West Ham Midfielder: Cardiff are not Underdogs in Play-Off Match

West Ham midfielder Jack Collison has dismissed comments from Malky Mackay claiming that Cardiff are the underdogs in tonight's Championship play-off match-up.

The game is the first of two semi-final games between West Ham and Cardiff, with both hoping to reach the Wembley final to push for promotion to the Premier League.

And the Cardiff boss has previously claimed that he felt the Hammers were the bookmakers' favourites.

"I would think we are [underdogs], in terms of the expectation on a club the size of West Ham," he told the BBC.

"It's a former club of mine and I know the pressure at that football club to do well and to impress."

But tireless Wales and West Ham midfielder Collison disagrees with that opinion claiming that in the Championship games this year both teams managed a win against each other.

"We know they're a quality team and obviously they beat us first game of the season," said Collison.

"We got revenge later on so I think it's all set up to be a really good game. We know it's going to be tough and obviously I think the best team will come out on top after 180 minutes.

"There's a lot more riding on these games and I suppose there's going to be a full house at both places.

"Everyone's going to be up for it."

Collison, 23, has been ever-present for West Ham this season scoring four goals in a weak season for the club.

"A lot of people expected us to cruise the league, but it's a very tough league as we've found out," added Collison.

"But we've been on a really great run of form lately. We've lost one in 18, so confidence is very high in our camp and everyone fully believes that we're good enough to do it."