Still tight at the top

Before a ball was kicked at the Cardiff City stadium everyone knew at a win would see the Bluebirds back to second after results in earlier games favoured the Bluebirds.

Defeats for Swansea and Nottingham Forest and a draw for Norwich all played into the hands of Cardiff. Top of the table QPR scored a late, late goal to capture all three points with sixth place Leeds beating Doncaster to secure three points.

It was there for the taking on a run of eight games undefeated at home ….. But it was not to be has Cardiff stumbled to a 2-0 defeat. Cardiff should have been about 5-0 up in the first-half but for the outstanding Ipswich goalkeeper and the crossbar. Jimmy Bullard did it for the City seeing him in the tunnel before kick-off I turned to my son and told him ‘I really didn’t like him’ he is the kind of player who has that goal in him. Two second half goals later I still didn’t like him much.

Tuesday night games for the top six and here we go again

(21) Crystal Palace v (3) Cardiff City kick-off 8:00pm
(9) Leicester City v (4) Norwich City kick-off 7:45pm
(13) Millwall v (1) QPR, 7:45pm
(24) Preston North End v (6) Leeds United kick-off 7:45pm
(23) Sheffield United v (5) Nottingham Forest kick-off 7:45pm
(2) Swansea City v (12) Watford kick-off 7:45pm

() Donates league position

Weekend fixtures

Scunthorpe did City a huge favour last night and themselves when they beat Nottingham Forest home. The 1-0 victory helped the home team in there battle to escape the relegation zone while keeping Forest in fourth to points behind Cardiff in second.

Cardiff visit Forest on Saturday for a top of the table clash both clubs will want to win. Forest are yet to lose at home this season, winning nine and drawing six but their ground .

Games of interest for the up-coming Saturday (all 3pm kick-offs)

Leeds v Norwich

Nottingham Forest v Cardiff

Preston v QPR

Swansea v Doncaster

There is another top of the table clash went third place Norwich City travel to sixth place Leeds United a game that could help or hinder the Bluebirds push for promotion. Cardiff fans will be hoping the game ends in a draw while Cardiff picks up a win and three valuable points.

Top of the table QPR have an away fixture with bottom of the table Preston with very Cardiff City fan with fingers crossed for another Scunthorpe. Fifth place Swansea are home to Doncaster who were trashed 6-0 at home by Ipswich in midweek.

Starting to get tight at the top

A win tomorrow night we see either Cardiff or Leeds in second place in the league after today’s results.

To of the table QPR could only manage a 2-2 draw at home to Bristol City. They looked to be taking all three points until an injury time goal squared the game, they are now eight points ahead with Cardiff going into tomorrow nights game.

Swansea dropped from second place to third after losing away a Leicester City 2-1 but have the same number of points as the new holds of the second spot, Norwich.

Norwich picked up a point to move into second with a draw up at Middlesbrough. However, worrying the pack below the top five are close to crashing the party with the top five being so inconstant. Watford are a point behind Cardiff in 39 while Nottingham Forest and Reading are two points behind Forest.

A victory tomorrow a must, so we have a game in hand over most above means nothing if it is not won.

By the grace of Portmouth, City still second

Can you believe it in the Crazy world of the Championship after losing 4-1 Cardiff City stay second after Leeds shot themselves in both feet at home to Portsmouth.

The day start with top of the table QPR cantering to a win over Coventry in an early kick-off giving them a seven point’s lead over second place Cardiff.

Leeds was 3-1 after 62minutes then an own goal just a minute later put the score put Portsmouth back in the game.. Leeds looked to have done enough jump above Cardiff in second, however the game was not over. The same player score another own goal late into injury time, (90+3minutes) according to the BBC. The game ended all square at 3-3, and is on 40 points the same Cardiff.

Swansea (40 points) and Norwich (39 points) both won and are third and fourth respectively although Cardiff have a game in hand of them.

What it means at the end of the day is with QPR galloping off there are four teams fighting it out for the second automatic promotion spot. No-one wants the booby prize of a play-off spot especially after what happen to Cardiff last season.

City second, back winning roll on Watford

Cardiff City are back to winning away with their first win on Boxing Day in 11 years and there first league since Scunthorpe. Today was there first home win since the end of October the Norwich game.

The win sees Cardiff move back into second place after Leeds United collapsed from a 2-0 lead to a 2-2 draw at Leicester. That the top of the table QPR had a early kick-off at home with fourth place Swansea and annihilated them 4-0, all top four are back in action on Tuesday depending on the weather

Coventry v QPR, kick-off 12:15pm

Leeds v Portsmouth, kick-off 3pm

Swansea v Barnsley, kick-off 3pm

Watford v Cardiff, kick-off 3pm

The Cardiff game at Watford looks the be safe with Watford boss Malky Mackay saying only some kind of “freak weather” could prevent the game going ahead.

“Our pitch is absolutely fine as we have the undersoil heating whereas Portman Road have gone for the balloon with the hot air inside it.

“Our undersoil heating is on and our pitch is fine. So unless we have freak weather between now and Tuesday then the game will be absolutely safe.”