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LONDON (Interstat) — League One relegation strugglers Northampton Town visit Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, April 25, in a critical match for both sides’ final league positioning.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. local time.

Cardiff City (ninth place) enters the contest on a two-match winning streak. The Bluebirds defeated Port Vale 1-0 on Wednesday, April 22, following a 3-1 victory over Reading on April 18. Manager Omer Riza’s side has shown defensive solidity, conceding only once in its last three outings.

Northampton Town (22nd place) arrives in dire form, having lost eight of its past 10 matches. The Cobblers were defeated 3-1 by Doncaster on April 18, extending a slide that includes a 2-1 loss at Luton Town on April 15 and a 3-1 home defeat to Wigan on April 6. Since holding Peterborough to a 1-1 draw on Feb. 28, Northampton has dropped seven of eight contests.

The clubs met Nov. 22, 2025, with Cardiff claiming a 3-1 victory at Sixfields. Cardiff’s Perry Ng and Rubin Colwill scored in that match, while Northampton’s Sam Hoskins answered with a consolation goal.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 1-1 draw.

Northampton’s Sam Sherring and Louis Appere have been bright spots in an otherwise difficult campaign, but the back line has been porous, conceding 14 goals over its past five matches. Cardiff’s defense, anchored by Mark McGuinness and Dimitrios Goutas, has allowed only one goal in the same span.

The result carries significant stakes: Cardiff aims to climb into playoff contention, while Northampton desperately needs points to escape the relegation zone with only two matches remaining after Saturday. Northampton travels to Barnsley on April 28, while Cardiff closes the regular season at Mansfield Town on May 2.