Before the match

Cardiff came into the game with two wins, one draw and two defeats from their last five outings, scoring nine goals and conceding eight. On 31 October, Cardiff recorded a 3-0 defeat visiting Wolverhampton; their biggest win in that spell was 5-1 at home to Watford on 13 October.

Championship, 31 October brought an away meeting with Wolverhampton; Cardiff lost 0-3, a return of zero goals scored and three conceded. Cardiff hosted Birmingham on 24 October (Championship) and won 1-0; their goals totalled one, compared with zero conceded. Middlesbrough hosted Cardiff (Championship) on 17 October. For Cardiff, the score was 2-2: two goals scored, two allowed. 5-1 was Cardiff's result against Watford on 13 October (Championship), playing at home; Cardiff won, with five scored to one conceded. The 10 October fixture (Championship) paired Cardiff with Blackburn. Cardiff lost 1-2 away from home, netting one goal while conceding two.

Cardiff stood 18th in the results-based Championship table before kickoff, with 14 points from 13 matches.

West Ham's previous five results comprised two wins, one draw and two defeats. Their goal totals were 11 scored and 7 conceded. West Brom were their latest opponents, at home on 31 October: a 3-1 defeat; their biggest win in that spell was 6-0 away to Lincoln City on 14 October.

On 31 October, West Brom faced West Ham in Championship: West Ham lost 1-3 at home, having scored one and conceded three. Championship, 24 October brought a home meeting with Southampton; West Ham lost 2-3, a return of two goals scored and three conceded. West Ham visited Swansea on 17 October (Championship) and won 1-0; their goals totalled one, compared with zero conceded. Lincoln City hosted West Ham (Championship) on 14 October. For West Ham, the score was 6-0: six goals scored, zero allowed. 1-1 was West Ham's result against QPR on 9 October (Championship), playing at home; West Ham drew, with one scored to one conceded.

Before kickoff, Championship's results-based standings placed West Ham 8th after 13 matches and 22 points.

Earlier results between these sides included a 2-0 home win for Cardiff on 9 March 2019 and a 3-1 home win for West Ham on 4 December 2018.

After the match

Jack Moylan opened the scoring inside the first 11 minutes for Cardiff, set up by Alex Robertson, to make it 1-0. Jack Moylan added to the tally from the penalty spot in the 37th minute for Cardiff to make it 2-0. With the 3rd goal, Cardiff extended the lead through Jack Moylan in the 39th minute, set up by Joel Bagan, to make it 3-0. Divine Mukasa got one back 58 minutes into the game for West Ham, set up by Jarrod Bowen, to make it 1-3. With the 5th goal, West Ham reduced the deficit through Arne Engels 65 minutes into the game, set up by Joël Piroe, to make it 2-3. Max Kilman levelled it late on, in the 82nd minute for West Ham, set up by Jarrod Bowen, to make it 3-3. Max Kilman (23'), Soungoutou Magassa (25') and Joël Veltman (84') were booked. The rating gap is a clear one: our current Elo ratings have West Ham 119 points stronger than Cardiff. The substitution total for Cardiff was four. West Ham picked up three yellow cards. The substitution total for West Ham was five. Joël Piroe, on in the 46th minute, provided an assist.