" ITS ONLY WINS THAT MATTER NOW IN APRIL "

" Its only wins that matter now in April "

01st April 2012.

City have now only one 1 in their last 8 league games and 2 in their last 14 games.

So Shakespeare’s soothsayer warned Julius Cesar, but Bluebirds boss Malky Mackay might have done well to heed such advice over a month which finished on a hugely disappointing note for Cardiff City yesterday.

Caesar, of course, came to a rather bloody end thanks to a group of conspirators in the Roman Senate.

Whether Cardiff City’s play-off hopes are in similar mortal danger remains to be seen, but the month of March will certainly not be recalled with fondness by Mackay and his players.

One win in eight games is a sorry enough statistic, the fact that none have been achieved in five home matches is painful in the extreme.

This match had a somewhat predictable narrative, Cardiff’s tidy approach play often lacking the necessary width and quality to hurt dogged opponents content to frustrate and counter on the break.

There was even another assistant referee controversy – with Aron Gunnarsson’s 81st minute close-range header ruled out – which Mackay complained was the third time his side had been denied this season by a flagging official.

But if that was a smokescreen built by Mackay to hide the obvious failings of yet another home performance it didn’t really work.

After all, Millwall – like Coventry before them – are in the bottom six for a reason and, though Mackay rightly pointed out they are “fighting for their life”, that is because they are not a good side.

Yes, there were good chances with Joe Mason thwarted by Paul Robinson’s goal-line clearance in the first half and the ball dropping wide off Gunnarsson’s shoulder when the Icelandic international saw Liam Lawrence’s cross late after being obstructed by Kenny Miller.

But this was a fourth home game in five without a goal and it can’t all be down to poor decisions from assistant referees, can it?

And a 16th draw of the season – the most in the Championship – tells its own tale.



If there was a moment that summed up City’s strife it came in the 73rd minute when Lawrence slipped Miller into an inviting right-hand channel.

The Cardiff City Stadium held its breath as Miller seemingly prepared to pull the trigger, to play chief executioner and end Millwall’s obdurate resistance.

But the confidence-drained Scot delayed, took an extra touch and Lions defender Jack Smith retreated in time to get a block.

Three minutes later Miller’s number was up and his scoring drought had been extended to 14 games; yet nor could his replacement Robert Earnshaw save the day.

“Sometimes it’s down to fine lines, it’s down to one chance,” said Mackay after his side had drawn another home blank.

“If Joe Mason’s goal goes in it forces them to come out and play.

“But teams are going to come and pack the area. They are in their right to do that but you’ve got to find a way around it.

“If there’s a lot of bodies in there you’ve got to probe, you can’t just smash balls in there because that plays into their hands.

“What we’ve got to do is carry on probing, draw people out and keep our standards high.”

Mackay had pointed to the number of early kick-offs Cardiff have had of late and there is certainly something about lunchtime kick-offs that doesn’t sit well with supporters.

Only a few hundred Millwall fans had also made the M4 trip and there was little to be excited by in a soporific first-half, save for Mason’s close shave and Stephen McPhail’s powerful drive which flew straight at Maik Taylor in the Lions goal.

To Cardiff’s credit – especially given their recent work-rate – there was more urgency after the break.

Taylor tipped over a Mason header, Gunnarsson missed his golden opportunity and Miller poked wide on the stretch after more inventive work from Mason.

Mackay used all three substitutes – Rudy Gestede, Craig Conway and Earnshaw – in the desperate search for the winner which, given results later in the day, would have again drawn them level with teams in the play-off zone.

But Millwall suddenly had openings. Andy Keogh’s effort was ruled out for offside before the ex-Bluebirds striker scampered away only to see David Marshall collect his chip.

Then came that moment of controversy as Gunnarsson and Jimmy Abdou tangled at the far post from Lawrence’s free-kick.

Abdou probably went to ground far too easily but Gunnarsson did briefly have his arm on the midfielder’s shoulder at the start of the incident.

It was a soft award and one that no attacking side likes to see go against them, but it was not the black and white case that Mackay insisted after the final whistle.

Some you win, some you lose, more like.

And Mackay tried to put a positive slant on matters before the final six games of the season.

“We’ve had one defeat in seven but we know we’ve got to win more – absolutely,” he said.

“We’ve had most of the ball, we look like a team that is confident on the ball and we’ve had 22 shots – 11 attempts on target.

“I’ll keep working with a team like that because they’re a group of warriors.

“They’re not frightened to go to the last minute and we’re still there or thereabout with six games to go.”

Indeed, they are – but it’s only wins that matter in April.

I think 3 wins will do it, let's hope we can get what we need. Won't be giving up until its impossible tho

I think 3 wins will do it, let's hope we can get what we need. Won't be giving up until its impossible tho

Luke, I wont be giving up either.

We need at least 4 wins from 6.

3 WINS AND 3 DRAWS AND WE MIGHT SCRAPE IN , WOULD NOT FANCY GOING TO PALACE NEEDING 3 POINTS

With some of the teams around us having "harder" games, i think 3 wins could do it, but i would like us to finish strong now so we can hit a bit of form and be ready for the play offs. we play quite tidy football but when we have the ball around the box, the passes aren't good enough and we don't look that threatening.
we should have bought wingers in January. We do have a good side and they'll show you their quality when we beat boro saturday!

We need at least 4 wins from 6.

Agreed. We can't rely on others slipping up any longer, we need to go all out for a win every game now.

We're good enough but, for some unknown reason, the confidence is lacking at the moment. 4-4-2 against Boro and let's really go at them - look what Leeds did to them recently. Somebody give Malky a DVD copy of that match!

how can you say 442 away from home when he wont play442 at home ,you say he should of signed wingers but he got a good one his name is conway and he wont give him a start, imo we got to go 451 away but he needs to pick the right 11 starters, and for me thats got to be marshall mcnouaghton hudson turner naylor and tell that four to defend first and formost ,conway cowie or lawrence 2wide players mcphail just in front of back 4 whitts and gunarson through the middle and mason up front ,tell all players to keep the ball on the floor ,no humping it up to no one ,for it to come straight back ,also back four to keep it short and simple to whitts and mcphail let them do the passing etc , see you at boro fellow bloobirds

I agree with what your saying annis, personally I think the season is fizzling out, have we lost it since the carling cup final, heads arent right state of mind etc, god knows, I dont think we'll make the play offs, sadly Im hastened to add

" Its only wins that matter now in April "

01st April 2012.

City have now only one 1 in their last 8 league games and 2 in their last 14 games.

So Shakespeare’s soothsayer warned Julius Cesar, but Bluebirds boss Malky Mackay might have done well to heed such advice over a month which finished on a hugely disappointing note for Cardiff City yesterday.

Caesar, of course, came to a rather bloody end thanks to a group of conspirators in the Roman Senate.

Whether Cardiff City’s play-off hopes are in similar mortal danger remains to be seen, but the month of March will certainly not be recalled with fondness by Mackay and his players.

One win in eight games is a sorry enough statistic, the fact that none have been achieved in five home matches is painful in the extreme.

This match had a somewhat predictable narrative, Cardiff’s tidy approach play often lacking the necessary width and quality to hurt dogged opponents content to frustrate and counter on the break.

There was even another assistant referee controversy – with Aron Gunnarsson’s 81st minute close-range header ruled out – which Mackay complained was the third time his side had been denied this season by a flagging official.

But if that was a smokescreen built by Mackay to hide the obvious failings of yet another home performance it didn’t really work.

After all, Millwall – like Coventry before them – are in the bottom six for a reason and, though Mackay rightly pointed out they are “fighting for their life”, that is because they are not a good side.

Yes, there were good chances with Joe Mason thwarted by Paul Robinson’s goal-line clearance in the first half and the ball dropping wide off Gunnarsson’s shoulder when the Icelandic international saw Liam Lawrence’s cross late after being obstructed by Kenny Miller.

But this was a fourth home game in five without a goal and it can’t all be down to poor decisions from assistant referees, can it?

And a 16th draw of the season – the most in the Championship – tells its own tale.



If there was a moment that summed up City’s strife it came in the 73rd minute when Lawrence slipped Miller into an inviting right-hand channel.

The Cardiff City Stadium held its breath as Miller seemingly prepared to pull the trigger, to play chief executioner and end Millwall’s obdurate resistance.

But the confidence-drained Scot delayed, took an extra touch and Lions defender Jack Smith retreated in time to get a block.

Three minutes later Miller’s number was up and his scoring drought had been extended to 14 games; yet nor could his replacement Robert Earnshaw save the day.

“Sometimes it’s down to fine lines, it’s down to one chance,” said Mackay after his side had drawn another home blank.

“If Joe Mason’s goal goes in it forces them to come out and play.

“But teams are going to come and pack the area. They are in their right to do that but you’ve got to find a way around it.

“If there’s a lot of bodies in there you’ve got to probe, you can’t just smash balls in there because that plays into their hands.

“What we’ve got to do is carry on probing, draw people out and keep our standards high.”

Mackay had pointed to the number of early kick-offs Cardiff have had of late and there is certainly something about lunchtime kick-offs that doesn’t sit well with supporters.

Only a few hundred Millwall fans had also made the M4 trip and there was little to be excited by in a soporific first-half, save for Mason’s close shave and Stephen McPhail’s powerful drive which flew straight at Maik Taylor in the Lions goal.

To Cardiff’s credit – especially given their recent work-rate – there was more urgency after the break.

Taylor tipped over a Mason header, Gunnarsson missed his golden opportunity and Miller poked wide on the stretch after more inventive work from Mason.

Mackay used all three substitutes – Rudy Gestede, Craig Conway and Earnshaw – in the desperate search for the winner which, given results later in the day, would have again drawn them level with teams in the play-off zone.

But Millwall suddenly had openings. Andy Keogh’s effort was ruled out for offside before the ex-Bluebirds striker scampered away only to see David Marshall collect his chip.

Then came that moment of controversy as Gunnarsson and Jimmy Abdou tangled at the far post from Lawrence’s free-kick.

Abdou probably went to ground far too easily but Gunnarsson did briefly have his arm on the midfielder’s shoulder at the start of the incident.

It was a soft award and one that no attacking side likes to see go against them, but it was not the black and white case that Mackay insisted after the final whistle.

Some you win, some you lose, more like.

And Mackay tried to put a positive slant on matters before the final six games of the season.

“We’ve had one defeat in seven but we know we’ve got to win more – absolutely,” he said.

“We’ve had most of the ball, we look like a team that is confident on the ball and we’ve had 22 shots – 11 attempts on target.

“I’ll keep working with a team like that because they’re a group of warriors.

“They’re not frightened to go to the last minute and we’re still there or thereabout with six games to go.”

Indeed, they are – but it’s only wins that matter in April.

Who wrote this piece?

No point looking at whos got the hardest / easier games on paper. Football is played on grass.

Weve had so called "easier" games in March and quite frankly had an awful return.

Just a 3 point and 2 goals return in 5 home games against West Ham, Hull, Coventry, Burnley and Millwall.

WE NEED WINS WINS WINS FROM NOW ON.