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

The Clark's Pie

Don't get this on football focus

Samuel signs

Bolton Wanderers defender Jlloyd Samuel has signed for Cardiff City according to the official website. In was leak in the press yesterday of Cardiff City managers Dave Jones interest and new he will join his squad until the end of the season.

The defender has recently returned to fitness after recovering from a thigh strain. He has not played this season for Bolton mainly because injury but is highly rated by the Bolton boss Owen Coyle. He has another year on his contract with Bolton however if Cardiff were to be promoted Dave Jones could look into making the deal permanent.

Final home game on Sky Sports

Cardiff City last league  home game against Middlesbrough has been switched from Saturday April 30, to Monday, May 2 (ko 5.15pm).  The game will be shown live on Sky Sports.

There is also a chance that Cardiff's final game of the season, away to Burnley could also be screened live, all depending on the importance of the final game eg promotion or place in the play-off. A decision on the final weekend games will be make the week before the end of the season.

Ex-City loanee off to prison

Former Cardiff City loan signing Kelvin Etuhu has been jail today after pleading guilty to a street brawl. Today he was jailed for eight months. He was caught on camera kicking the victim three times on the ground after he floored him with a punch. Etuhu has been released from his contract at Manchester City, in part due to the criminal proceedings.

He will need to get over his present problems if he wants to get his career back on track, if he can.

Etuhu spent and season long loan with the Bluebirds last season most of it he was in the treatment room. He did play twenty odd games most off the bench with his last game being the Play-off Final against Blackpool coming on from a injured Bothroyd.

Mirror linking Marlon King to Bluebirds

*** Update Coventry have comfirmed an approach from Cardiff City about striker Marlon King ***

The Daily Mirror is again the source of transfer rumour with Coventry Marlon King linked with a loan move to the Bluebirds. Cardiff City boss Dave Jones is in a search for a replacement for the injured Michael Chopra who will miss the rest of the season.

According to reports early in the week Coventry are struggling for fund the striker wages and the future of the Coventry chairman is in doubt after crisis talks over funding. Since signing for Coventry in September he has played a total of twenty-two times, scoring seven goals but his disciplinary record as seen him red carded twice this season. Dave Jones only has today to sign an Emergency Loan deal has the window closes later tonight.

Jones after defender

There are a few transfer rumours connected with Cardiff City in and out today.

The Daily Mirror are linking Bluebirds boss Dave Jones with Bolton defender Jlloyd Samuel join on loan, with a view to a permanent move. He will be out of contract in the summer so would be available free. He has not played a game this season and since joining from Aston Villa in the summer 2007 playing just over 90 games.

If Dave Jones is looking to add to his squad, he only has until tomorrow. Fans have been expecting some movement in the striker department with Michael Chopra out for the rest of the season. Well will have to sit back and see if tomorrow brings in any news of any loan deals.

There is an internet rumour surrounding City midfielder Martin John and a possible link up with MLS club Colorado Rapids.

He was spotted in the summer play in a friendly for Welling United. John then trained with the Bluebirds and was offered a one year contract. On the day he signed he made his one and so far only start back August on in a Carling Cup fixture against Burton Albion. He make a good debut even if he was not 100% fit and had to play most of the second half and extra time carry a injury after Cardiff had used all their substitutes. He was later sent out to Newport County on loan playing in nine games.

The likelihood of a new contract is slim so he will be looking for a new club come the summer.

Hudson out - Bothroyd and Quinn fit for Derby

With a striker problems to handle Cardiff City boss Dave Jones a minor defensive issue has risen to curtail his plans for the next League game. He will be without ever present defender Mark Hudson of the Derby game and could be out for up to six weeks after he limped off during the Millwall game last Saturday. The official Cardiff City website confirmed he suffered a Grade Two tear of his knee ligaments.

Cardiff City's towering defender Mark Hudson has suffered a grade 2 tear to his knee ligaments after injuring himself in the 3-3 draw with Millwall on Saturday. Boss Jones has a number of options the fill the hole left in the centre of defence for Hudson. There are a number of options to partner Dekel Keinan in the heart of the defence, Gabor Gyepes came on to replaced Hudson and could be favourite to stop in. However, Jones could look to Darcy Blake.

On the upside, striker Jay Bothroyd and defender Paul Quinn are both expected to return for the Derby if there is no problems with their recover from their injuries during the international break. The boo boys may not be too happy.

Heaton back for the Derby game?

According to the South Wales Echo Cardiff City are hopeful to have goalkeeper Tom Heaton ready for the Derby game a week Saturday (April 2). The reports suggest Heaton is making good progress from a groin strain that as seen him miss the last four games.

If he is not fit that would leave Bluebirds boss Dave Jones with only on keeper for the Derby game. Present keeper Stephen Bywater is ineligible to face his parent club Derby County so that would leave Blackburn loanee goalkeeper Jason Brown. If Heaton makes the game, Brown will stay on the bench.

Jones said “We’ll assess Tom near the end of the international break and see where he is then.”

With Bywater out of the game it could give Jason Koumas a chance to at least find a place on the bench. He has been the odd one out has Jones jiggle his loan signings all season but there still be more heartache for Koumas if Jones brings in a loan striker.

Kamara joins Leicester

Rumoured Cardiff City target Fulham striker Diomansy Kamara has joined Championship rivals Leicester  City signing on loan until end of the season. Cardiff Boss Dave Jones will now have to look elsewhere for a loan striker to replace the injured Michael Chopra.

Cardiff linked with Fulham striker

A target for Jones?

In the Sunday People Cardiff City are being linked with Fulham striker Diomansy Kamara. The Senegalese striker is surplus to requirements at Fulham and has been told he could go out on loan. Cardiff City boss Dave Jones is looking to enquire a striker on loan after losing striker Michael Chopra for the rest of the season. Jones is in need of some extra firepower to his attack to keep Cardiff in position of a crack at promotion.

Another loan player would bring the number of loan players up to seven which could in it’s self bring problems to the Cardiff manager. Jones can only have up to five loan players in his match day squad. That the moment fit again Jason Koumas is the odd one out has Cardiff have two goalkeepers on loan leaving out three places for outfield players. A new loan player will mean either Jones drops a keeper off the bench or drops Craig Bellamy, Seyi Olofinjana or Jay Emmanuel-Thomas out of the match day line-up.

Cardiff will have strong competition to sign Kamara with a number of clubs interested. Leicester City look to be in the driving seat according to the paper, they are reported to be will to pay his full £24,000 a week wages as they push for a play-off place. The stumbling block for Leicester manager Sven Goran Eriksson is that he is looking the a loan with a permanent deal as part of the switch. Leicester are unwilling to offer a permanent deal on his present wages in case their promotion bid fails.

The Bluebirds will need to match his wages to stand a chance of signing him and offer a permanent deal but like Leicester are mine full of the wages if the are in the Championship next season.

Kamara cost Fulham £6million for West Brom in July 07 and will be out of contract in the summer. This season he has made nine appearances in all competitions, two off the bench and scoring five goals.

Cardiff City team v Millwall

Bywater,

Quinn, McNaughton, Hudson, Keinan,

Bellamy, McPhail, Whittingham, Olofinjana, Burke,

Bothroyd.

Bench - Brown (gk), Parkin, Blake, Rae, Emmanuel-Thomas, Gyepes, Naylor.

With Chopra out Cardiff boss Dave Jones will have to make changes to the team that only picked up a point against Barnsley last Sunday. Looks like Jones is starting with a 4-5-1 line-up, Burke is starting. Emmauel-Thomas drops to the bench with Olofinjana returning from injury starting. With an international break after today’s game Cardiff need a decent result out of the game.

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

Chropa out until next season

A late night tweet from Cardiff City striker Michael Chopra sent fans into despair, it read:

'Totally devastated my season is over out for 10/12 weeks with grade 3 tear in my hamstring all about getting fit for next season'

It was soon confirmed on the official club’s website in response to the striker’s tweet. It was earlier hoped he would miss a month but the rest of the season will bring food for thought for manager Dave Jones. Will he make use of the Emergency Loan system to replace Chropa?

It’s a major blow to promotion chase with only nine games to go and with his striking partner Jay Bothroyd under pressure from a section of the fans. Boss Dave Jones has favoured a Chropa/Bothroyd strike partnership most of the season when both are fit.

Things can only get better .... maybe

What can anyone say; it was within the grasp of the Cardiff City players to propel up the to second place in Championship table, and today they  failed the fans badly. Two defeats and a draw from the last three game, all three playing from the wrong end of the table.

What makes in worst is that other teams in the top six have been dropping points left, right and centre for weeks. If we had collected all nine points we would only be two points behind leader QPR and a massive eight points ahead of the chasing pack. I no its dreamland, but the manager, the players and the board must get it sorted there are only nine games to go. With our form at the moment we would be lucky to make the play-offs.

The atmosphere at the stadium was absolutely s**t again today until the first goal and it soon died down has the visitors equalized with eight minutes. For the second goal the celebrating Cardiff  City fans had less time with the visitors squaring the game in just six minutes.

More bad news was the sight of striker Michael Chopra being stretcher off with a suspected hamstring injury, could that mean the end of his season. He already has an ongoing ankle problem according to reports. Chopra left ground on crutches and should be in line for a hospital visit tomorrow to see how serious his hamstring its. Jay Bothroyd popularity at the Cardiff City stadium is swirling downwards today he was booed and later jeered as he was substituted by boss Dave Jones sent on Jon Parkin.

Jones kept the players in the dressing room after the game for over an hour, you would hope the players were getting a tongue-lashing.

Cardiff City team v Barnsley

Bywater

Quinn Hudson Keinan McNaughton

Whittingham McPhail Emmanuel-Thomas Bellamy

Chopra Bothroyd

Substitutes: - Brown Gypes Blake Rae Olofinjana Burke Parkin

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones has stuck with the starting eleven from the Crystal Palace game. It means a place on the bench for fit again Seyi Olofinjana.

Choprs backs Bothroyd to come good

Cardiff City striker Michael Chopra is backing the partnership with fellow striker Jay Bothroyd as a section of the fans call for Cardiff boss Dave Jones to unleash the ‘Beast’ Jon Parkin from the bench.

Top scorer Bothroyd has been come in for a lot of stick from some fans who believe he has been off his earlier season form. There is also talk of him going down to easy to gain free-kicks and penalties and that he as become a target for referees.  However, both manager Jones and Chopra have shown support.

Chopra talking about Bothroydi who has not score in the last eight games,

“I‘ve no doubt Jay will get it right very soon. He wouldn’t have scored so many goals this year if he wasn’t doing something right.
“It’s part and parcel of being a striker when you go through these phases but it’s how you come out of it. He’s strong enough.
“He hasn’t changed or big-time since he played for England.
“If Jay keeps working hard then he’ll score that goal he needs and he’ll be off again.”

The team will be out in a few hours and I would be supprised if Parkin gets the nod ahead of Bothroyd.

Time to step up Bluebirds

Points dropped left right and centre this afternoon opening the door for Cardiff City to capsules when they play Barnsley tomorrow.

Top of the Championship QPR won and look to be running away with the league unless their hit the wall. Second place Swansea City lost 2-1 at lowly Derby County and leaving a chance for there local rivals to jump ahead of them if they win tomorrow. Leeds United and Nottingham Forest fifth and sixth respectively both picked up draws and seventh place Burnley got smashed 3-0 by Millwall.

Cardiff City play tomorrow Norwich had a tough home game on Monday against a resurgent Bristol City who have won they last four games. A win for the tomorrow will see Cardiff back into second place depending on the Monday night game where a win for Norwich will see them in second.

Next Saturday fixtures are the last for two weeks because of a international break, what a time for a break with the season at possibly its most important period. 

No footy for the Bluebirds this afternoon

All the talk of QPR and points deduction as deflected my mind somewhat from the upcoming game on Sunday. With QPR promotion rivals I hope they get stuck with a deduction of 10 points or more that would do nicely, it’s dog eat dog world out there. I am sure if the boot was on the other foot their fans would wish the same to Cardiff if they were in there place. The Football League did recent called to see some information on the clubs financial dealings and the club quickly informed fans there was no problem.

The FA are hoping to fast track a decision for next week after QPR were charged by the FA with seven breaches of regulations relating to third-party ownership and agents. It stems from the transfer deal in 2009 surrounding Argentinean midfielder Alejandro Faurlin, who signed for Rangers for a club-record fee believed to be in the region of £3.5million. I thing they will be fined.

QPR take a seven-point lead over second place Swansea and nine points over Cardiff.

I say it about every game, but this time I really mean and I hope the players feel it, we need a win tomorrow. Barnsley seem to be safe from relegation, they are sat in mid-table hopefully they will come all laid back, don’t think they will though. Recent history shows last season they did the double over Cardiff while earlier this season Cardiff were 2-1 winners at Barnsley.

On the team front Cardiff will have Seyi Olofinjana back after he missed the last three games with a muscle tear behind his knee. If he is picked to start my Cardiff boss Dave Jones it will mean Jones drop either Peter Whittingham or Stephen McPhail to the bench. The squad is nearly up to full strength going into the last ten games still in the treatment room is defender Lee Naylor and of course keepers David Marshall and Tom Heaton.

Today’s Fixtures

Burnley (7) v (12) Millwall 3:00pm

Derby (19) v (2) Swansea, 3:00pm

Leeds (5) v (16) Ipswich, 3:00pm

Nottingham Forest (6) v (17) Doncaster, 3:00pm

QPR (1) v (21) Crystal Palace, 3:00pm

Sunday

Cardiff (4) v (15) Barnsley, 3:00pm

Monday

Norwich (3) v (14) Bristol City, 7:45pm

Tuesday

Burnley v Coventry, 7:45pm

The top six have been joined by seventh place Burnley who after a steady run of wins have joined the party. More importantly they have two games over the entire top six and if there were to win both they could end up a point off automatic promotion.

March 11th 1971 - I was there

The family came to this country from Spain before the First World War so Cardiff playing the biggest team in Spain was a bit of a novelty for dad. He is and still is blue to the core so there was little chance he would turn white for the night. I was just start out on my love affair with Cardiff City being just 12 days from my 11 birthday but even I at my young I knew this game was special.

I remember day like yesterday school was buzzing and I was looking forward to the game. Dad caming home from work, 4pm instead of his normal 6pm. The game had a 7:30pm kick-off but it would have been a rush if he had finished at his normal time.

It was a lovely evening for the long walk from the Docks to Ninian Park and we got their just as the gates had just open opened. I jumped up to my normal spot on the perimeter wall while dad make is way to his spot, he always stood on the corner of the Bob Bank and Grange End. we had a long wait to kick-off,but it was fun watching the never ending flood of fans slowly filling the ground. By kick-off I decided to join my dad up the terrace has the big boys had come and pushed me off the wall, bullies.

Of the game I remember little, being in the land of the giants. So I had to make do with the odd glimpses through the odd gaps and hope dad would do his duty and give me a bunk-up now and again. Truthfully I didn’t see the goal probably not until years later there was no Internet in them days. Of the night, I remember the atmosphere from the crowd and walking home it was like you were lifted along with the celebrating fans.



No points from Palace

Stats from the BBC

I am fing annoyed with what is happening with Cardiff City we are supposed to have this great team, with an attacking line-up to kill for, but are we really that good because we need to turn on the performances week not intermittently. Goals are seemingly hard to come by although the chances are there, but the finish is letting the team and the fans down. Then you have the officials, who have called offside with the ball in the net a few occasions this season. After two good wins over Leicester and Hull we have been hit with two defeats in a row, and from teams in the bottom end of the table. Ipswich we should have won and tonight at Palace we could have win.

Again we have been saved by results around us not by our team; we just can’t grid a result out when we need one. Tonight was one of those times we needed those three points instead others were to make gains Norwich jumped above Cardiff into third with the only other top six win going to Leeds.

Crystal Palace 1-0 Cardiff

Leicester 2-3 Norwich

Millwall 2-0 QPR

Preston 1-2 Leeds

Sheffield United 2-1 Nottingham Forest

Swansea 1-1 Watford

A win would have seen Cardiff back into second. Swansea could only pick up a points with QPR loosing and Nottingham Forest suffering another defeat. Whittingham missing a penalty so late into the game just left me feeling it was not going to be a good night for Bluebird fans.

It’s incredible we are still in the top six and are in a better place than last season after 36 games. With all the doom and gloom we are still in the mix we can still do it automatic just need the players and management to turn it around

This season (click on image)



Last season (click on image)

Upcoming games
Saturday, 12 March Derby (19) v (2) Swansea, 3:00pm

Saturday, 12 March Leeds (5) v (16) Ipswich, 3:00pm

Saturday, 12 March Nottingham Forest (6) v (17) Doncaster, 3:00pm

Saturday, 12 March QPR (1) v (21) Crystal Palace, 3:00pm

Sunday, 13 March Cardiff (4) v (15) Barnsley, 3:00pm

Monday, 14 March Norwich (3) v (14) Bristol City, 7:45pm

Linked midfielder joins Leeds

According to the Daily Mirror Cardiff City missed out on bring in Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan on loan. With a number of clubs in the Championship interested in his services he decided to join promotion rivals Leeds United.

Cardiff is in the market for another loan midfielder with the lost of Aaron Ramsey who since returning to Arsenal has not featured in their last two games. Cardiff City boss Dave Jones is rumoured to still be interested in bring Ramsey back on loan.

Cardiff City team v Crystal Palace

Bywater

McNaughton Hudson Keinan Quinn

Emmanuel-Thomas Whittingham McPhail Bellamy(c)

Chopra Bothroyd

Substitutes: - Brown Rae Burke Gyepes Blake Matthews Parkin

No change for the Bluebirds from the team that lost to Ipswich Saturday. The rumour Quinn was doubtful was false he plays Matthews is on the bench instead of Naylor

While Cardiff battle it out for points Aaron Ramsay didn’t even make the bench for Barcelona to night and was stuck on the bench against Sunderland at the weekend. He could have been better utilised staying with the City.

Victory or Bust

Another one of those must win games tonight at Crystal Palace and all three points is a MUST.

We can’t sit back hoping for another results to go our way any more, there are 33 points up for grabs form the last 11 games and there is a need for everyone of them. I don't think the the board, manager and is staff, players or fans want the see the season go beyond the 7 May. The ball in the back of the net is the only way to bag one of the two automatic promotion spots. I so tight at the top QPR are nine points ahead of the Bluebirds

Tonight’s game throws up more of those top verse bottom and a few involving the top six and teams still eyeing a play-off place. Only second place Swansea is at home tonight the rest of the top six are on there travels.

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

() Donates league position

We should have beaten Ipswich well at the weekend with the game all be sown up by the end of first half. As for tonight Cardiff City boss Dave Jones it’s rumoured that Paul Quinn is doubtful after a knock he received against Ipswich while Seyi Olofinjana remains on the sidelined. Striker Michael Chopra is carrying a ankle injury but is expected to be fit to play.

The Bluebirds will take around 1,000 fans to Selhurst Park for tonight's fixture a game just has important host who are just one point from the relegation zone.

Three pointer on Tuesday

Silent is golden some times but not when you are a football manager but not when you loose. A bit unprofessional of Cardiff City boss Dave Jones to swerve the after match interview with Sky last night. He sent assistant manager Terry Burton out to do the interviews while he was I hope reading the riot act back in the dressing room.

Burton had a pop at the ref has expected about the disallowed goal from defender Dekel Keinan, looked a goal to me but watching on TV the pundits reckoned the ref got it right. To Cardiff it was a goal – to Ipswich it was off-side, and then at the end of the game Cardiff is up in arms while Ipswich don't care they won. The big winner and always the win in this is the ref ‘right or wrong’ crap, are the pundits with their cameras and slow-motion. However, even after all the slow-motion and studio chat some fans will put their hands on a Bible and swear it was a goal.

Time to back off the officials yesturday the officals will not change their minds and can't, everyone makes mistake's. I believe in the staying -swings and roundabouts.

After game Burton told the gathering media,

“We are gutted.

“We don’t like to loose any game but when you look at the performance it did not warrant a 2-0 defeat.

“I don’t think anyone will say we deserved to loose that 2-0.

“They got their goal and it gave them something to hold on to, we had to try and break them down then.

“We would have liked to kick on with more chances after they scored, but we had enough in the first half and we should have put one of them away.”

On the penalty decision he said,

“Sometimes you have to wonder if there is some sort of conspiracy going on. We do not seem to get many decisions.

“We have had a legitimate goal disallowed for offside when most other sides will get it because there was only a pair of shorts between the players.”

On the Ipswich keeper

“Their goalkeeper got a bit lucky.

“Shots were coming off his legs and bouncing over the bar instead of going in.

“But his job is to keep the ball out of the net and, in fairness, he did it well.”

There are still 33 points up for grabs, 11 games to be play the same has all our rivals. We should have won yesterday but we didn't, every eyes should now look forward and to Crystal Place on Tuesday night.

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

Cardiff City team v Ipswich

Bywater,

Quinn, Hudson, Keinan, McNaughton

Whittingham, Emmanuel-Thomas, McPhail, Bellamy (c),

Bothroyd, Chopra.

Subs: Brown, Naylor, Gyepes, Rae, Burke, Blake, Parkin.

Cardiff boss Dave Jones had to make changes from the team that beat Hull City 2-0 last weekend after injuries. New loan signing goalkeeper Stephen Bywater has the nod to start with Jones other loan signing keeper Jason Brown on the bench. The defence is picking it’s self these days with no change for the Hull game.

Seyi Olofinjana still in out injured and doubt for Tuesday night and with Aaron Ramsay back at Aresnal Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is back in the starting line-up.

Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra lead the attack.

Heaton on SoccerAM

Cardiff City now has five goalkeepers on their book, two loan signings having to be added because of injuries. The 2 loanee’ are both expect to get their debuts later today against Ipswich, one between the post and the other on the bench.

Pre-match chatter is suggesting that Stephen Bywater will get the nod to start with Jason Brown on the bench. Bywater faced Ipswich at the beginning of last month for Derby in a 2-1 defeat.

It will mean David Marshall will get his chance to have an operation on his knackered elbow which could put him out of the rest of the season. Current No1 Tom Heaton who his suffering groin operation who also rumoured to be in need of an operation. Heaton will be on the sofa of SoccerAM this morning on Sky One/Sky Sports 1 with Helen and Max. Youngest Jordan Santiago has a broken finger but surely would be unlikely to have been in contention even if he was fit.

The kiss of death goes west

What is seen by many a football fans ‘kiss of death’ the Manager of the month award was dole out to some unluckymanager today? Managers maybe sit around waiting for the call but I can insure you most of the fans hope it’s not their manager who wins.

Obviously I hoped the Manager of the month award would pass Dave Jones by and did a little jig when it did, I would have been happier if he was not nominated at all just in case the curse touches the nominated. Superstitious are rife in football so why not the fans, if your team has never lost when you wear your favourite pink thong with matching suspenders who's to say you must stop wearing them to the game. Your wife could object maybe.

Congratulations and jubilations

The award passed Dave Jones by and continued along the M4 to the office of Jacks’ manager Brendan Rodgers, hopefully taking the kiss of death with it.

Another keeper for Cardiff

Cardiff City is surprisingly linked with Derby goalkeeper Stephen Bywater in the press today. Cardiff boss Dave Jones secured the services of Blackburn's Welsh international keeper Jason Brown on an emergency one-month loan not a season long.

Cardiff are in the midst of a goalkeeping crisis with their two senior keepers carrying injuries, Scottish international David Marshall has a long term elbow injury that the club feel needs surgery to fix. Tom Heaton is playing with a groin injury and need treatment. Manager Jones has been searching for temporary replacements and after a few knock backs seems to have sorted the problem.

The chatter surrounding Bywater is he will be signing for the rest of the season but Derby will have a 24 hours notice of recall. Bywater has been on loan with the Bluebirds before back in 2002-2003 season. He did not play nor was he on the bench for the one month stay, he was signed after Cardiff lost their then No1 Neil Alexander.

Non-City - State of Art grandstand No2

Robin Hood Athletic

They play in West Yorkshire League Division 1 and they are currently top of their league. The grandstand is on the centre line and holds about 50/60  

The Future

The stand as now sprouted two wings comprising of new changing rooms and a tea room for supporters

New keeper rumour, plus midfield troubles

According to the Lancashire Telegraph Cardiff City looked to have signed or about to sign Blackburn Rover goalkeeper Jason Brown on loan until the end of the season. Since joining Blackburn from Gillingham back in 2006 he as only played ten games in total plus three off the bench. This season he has had two loan spells, first with Leeds United and then Leyton Orient both were for a month only.

He tweeted, "It seems as though I'm off to Cardiff, so really excited."

Link Lancashire Telegraph

He has been linked with a move to Chapionship rivals Doncaster Rovers just over 24hours ago. He is a Welsh international and won a full cap against Trindad and Tobage in 2006.

Cardiff City will be without midfield Seyi Olofinjana for the next two games according to reports. Bad news for everyone concern with the Bluebirds on top of loosing Aaron Ramsey. There as been no official statement of his return to Arsenal but City boss Dave Jones is still knocking at the door to see if he can keep Ramsey for a while longer.

It will mean Jones deciding who will fill the void Gavin Rae, Jason Koumas Stephen McPhail, Chris Burke and Darcy Blake can fill in the middle

Lonergan back on the menu??

Lonergan

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones is being linked with Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan in the Daily Mirror. Jones tried unsuccessfully to sign the keeper during the January transfer window but with the failed of the Chris Kirkland deal the City boss to rumour to have gone back to Preston.

The Kirkland deal stalled over an argued over an extra bonus payment according to the same paper. Wigan requested a bonus if he helps the Bluebirds reach the Premier League believe to be £50,000 on top of the club paying around £12,000-a-week for the players wages.

According to the newspaper he has been training with Everton with Premiership club Everton. The last game he played for Preston was the 4-0 defeat to Bristol City at the beginning of February. Since then he has be stuck on the bench.

Lonergan is out of contract in the summer with Everton strong candidates to sign him. He gained his professional debut under the Everton boss David Moyes when he was in charge at Preston. Cardiff is looking to bring him in on a rest of season loan but would like to sign long-term.

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.

Non-City - State of Art grandstand No1

This is the Grandstand Meifod FC who play in Division Two of the Spar Mid Wales League. Made from the back of a lorry and still as it's wheels, with matching dugouts and a bucket. Don't you just love Non-League football.

Inside the comfy seating

More Pictures on The Groundhog Blog

Kirkland deal hits a hiccup

The Chris Kirkland deal has been put on temporary hold according to the South Wales Echo. The Wigan third choice goalkeeper is wanted as cover for Cardiff two senior keepers, David Marshall will be out for the rest of the season after much needed surgery on a long term elbow injury. While current No 1 Tom Heaton is playing with groin trouble leaving only Canadian youngster Jordan Santiago who is yet to make his senior debut.

The reason for the delay to the emergency loan deal his he is suffering from a virus and Cardiff City boss Dave Jones is keen how long he could be out for. Kirkland was at the Cardiff City training ground at the Vale yesterday and will see doctors today. Marshall as been on the bench in case of Heaton was to become injured during a game, but it was not an ideal situation. Jones tried to sign a new goalkeeper during the January transfer window with luck, Preston’s Andy Lonergan was one and there was a rumour that Jones tried a late attempt to sign Republic of Ireland and Manchester City keeper Shay Given.

Both clubs are staying silent.