" MATCH THREAD " ' BRENTFORD v CARDIFF CITY ' MATCH THREA

BRENTFORD v CARDIFF CITY
Championship
Saturday 14th March, 3.00pm.
Griffin Park

CardiffCity: Moore, Peltier, Fabio, Morrison, Ecuele Manga, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Noone, Kennedy, Macheda, Revell.

subs: Wilson, Malone, Ralls, O'Keefe, Harris, Doyle, Jones.

City have just over 1,550 tickets
Its Not pay on the day for Cardiff fans.
City have back to back away wins,can they win 3 on the trot away from home?

The Bluebirds will await late fitness news on David Marshall and Aron Gunnarsson. Goalkeeper Marshall is rated 50-50 and Simon Moore stands by to play against his former club, while Gunnarsson, who went off against Charlton after being caught in the back by a knee, looks likely to start.

" UPDATED DAILY "



Latest News

' CARDIFF CITY '


Russell Slade on injuries...

David Marshall is struggling a wee bit with his leg injury. What we are trying to avoid is any long-term injury developing, He remains a doubt for the Brentford match. A major doubt.

It’s all about his kicking leg and the possibility of aggravating the muscle at top of his leg. There is a bit of bruising.

That means there is a strong possibility Simon Moore will face his former club. He has been excellent every time he has been called on and performed with great credit

Aron Gunnarsson is fine and available.

There are one or two other niggles in the camp and we will know more later.


City have a strong squad to pick from

Fabio is raring to go
Kennedy had a few bruises but now ok


Other than
Injuries to

Ben Turner still out, Scott Malone still out.
Anthony Pilkinghton still training.
Dikcagoi out for the rest of the season.

Joe Mason light training.

David Marshall doubtful.

Last but not least Kenwyne Jones is over his tiredness



' BRENTFORD '

Have no new injury worries ahead of Saturday's Sky Bet Championship clash with Cardiff at Griffin Park.

Midfielder Alan Judge got an hour under his belt in the 1-1 draw at Ipswich last weekend having recently returned from a knee injury, and if he has suffered no reaction boss Mark Warburton could name an unchanged side.

Midfielder Lewis Macleod, the January signing from Rangers, is still awaiting his debut having been carrying a hamstring injury.

Striker Scott Hogan remains sidelined as he recovers from cruciate ligament damage.

The Bees face no fresh injury concerns ahead of the weekend.

Brentford will be looking to complete a league double over their next opponents, Cardiff, after winning 3-2 in South Wales before Christmas.


Possible Lineups

Cardiff City

33 Moore S
16 Connolly
5 Manga
36 Morrison
2 Peltier
15 McAleny
17 Gunnarsson
7 Whittingham
11 Noone
14 Macheda
9 Jones

Brentford

27 Button
10 Odubajo
26 Tarkowski
29 Moore L
3 Bidwell
20 Diagouraga
8 Douglas
15 Dallas
21 Pritchard
18 Judge
19 Gray


Preview

Brentford Football Club is a professional football club based in Brentford, in the London Borough of Hounslow, that currently plays in the Football League Championship. It was founded on 10 October 1889 and plays its home games at Griffin Park, its home stadium since 1904, after a nomadic existence playing at five previous grounds.

Brentford's most successful spell came during the 1930s, when it achieved consecutive top six finishes in the First Division. Since the Second World War, it has spent most of its time in the third and fourth tiers of English football. Brentford has been FA Cup quarter-finalists on four occasions, and has three times been Football League Trophy runners-up.

Form - Last 5 Games

Cardiff

Sat 21/02/15 CHA Huddersfield 0 - 0 Cardiff City
Tue 24/02/15 CHA Wigan Athletic 0 - 1 Cardiff City
Sat 28/02/15 CHA Cardiff City 0 - 1 Wolves
Tue 03/03/15 CHA Rotherham 1 - 3 Cardiff City
Sat 07/03/15 CHA Cardiff City 1 - 2 Charlton Athletic

Brentford

Sat 21/02/15 CHA Brentford 3 - 1 AFC Bournemouth
Tue 24/02/15 CHA Brentford 4 - 0 Blackpool
Sat 28/02/15 CHA Birmingham City 1 - 0 Brentford
Tue 03/03/15 CHA Brentford 4 - 1 Huddersfield Town
Sat 07/03/15 CHA Ipswich Town 1 - 1 Brentford

Last 5 meetings

04 Dec 2001 Cardiff City v Brentford W 3-1 League Division 2
12 Feb 2002 Brentford v Cardiff City L 2-1 League Division 2
17 Sep 2002 Cardiff City v Brentford W 2-0 League Division 2
04 Mar 2003 Brentford v Cardiff City W 0-2 League Division 2
20 Dec 2014 Cardiff City v Brentford L 2-3 League Championship

Previous Highlights



Match Odds

Cardiff 3
Draw 3
Brentford 10/11

Griffin Park



Griffin Park has a capacity of 12,763 and has been the home of Brentford FC since 1904.

The ground gets its name from the Griffin in the logo of Fuller’s Brewery, which owned the land on which the stadium was built. The compact ground comprises 4 stands.

The home fans are allocated the Braemar Road stand (the main stand) an all-seated single tier stand, the Bill Axbey Stand (formerly the New Road stand), a single tier seated stand and the Ealing Road end, a covered terrace. The Ealing Road Terrace was formerly open to the elements and therefore housed the away fans. A roof was added in 2007 and now houses home fans only.

Away fans are now housed in the Brook Road Stand, a double tiered stand, comprising terracing at the lower level and seating in the upper section. This stand, which was opened in 1986, is known affectionately by Brentford fans as the “Wendy House.”

Tickets

Tickets can be purchased in person at the ticket office situated in the Grandstand, next to corporate entrance 2.

Alternatively you can call the Stadium Ticket Office on 0845 345 1400, which is open from 9am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 3pm on non match-day Saturdays.

The easiest way is to book online.
https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cardiffcity/default.aspx

Guess the Score / Attendance

Post your predicted score/attendance below

4-0

4-1 Brentford. Decent team who took us apart at CCS. Play similar to Bournemouth.

Brentford 3 City 1

4-2 Brentford. They are a solid outfit and know how to dominate games. Would be very surprised if they have less than 60% possession too.

This is not a fixture where you immediately think you'll pinch a point or 3. Just being realistic (probably generous tbh with 2 Cardiff goals). Onwards and upwards.

Sneaky draw 2-2

Our defence is looking a bit more organised, so if we cut out silly mistakes like giving stupid penalties away, I think we will either lose by one goal, or possibly get away with an unlikely draw. Going with a 1-0 Brentford win.

Brentford 3 City 2 Please don't start Jones and Macheda up front.

we are improving so i can only see us getting beaten by 3 goals , i go 4 - 1 to Brentford

0-1.

4-2 brentford

Heart says Brentford 0 City 1

Head says Brentford 5 City 0

3-1 Brentford. How many City fans going?

3-1 with Bees having 68% possession.

Brentford will be looking to complete a league double over their next opponents, Cardiff, after winning 3-2 in South Wales before Christmas.

Tuesday 10th March 2015

The Bees were irresistible in the first half and were 3-0 up at the break before Cardiff responded.
Brentford got over the line with a 3-2 win.

Alan said he hoped Brentford could produce something similar but expected Cardiff to counter the threat.
“That was probably the best we have played all season, the first half there,” he said.
“It was great to be 3-0 up at half time.
“They came back and got two goals and that shows how quickly it can change.
“We will be looking to do something like that but I’m sure they won’t leave themselves as open.”
The Bees have just ten games to go and all us up for grabs.
“I was watching Goals on Sunday and Paul Merson said whoever wins four in a row will be promoted,” said Alan.
“I think that’s it.
“Any teams that wins three or four in a row will go a long way towards being promoted.
“We have to go in to each game ready to win but we will just take it game by game.”

"The lack of consistency is frustrating and annoying. "We have got to be more ruthless in both boxes. We need to be consistent and care for 90 minutes."

The words of Russell Slade after the 3-2 home defeat against Brentford. After losing to Charlton he said;

"But we have to learn to manage the game for the whole 90 minutes."

There were 14 matches between those two games and we have collected a mere 14 points which shows that precious little has changed over that period. Continue this run over a 46 match season and we would be relegated.

This should be a comfortable afternoon for Brentford who will no doubt pass us to death and win without getting out of 2nd gear. This is the Championship however and Brentford are right in the mix for automatic promotion hopefully the pressure may get to them.

If they handle the pressure I can see them winning by at least 3 goals.

City have a strong squad to pick from

Fabio is raring to go
Kennedy had a few bruises but now ok


Other than
Injuries to

Ben Turner still out, Scott Malone still out.
Anthony Pilkinghton still training.
Dikcagoi out for the rest of the season.

Joe Mason light training.

David Marshall doubtful.

Last but not least Kenwyne Jones is over his tiredness

Anyone know how many we've sold so far?

Anyone know how many we've sold so far?

About 1,300 so far, but there No restrictions now

Just over 150 left

Alan Judge said a week between Sky Bet Championship fixtures was important as the Brentford squad to take their minds off the “mentally draining” battle for promotion.

The Bees ended a run of five games in 14 days with a 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town on Saturday.

They took ten points from those five games and sit sixth in the Sky Bet Championship table.

Brentford are not in action again until Saturday, March 14, when Cardiff City come to Griffin Park.

The Bees are just four points off the top and the leading five teams are separated by just one point.

Alan said players needed a metal and physical rest, although he admitted having just returned from injury, he’d love another game.

“I just want to play but the lads deserve the rest,” said the Irishman, speaking to Bees Player yesterday.

“The league is so tight that it is mentally draining as well.

“It is good to have days off to take your mind off it.

“We are all looking forward to this weekend though.

“We are in a very good position, four points off the top.”

Alan picked up a knee injury at the start of January.


Read more at http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/artic ... BGvJI66.99

Cardiff City travel to London on the back of two straight away wins against Wigan and Rotherham, a record they last managed in their promotion season back in 2012/13.

Brentford, who sit in sixth place, nine places above the Bluebirds, will be confident they can secure a win after their 3-2 victory at THE CCS back in December.

Cardiff go into the game with a few injury concerns however. Ben Turner and Scott Malone are both still out, Joe Mason has started light training after his severe ligament injury, and Anthony Pilkington and No 1 David Marshall are still a doubt.

The Bees face no fresh injury concerns ahead of the weekend.

Cardiff will be hoping they can pull off an upset against a very solid Brentford side who have have a 61% win ratio at home this season.

CARDIFF SQUAD NEWS

David Marshall may return in goal in place of Simon Moore on Saturday.

Midfielder Peter Whittingham returned to the side for last Saturday’s defeat by Charlton after missing his first game of the season the previous Tuesday following a red card against Wolves.

Fellow midfielder Aron Gunnarsson has also been involved in all but one Championship game and several other players have taken part in most matches.

Top scorer Kenwyne Jones, who has scored 11 league goals, defenders Sean Morrison and John Brayford, goalkeeper Marshall and midfielder Craig Noone have each only missed a handful of games.

Also worth watching out for is former Manchester United striker Federico Macheda, who has scored in each of the last two matches.

' RUSSELL SLADE '

Russell Slade is one of very few managers around to have gone into the profession without having a career as a professional player behind him.
Slade was working as a PE teacher and played for Notts County reserves before starting his coaching work at the club.
He worked his way up at Meadow Lane from assistant youth coach to assistant manager and then had a spell as caretaker manager during the 1994/95 season.
After taking his first permanent managerial roles in non-league football, he returned to the Football League and had two caretaker spells in charge of Sheffield United before being named as manager of Conference side Scarborough in 2001 – leading them to the FA Cup fourth round in 2004.
Back in the Football League he lost successive play-off finals – with Grimsby in League Two in 2006 and with Yeovil in League One a year later.
He went on to save Brighton from relegation before taking charge of Leyton Orient in April 2010.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Cardiff were regular opponents in the 1980s and 1990s and we had a mixed record against them.
They did the double over us in the last season we met – 2002/03 – with two 2-0 wins.
Our last win over them here was a 2-1 triumph in February 2002 when second half goals from Stephen Hunt and Ben Burgess cancelled out Jason Bowen’s first half strike to take us up to fourth in the table.
Other notable results included us doing the double over them in the 1994/95 season and the Bluebirds all but clinching promotion by beating us 3-1 at Ninian Park on the first May Bank Holiday Monday in 1983.
Arguably our most famous game against Cardiff though was our famous 2-0 win in south Wales as a Fourth Division team in the fourth round of the FA Cup in 1970.

THE LIKELY LINE-UPS
Brentford, 4-2-3-1: David Button; Moses Odubajo, Harlee Dean, James Tarkowski, Jack Bidwell; Jon Douglas (capt), Toumani Diagouraga; Alan Judge, Alex Pritchard, Stuart Dallas; Andre Gray.

Cardiff City, 4-4-2: David Marshall or Simon Moore; Matt Connolly, Bruno Manga, Sean Morrison, Lee Peltier; Conor McAleny, Aron Gunnarsson or Joe Ralls, Peter Whittingham, Craig Noone; Kenwyne Jones, Eoin Doyle.

TEAM NEWS
Brentford: Harlee Dean is set for a recall to the Brentford starting line-up. He took over from Liam Moore, a 22-year-old defender signed on loan from Leicester, during the 1-1 draw at Ipswich last time out. Andre Gray will lead the line and he is Brentford’s top scorer on 12 goals.

Cardiff City:The Bluebirds will await late fitness news on David Marshall and Aron Gunnarsson. Goalkeeper Marshall is rated 50-50 and Simon Moore stands by to play against his former club, while Gunnarsson, who went off against Charlton after being caught in the back by a knee, looks likely to start.

Play-off chasing Brentford have no new injury worries ahead of Saturday's Sky Bet Championship clash with Cardiff at Griffin Park.

Midfielder Alan Judge got an hour under his belt in the 1-1 draw at Ipswich last weekend having recently returned from a knee injury, and if he has suffered no reaction boss Mark Warburton could name an unchanged side.

Midfielder Lewis Macleod, the January signing from Rangers, is still awaiting his debut having been carrying a hamstring injury.

Striker Scott Hogan remains sidelined as he recovers from cruciate ligament damage.

Aaron Gunnarsson is a doubt for Russell Slade's side after suffering an injury against Charlton.

The Cardiff skipper was substituted after half an hour and could see his place go to Joe Ralls who is pushing for a recall to the side.

Slade has also tipped his on-loan stars Conor McAleny and Matthew Kennedy to have a growing influence on his side, but the former is likely to retain his place on the wing for the trip to Brentford.

Goalkeeper David Marshall could return after a groin problem, while Alex Revell is pushing for a start after a disappointing start to life at Cardiff.

Russell Slade on injuries...

David Marshall is struggling a wee bit with his leg injury. What we are trying to avoid is any long-term injury developing, He remains a doubt for the Brentford match. A major doubt.

It’s all about his kicking leg and the possibility of aggravating the muscle at top of his leg. There is a bit of bruising.

That means there is a strong possibility Simon Moore will face his former club. He has been excellent every time he has been called on and performed with great credit

Aron Gunnarsson is fine and available.

There are one or two other niggles in the camp and we will know more later.

Brentford have no new injury worries ahead of Saturday's Sky Bet Championship clash with Cardiff at Griffin Park.

Midfielder Alan Judge got an hour under his belt in the 1-1 draw at Ipswich last weekend having recently returned from a knee injury, and if he has suffered no reaction boss Mark Warburton could name an unchanged side.

Midfielder Lewis Macleod, the January signing from Rangers, is still awaiting his debut having been carrying a hamstring injury.

Striker Scott Hogan remains sidelined as he recovers from cruciate ligament damage.

MATCH FACTS

Cardiff City are unbeaten in their last four away fixtures recording two wins in the process

Brentford are without defeat in their last five at home including four victories

City have the superior head-to-head tally with 17 wins compared to the Bees’ 13 triumphs

There has not been a goalless draw in the last 28 meetings in a run stretching 65 years

The Bluebirds last visit to Griffin Park was a 2-0 win in 2003, with Scott Young and Robert Earnshaw grabbing the goals

THE LIKELY LINE-UPS
Brentford, 4-2-3-1: David Button; Moses Odubajo, Harlee Dean, James Tarkowski, Jack Bidwell; Jon Douglas (capt), Toumani Diagouraga; Alan Judge, Alex Pritchard, Stuart Dallas; Andre Gray.

Cardiff City, 4-4-2: David Marshall or Simon Moore; Matt Connolly, Bruno Manga, Sean Morrison, Lee Peltier; Conor McAleny, Aron Gunnarsson or Joe Ralls, Peter Whittingham, Craig Noone; Kenwyne Jones, Eoin Doyle.

TEAM NEWS
Brentford: Harlee Dean is set for a recall to the Brentford starting line-up. He took over from Liam Moore, a 22-year-old defender signed on loan from Leicester, during the 1-1 draw at Ipswich last time out. Andre Gray will lead the line and he is Brentford’s top scorer on 12 goals.

Cardiff City:The Bluebirds will await late fitness news on David Marshall and Aron Gunnarsson. Goalkeeper Marshall is rated 50-50 and Simon Moore stands by to play against his former club, while Gunnarsson, who went off against Charlton after being caught in the back by a knee, looks likely to start.