Only 12 to go

Tick tock, tick tock ……. the countdown to the end of the season is starting to feel ever closer, with an edginess that comes with Cardiff City position. Only 12 games to go plus a possible 3 extra for the teams who fell into the dreaded Play-offs! Who wants that? May does seem a long way off

Every Cardiff City fan I have  spoken to doesn't want to be stuck with the play-offs again, it’s been well proven it’s the biggest lottery of them all. Before last season many Cardiff fan often sighted the Stoke play-off game has there worst experience they have have has a City fan, closely followed by the FA Cup Final defeat against Portsmouth.

It is now the Blackpool Play-off Final which occupies the mind of many a Cardiff fan and know one wants that again. Take last season Blackpool finished sixth in the league table but via the play-offs one the prize of promotion.

Automatic promotion must by the goal, a top two finish the target with Cardiff City boss Dave Jones entering in to it by saying he wanted the top spot off QPR.

The deadly 12

Saturday, 5 March Ipswich, home 5:20pm (live on Sky)

Tuesday, 8 March Crystal Palace, away 8:00pm

Sunday, 13 March Barnsley home, 3:00

Saturday, 19 March Millwall, away 15:00

Saturday, 2 April Derby, home 15:00

Saturday, 9 April Doncaster, away 3:00

Tuesday, 12 April Sheffield United, away 7:45

Saturday, 16 April Portsmouth home 3:00

Saturday, 23 April QPR, home 12:45

Monday, 25 April Preston, away 3:00

Saturday, 30 April Middlesbrough, home 3:00

Saturday, 7 May Burnley, away 12:45

Based on the league table we have today, a run-in looking like above would have any fan jumping for joy. The Bluebirds only QPR from the top 6 and with home advantage and Millwall and Burnley chasing a play-off spot. The rest are in the bottom half of the table which I find more worrying because of the patchy history playing teams at the lower end of the table. The Ipswich game is not just another league game it must be treated has a cup final.

Win them all and there should be ok unless Swansea was to do the same. In the upcoming week they must play Nottingham Forest, plus a number of play-off contenders and a sprinkling of relegation threaten teams in need of points just has bad as the promotion chasers.

Yes I’m bricking but there is a part of me up for the fight and of course, third time lucky, BLUEBIRDS

The Blues rent?

In the published company accounts posted by club  it shows that the Cardiff Blues are paying rent of £400.000 per-season as tenants. There is a break down of some of the information on the accounts on Mike Morris’ message board, (see link)

The accounts cover May 31st 2009 to May 31st 2010 in that period the Blues played a total of 18 games, that works out at just over £22,200 per game. That seems serious low for an up to-date venue like the Cardiff City Stadium? I remember reading on the Blues message board suggestions that they were paying £60,000 per game. There average that season was around 10.000 - adult tickets are I believe £20. It is difficult to work out the avenge takings but it must be more than £200,000 based on a 10.000 average.

I'm not sure about these figures if some one can work it out let me know, another thing what do the Blues get for there rent?

Nothing official yet - Kirkland a Bluebird?

Cardiff City have signed goalkeeper Chris Kirkland on an emergency loan from Wigan Athletic, it was reported in the week he had turned down the chance to join the Bluebirds.

David Marshall was first choice keeper most of the season until an on-going elbow injury reared it's ugly head. Although he has been on the bench as cover for Tom Heaton the club feel it's time for an operation to fix the problem.

He is third choice keeper at Wigan. Wigan fans are suggesting he was told in no uncertain terms he was third choice and it was unlikely to change, so a move would be benefical.

He started his career at Coventry City before joining Liverpool in a £6m deal. His move was unsuccessful and was loaned to West Brom and later Wigan while with Liverpool. Wigan decided to sign him in 2006 and had his most prolific goalkeeping spell in his career playing some 125 games in total. This season has seen him drop down the pecking order and already he a loan stint with Leicester City now he is a Bluebird until the end of the season.

Although this is just paper rumours until we hear something official from either club.

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

Cardiff City team v Hull City

Heaton

McNaughton Hudson Keinan Quinn

Whittingham McPhail Ramsey Bellamy

Chopra Bothroyd

Substitutes :- Marshall, Naylor, Rae, Burke, Blake, Emmanuel-Thomas, Parkin

Olofinjana is out with McPhail taking is place in the Cardiff midfield. Bellamy is in also with Emmanuel-Thomas back on the bench.

The Road to Nowhere – The Welsh Cup Fifth Round 2011

It’s the fifth round of the Welsh Cup today but you would find it hard to find anyone but the teams involved excited about it. The fixtures below have thrown up a few interesting ties’

Gap Connah's Quay (Cymru Alliance Football) v UWIC (Welsh League Division 3)

Llanelli (Welsh Premier League) v Prestatyn Town (Welsh Premier League)

Port Talbot Town (Welsh Premier League) v Bangor City (Welsh Premier League)

The New Saints (Welsh Premier League) v Cardiff Grange Harlequins (Welsh League Division 3)

The blog team is still Gap Connah’s Quay after a fourth round extra-time defeat of Carmarthen Town, today they take on Cardiff based UWIC It is the only game not involving a Welsh Premier League club insuring one team from the lower leagues will make the semi-finals. The losers today will trouser £6.000 in prize money. UWIC coach Christian Edwards, who recently resigned as assistant manager at Aberystwyth Town, insists his side will give it their best shot and said,

“We’re happy to be underdogs, but we’re in it to win it.”

There is a another Cardiff based team in this round and like UWIC play in the Welsh League Division 3, Cardiff Grange Harlequins. There opponents today The New Saints are riding high, second in the Welsh Premier giving the Quins a touch job on they hands.

The other two games involve Welsh Premier teams Prestatyn have to make the long trip the Llanelli and last years winners Bangor City face Port Talbot at home. Port Talbot are managed by Cardiffian Mark Jones who will be looking to get one over top of the league Bangor after losing to them 3-2 in the final last season.
The road so far

Fifth Round - Saturday 26 February 2011 Gap Connah's Quay v UWIC Att
Fourth Round - Saturday 29th January 2011 Carmarthen Town 2-2 (AET 2-3) GAP Connah’s Quay Att
Third Round - Saturday 6th November 2010 Goytre United 2-3 Carmarthen Town Att
Second Round - Oct 2nd 2010 Goytre United 3-1 Fleur de Lys  Att N/A
First Round - 11th September 2010 - Fleur de Lys  1-0 Ely Rangers - Att 200
Qualifying Round Two - 28th August 2010 - RTB Ebbw Vale  1-4 Fleur de Lys  Att N/A
Qualifying Round One - 14th August 2010 - Talgarth Town  0-5 Fleur de Lys  Att N/A

Can Jones keep hold of Ramsey

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones is still hoping to do a deal with Arsenal and keep Aaron Ramsey a while longer. Ramsey is due back with Arsenal after the Hull City game is boss at Arsenal Arsene Wenger said in the press a few days ago that he wanted is player back.

His (Jones’) ‘cunning plan’ is to see if they will go with a new deal where they could call Ramsey back with 24-hour call-back basis. The Gunners picked up a number of injuries in mid-weeks game against Stoke so it keep be a non-starter him staying on another short loan deal. If Wenger is planning just to call him back to occupy the bench surely it would be better for him to play regular first team football.

Wenger is reported to want his star midfielder Ramsey to be in his squad for the Arsenal’s FA Cup fifth round replay against Leyton Orient on Tuesday. However, he can’t play in the return tie because he was unavailable for the initial tie. It is bound to frustrate the arsenal boss

Cardiff boss Jones said:

"We're trying to work with Arsenal to see whether we can have him a little bit longer, maybe on a 24-hour call-back."

"We've put our case and I'm sure they'll put theirs.

"But he is an Arsenal player and we knew the situation and they've picked up a couple of injuries so whether that affects the decision or not, we'll wait and see.

"If he's going to go back and just sit on the bench then that's no good for him so I'm sure we'll try and come up with a solution.

"But that will be Arsenal's decision and whatever they decide will be fine with ourselves."

City v Hull City

The last time Cardiff City face Hull City was back in September at the Cardiff City Stadium with the game ending in a 2-0 victory for the Bluebirds. One of the two goals was scored by loanee Seyi Olofinjana, on loan to Cardiff from Hull.

Normally loan players don’t play against their parent club but with Cardiff defender Anthony Gerrard going the other way both clubs agreed to allowed there players to play.

Last time Cardiff won at Hull Stadium was back in 1998/99 when both clubs were in Division Three with a 2-1 victory.

Tomorrow’s game at Hull will see Cardiff in the hunt for three points to add to the three they picked up after there deserving win mid-week over Leicester City.

There has been a virus doing the rounds among the Cardiff City squad it forced captain Craig Bellamy to miss the Leicester game. Seyi Olofinjana is possibly doubtful for the trip to Hull with a knee problem but for Olofinjana Cardiff City boss Dave Jones looks to have a full squad to call on.

Hull City are reported to have no problems.

Season now ends on May 7th

The Football League as announced a chance to the end of season fixtures for the Championship.

Normally the final games are all played on a Sunday with 3pm kick-off, this season they will be played on a Saturday 7th May and all kicking off at 12:45pm.

The League has been in talks with TV companies and Clubs before a final decision was made. Sky and the BBC will be showing live games but the decision will be made after the May 2nd fixtures. They will then decide which game to air live from teams vying for promotion or relegation.

Matthews off to the backwaters the SPL?

Unbelievable Cardiff City defender Adam Matthews who was once being touted has a £4million plus player only last season. Now he could be off in the summer Celtic.

There will be no big payday, no Manchester United, Arsenal  and the Premier League but he is off to the back waters of the SPL. He is out of contract and although he has had talks with Cardiff he can also talk to other clubs leaving the Bluebirds only able to receive a compensation payment. Cardiff will received £200,000 according to the Scottish Sun as Celtic beat off interest from a number of Premiership clubs.

Matthews has been out in the cold this season most of his game have been off the bench, just two League starts. He will be stay with the Bluebirds until the end of the season then he will join up Joe Ledley who joined at Parkhead.

With Matthews a goner (maybe) fans still have to wait on Chris Burke and Jay Bothroyd, both out of contract in the summer to decide there futures.

***No official word from Celtic or Cardiff City at the time of publishing***

Ramsey back to the Emirates

Forget an extension of his loan deal Aaron Ramsey will be heading back to Arsenal after the Hull City game Saturday. Reports in the press and internet have Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger confirming he wants the young midfielder back.

With a fixture pile-up and injuries it always looked likely a return to the Emirates Stadium was on the cards. The highly rated midfielder could be in line for FA Cup action next week in the fifth round replay against Orient. Wenger is happy with his progress while with the Bluebirds. Arsenal are still the chase for four pieces of silverware, The Premier League they are chasing down top of the table Manchester United and there is the Champions League and a Carling Cup Final.Wenger said,

“He is on loan until Saturday.

“After that, he comes back. He could be available for the FA Cup replay against Leyton Orient next Wednesday.

“Yes, I intend to use him. I have had good reports from Cardiff. He could not play on Saturday because he had a little hip problem and we demanded he rest.

“I think he will play this Saturday again and then we will see if he comes through that game well. After that he is available for Arsenal.”

Cardiff fans will be disappointing but that what happens in the loan market a month is nothing in football. There is little Cardiff City boss Dave Jones could do but give Wenger a call to confirm what the press are reporting is true.

Back on track - Great win

After the Nottingham Forest it was a case of clasping ones hands and shouting from the roof top ‘we're doomed, we're doomed’. Forward just over three days, and you are jumping up and down praising everyone for a victory. That’s football for you folks.

Before kick-off, yes I was worried and didn’t help with Michael Chopra and Aaron Ramsey both need late fitness test before being declare fit to play. Leicester was the in-form team tonight steadily climbing up the table.

Cardiff took the lead through a Michael Chopra scoring is eighth league goal of the season, ten in total. With the goal coming in the 21 minute it left a lot of time for the visitors to get back into the game. A second goal would be helpful. The in the 52 minute and was loanee Aaron Ramsey putting the Bluebirds 2-0 up and taking some of the pressure of the management and fans. Chopra went off maybe with an injury or tactical.

It was a good recovery after the Forest game and it was good for the backend of the team keeping a clean sheet.

The other results that matter from tonight saw top of the QPR beat Ipswich 2-0 at home, it did look for awhile if the game would end 0-0. Swansea is second after a 1-0 win away from at Coventry leaving Cardiff now in third.

Fourth place Nottingham Forest came unstuck against bottom club Preston. It looked like the game was going to end 1-1 at full time but Forest score again two minutes into injury time. The game was not over has six minutes into extra-time Preston squared the game up.

In Fifth place Norwich managed to score both goals in the 1-1 draw at home to Doncaster. Sixth place Leeds also could only manage a draw with Barnsley.

Looking forward to Saturday’s game

(14) Barnsley v (5) Norwich City, 3pm

(8) Hull City v (3) Cardiff City, 3pm

(7) Leicester v  (16) Coventry, 3pm

(20) Middlesbrough v (1) QPR, 3pm

(11) Millwall v (4) Nottingham Forest, 3pm

(2) Swansea City v (6) Leeds United, 12:45pm

() donates league position

Cardiff City team v Leicester City

Heaton

McNaughton Hudson Keinan Quinn

Whittingham Ramsey Olofinjana Bothroyd

Bothroyd Chopra

Subs:- Marshall Naylor Gyepes McPhail Burke Parkin Blake

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones as made a number of chances tonight, out goes Parkin and Burke both on the bench. There is no place in the squad for Bellamy who must be resting his knee.

So Chopra lines up with Bothroyd in attack, Emmanuel-Thomas and Ramsey start in midfield with no change in the back four with Heaton retaining his place in goal.

City chased Kirkland

According to the Daily Mirror Cardiff City boss Dave Jones tried to tempt Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland to Cardiff.

Wigan were happy to loan him out he spent time with tonight’s visitor playing in three games letting in seven goals. The England international admitted his loan move to Leicester did him few favours.

Jones was looking for an end of the season deal but Kirkland who is now third choice keeper decided he want to stay with the relegation threaten Wigan. Instead of vying for a spot in a team pushing for promotion Kirkland will be fight it out for a place on the Wigan bench.

Will Ramsey and Chopra be fit?

Will he or won’t he is the big question surrounding striker Michael Chopra, be fit enough for the top of the table clash with Leicester City. Yesterday the rumour was it would be touch and go if he would be fit, today the player himself is telling the local press he his will to play the rest of the season with his ankle injury if he has to.

It will be down to Bluebirds boss Dave Jones if he is will to risk playing Chopra carry a injury or play it safe and keep him on the sideline until he is 100% fit. Could he last out the season ? There are still 14 game to play and there is the play-offs depending how the season ends.

Loanee Aaron Ramsey is expected to undertake a late fitness test on his thigh injury and is expected to pass and play tonight. Saturday and the trip to Hull City will single the end of his loan period unless Cardiff City boss Dave Jones can get an extension.

The Arsenal boss said at the start of the loan he wanted him back after the one month deal. Expecting him to be ready to push for his place back in his squad. Ramsey himself said he was looking forward to going back to Araenal and was ready to fight for his place.

It would be handy to be at full strength Cardiff need to get back to winning ways but the fixtures have not been kind to the Bluebirds over the last week or so.

New WAG on the block

Is there a new WAG heading for the Grandstand of the Cardiff City Stadium.

Cardiff striker Jay Bothroyd was out and about last week in London with his new bow Lisa Snowdon. According to the gossip columns they have been dating for a few months with friends saying it is still very early yet.

The radio presenter and come model is rumour to have not dating since breaking up with actor George Clooney over five years ago.

Bothroyd is separated from his wife and for the fashion conscous 28 year-old Jay is waering a velvet blazer, chunk kint scarf and jeans.

Not interested

I don’t give a flying f**k that Rob Earnshaw did or didn’t celebrate is goal on Saturday. The same if Cardiff City fans chant for him to do the Ayatollah, don’t care but if it was to get up the nose of the Forest fans Ayatollah away Earnie. Did any Cardiff cheering him has he scored, chanting is name or giving him a polite clap or were they thinking ‘bastard’ like me.

On the BBC Wales news they talk of him with stupid headline like ‘bitten the hand that feed him’, he left the club in 2004 leaving behind a shed load of goals plus £3million. I think he feed us enough.

The same happened last week when ex-City old boy Steve Thompson was given a warm reception by the Cardiff crowd when he came on for the last 15minutes only to score the equaliser. However, he did celebrate and good for him.

Remember ex-City striker Simon Haworth, he found out the cost of acknowledging the Cardiff fans when Wigan fans turned nasty with him for doing the Ayatollah. Within weeks he was out the door and moved on to Tranmere.

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.

Cardiff City team v Nottingham Forest

Heaton

McNaughton Hudson Keinan Quinn

Bellamy Whittingham Olofinjana Burke

Parkin Bothroyd

Substitutes: - Marshall McPhail Koumas Blake Emmanuel-Thomas Gyepes Naylor

No Michael Chopra or Aaron Ramsey and boss Jones gives the nod to Jon Parkin and back in the starting line-up is Craig Bellamy.

Come on City do the Forest

Cardiff City take-on fourth place Nottingham Forest in the ‘clash of the day’ Championship game. Over 2,500 fans will be making the trip to support there team with the important three points up for grabs.

Cardiff boss Dave Jones will have to wait on a number of late fitness tests before naming his squad. Striker Michael Chopra picked up a knock against Burnley along with Paul Quinn he is reported to be doubt. Cardiff loan star Aaron Ramsey as been receiving treatment for a minor knock according to the press and was class as doubtful. Top scorer Jay Bothroyd tweeted he was feeling unwell on Thursday and was duly sent home after turning up for training but is expected to be playing today.

Craig Bellamy is expected to start, he was on the bench against Burnley coming on for the last 25minutes or so. the striker is believe to be ready to fully commit himself to the remaining 15 league games by making himself available for every game. On his knee problem boss Jones said,

“There’s nothing wrong with Craig’s knee condition,” said Jones.

“But we try and monitor him to get the best out of him. He is a high impact player and we try to get the best for him every game.”

Cardiff face a Leicester City on Tuesday who having not lost in there last seven league game and then a trip to Hull City on Saturday. Leicester beat Bristol City list night to move within a point of a play-off spot with a late, late injury time goal.

Ramsey to stay? waiting on Arsene

Well that not a surprised if it turns out to be true, Cardiff City boss Dave Jones wants to keep Aaron Ramsey and extend his one-month loan deal. According BBC Sports website is reporting that Jones will talk with the Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to see if a deal could be done.

The ex-City player has been a hit since his return to Cardiff but is due to return to Arsenal after next Saturday’s game at Hull City. Wenger is on record has saying he wants Ramsey back in his squad before the end of the season. It would be beneficial for him to stay at the moment, if he was to turn to Arsenal it would be more than likely he would be fighting to get on the bench.

Cardiff City manager Dave Jones on Ramsey said:

"I don't think he's at the fitness levels to go back to Arsenal yet, then I'm going to say that because we want to keep him.

"He's enjoying himself here. He's with us for some more games and we will see where we go from there.

"Aaron's doing well. It will be down to Aaron and Arsenal themselves to see what they think and where he's at. But if we can keep him then fantastic."

He could miss the Nottingham Forest game tomorrow with rumours he is carrying an injury after the mid-week Burnley game. Boss Dave Jones will give the player a late fitness test to see it he will be fit to play. Before joining the Bluebirds on loan he also spent time with Forest on the road to fitness.

The Road to Wembley

Taking my mind off Championship and promotion dreams it is FA Cup time on Saturday but with no Cardiff City. It was Stoke City in the third round that showd the door but they gave now entered the road. Since this blog following a team back in August following Odd Down the road as lead to Brighton who now have to over come Premiership club Stoke City.
The Route to-date

Fifth Round 19 Feb - Stoke City v Brighton Att
Fourth Round 28 Jan - Watford 0-1 Brighton Att 14,519
Third Round 8 Jan - Brighton 3-1 Portsmouth Att 7,792
Replay Second Round 7 Dec - FC United of Manchester 0-4 Brighton Att 7,000
Second Round 27 Nov - Brighton 1-1 FC United of Manchester Att 5,362
Replay First Round 'Proper' 16 Nov Woking 2-2 Brighton (Brighton win 3-0 on penalties) Att 4,193
First Round 'Proper' 6 Nov - Brighton 0-0 Woking Att 5868
Fourth Round Qualifying Round 23rd Oct - Woking 3 - 2 Eastleigh Att 1,048
Third Round Qualifying 9th Oct - Clevedon Town 0-5 Eastleigh Att 313
Second Round Qualifying 25th Sept - Guildford City 1-2 Clevedon Town Att 150
First Round Qualifying 11th Sept - Torpoint Athletic 2-4 Clevedon Town Att 258
Reply Preliminary Round 31st Aug - Odd Down 0 - 1 Torpoint Athletic Att N/A
Preliminary Round 28th Aug - Torpoint Athletic 1 - 1 Odd Down Att N/A
Reply Extra Preliminary Round 18th Aug - Verwood Town 1 - 4 Odd Down Att N/A
Extra Preliminary Round 14th Aug - Odd Down 1 - 1 Verwood Town Att N/A

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.

Bothroyd "Still not 100%"

As panic takes hold among some Cardiff City fans - with promotion in mind striker Jay Bothroyd has been coming in for some stick from a section fans. They feel he as not return to his best since his come-back, he was out for nearly two months with a hamstring injury.

He has played five games since his return, scoring twice but has not scored in the last three. Fans can only hope he hit peak fitness on Saturday for the visit to Nottingham Forest.


In today’s South Wales Echo he is reported as saying he is still not back to full fitness.

“After being out 7-8 weeks this has been really hear to get back into the pace of things. Still not 100% but I’ll be there soon.

“I’m not missing chances just not had any really apart from the Swansea one.”

Only a point has City and Burnley share a draw

Two points dropped tonight at the Cardiff City Stadium but a point is a point better than none.

Cardiff took the lead in injury time when Michael Chopra fired home a half-volley. Cardiff had there chances earlier in the first half, Chopra hit the crossbar and the Burnley keeper had to pull out all the stops to save a Peter Whittingham shot. The visitors had a few opportunities but the Cardiff defence were on top of their job tonight.

A 1-0 lead going into the second half is not the idea situation to be in especially went the visitors up there game. Jay Bothroyd had Cardiff best chance of the second half. Soon has ex-Cardiff City striker Steve Thompson came off the bench there was a feeling he could turn the night into a damp squib and minutes late he got is chance. From a corner Thompson headed ball into the back of the net.

After the game both manager gave completely difference assessment of the game, Cardiff boss Jones said:

"It was a difficult game and we probably should have seen it out but the manner we conceded so late on was very disappointing.

"It was the only time we switched off but they have good players and we gave the ball away far too easily during the second half.

"It was a soft goal to give away and you cannot leave the near post unattended. If it was from the centre of the goal then fair enough but not from that position.

"I don't think the referee had a good game as he didn't let the game flow but that is not the reason we have drawn the game as we should have gone for the jugular in the first half when we were well on top."

Burnley boss Eddie Howe said:

"I think we deserved to win the game as we were in control apart from the opening 15 minutes.

"We bossed possession particularly in the second half and although before the game I would have been pleased with a point, now it's over I think we should have had all three.

"To concede right on half-time was a disappointment, particularly as their player had time for two touches.

"I would love to think we could make a late surge towards the play-offs but we have some tough games coming up.

"I have kept my philosophy from my Bournemouth days and inherited some very good players here so hopefully we can carry on the good work.

"Steve Thompson was delighted to score against his former club.

"His attitude is first-class and he has been rewarded with his goal."

Cardiff are still second, but with a tough trip to fourth place Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Forest have two games in hand over the Bluebirds so a win is a must be outcome Saturday. It getting very tight at the top of the Championship.

Cardiff City team v Burnley

Heaton

McNaughton Hudson Keinan Quinn

Whittingham Olofinjana Ramsey Burke

Chopra Bothroyd

Substitutes: - Marshall, McPhail, Koumas, Blake, Emmanuel-Thomas, Parkin, Bellamy

Defender Kevin McNaughton is in the starting line-up after the knock he received on Saturday. Peter Whittingham and Chris Burke are back in the starting line-up with Craig Bellamy and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas on the bench.

Big three point-er tonight

Another big game tonight at the Cardiff City stadium with the visit of eighth placed Burnley back in the Championship after being relegated from the Premier League last season. Cardiff City boss will be hoping to continue the recent winning ways tonight against Burnley. The vistors are having a steady season so far in the top half of the Championship table. On the road they have not been to hot in  the fifteen away games they have played to-date they have won only 20%, drawn 47% and lost 33%.

This game should have been played in December but it was called-off because of the snow. Tonight is a chance for manager Dave Jones and his team to open up some daylight (three points) between the Bluebirds in second place and third place Norwich.

Burnley have won there last two game beating Watford away on Saturday 3-1 and the previous Saturday seeing off promotion rivals Norwich 2-1 at home.

The importance of can be seen in the next three games – Saturday there is the tough trip to Nottingham Forest who after tonight will have two game in hand on all the clubs vying for a top six finish. Three points there would nullify the games in hand if both games were won, no pressure there then.

The next two are Leicester City and Hull City both with aspiration to get into a top six spot.

A late one at the CCS

Saved by a late goal as Cardiff scrape up the three points at the Cardiff City Stadium leaving next to bottom Scunthorpe much to there disapointment pointless. The game looked to be heading towards a 0-0 draw and a single point until the 85th-minute and Seyi Olofinjana header saved the blushes in this top v bottom clash.

Cardiff are back in action Tuesday night when there is a chance to put some daylight between them and the chasing pack. They take on Burnley at the Cardiff City Stadium, this game is there game-in-hand after the original game was postponed because of treacherous conditions both on the pitch and on path ways and roads outside the ground. 

Cardiff move up the table to second as the top six open a six point gap from seven placed Burnley allow a win for Leicester into nights game would see them move within three points of sixth place Leeds, who also won today.

It was an afternoon of late goals at the top of the Championship has both Norwich and Swansea look to have only secured a point when deep into inquiry time both scored late winners and picked up the full three points.

Top of the table QPR and third place Nottingham Forest play tomorrow. If Forest were to win they will move back into second. The best outcome for all Cardiff fans would be a draw or at its worst a win for the Londoners who have home advantage.

Cardiff City team v Scunthorpe

Heaton

McNaughton Hudson Keinan Quinn

Bellamy Olofinjana Ramsey Emmanuel-Thomas

Chopra Bothroyd

Substitutes Marshall, Gyepes, McPhail, Burke, Koumas, Blake, Parkin

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones had to wait on late fitness on players before naming to starting eleven. The only change from the Swansea game is Whittingham is out meaning a start for Emmanuel-Thomas

Non-City ... Alfonso Ugarte Football Club

Bored and looking around the internet I found a football club bearing the family name of Ugarte. They are based in the Peru in the city of Puno and they are called, Alfonso Ugarte Football Club also known has Alfonso Ugarte de Puno who play at the Estadio Enrique Torres Belón (Capacity: 20,000) stadium. There nickname is the 'Red Devils' could do without that I would prefure them playing in Blue.  They play in the Copa Peru a kind of three division better explained by Wikipedia below

The Copa Perú is a football tournament in Peru. Despite its name, it is not entirely an elimination-cup competition, but rather a series of league tournaments done within a year whose ultimate level is an elimination round. It guarantees its winner promotion to the professional First Division and its runner-up promotion to the promotional Second Division.

They finish mid table last season but the fans are expecting more this upcoming season with new major investment into the club. Peru's Tank Corporation is to pump cash looking for promotion to the second division and then the goal is the Peruian Premier League.

Alfonso Ugarte has had a long standing rivalry with Diablos Rojos and Unión Carolina.

Will Dave Jones be putting his toe in the loans market

The transfer window is shut firmly until the end of the season but not to worry it’s time for the emergency loan window to open giving Cardiff City boss Dave Jones another chance to add to his squad. It will close on March 24 giving him around seven weeks to bring anyone in.

Cardiff only has five players in on loan with Drinkwater and Keogh to pursue their careers elsewhere. That leaves Craig Bellamy, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Jason Koumas, Seyi Olofinjana and Aaron Ramsey. Jones may need a replace for Ramsey who is expected to head back to Arsenal at the end of February but he would like to keep him.

Chief Executive Gethin Jenkins speaking about the possibility of new faces at the Cardiff City stadiumsaid,

"I speak to Dave Jones several times a day.

"Dave never stops pushing on a daily basis, seven days a week. He always wants a couple more players.

"An emergency transfer window opens and Dave will be pushing again.

“We'll have another look at the right time."

Jones was linked with a number of players during the January transfer window. On the last day of the transfer period the City boss was linked with Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan were according to the Preston chairman they received a faxed bid, which did not empress Preston they turned the offer down. It was claimed that Cardiff had made a bid for Rotherham striker Adam Le Fondre with a rumour it would cost £500,000 for his signature. There was a late rumour surrounding out of favour Manchester City keeper Shay Given at just died as quick as the rumour stated. All three player are still with there clubs.

The gossip as City boss Dave Jones in the market for a couple of players however midfielder Stephen McPhail had a run-out with the reserves leaving fans waiting on news of injured defenders Kevin McNaughton and Lee Naylor.

Some of Cardiff fringe players could also find themselves out on loan, only the young midfielder Aaron Wildig was sent out on loan in January to SPL club Hamilton. Anthony Gerrard is been loan at Hull City all season and Soloman Taiwo went back to his old club Dagenham & Redbridge on loan back at the end of October

South Wales Police taking Cardiff City fans on there annual trip to Swansea

Can we do it ..... yes we can

I’m still on a high from the game Sunday but now time for a reality check, only 17 games until the end of the season and there is the little question of promotion.

The stats for the automatic promotion over the last six season are below

With Cardiff now on 51 points after Sunday and with only 17 games left, what is it going to take for that all important top two finish maybe 12 wins? That would give them an 87 points finish more than enough in the past but depending on how teams around the Bluebirds are doing at the time. More than 12 should nail it but manager Dave Jones still has top of the table in his mind for the Bluebirds.

Based on today’s Championship table Cardiff will not be facing many top of the table teams in the run-in to the end of the season. However, that means nothing unless you win them, in the past have been shaky up against lower league opposition. There is no such thing as a dead cert in the Championship as results has shown that before . Third place Cardiff will face QPR, Forest Millwall and Leicester who are up there at the moment but anyone could hit the wall and see there form plummet. He are the 17,

Scunthorpe home - Burnley home - Nottingham Forest away - Leicester home - Hull away - Ipswich home - Crystal Palace away - Barnsley home, Millwall away - Derby home - Doncaster away - Sheffield Utd away - Portsmouth home - QPR home - Preston away - Middlesbrough home - Burnley away

The two standout games among the fixtures left are top of the table QPR (home) and second place Forest (away) (based on today’s table) and they should be tasty encounters. They and Cardiff could drop away from the promotion race there is a long way to go but I expect most Championship fans and pundits reckon these there will be there and there about come the end of the season.

From the boardroom to the lowest fan, nobody involed with Cardiff want to go through the heartache of the play-off again. Blackpool last season was heartbreaking more so than other play-off’s, because we were just one game, 90 minutes away from the promise land of the Premier League. If it was to be more of the same the play-off’s this season we all would be up to the challenge.

Manager's reactions,

After the game Cardiff City boss Dave Jones

"It was a hard-earned victory.

"I feel proud for the players and for the supporters who can go back up the motorway happy.

"From start to finish we pushed them really hard. It was a game we needed to win and we set our stall out to do that.

"When you sign good players it does one of two things, it either raises the quality already in the dressing room or players can't reach that quality and fall by the wayside.

"But bringing Craig in gave everyone a lift and bringing in good players alongside him enables him to be at his best.

"It will all be about Craig but I thought every player who went out and wore a blue shirt was magnificent."

Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers

"The tension and atmosphere was fantastic, but we were undone by a piece of quality from Craig Bellamy," said Rodgers.

"It was a wonderful goal worthy of winning any game and that's why he's paid so much money.

"I thought they were better than us in the first half, but I thought there was only going to be one winner after the break.

"The players are obviously disappointed in the dressing room, for themselves and the supporters.

"Our performance wasn't bad and I thought it was a great advert for Welsh football. Yes I'm disappointed with the result, we all are, but I'm also very proud of the club and our supporters. They were magnificent.

"We created a few chances and I thought if it didn't stay goalless then we looked like winning it.

"But it wasn't to be and we've got to dust ourselves down because we've got another 16 cup finals to play.

"I hope both teams can push forward and get as high as they can in the table - us before them!"

Cardiff City team v Swansea

Heaton

McNaughton Hudson Keinan Quinn

Whittingham Olofinjana Ramsey Bellamy

Chopra Bothroyd

Substitutes

Marshall, Gyepes, McPhail, Burke, Blake, Emmanuel-Thomas, 1Parkin

Cardiff boss has made two changes to the starting line-up dropping Emmanuel-Thomas to the bench for Chopra and Naylor for Keinan making his debut. The rumour out of the Liberty Stadium is that Naylor was marked to start but Keinan is in, with no Naylor on the bench he could have picked up a injury maybe.

Olofinjana is playing after he was classed has doubtful with the rest of the team has expected.

Three points bound for Cardiff today???

There is a lot to play for today, the honour of the club, the fans it's derby day. So nothing less than a win will do, no excuse today. At the end of the game they (management, players ) must be homeward bound with all three points.

It’s getting very tight at the top of the Championship with around ten clubs vying for a top six finish and there are a few more clubs closing in.

The weekend has not been to kind to the Bluebirds with results pushing them down to sixth. In the Friday night game QPR away to Reading beat the home team to extend their lead to the top of the table, 11 points over Cardiff. It’s still along way to go before the end of the season, in Cardiff's case 18 games, just 18 games to secure an automatic and play-off finish Mr Jones.

Nottingham Forest maintained there second spot with a 1-0 win over Watford with a game in hand over Cardiff and two over the rest of the promotion chasing pack. Of the another games at the top Norwich lost away to Burnley, Swansea play today against Cardiff and Leeds jumped above Cardiff to fifth after a home win over Coventry.

A win would see Cardiff jump three places to third only a point behind Nottingham Forest. A win will also bring a shed load of bragging rights for the fans

Must be a win

I love derby games, in particular Bluebirds v Swans because there was always an edge to the games. I remember fondly being in a packed out away end that the old Vetch Field, no room to move and the floor dripping with piss because it was impossible to get to the toilets. I also remember having to run the gauntlet of the irate home fans either to and from the railway station or along the M4, always better after a win.

That was then however today it’s about ‘Bubble’ trips and sanitized stadiums with less of an atmosphere, CCTV and TV cameras. The animosity between the two sets of fans as meant the last six games (including the Carling Cup game) have been televised. The game is a home sell-out with Cardiff City bussing in 1800 fans to The Liberty Stadium.

Everyone is up for it "uh-uhh" wrong, there is someone who just can see another game another three points, Cardiff City manager Dave Jones. I can see his point about the game being three points but has the worm turned.

Dave Jones’ derby record v Swansea to-date,

Championship Sunday 07 Nov 2010 Cardiff 0 - 1 Swansea

Championship Saturday 03 Apr 2010 Cardiff 2 - 1 Swansea

Championship Saturday 07 Nov 2009 Swansea 3 - 2 Cardiff

Championship Sunday 05 Apr 2009 Cardiff 2 - 2 Swansea

Championship Sunday 30 Nov 2008 Swansea 2 - 2 Cardiff

Carling Cup Tuesday 23 Sep 2008 Swansea 1 - 0 Cardiff

Strangely Jones has come out fighting this time round his interviews have been somewhat more aggressive for this game then any of the past five league game. It’s great to see, now all with need is 11 players walking out into the cauldron of blood with 18,000+ Jacks baying for some capital city blood with fire in there bellies.

Sunday’s game is about three points sure but just has important in the eyes of fans is to get one over your local rivals. With a derby game there are also bragging rights to secure just has important to the fans, no-one likes losing a derby game.

Billy Casper plays football (Kes)

I love this film
Who said diving in the penalty box was new?
At least Manchester United was kicked out of the FA Cup.

Welsh Cup Quarter/finals

No giant killing both Cardiff clubs going out but the game of the day must have been at the New Saints ground.

Welsh League Division Three club Grange Harlequins took Welsh Premier team New Saints to extra time after the game ending 0-0 at full time. But the Welsh Premier team proved to strong in extra time finishing 2-0 winners.

The blog enters the Semi-finals still following Gap Connah's Quay after they beat off Cardiff club UWIC 4-0. Bangor are through to the semis’ and on case for there fourth consecutive appearance in the final have won the last three. The losers of this round received £6,000 in prize money 

Gap Connah's Quay 4-0 UWIC Att 227

Llanelli P-P Prestatyn Town (5/3/2011)

Port Talbot Town 0-3 Bangor City Att 328

The New Saints 2-0 Cardiff Grange Harlequins Att 161

Cardiff City team v Reading

Heston,

McNaughton, Quinn, Hudson, Naylor,

Olofinjana, Whittingham, Ramsey, ,

Emmanuel-Thomas, Bothroyd, Bellamy

On the bench Marshall, Keinan, Burke, Chopra, Koumas, Parkin, Blake

With seven games over the next 28 days Cardiff City need to hit the floor running and claim the three points against Reading.

Ramsey starts has City boss makes chances to the team that beat Watford. He sticks with the same back four so no debut for Dekel Keinan also no Chopra in the starting line-up has Jones goes with Bellamy Emmanuel-Thomas and Bothroyd up front. 

Window shut, Premiership next

Well the January transfer window was a bit of a damp squib in the end for Cardiff City fans, I think we were all expected more. However Cardiff boss Dave Jones has enquired a few new faces but also lost a few but is this the squad to bring Premier League football to the Cardiff City Stadium next season?

January brought in Preston striker Jon Parkin who signed for the Bluebirds in a reported £100,000 deal at the start of January, hand on art this one was totally out of the blue. Everyone was expecting manager Dave Jones who before the opening of the transfer window he said he need to strength the defence and midfield, not a new striker. He did do something about the back four by signing Blackpool centre-half Dekel Keinan for an undisclosed fee after failing to impress the Seasiders boss Ian Holloway. He was hoping to recoup some of the £500,000 he paid for the Israeli international in the summer.

Boss Dave Jones brought in two loan players, Arsenal midfielder Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who is here until the end of the season. There was a bit of a scare surrounding the Arsenal midfielder when the Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said he might have to call some of his players out on loan back, fingers-crossed there is no recall. Cardiff when back to Arsenal to bring ex-Cardiff midfield Aaron Ramsey on loan for a month, more like a visit than a transfer however Cardiff hopes for a possible extension.

There has been a bit more action out than in. Defender Miguel Comminges left at the end of his contract going to Southend on a free. It’s now official that Chris Riggott as had his contract terminated due to a long term injury. Dave Jones lost two of his season long loans, first to go was midfielder Danny Drinkwater on loan with the Bluebirds from Manchester United followed days later by Wolves loanee striker Andy Keogh both ending up out on loan again with Championship rivals. Drinkwater went to Watford and Keogh crossed the Seven Bridge to Bristol City. The reason for the recalls is not official known but it could only be for two reasons,

1. The players were unhappy with the lack of chances for first team football.

2. There managers were unhappy with the lack of chances for first team football.

Drinkwater played 12 games in total two of them off the bench while Keogh played 13 with five of them from the bench, he did score two goals. Good luck to both of them.

Young midfielder Aaron Wildig as joined SPL club Hamilton on loan until the end of the season to gain some experience.

Earlier yesterday afternoon Jay Bothroyd twitted he planned to stay with the Bluebirds and helped fire them towards the Premiership. However, a lot of City fans took a deep intake of breath when news broke of the Fernando Torres transfer to Chelsea followed moments later by Andy Carroll move to Liverpool. Would Newcastle put in a late bid for Bothroyd to replace the departing Carroll, luckily they stayed away.