MATCH THREAD " EVERTON V CARDIFF CITY " MATCH THREAD

" UPDATED DAILY "
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' CARDIFF CITY '

TEAM NEWS

Solskjaer says the trip to Goodison Park will be daunting, but he has been buoyed by last Saturday's vital win over fellow strugglers Fulham.

Cardiff are now only in the Premier League's relegation zone on goal difference with nine games of the season remaining.
"We hope we've turned a corner in terms of belief and performances and we're still in with a shout," Solskjaer said.

"We've had a bad spell, but luckily teams around us haven't really done that great. All the other results have helped us as well.
"I see these lads now, they really want to stay in this league."

Defender Ben Turner is a doubt for Saturday's game because of a hamstring injury he suffered during the win over Fulham.
He could be replaced by Spanish defender Juan Cala, who is back in contention after recovering from a stomach bug.


Cardiff's central defender Ben Turner suffered an injury against Fulham last weekend and is a doubt.
Juan Cala is available after a stomach bug, leaving manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a near fully-fit squad.

Craig Bellamy and Wilfried Zaha both pushing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for recalls.


Having chopped and changed for much of his tenure, Solskjaer may stick with the majority of the side who beat Fulham, although Ben Turner is a doubt having sustained a knock in stoppage time.

Spaniard Cala is on standby if the defender is unfit and while Craig Bellamy is available again after completing a three-game ban, he is likely to be on the bench unless Cardiff revert to five in midfield.

Manager Solskjaer says his side need to win four of their last nine fixtures to have any hopes of staying in the Premier League for a second season.

Ben Turner says the victory was much needed over Fulham, after only one win in their previous six league games and the former Coventry player believes it will have given the squad renewed hope ahead of the game at Everton on Saturday.

"With 9 games to go and the situation that we're in it was vital to beat Fulham," Turner added.

"We needed the points first and foremost and it also gives the squad a whole new lease of confidence going into the last nine.

"The next two games especially we will need to be firing on all cylinders or as close as we can and we'll need things to go for us on the day if we're going to get points from them games.


' EVERTON '

TEAM NEWS

Everton will assess the fitness of captain Phil Jagielka, who has missed the last two matches with a hamstring strain.
Steven Pienaar is a doubt after limping off against Arsenal, but Tim Howard returns after being rested last week.


Everton, though, have their own problems with Phil Jagielka facing a late fitness test on his hamstring injury. He has missed Everton’s last two matches, but is close to fitness and manager Roberto Martinez will leave a final decision as late as possible.

Perhaps there is more hope for the Bluebirds if Jagielka is ruled out again. Everton conceded four goals at Arsenal in the FA Cup when he was missing.

The Toffees set up in a 4-2-3-1 system with James McCarthy and Gareth Barry protecting their back four, allowing Ross Barkley and main striker Romelu Lukaku, who has 10 League goals this season, to go at Cardiff.

Both Martinez and Solskjaer badly need all three points from tomorrow’s clash. Everton’s manager believes they can still challenge for a top four finish, while Cardiff are running out of time in their battle to stay up.



Everton have only been beaten once on home soil this season and could be boosted by the return to fitness of captain Phil Jagielka, who is battling a hamstring strain.

Both he and Steven Pienaar face late fitness tests, but the England international is expected to be part of a defence which leaked four goals in his absence in the FA Cup quarter-final hammering by Arsenal.

With that trophy now out of their reach, Roberto Martinez's focus will turn to securing European qualification via their league finish, and victory over Cardiff, the division's worst travellers, could see them climb above Manchester United, who host Everton's rivals Liverpool on Sunday, to sixth in the table.

John Stones may make way for Jagielka, while Ross Barkley could retain his place in the starting XI after dazzling in defeat to the Gunners. Lacina Traore and Bryan Oviedo are among those definitely out.

Everton's last six league games have produced two wins, one draw and three losses.

Everton 1-0 West Ham
Chelsea 1-0 Everton
Tottenham 1-0 Everton
Everton 2-1 Aston Villa
Liverpool 4-0 Everton
West Brom 1-1 Everton

Everton's two wins in their last six games have come at home by the single goal.

The Toffees have lost five league games this season and just one of those have been at Goodison Park.

Everton v Cardiff City



Possible Everton side:-

Jagielka is carrying a knock.

Possible City side:-

I believe Zaha will be re-called for counter attacking pace.

Last 5 meetings:-
28 Apr 1962----Everton 8-3 Cardiff City----League Division One
26 Feb 1977----Cardiff City 1-2 Everton----FA Cup
28 Aug 1979----Everton 2-0 Cardiff City----League Cup
05 Sep 1979----Cardiff City 1-0 Everton----League Cup
31 Aug 2013----Cardiff City 0-0 Everton----Premier League

Fact:-
The last time City won at Everton was on December 11th, 1926.

Prediction:-
Everton 0-1 Cardiff City

We'll have them on a counter attack and get a lot of luck.

I hope there is no Everton fans reading this , they won't be happy with you using that badge

That is the controversial version which was changed !

I hope there is no Everton fans reading this , they won't be happy with you using that badge

That is the controversial version which was changed !

It was the one that was shown on the website I go on with transparent backgrounds

Apologies to any Evertonians

Ben Turner: 'Cardiff City must perform as a team'

By Sian Cowper, Reporter

Last Updated: Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at 22:47 UK
Ben Turner has said that Cardiff City have to "perform as a team" in order to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

The Welsh side currently sit in the relegation zone, level on points with 17th-placed West Bromwich Albion, who have a game in hand.

The defender told the club's website: "Everyone at the club wants to remain a Premier League footballer and to do that we have to perform as a team on the pitch to get the points.

"We know that we can actually do it, we know that there's a good enough foundation within the team and the squad to get the points that we need.

"With 10 games to go and the situation that we're in it was vital to beat Fulham. We needed the points first and foremost and it also gives the squad a whole new lease of confidence going into the last nine."

Cardiff face Everton at Goodison Park this weekend.

Surely, after last weeks great performance, we must have Noone starting ?

I hope there is no Everton fans reading this , they won't be happy with you using that badge

That is the controversial version which was changed !

It was the one that was shown on the website I go on with transparent backgrounds

Apologies to any Evertonians

I was going to say that myself

Extra big kick as you used our real badge but left their beermat

I can see another 0-0 here. good defense and another valuable point coming our way

Leaving on the Rhymney valley express at 7 in the morning - bar open 7.05...

BRING IT ON!

http://www.espn.co.uk/espn/sport/video_ ... =1;sport=3

Lawro reckons it'll be 2-0, said that the wheels come off our side too easily. He's right on the latter point but hopefully we can take advantage of Everton's FA Cup loss and push for a draw. Would be perfectly happy with a boring 0-0 game

Team today is a bit weird, are we playing Fabio on the right wing?

Come on City!

west brom 1-0 down

Bellamy?

Cala has been superb!

Uh oh, Medel's injury....

Last edited by Metal Handkerchief on Sat Mar 15, 2014 3:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Cala has been superb!

yeah playing well

Cala seems to be pure class!! What a block he did on Mirallas attempt.

We look a little dodgy at the back which is expected playing Everton away look ok going forward cala looking good

can't believe this is the same team i saw early january.. they look more composed, calmer on the ball and much hungrier.

Fuckkkkk Campbell should of scored!!!!

Fuckkkkk Campbell should of scored!!!!

Great save

that was close

Marshall is too good for us

Cardiff's formation is very fluid, creating problems for both teams, haha. This could be really great once the team gets used to it. Fabio and KTC are all over the place, all three centre halves in the box on Cardiff corners, I just hope Everton doesn't find out how to punish it. I would say switch to 4-5-1 after the break to pre-empt Martinez' team talk.

great save

Marshall keeping us in this

Odemwingie nets one for Stoke

Put Dæhlie on.. This Everton defense will suit him well..

noone hasn't done much today

When we go forward Everton don't look the best at the back bit shakey