Cardiff still in the driving seat

Cardiff City got what they needed most yesterday against Portsmouth all three points putting the Bluebirds back in the drivers seat for automatic promotion. It was a game everyone knew must end in win and the players set out to do just that.

Cardiff fans did have to wait long only until the sixth minute when midfielder Seyi Olofinjana rose and met the Craig Bellamy cross and headed the ball into the back of the net. A great start to the game that took some of the pressure out of the game for the fans. Portsmouth midfielder Ricardo Rocha helped himself to a red card following an off the ball incident with Jay Bothroyd. It didn't help is teammates much has Cardiff put on the pressure to find a second goal.

It came just before half time via the much maligned Bothroyd who scored his 19 goals of the season. It was not long ago he was getting a shed load of abuse from Cardiff fans, but he has now turned all that around to cheers. There was a bit of a melee in the visitors goalmouth and the ball found its way to Bothroyd, who than had the simplest of tap ins to score. It was not his best goal, but they all count.

Cardiff when in 2-0 up at half-time 2-0 against a poor Pompey who were a down to ten men and showed little in the first half? Cardiff City fans could feel a bit more relaxed with the scoreline and enjoy the sunshine while those listening worldwide had a smug smile on their faces.

In the second half Cardiff were cruising and you could feel from the commentary there was still a goal or two in the home side and in the 75 minute Cardiff increase the score line further. It was Craig Bellamy cross that led to the goal, he was having another blinding game he also created the first with a sublime cross again. This time it was Peter Whittingham who met the ball and thundered the ball home for an excellent goal. Has fans celebrated the goal news broke that Swansea were 2-1 down at Burnley, more happy times.

With goal different all important it was imperative a clean sheet was kept, no sneaky later goal, but the only team looking like scoring were the home team. Cardiff players walked off to cheers when on so long ago it was boo's, but things change so quickly in football. Cardiff moved back to second one point ahead of third place Norwich. Reading are in fourth just three points behind Cardiff while Swansea drop to fifth, five points adrift of the Bluebirds. The fixtures for next week are crazy, see below

Thursday, 21 April Ipswich Town v Norwich City, 19:45

Friday, 22 April - Nottingham Forest v Leicester City, 17:15 (live on Sky Sports 1)

Friday, 22 April - Leeds United v Reading, 19:45 (live on Sky Sports 1)

Saturday, 23 April - Cardiff v Queens Park Rangers, 12:45 (live on BBC)

Saturday, 23 April - Portsmouth v Swansea City, 15:00

With a full fixture list in the Championship on Bank Holiday Monday the game involving Cardiff rivals in the promotion race are spread over three days. Norwich travel to Ipswich on Thursday night for the East Anglian derby giving them three days to rest up before Monday. Leeds face Reading on Friday night while Cardiff and Swansea kick off on Saturday.

Another weekend not for the light hearted

Another important weekend at the top of the Championship table and there will be many more before the season ends. Top of the pile QPR winning tonight 3-0 against lowly Sheffield United are now 12 points clear of second place Norwich and the looked to have sown up promotion to the Premier League. Has for Sheffield United they look bound for Division One, where they will join neighbor Sheffield Wednesday. 

Again the fixtures have thrown together a number of top v bottom games.

Cardiff travel to Doncaster looking to do a season double have beaten them at the CCS early in the season. They are just outside the relegation mire but could still find themselves in it. Everyone involved with Cardiff would expect three points but City have a tendency to slip up against lower opposition, but not this time.

Leeds take in the sights of capital city on there way to Millwall not the popular of places for visiting fans. The Londoners are just out side the play-off place so fifth place Leeds should be in for a tough game. Nottingham Forest have been in freefall for weeks now and drop out of the top six at the weekend only for Saturdays opponents Reading to jump above them in to sixth. Reading has the best current form in the Championship and hasn’t lost in the last six. Nottingham Forest however have only once in six.

After the home win tonight over third from bottom Sheffield United on Saturday top of the table QPR travel to bottom club Scunthorpe.

The big game of the day is the late kick-off between fourth place Swansea City and second place Norwich. Has a Cardiff City fan this is a difficult one, Swansea win or a Norwich win, what about a draw, if City loose or draw. Has long has Cardiff collect all three points the outcome will mean little but in that case a draw would be the best outcome.

Weekend games

Doncaster v Cardiff, 15:00

Millwall v Leeds, 15:00

Nottingham Forest v Reading, 15:00

Scunthorpe v QPR, 15:00

Swansea v Norwich, 17:20

Automatic promotion, Play-offs or Failure which will it be?

Bolton Wanderers defender Jlloyd Samuel was the only successful deal made by Cardiff City boss Dave Jones before the loan window closed for. I am not wholly excited about the latest signing like many fans hoping to see a new striker. Samuel’s is making all the right noise in the press with his vow to lift the City from the doldrums. Jones also felt a need for some defensive for cover with Mark Hudson out for a possible four weeks. The rumours he was chasing Coventry striker Marlon King where denied but any other targets came to nothing.

Another rumour about our loan signings had me worried slightly. My foreboding came from chatter surrounding when the season is over for loan players, maybe not, after checking out some facts. However, I believe it will be up to the player’s parent clubs if their loans can be extended to cover the play-offs, technically their season will end after the final fixture of the season at Burnley.

They have been constantly talked of the club being promotion candidates all season, even with the poor run of form pundits continue to back the Bluebirds to go up. Even in yesterday press, Ex-Southampton and England striker Matt Le Tissier who works for Sky Sports as a football pundit is backing the City. Le Tissier who played under Dave Jones when he manager the south East club said in the South Wales Echo,

“Dave Jones deserves to be managing at Premier League level – and I believe he will be, with Cardiff City next season,” said Le Tissier, who scored more than 200 goals in 500-plus appearances for the Saints.

“Cardiff are still in the mix for promotion and Dave will keep his nerve and ensure they stay on track over the remaining matches.

“They are four points behind Norwich, who are second, and three behind Swansea City.

“But it seems to be that whoever gets into second place then just blows up and slides back.

“The four-point gap can be closed because it’s the sort of lead that can come and go so quickly.

“Cardiff have matches coming up they can win and they will feel Derby, Doncaster and Sheffield United are games they can take points from.

“Queens Park Rangers are on course for top spot and if anybody can put together a decent winning run out of the other three they will be favourites.

“The loss of Michael Chopra is a major blow but Craig Bellamy, Jay Bothroyd and Peter Whittingham can all score goals.

“They have quality players who can really hurt the opposition.

“There’s a fantastic squad at Cardiff and a highly experienced manager who knows what it will take to take them up.”

If they want to be ‘numero uno’ with a chance of automatic promotion, it is time for them to unleash winning ways for the remaining eight games. The dread ofanother play-off campaign is being to hit the fans.

Jay Bothroyd is firing blanks at the moment and after he was red hot before his England call-up and injury. He is expected to be fit after he pulled a hamstring muscle Millwall game. He need to find the goal scoring from he had in the first half of the season. Jon Parkin joined the club in January from Preston to find himself playing second fiddle mainly to Bothroyd and Michael Chopra.

The fixture for the upcoming weekend as again some interest games have been thrown up with the top four all playing clubs at the bottom end of league table, but for Leeds United and Nottingham Forest who slug it out with the match of the day. Burnley and Reading are three points behind sixth place Nottingham Forest and both have games in hand over the top six. Reading play their game in hand next Tuesday week home to relegate threaten Preston.

Saturday, 2 April 2011

(5) Leeds v (6) Nottingham Forest, Kick-off 12:45

(8) Burnley v (15) Ipswich, 15:00

(4) Cardiff v (17) Derby, 15:00

(24) Preston v (2) Swansea, 15:00

(7) Reading v (13) Portsmouth, 15:00

Monday, 4 April 2011

(1) QPR v (22) Sheffield Utd, 19:45

Tuesday, 5 April 2011

Reading v Preston, 20:00

() donates league position

Cardiff need those three points at Millwall

Another big weekend for Cardiff City and its fans, they take on Millwall tomorrow who are still hopeful for a later charge into a play-off spot. Only nine games left before the end of the season with everything still up in the air automatic promotion wise, making it an extremely nerve-wracking time for thousands and thousands of fans. On top of that after the game there is a 14 days international break before Cardiff take on Derby at home. Managers and players not involved in international duty might welcome the break but fans are the ones who suffer the most.

The fixtures have again thrown up some interesting pairings, but will there be any help in the fixtures for the Bluebirds this Saturday. Of course, Cardiff have to beat Millwall and get back on winning ways after collecting one point from the last three games. They have missing out over the last few weeks to move up the league table. Top dogs of the Championship QPR face a trip to Doncaster Rovers down in seventieth place. Doncaster the drawn the last two games, holding promotion rivals Nottingham Forest to a 0-0 draw in their last game.

Second place Norwich have a toughie taking on Hull away although there form has dipped of later losing the last two games but they home form as be strong. Hull are still in the race for a top sixth finish so still have everything to play for. Third place Swansea are the only team in the top six who are home, Nottingham Forest well be the visitors to the Liberty Stadium. Forest have been in free fall since beating the Bluebirds back in mid-February and squander a two game in hand advantage over their promotion rivals dropping from second to sixth.

Leeds travel to Sheffield United and will go has favourites on paper which don’t mean much. Second from bottom Sheffield beat Nottingham Forest in there last home game so maybe Leeds won’t have it all there own way.

Saturday, 19 March 2011
(17) Doncaster v (1) QPR
(9) Hull v (2) Norwich
(12) Millwall v (4) Cardiff
(23) Sheffield United v (5) Leeds
(3) Swansea v (6) Nottingham Forest

() donates present league position

Forest drop points again

Cardiff City didn’t play last night but one of there rivals did with good news for Cardiff they dropped points.

Nottingham Forest failed to take full advantage of their game-in-hand with a 1-1 draw at lowly Middlesbrough but still moved up to fourth from fifth thanks to the one point. It did look like the home team were going to take all three points but the game is never over in 90 minutes. There is always that plus time, extra time to save the day sometimes which seems to be happening a lot this season.

Forest got a 90+2 minutes goal because on inquires or time wasting but it doesn’t matter City have benefited from extra time. The recent home game with Reading was one all square at full-time only for Reading to score in 90+2 minutes and Cardiff to square the game up again at 90+7 minutes, crazy just crazy.

Weekend fixture for the top six

(6) Leeds v Doncaster (16) 3:00 kick-off

(5) Norwich v Preston (24) 3:00 kick-off

(4) Nottingham Forest v Hull (9) 3:00 kick-off

(1) QPR v Leicester (7) 3:00 kick-off

(22) Scunthorpe v Swansea (2) 3:00 kick-off

(3)Cardiff v (14) Ipswich 5:20 kick-off

Everyone is now on 12 games until the end of the season so here we go will it be a smooth run-in or rough. Cardiff have a advantage going into the Saturday game having the late kick-off they will know what they need to do. They need to win.

Good day in the office for boss Jones

It was an interesting afternoon that the top of the Championship but Cardiff stay third and six points behind top of the table QPR. The league leaders had a good 3-0 win away from home to keep the pressure on the chasing pack. Second place Swansea City had the early kick-off today with promotion chasing Leeds United the visitors, and destroyed them 3-0 in this one way encounter.

Cardiff had a tough trip to Hull City and it was not one for the nerves, after scoring the opening goal in the 65minute the game was finally killed off in the last seconds of injury time. The game end 2-0 to the visitors. Norwich moved up to fourth with a 2-0 win at Barnsley as Nottingham Forest could only manage a point away at Millwall, dropping them to fifth. Leeds stay in sixth even after losing at Swansea.

Next week’s games,

Forest have a game in hand to play Tuesday a win could see them jump above Cardiff.

1st March

Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest, 19:45 kick-off

Saturday’s games

5th March

Leeds v Doncaster, 15:00 kick-off

Norwich v Preston, 15:00 kick-off

Nottingham Forest v Hull, 15:00 kick-off

QPR v Leicester, 15:00 kick-off

Scunthorpe v Swansea, 15:00 kick-off

Cardiff v Ipswich, 17:20 kick-off

14 Cup Finals

Nottingham Forest, history now it is all about Tuesday night and the visit of Sven-Goran Eriksson's and his Leicester City side. They have not lost in the last eight game a run that must end Tuesday.

Results around Cardiff helped them out again today with only Swansea City of the top six won and of course Nottingham Forest.

What I will say about the Forest game Cardiff, maybe in the eyes of the management, away fans eyes and the thousands of fans watching naughty feeds on the internet they deserved to get something from the game. However, for all the chances if the ball doesn’t go in the net it means nothing. You can play all the pretty football in the world but if you don’t score and win it means little to the majority of fans.

They are only 14 games left to secure automatic promotion! a play-off spot in my book will be a failure. The play-offs are a pressure cooker a lottery on club would want and after last season something I could do without.

Every game left is and must be treated as a cup final. Form means nothing these days particularly in the Championship as we seen again yesterday with bottom club Preston get a draw with top of the QPR. Scunthorpe took all three points off Forest mid-week.

The pundits say we have the team to win promotion and go on about Craig Bellamy, Michael Chopra and Jay Bothroyd but we need a team, not individual players. It takes blood and guts to be shed at a time like this the team must lock together. On Tuesday night take a minute to look around the stadium at 20,000 plus fans, they paid good money to watch the game and when you move on they will still be there.

The fans have they piece in this, support the team with your voices, hands and flags. Chant about the players, the team, the manager and forget about England/Wales crap it should be about CARDIFF CITY.

If you are first you are first. If you are second, you are nothing. - Bill Shankly Liverpool manager.

The person that said winning isn't everything, never won anything. -Mia Hamm American female soccer player.

It a full fixture list for the Championship Tuesday here are the top seven

(4) Cardiff v (7) Leicester

(15) Coventry v (3) Swansea

(6) Leeds v (14) Barnsley

(5) Norwich v (17) Doncaster

(2) Nottingham Forest v (24) Preston

(1) QPR v (13) Ipswich

() donates league position

Looks like it us (Cardiff) again with the game of the night as rivals fish for points in the lower half of the Championship league table. A win for the visitors could see them in the top six.

Busy Tuesday night in the Championship

Managers, fans and pundits always saying Christmas/New Year can make or break your season however it looks like February will be Cardiff’s Armageddon with seven important games to be played.

That kick-off tomorrow with Reading the visitors to the Cardiff City stadium (kick-off 7:45pm) who are just outside a play-off and in the chase for a top six finish, six points behind the 3rd placed Bluebirds.  At Reading earlier in the season the both teams fought out a 1-1 draw with Jay Bothroyd scoring the goal for the Bluebirds.

Tomorrow’s fixture at the top end of the Championship show:-

Bristol City (17) v Swansea City (4)

Cardiff City (3) v Reading (9)

Coventry (14) v Nottingham Forest (5)

Hull City (12) v Leeds Utd (6)

Norwich (2) v Millwall (8)

QPR (2) v Portsmouth (18)

Watford (7) v C Palace (22)

() donates league position

There are 21 points for the taking in February and a clean sweep would be great for the promotion push, but 15 plus points are a must. At this time of the season relaying on rivals around you to slip-up is a dangerous game.

Three tough league games ahead

It was a top of the table clash today but it will not be any easier over the next three league games that would test any club. A clean sweep would be the best outcome, a full nine points  at least six must be a must. While the Bluebirds are trying to feed at the top of the table teams around them are playing teams in the bottom half of the table.  They are all top of the table clashes, they are

Npower Championship Saturday, 22 Jan Cardiff v Watford, 3:00pm

Npower Championship Tuesday, 1 Feb Cardiff v Reading, 7:45pm

Npower Championship Sunday, 6 Feb Swansea v Cardiff, 1:15pm

There is also the little case of the FA Cup third round replay to resolve on Tuesday against Stoke City at the Cardiff City Stadium. If Cardiff beat Stoke the fourth round will take them on to the winners for Wolves v Doncaster replay on the 29 Jan, which could mean a potential four or five games in 16 days.