Our first meeting with Cardiff was back in 1923 when we took them to a second replay, which in those days was played at a neutral venue (in this case Villa Park), in the FA Cup First Round before going down 2-1. During the 30's we were regular Division 3 (South) opponents but it wasn't until 2003 that they started to become very regular opposition once more.
We've played 45 times, winning 17, drawing 11 and losing 17 scoring 67 goals to their 60. In the 22 meetings at the Vic we've won 12, drawn 7 and lost just 3 times scoring 42 goals to their 22. Our biggest win was a 4-0 home victory back in 1936. Twice we've gone down by 3 goals away which represents our worst results against the Bluebirds, 4-1 in 1933 and 3-0 seventy years later.
Our last meeting at home was rather eventful as we scored twice in the opening 25 minutes before Priskin got sent off. Richard Lee saved a penalty but Cardiff still managed to force a draw with two goals in the last twenty. In March we lost 2-1 in the Welsh capital after giving away a penalty in injury time.
Cardiff hilariously missed out on the playoffs on the very last day of the season having been in the top six for the majority of the season. This year they have started solidily and are currently 5th after their 6-1 hammering of Derby on Tuesday night. However before that, they'd lost three in a row against QPR, Villa and Sheffield Wednesday and on the road they've been beaten by Doncaster and drew at Blackpool.
City's Michael Chopra had a memorable loan spell at Vicarage Road becoming the first player since Luther to score four goals in a game during the 7-4 massacre at Turf Moor. He also played for us in the FA Cup Semi Final defeat to Southampton. Their assistant manager Terry Burton did the same job for two and a half seasons alongside Ray Lewington before Sam Hammam tempted him down to Wales. Mutual friends include Neal Ardley, Jermaine Darlington and Mel Rees.
