICKOFF: Newcastle get us back underway for the second half! Surely we have a better 45 minutes to come?!

This game really needs someone to grab it by the scruff of the neck and spark it into life. Looking in both squads, Jonjo Shelvey is perhaps the best bet on that front, but whether Benitez will risk him is another matter.

CHANCE! The way this match has been going, this is a golden opportunity for Cardiff! Bennett stands a cross up into the middle and Newcastle can't deal with it, only managing to flick the ball on to the back post. Noone is waiting there unmarked, but he snatches at his effort and skews it wide.

This is a bit better! The game opens up more and this time it is Newcastle who come forward through Diame. He plays a low pass into the middle, but Richards pulls off a fine last-ditch block to avert the danger.

Good chance for Newcastle to test the keeper again as Atsu is hauled to ground by Morrison right on the edge of the area. Free kick in a very dangerous position...

Finally a moment of quality in this match! Newcastle take the lead, and in some style as Atsu nonchalantly fires a brilliant free kick in. It looks like it could be too close to go over the wall, but Atsu looks so relaxed as he just steps up and strokes it into the top corner past a statuesque McGregor. He made that look so easy!

Perez goes in search of a quickfire second with a fine run down the right flank that takes him all the way into the area. His final touch is just too heavy and takes it into the keeper's arms, but this is so much better from the visitors.

The large contingent of Newcastle fans are in fine voice right now, taking particular delight in Sunderland's impending relegation from the Premier League and their promotion to the top flight.

SHOT! Atsu looks to outdo himself with a second as he picks the ball up inside his own half before driving forward at the Cardiff defence. He eventually lets fly from 25 yards, but fires his effort a few yards off target.

CARDIFF SUB: The hosts make a change here as Halford replaces Joe Ralls.

CARDIFF SUB: That is swiftly followed by another change, and it could well be the last time we see Whittingham in a Cardiff shirt on home soil. He trudges off to be replaced by Anthony Pilkington.

Newcastle have a second, and it is a long way back for Cardiff now! It is another fine strike from the Magpies as Hayden is afforded space to shoot from 25 yards out and duly drills a rasping drive right into the corner. Once again, McGregor got nowhere near it.

NEWCASTLE SUB: Newcastle make a change in the immediate aftermath of that goal, with Aleksandar Mitrovic replacing Murphy.

Mitrovic looks to make an immediate impact as he receives the ball just outside the area, but he curls an effort well off target.

Pilkington tries to whip an inswinging cross in towards the back post, and while it is nowhere near any blue shirts it does have Elliot worried and he tips it behind for a corner.

CHANCE! Big chance for Cardiff to get themselves back into this match! With Whittingham off, Noone takes over the corner duties and he swings a good ball into the middle. Ecuele Manga towers above Hayden to reach it, but he plants his header narrowly over when he should have scored.

CLOSE! This is such an improvement on the first half it is hard to believe that it is the same game. Newcastle come close again here as the ball breaks kindly for Atsu on the edge of the box, but he curls an effort narrowly wide.

CHANCE! Another big chance for Newcastle! This time it is a gift as Morrison doesn't put enough on his header back to his keeper, allowing Mitrovic to nip in. The keeper is in no-man's land, but manages to tackle the Newcastle striker when he tries to take the ball down.

CHANCE! Where was all this action in the first half?! Cardiff go up the other end and create another glorious chance to get back into the game, but like Manga moments ago Zohore plants his header just over the crossbar!

NEWCASTLE SUB: The Cardiff City Stadium fills with boos as former Swansea man Jonjo Shelvey comes on in place of Colback.

CHANCE! Big sight of goal for the Magpies to add a third as Mitrovic unleashes a snapshot from inside the area, but the keeper makes a smart low stop with his feet.

CHANCE! Cardiff have had enough chances to be back in this match! It is really good play from Zohore as he holds off the defender down the left channel before cutting a low pass back into the middle. Noone is running on to it unmarked at the back post, but he gets his finish all wrong.

YELLOW CARD! The first card of the game goes to Richards, who launched himself into a challenge from behind on Atsu.

Cardiff have less than 10 minutes to get back into this match now and, while it looks like a long way back from 2-0 down against Newcastle, they have created enough chances to make us think that this one is not over just yet. If they can take one of those chances sooner rather than later then we could be in for an entertaining finale.

Noone has the chance to put the Newcastle defence under more pressure with a free kick in a good crossing position, but his delivery is poor. He hasn't had the best game since coming on, Noone.

Mitrovic cuts inside to create space to shoot again, but this time his effort is blocked and it deflects kindly into the arms of the Cardiff keeper.

The Newcastle players are getting the 'Ole!' treatment from their fans now as they knock the ball about amongst themselves. This is good game management from the visitors as they wind the clock down.

NEWCASTLE SUB: Another change for the visitors as Jamie Sterry replaces Perez.

There will be three minutes of added time at the end of this match.

The Championship title race rolls on until at least tomorrow, then, as Newcastle earn a 2-0 win over Cardiff that closes the gap on leaders Brighton to just one point. The Seagulls will be crowned champions if they win at home to Bristol City tomorrow afternoon, but Newcastle have done their part for now as second-half strikes from Christian Atsu and Isaac Hayden lead them to success.

Right, that is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's Championship clash between Cardiff and Newcastle as the Magpies keep the title race alive with a 2-0 victory in South Wales. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction from both camps too. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!