Time for Cardiff City to take advantage of rivals' slip-ups

" Time for Cardiff City to take advantage of rivals' slip-ups "



IT was Cardiff City full-back, Kevin McNaughton, who recently observed: “They keep leaving the door open, but we are not going through.”

The no-nonsense defender was referring to the battle for the Championship play-off spots which is not so much resembling a race right at this moment in time, but a competition in who can shoot themselves in the foot least.

We can assume Southampton, Reading and West Ham are away and doing battle among themselves for the top three positions. Two will go up into the Premier League automatically, the other will be certainties for the play-offs.

But for the remaining three play-off spots the fight is well and truly on, with perhaps eight sides in with a realistic chance of getting to Wembley in May and dreaming of meeting Manchester United and Co next season.


Malky Mackay’s Bluebirds are well in the hunt, in eighth spot and equal on points with sixth-placed Birmingham.

Much has been made, of course, of Cardiff’s recent dip in form, which has seen them win just two league games in 12 attempts since inching past Crystal Palace to reach the Carling Cup final.

Mackay’s men have earned just 11 points out a possible 36 in the process. By rights everyone at the club should be planning their summer holidays.

Yet the reason the Bluebirds remain firmly in the promotion hunt is down to the incredible inconsistency everyone else has been indulging in too.

The facts speak for themselves, Hull, one win in 10, Birmingham one win in seven, Blackpool two wins in eight, Middlesbrough two in eight, Brighton, two in seven and Leicester, perhaps the traditional last-gasp surging side, with three victories in seven.

It’s easy to see why McNaughton was bemoaning the fact that the Bluebirds have repeatedly recently failed to take the hint.

The day before their Sunday clash against Burnley on March 18 some favourable results involving other teams helped.

Cardiff could have gone fourth the following day, only to flop themselves with an insipid 0-0 home draw against the Clarets.

No matter, come the Tuesday night and everybody did their best to help out again with Hull and Birmingham crashing (the Blues 4-1 at Portsmouth!) while Middlesbrough only managed a draw.

At home to lowly Coventry the following night, Mackay’s men could again have leapt back into fourth with victory. They were set to do so until five minutes into extra time when the Sky Blues fired home a gut-wrenching equaliser.

Although, naturally, Blackpool and Leicester were fighting out a convenient draw themselves at the time.

Of course logic told you things couldn’t last, but this is the Championship so, of course, they could.

Last Saturday, with the Bluebirds again a day behind the rest of the division with a Sunday trip to Birmingham, results once again favoured Mackay’s men.

Leicester beat Hull, Middlesbrough could only fight out a draw at home to struggling Bristol City while Brighton dropped two points at equally relegation-haunted Nottingham Forest.

Unbelievably three points in the Midlands would see Cardiff go fourth again. Of course, the Bluebirds again failed in their upward mission, although a 1-1 draw against their play-off rivals did at least mark a return to some kind of form for Mackay’s men as they dominated periods of the match and actually fought back for the draw rather than throwing things away.

Never mind, on Tuesday night, when Cardiff did not even play, some of their main rivals slipped up once again.

Middlesbrough could only draw at Ipswich, Leicester were held at home by Forest, while Hull lost to crisis club Portsmouth.

And so, yes, you’ve guessed it, Cardiff can go fourth in the table on Saturday if they beat Millwall at home, provided Birmingham have failed to beat Doncaster the night before.

Given the way results have gone, you wouldn’t rule out the Blues slipping up.

Okay, for Cardiff it may prove to be only for a couple of hours. the Bluebirds kicking off at 12.30pm against the Lions.

But if they do eke out a much-needed win they will then have the chance to sit back and see how their rivals fare as they play afterwards.

What Cardiff will be looking for is a draw as Brighton entertain Boro, Coventry to pull off a shock (or would it really be?) at Hull, Southampton to keep up their winning habit at Blackpool and Peterborough to put a dent in Leicester’s thoughts of greatness.

Of course, you wouldn’t expect those sort of results to come in, but you would probably have said likewise a few weeks back too.

What is for certain is that with seven games remaining Cardiff are still beautifully poised to grab themselves what would be a highly-impressive play-off place.

Boosted by that improved showing at Birmingham on Sunday, confidence should be better than it has been for a while now within the Cardiff camp.

Of course, Mackay and his men don’t have to play unbelievably over the next few games, it is results that matter from here on in.

Points on the board ... and if current Championship form is anything to go by, the ability simply to be less rubbish than your rivals might just do the trick.

3-points against millwall on sat to start the ball rolling. CCFC

Have a good feeling for Saturday. We'll turn a corner and Miller will be back!! However as the above post mentions - will be hoping for some MORE championship slip ups come 4.50pm

We have to bag 3 points for all our home games now

Some tough games at home, Millwall, Watford, Derby and Leeds. As we have seen with Coventry everyone is fighting for points.

Some tough games at home, Millwall, Watford, Derby and Leeds. As we have seen with Coventry everyone is fighting for points.

But surely, if we can't take at least 8 - 10 points from those games at home, we really shouldn't be in the play offs

yes we will take advantage ,we have had our blip ,had a week to recharge now watch us go.we will be playing blackpool in the play off final but this time we will be victorious 2-1.Malky and this team has restored my faith in the club whatever happens,go on just do it boys to put the icing on it.

Have a good feeling for Saturday. We'll turn a corner and Miller will be back!! However as the above post mentions - will be hoping for some MORE championship slip ups come 4.50pm

great write up Annis

annis i have to say at birmingham last sunday i thought we played some lovely football, the best for quite a while infact, but a win tomorrow is a must, lets all try and get the stadium rocking tomorrow,malky says in todays echo that our support is fantastic,so lets get behind the team from the off and roar our beloved cardiff city to victory. And you will be sitting before me mate see you tomorrow mate.

you,ll have to settle for 5th place after we beat the mighty donny tonight.great result for blues.had banana skin written all over it so im

" Time for Cardiff City to take advantage of rivals' slip-ups "



IT was Cardiff City full-back, Kevin McNaughton, who recently observed: “They keep leaving the door open, but we are not going through.”

The no-nonsense defender was referring to the battle for the Championship play-off spots which is not so much resembling a race right at this moment in time, but a competition in who can shoot themselves in the foot least.

We can assume Southampton, Reading and West Ham are away and doing battle among themselves for the top three positions. Two will go up into the Premier League automatically, the other will be certainties for the play-offs.

But for the remaining three play-off spots the fight is well and truly on, with perhaps eight sides in with a realistic chance of getting to Wembley in May and dreaming of meeting Manchester United and Co next season.


Malky Mackay’s Bluebirds are well in the hunt, in eighth spot and equal on points with sixth-placed Birmingham.

Much has been made, of course, of Cardiff’s recent dip in form, which has seen them win just two league games in 12 attempts since inching past Crystal Palace to reach the Carling Cup final.

Mackay’s men have earned just 11 points out a possible 36 in the process. By rights everyone at the club should be planning their summer holidays.

Yet the reason the Bluebirds remain firmly in the promotion hunt is down to the incredible inconsistency everyone else has been indulging in too.

The facts speak for themselves, Hull, one win in 10, Birmingham one win in seven, Blackpool two wins in eight, Middlesbrough two in eight, Brighton, two in seven and Leicester, perhaps the traditional last-gasp surging side, with three victories in seven.

It’s easy to see why McNaughton was bemoaning the fact that the Bluebirds have repeatedly recently failed to take the hint.

The day before their Sunday clash against Burnley on March 18 some favourable results involving other teams helped.

Cardiff could have gone fourth the following day, only to flop themselves with an insipid 0-0 home draw against the Clarets.

No matter, come the Tuesday night and everybody did their best to help out again with Hull and Birmingham crashing (the Blues 4-1 at Portsmouth!) while Middlesbrough only managed a draw.

At home to lowly Coventry the following night, Mackay’s men could again have leapt back into fourth with victory. They were set to do so until five minutes into extra time when the Sky Blues fired home a gut-wrenching equaliser.

Although, naturally, Blackpool and Leicester were fighting out a convenient draw themselves at the time.

Of course logic told you things couldn’t last, but this is the Championship so, of course, they could.

Last Saturday, with the Bluebirds again a day behind the rest of the division with a Sunday trip to Birmingham, results once again favoured Mackay’s men.

Leicester beat Hull, Middlesbrough could only fight out a draw at home to struggling Bristol City while Brighton dropped two points at equally relegation-haunted Nottingham Forest.

Unbelievably three points in the Midlands would see Cardiff go fourth again. Of course, the Bluebirds again failed in their upward mission, although a 1-1 draw against their play-off rivals did at least mark a return to some kind of form for Mackay’s men as they dominated periods of the match and actually fought back for the draw rather than throwing things away.

Never mind, on Tuesday night, when Cardiff did not even play, some of their main rivals slipped up once again.

Middlesbrough could only draw at Ipswich, Leicester were held at home by Forest, while Hull lost to crisis club Portsmouth.

And so, yes, you’ve guessed it, Cardiff can go fourth in the table on Saturday if they beat Millwall at home, provided Birmingham have failed to beat Doncaster the night before.

Given the way results have gone, you wouldn’t rule out the Blues slipping up.

Okay, for Cardiff it may prove to be only for a couple of hours. the Bluebirds kicking off at 12.30pm against the Lions.

But if they do eke out a much-needed win they will then have the chance to sit back and see how their rivals fare as they play afterwards.

What Cardiff will be looking for is a draw as Brighton entertain Boro, Coventry to pull off a shock (or would it really be?) at Hull, Southampton to keep up their winning habit at Blackpool and Peterborough to put a dent in Leicester’s thoughts of greatness.

Of course, you wouldn’t expect those sort of results to come in, but you would probably have said likewise a few weeks back too.

What is for certain is that with seven games remaining Cardiff are still beautifully poised to grab themselves what would be a highly-impressive play-off place.

Boosted by that improved showing at Birmingham on Sunday, confidence should be better than it has been for a while now within the Cardiff camp.

Of course, Mackay and his men don’t have to play unbelievably over the next few games, it is results that matter from here on in.

Points on the board ... and if current Championship form is anything to go by, the ability simply to be less rubbish than your rivals might just do the trick.

Shouldn't you credit Steve Tucker for this post.

Been an awful division this year. We are still there and weve been awful for 2 months.

I thinl last years side would gave pissed autos.