"Don Cowie expected to start at Boro at the expense of "
Fri Apr 06, 2012 7:28 am
Cardiff City
by Terry Phillips, Apr 6 2012
Malky Mackay
CARDIFF City fly to Teesside this afternoon for the first of six Championship matches which will decide their immediate future.
They need 10 points or more from the 18 on offer to secure a top-six finish and keep alive hopes of promotion to the Premier League.
The Bluebirds are among up to 10 teams fighting it out for probably three remaining play-off places and manager Malky Mackay says: “We are absolutely in with a shout – and everybody here is excited by that prospect.
“What has gone this season is in the past and we look forward knowing what is ahead of us.
“We have to kick on now. Six points from our matches against Middlesbrough tomorrow and Watford at home on Monday would be a good start.
“We have shown time and again we are tough to beat and that’s what I want the players to show over these last six matches. We all want to succeed.”
Southampton, Reading and West Ham United are the leading three teams and look set to stay there, while Birmingham City are now clear in fourth.
The options for Cardiff and the other contenders are dwindling fast and the chase will be decided this month.
Don Cowie, Cardiff’s spark plug of a midfield player, has been training this week and is in contention for a recall.
He missed the 1-1 draw against Millwall with a hamstring injury, but is now fit and ready.
City are eighth in the Championship, only two points away from fifth.
“We have a couple of players nursing knocks, but nothing that will keep anybody out of tomorrow’s match,” said Mackay.
The Bluebirds badly need goals, having failed to find the net in five of their last nine league matches.
City have scored seven in that run, but their only win came 2-1 against Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
“We are constantly striving to do all we can to score goals,” says Mackay. “We are creating chances, but not taking them.
“We have had various finishing sessions to get people hitting the back of the net, while I have spoken to small groups of players and individuals. Nothing too intense, simply asking how they are and giving a few words of advice.
“When chances are there we have to be clinical and take them.
“I am confident we can score the goals we need between now and the end of the season.”
Mackay is far from happy at the fixture schedule which allows Monday’s opponents Watford an extra day’s rest.
They are in action against Blackpool at home this afternoon before playing at Cardiff City Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday. City play twice in 48 hours.
“These are the times where every team should be doing things on the same day, just like they do on the last day of the season when everyone kicks off at the same time,” said Mackay. “Over Easter and the Christmas period everybody should be given the same rest between matches.
“It’s about players recovering to go out and play again.”
Mackay is likely to make one change to his starting line-up with Don Cowie returning, possibly at the expense of Liam Lawrence.
Boro boss Tony Mowbray is expected to stick with the same line-up he sent out for their 1-1 draw at Brighton.
“Middlesbrough, like us, are up there around the play-offs,” said Mackay.
“Tony Mowbray will have his team focused on last six games.
“We are going up to win. Our target is to win every match we go into.
“There are two tough games in three days for us over Easter, but we are ready for that challenge.
“The fitness levels of our players are excellent and we deal with the situation in front of us.
“Our job is to get as many points as possible over the remaining six games and ensure we finish in the play-off places.”
Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z1rF7T5gJb
by Terry Phillips, Apr 6 2012
Malky Mackay
CARDIFF City fly to Teesside this afternoon for the first of six Championship matches which will decide their immediate future.
They need 10 points or more from the 18 on offer to secure a top-six finish and keep alive hopes of promotion to the Premier League.
The Bluebirds are among up to 10 teams fighting it out for probably three remaining play-off places and manager Malky Mackay says: “We are absolutely in with a shout – and everybody here is excited by that prospect.
“What has gone this season is in the past and we look forward knowing what is ahead of us.
“We have to kick on now. Six points from our matches against Middlesbrough tomorrow and Watford at home on Monday would be a good start.
“We have shown time and again we are tough to beat and that’s what I want the players to show over these last six matches. We all want to succeed.”
Southampton, Reading and West Ham United are the leading three teams and look set to stay there, while Birmingham City are now clear in fourth.
The options for Cardiff and the other contenders are dwindling fast and the chase will be decided this month.
Don Cowie, Cardiff’s spark plug of a midfield player, has been training this week and is in contention for a recall.
He missed the 1-1 draw against Millwall with a hamstring injury, but is now fit and ready.
City are eighth in the Championship, only two points away from fifth.
“We have a couple of players nursing knocks, but nothing that will keep anybody out of tomorrow’s match,” said Mackay.
The Bluebirds badly need goals, having failed to find the net in five of their last nine league matches.
City have scored seven in that run, but their only win came 2-1 against Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
“We are constantly striving to do all we can to score goals,” says Mackay. “We are creating chances, but not taking them.
“We have had various finishing sessions to get people hitting the back of the net, while I have spoken to small groups of players and individuals. Nothing too intense, simply asking how they are and giving a few words of advice.
“When chances are there we have to be clinical and take them.
“I am confident we can score the goals we need between now and the end of the season.”
Mackay is far from happy at the fixture schedule which allows Monday’s opponents Watford an extra day’s rest.
They are in action against Blackpool at home this afternoon before playing at Cardiff City Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday. City play twice in 48 hours.
“These are the times where every team should be doing things on the same day, just like they do on the last day of the season when everyone kicks off at the same time,” said Mackay. “Over Easter and the Christmas period everybody should be given the same rest between matches.
“It’s about players recovering to go out and play again.”
Mackay is likely to make one change to his starting line-up with Don Cowie returning, possibly at the expense of Liam Lawrence.
Boro boss Tony Mowbray is expected to stick with the same line-up he sent out for their 1-1 draw at Brighton.
“Middlesbrough, like us, are up there around the play-offs,” said Mackay.
“Tony Mowbray will have his team focused on last six games.
“We are going up to win. Our target is to win every match we go into.
“There are two tough games in three days for us over Easter, but we are ready for that challenge.
“The fitness levels of our players are excellent and we deal with the situation in front of us.
“Our job is to get as many points as possible over the remaining six games and ensure we finish in the play-off places.”
Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z1rF7T5gJb
Re: "Don Cowie expected to start at Boro at the expense of "
Fri Apr 06, 2012 7:42 am
Sounds like back to the usual 4-5-1 Annis with Miller and Cowie in midfield 
Will we score
Will we score
Re: "Don Cowie expected to start at Boro at the expense of "
Fri Apr 06, 2012 7:44 am
wigstar wrote:Sounds like back to the usual 4-5-1 Annis with Miller and Cowie in midfield
Will we score
Wiggy, Dont ask me why, but I have got a good feeling for this game, I really think we will win.
Re: "Don Cowie expected to start at Boro at the expense of "
Fri Apr 06, 2012 7:58 am
451 is a great formation for us to play, and if you think we have been doing badly of late, it wouldve been 10 times worse playing 442.
Re: "Don Cowie expected to start at Boro at the expense of "
Fri Apr 06, 2012 8:39 am
4-5-1 works well away from home, but at home we need to be alot more attacking, got to win your home games in this league to stand a chance of going up just look at Southampton
Re: "Don Cowie expected to start at Boro at the expense of "
Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:17 am
Forever Blue wrote:wigstar wrote:Sounds like back to the usual 4-5-1 Annis with Miller and Cowie in midfield
Will we score
Wiggy, Dont ask me why, but I have got a good feeling for this game, I really think we will win.
Same here Annis I have a good feeling about this game too
Re: "Don Cowie expected to start at Boro at the expense of "
Fri Apr 06, 2012 2:56 pm
Boro's home form: Played 20, won 7, drawn 9, lost 4
Our away form Played 20, won 5, drawn 11, lost 4
Perhaps a draw is on the card looking at them stats, but who knows what'll happen! C'mon city!
Our away form Played 20, won 5, drawn 11, lost 4
Perhaps a draw is on the card looking at them stats, but who knows what'll happen! C'mon city!
Re: "Don Cowie expected to start at Boro at the expense of "
Fri Apr 06, 2012 4:23 pm
Please tell me i'm not going mad and that we drew with Millwall 0-0 or were the two disallowed efforts really goals ?
Taxi for Phillips !
Taxi for Phillips !
Re: "Don Cowie expected to start at Boro at the expense of "
Sat Apr 07, 2012 2:01 pm
At the expense of Mason.