Malky eyes POSH threat
Mon Dec 10, 2012 9:01 am
Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay hailed the strength of his squad after Blackburn Rovers were swept away at Ewood Park on Friday night.
But the Scot is refusing to get carried away with a three-point lead at the top of the Championship and has warned that under-estimating bottom club Peterborough on Saturday is risky in the extreme.
Posh’s 13-point total from 21 matches is the worst in the division and Darren Ferguson’s side are 31 points adrift of table-topping Cardiff.
A Peterborough win at the Cardiff City Stadium would be a real coupon buster – but Mackay is not thinking that another three points for his side is guaranteed.
“People will look at our home record and say that’s a win for Cardiff, but that’s nonsense,” stressed Mackay.
“This match will be as tough as Blackburn away, Sheffield Wednesday before that and anything we have faced this season.
“We have to approach this game in the way we do at all times.
“Believe me, Peterborough at home is going to be a tough, tough match for us.”
Posh have won twice on the road this season – 3-1 at Hull and 2-0 at Barnsley – but Ferguson has come under pressure after a return of only one point from eight matches.
On Saturday, they suffered another home defeat when Middlesbrough 3-2 at London Road.
Cardiff, meanwhile, having won in such impressive fashion in the weekend’s opening game were able to relax on Saturday and see some of their closest challengers falter.
Second-placed Crystal Palace were held 2-2 at home by Blackpool as were Leicester, who had to rely on a last-minute equaliser to prevent struggling Barnsley from pulling off a shock win.
“We have quality in all areas and the team spirit helps in making sure we play to our best as often as possible,” said Mackay.
“Our job now is to continue building that momentum, starting against Peterborough.
“We are delighted to be unbeaten in six games and heading into the Christmas period confident that we can go to different grounds and give a good account of ourselves.
“Our squad has got strength in depth and we have players able to take over and make an impact.”
Mackay’s point was underlined at Blackburn when substitutes Joe Mason and Kim Bo-Kyung both scored within a few minutes of coming on.
“It was good to see Kim score his first goal,” he said.
“It has been a huge culture change for him coming to British football and he has handled it well.
“The way he keeps the ball is fantastic.
“He took over from Craig Noone at Blackburn and it was good to see him playing with such intelligence.
“I am delighted he added the end product by scoring, which is something he has been threatening to do.
“We were also able to send on Joe and Rudy Gestede to save Craig (Bellamy) and Heidar (Helguson) some energy.
“It is pleasing that we are able to do that and get fresh legs on to maintain our game momentum.”
But there is no let-up for City with a busy festive and new year programme around the corner.
After Saturday’s visit of Peterborough, Mackay’s men head to Leicester before home games with Crystal Palace and Millwall and a New Year’s Day trip to Birmingham.
But Mackay accepts his team is playing well – they have taken 16 from the last 18 on offer – and said: “The amount of first and second balls we won on Friday allowed us to get on the ball and threaten in areas we felt we could expose Blackburn.
“We did that regularly and during the first half we were pulling their players about and controlled things.
“Craig hit the bar when we were 1-0 up and that would have capped the first half nicely.
“But even when Blackburn equalised soon after half-time we responded in the right way in the belief that we could go on and win the game. That belief can take us a long way.”
CARDIFF City are offering half-season tickets to cover the rest of this season.
Anyone buying into the scheme will be guaranteed a season ticket for the 2013-14 campaign.
Adult prices start from £189, over-60 £119 and under-16 £89.
Further information is available from the Stadium ticket office, tel 0845
Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z2Edc36ls8
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... -32393370/
But the Scot is refusing to get carried away with a three-point lead at the top of the Championship and has warned that under-estimating bottom club Peterborough on Saturday is risky in the extreme.
Posh’s 13-point total from 21 matches is the worst in the division and Darren Ferguson’s side are 31 points adrift of table-topping Cardiff.
A Peterborough win at the Cardiff City Stadium would be a real coupon buster – but Mackay is not thinking that another three points for his side is guaranteed.
“People will look at our home record and say that’s a win for Cardiff, but that’s nonsense,” stressed Mackay.
“This match will be as tough as Blackburn away, Sheffield Wednesday before that and anything we have faced this season.
“We have to approach this game in the way we do at all times.
“Believe me, Peterborough at home is going to be a tough, tough match for us.”
Posh have won twice on the road this season – 3-1 at Hull and 2-0 at Barnsley – but Ferguson has come under pressure after a return of only one point from eight matches.
On Saturday, they suffered another home defeat when Middlesbrough 3-2 at London Road.
Cardiff, meanwhile, having won in such impressive fashion in the weekend’s opening game were able to relax on Saturday and see some of their closest challengers falter.
Second-placed Crystal Palace were held 2-2 at home by Blackpool as were Leicester, who had to rely on a last-minute equaliser to prevent struggling Barnsley from pulling off a shock win.
“We have quality in all areas and the team spirit helps in making sure we play to our best as often as possible,” said Mackay.
“Our job now is to continue building that momentum, starting against Peterborough.
“We are delighted to be unbeaten in six games and heading into the Christmas period confident that we can go to different grounds and give a good account of ourselves.
“Our squad has got strength in depth and we have players able to take over and make an impact.”
Mackay’s point was underlined at Blackburn when substitutes Joe Mason and Kim Bo-Kyung both scored within a few minutes of coming on.
“It was good to see Kim score his first goal,” he said.
“It has been a huge culture change for him coming to British football and he has handled it well.
“The way he keeps the ball is fantastic.
“He took over from Craig Noone at Blackburn and it was good to see him playing with such intelligence.
“I am delighted he added the end product by scoring, which is something he has been threatening to do.
“We were also able to send on Joe and Rudy Gestede to save Craig (Bellamy) and Heidar (Helguson) some energy.
“It is pleasing that we are able to do that and get fresh legs on to maintain our game momentum.”
But there is no let-up for City with a busy festive and new year programme around the corner.
After Saturday’s visit of Peterborough, Mackay’s men head to Leicester before home games with Crystal Palace and Millwall and a New Year’s Day trip to Birmingham.
But Mackay accepts his team is playing well – they have taken 16 from the last 18 on offer – and said: “The amount of first and second balls we won on Friday allowed us to get on the ball and threaten in areas we felt we could expose Blackburn.
“We did that regularly and during the first half we were pulling their players about and controlled things.
“Craig hit the bar when we were 1-0 up and that would have capped the first half nicely.
“But even when Blackburn equalised soon after half-time we responded in the right way in the belief that we could go on and win the game. That belief can take us a long way.”
CARDIFF City are offering half-season tickets to cover the rest of this season.
Anyone buying into the scheme will be guaranteed a season ticket for the 2013-14 campaign.
Adult prices start from £189, over-60 £119 and under-16 £89.
Further information is available from the Stadium ticket office, tel 0845
Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z2Edc36ls8
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... -32393370/
Re: Malky eyes POSH threat
Mon Dec 10, 2012 10:38 am
And I for one believe him.
Our lads are going out focused now. Motivated (because of competition for places)
and determined. Peterboro will park the bus, but we will grind them down. More
importantly... our defenders will stay switched on. But that tw*t Ali needs to stop
harping on about "unbeaten in blah blah blah"
Our lads are going out focused now. Motivated (because of competition for places)
and determined. Peterboro will park the bus, but we will grind them down. More
importantly... our defenders will stay switched on. But that tw*t Ali needs to stop
harping on about "unbeaten in blah blah blah"
Re: Malky eyes POSH threat
Mon Dec 10, 2012 7:50 pm
this aint a negative post. but. i hope this is the new cardiff, the cardiff of old with our home record etc, losing to a struggling side at the bottom of the table, cant see it happening this time.. can it?
Re: Malky eyes POSH threat
Mon Dec 10, 2012 11:27 pm
I honestly think posh will come and attack which will be there undoing ultimately
They absolutely must be respected though
They absolutely must be respected though
Re: Malky eyes POSH threat
Mon Dec 10, 2012 11:41 pm
And this is where we have to be absolutely ruthless with Posh. They will come at us as when a gun is being pointed at your head, you play with a survival mentality. We are gelling as a team and now we need to be completely ruthless with all opposition. Malky will not allow an After The Lord Mayors Show.
Re: Malky eyes POSH threat
Tue Dec 11, 2012 7:56 am
Look at some of the results Brizzle winning at Boro , Barnsley winning 5-0 at Brum and Posh at Hull. Hopefullt those results should be enough to keep the players focused on this game and not take the result for granted unlike the City team of a couple of seasons back .