' MATCH THREAD: FULHAM v CARDIFF CITY ' MATCH THREAD

FULHAM v CARDIFF CITY
Championship
Saturday, 9 April, 15:00
Craven Cottage


TODAYS TEAM
: Marshall, Peltier, Malone, Morrison, Manga, Gunnarsson, Ralls, Whittingham, Noone, Lawrence, Immers.

Subs: Moore, Fabio, Connolly, O'Keefe, Dikgacoi, Saadi, Zohore.

" YOU CAN PAY ON THE DAY AT FULHAM '

NO MEMBERSHIP NEEDED ETC

Anything up to 2,000 Cardiff fans are expected to travel to Craven Cottage

Pay on the day



" UPDATED DAILY "

08/04/16
Russell Slade on Anthony Pilkington
He’s had a scan.
The scan was good because it didn’t reveal anything sinister.
There’s a small bit of swelling there that has obviously impinged on something.
He is a doubt.
We’ll see how he is again today.
But the good thing is, if he did miss saturday, he should be available for the following Saturdays.
Maybe Saturday has come to soon but we’re not ruling him out yet.


' CARDIFF CITY '


Matthew Connolly should be fit following illness and that will pose Bluebirds boss Russell Slade a defensive dilemma after centre-backs Sean Morrison and Bruno Ecuele Manga shut out the Championship leaders at Turf Moor.

Peter Whittingham and Craig Noone are both in contention to start after being rested at Burnley.

07/04/16

Anthony Pilkington could miss out for play-off chasing Cardiff?

Pilkington limped off during Tuesday night's goalless draw at Burnley and the trip to west London could come too soon, even though a subsequent scan revealed the Republic of Ireland international had not suffered a serious knee injury.

Matthew Connolly should be fit following illness and that will pose Bluebirds boss Russell Slade a defensive dilemma after centre-backs Sean Morrison and Bruno Ecuele Manga shut out the Championship leaders at Turf Moor.

Peter Whittingham and Craig Noone are both in contention to start after being rested at Burnley.


Latest News

Warning to Cardiff fans travelling to fulham: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=171003

Book now: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=170731

Possible Lineups

Cardiff City

1 Marshall
2 Peltier
4 Morrison
5 Ecuele Manga
28 Malone
37 Lawrence
22 O'Keefe
15 Dikgacoi
8 Ralls
17 Gunnarsson
27 Immers


Fulham

1 Bettinelli
7 Fredericks
15 Madl
45 Amorebieta
13 Ream
8 Parker
10 Cairney
31 Ince
19 Tunnicliffe
25 Dembele
44 McCormack


The Opposition



Fulham Football Club is a professional football club based in Fulham, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they currently play in the Football League Championship, having been relegated from the Premier League in 2013–14 after 13 consecutive seasons in the top-flight. They are the oldest-established football team from London to have played in the Premier League.

The club has spent 25 seasons in English football's top division, the majority of these in two spells during the 1960s and 2000s. The latter spell was associated with former chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed, after the club had climbed up from the fourth tier in the 1990s. Fulham have never won a major honour, although they have reached two major finals: in 1975, as a Second Division team, they contested the FA Cup Final for the only time in their history, losing 2–0 to West Ham United, and in 2010 they reached the final of the UEFA Europa League, which they contested with Atlético Madrid in Hamburg, losing 2–1 after extra time.

The club has produced many English greats, including Johnny Haynes, George Cohen, Bobby Robson, Rodney Marsh and Alan Mullery. They play at Craven Cottage, a ground on the banks of the River Thames in Fulham which has been their home since 1896. Fulham's training ground is located near Motspur Park, where the club's Academy is also situated.


2015/16 Latest Results

Cardiff

TUE 5 APR 2016 - CHAMPIONSHIP Burnley 0 - 0 Cardiff
SAT 2 APR 2016 - CHAMPIONSHIP Cardiff 2 - 1 Derby
SAT 19 MAR 2016 - CHAMPIONSHIP Reading 1 - 1 Cardiff
SAT 13 MAR 2016 - CHAMPIONSHIP Cardiff 1 - 0 Ipswich


Fulham

SAT 2 APR 2016 - CHAMPIONSHIP Fulham 2 - 1 MK Dons
SAT 19 MAR 2016 - CHAMPIONSHIP Birmingham 1 - 1 Fulham
SAT 12 MAR 2016 - CHAMPIONSHIP Fulham 1 - 2 Bristol City
TUE 8 MAR 2016 - CHAMPIONSHIP Fulham 2 - 3 Burnley

Recent meetings

2015/2016 Sat 08 Aug Cardiff City 1 - 1 Fulham Championship
2014/2015 Sat 10 Jan Cardiff City 1 - 0 Fulham Championship
2014/2015 Sat 30 Aug Fulham 1 - 1 Cardiff City Championship
2013/2014 Sat 08 Mar Cardiff City 3 - 1 Fulham Premier League
2013/2014 Sat 28 Sep Fulham 1 - 2 Cardiff City Premier League


Previous Highlights




Match Odds

Fulham 6/4
Draw 5/2
Cardiff 2/1

Craven Cottage



Key facts

Club: Fulham FC
Opening: 1896
Capacity: 25,700 seats

History and description

Craven Cottage has a history that goes back to 1780 when a cottage was built in the woods and the surrounding fields were used for various sports. The site, however, later fell into disuse and the original cottage burned down in 1888.

Fulham had already played at various grounds when their eye fell on the site close to the river Thames. After cleaning up the overgrown field, they played their first match at the ground in 1896. Craven Cottage at that time consisted of nothing more than a basic wooden stand.

This changed in 1906 when a first proper stand was built. The stand, currently called Johnny Haynes Stand, was designed by Archibald Leitch and had a characteristic red-brick facade. The stand was accompanied by a pavilion, which is the present-day Cottage.

Craven Cottage was further expanded with terraces in the next decades and reached its record attendance in 1938 when a total of 49,335 spectators attended a game against Millwall. One decade later, Craven Cottage hosted a few games during the 1948 Olympic Games.

In the following years, the stadium got further improved, concluding with the construction of the Riverside Stand in 1972. Fulham played most of the 1980s and 1990s in the lower leagues and therefore few further changes were made to Craven Cottage.

When Fulham started climbing up the league in the late 1990s and achieved promotion to the Premier League in 2001, the stadium was therefore not able to meet Premier League requirements. The club consequently moved to Loftus Road for a year (after a first year of dispensation), and expected to return to a brand-new stadium.

However, due to opposition to the reconstruction plans and spiralling costs, the plans had to be abandoned and instead was chosen to refurbish Craven Cottage. Works were completed in the summer of 2004.

Craven Cottage remained one of the smallest grounds of the Premier League, and Fulham therefore kept considering either moving to a new stadium (possibly to be shared with another West-London club), or further redeveloping Craven Cottage.

The club in the end decided to stay at Craven Cottage, and have recently seen plans approved for the construction of a new Riverside Stand, which will raise capacity to 30,000 seats.


Tickets

Sat. 9th April 2016. KO. 3pm

Available to current Season Ticket Holders and Gold / Junior Bluebird Members only.

General Ticket Prices
Adults: £25.00
Senior Citizens 65yrs +: £20.00
17 – 21yrs: £20.00
16yrs & under: £15.00

Disabled Allocations
Adults: £12.50
Senior Citizens 65yrs +: £10.00
17 – 21yrs: £10.00
16yrs & under: £7.50
Carer: Free Of Charge

Additional Information
Please note: Turnstile staff may challenge anyone considered not to be a genuine concession and request proof of age.

Tickets on sale from 9am on Mon. 14th March
0845 345 1400
http://www.eticketing.co.uk/cardiffcity


Guess the Score / Attendance

Post your predicted score/attendance below

1-3 City.

1-2 to Cardiff City

Anything up to 2,000 Cardiff fans are expected to travel to Craven Cottage

0-2

1-2 City - Immers x2

Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney could be a doubt for the visit of Cardiff.

Cairney limped off during Tuesday night's 2-1 win at Preston after apparently injuring himself making a challenge for which he also got booked.

Defender Chris Baird has shaken off the knock which kept him out for three matches but midfielder Lasse Vigen Christensen remains sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele, who have scored two goals apiece in the back-to-back 2-1 wins over MK Dons and Preston which eased Fulham's relegation fears, continue up front.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=171003

Anthony Pilkington could miss out for play-off chasing Cardiff.

Pilkington limped off during Tuesday night's goalless draw at Burnley and the trip to west London could come too soon, even though a subsequent scan revealed the Republic of Ireland international had not suffered a serious knee injury.

Matthew Connolly should be fit following illness and that will pose Bluebirds boss Russell Slade a defensive dilemma after centre-backs Sean Morrison and Bruno Ecuele Manga shut out the Championship leaders at Turf Moor.

Peter Whittingham and Craig Noone are both in contention to start after being rested at Burnley.

Team News

Fulham

Chris Baird could return to the starting XI after starting the last fixture on the bench following an injury. Emerson Hyndman is expected to return after being rested for the last two games but Lasse Vigen Christensen remains out with a hamstring injury.

Cardiff City

Cardiff could be without Anthony Pilkington who was forced off with a knee injury last time out against Burnley and if he does miss out then Kenneth Zohore is likely to replace him with a lively substitute appearance last time out. Pilkington is expected to return to training at the end of the week after scan results showed no serious damage. Peter Whittingham was rested due to fatigue at Turf Moor and is likely to return on Saturday.

Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney could be a doubt for the visit of Cardiff.

Cairney limped off during Tuesday night's 2-1 win at Preston after apparently injuring himself making a challenge for which he also got booked.

Defender Chris Baird has shaken off the knock which kept him out for three matches but midfielder Lasse Vigen Christensen remains sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele, who have scored two goals apiece in the back-to-back 2-1 wins over MK Dons and Preston which eased Fulham's relegation fears, continue up front.

Cardiff season continues at Craven Cottage this weekend with the Bluebirds taking on a Fulham side that have won twice in a week to ease relegation fears and are the second-highest scorers in the Championship with 61 goals behind Burnley's 63.



Slade pinpointed the firepower of ex-City star Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembélé in particular as something the Bluebirds would need to keep in check to keep their play-off push going.

Of Slavisa Jokanovic's men, Slade said: "Certainly I think they will be disappointed with the season. They have probably under-achieved looking at it but that can happen sometimes.

"I am sure they will probably learn from that, What they have got is firepower; with the likes of Dembele they have got real threats, can score goals and they are strong at home."



Anthony Pilkington is the Bluebirds' biggest doubt for the trip to Craven Cottage after being substituted against Burnley with a knee problem but there are no other fresh injury concerns.

" Time is Running Out "

After a draw with Burnley during the week, Slade will know his side can’t afford to let too many points slip away if they are to play a part in the play-off race.

His side, who travel to face Fulham this weekend, currently sit four points off the play-off spots and time is running out, so Fulham is a must win game.

Russell Slade on Anthony Pilkington

He’s had a scan.
The scan was good because it didn’t reveal anything sinister.
There’s a small bit of swelling there that has obviously impinged on something.
He is a doubt.
We’ll see how he is again today.
But the good thing is, if he did miss saturday, he should be available for the following Saturdays.
Maybe Saturday has come to soon but we’re not ruling him out yet.

' Russell Slade on Kenneth Zohore '

He did well in the time he was on (at Burnley).
I think, Kenneth is still young, he’s still getting used to the intensity of the football over here.
He’s getting better.
I see him improving in training.
It’ll be time really before he can start knocking out 90 minutes


Not sure if he'll be starting Saturday after that .. could do though might just play 60 minutes

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=171114

Sat. 9th April 2016. KO. 3pm

***Fulham tickets are available from the Cardiff City Ticket Office until 5pm on Friday 8th April.

CASH ONLY sales will be available on the day between Turnstiles 11 & 12. Adult ticket prices will increase by £5.

Duplicate and late sale collections can be collected from the Ticket Collections booth.***

Available to current Season Ticket Holders and Gold / Junior Bluebird Members only.

General Ticket Prices
Adults: £25.00
Senior Citizens 65yrs +: £20.00
17 – 21yrs: £20.00
16yrs & under: £15.00

Disabled Allocations
Adults: £12.50
Senior Citizens 65yrs +: £10.00
17 – 21yrs: £10.00
16yrs & under: £7.50
Carer: Free Of Charge

Going for a 2-2 draw.

City going to get the three points 2-1 City

Cardiff remain on their travels and this time they make the trip to London to face strugglers Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.


Cardiff look to make it 11 out of 15 points with a win at Craven Cottage on Saturday as the Bluebirds continue their hunt for a play-off place. Slade’s men are now four points behind sixth placed Derby County who are clinging on to the final play-off spot.

Last time out the Bluebirds took a vital point from Turf Moor against table-toppers Burnley with a brave display on the road. The point at Burnley means Cardiff have taken four four points from their last two with both games against teams in the top six.

Fulham have had a torrid season with a change of manager earlier on in the season – Slavisa Jokanovic replacing former Wales assistant manager Kit Symons. The Cottagers still have work to do in order to mathematically secure a place in the Championship next season but two wins on the bounce has steered them away from the drop.

Last time out, Fulham made it six points from six with a 2-1 away win at Deepdale against Preston with Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele getting the all-important goals. Former Bluebird Ross McCormack has had another fine season in the Championship this term with 23 goals to date.



Bizarrely, despite being 19th in the Championship table, Fulham are the second highest scorers in the league with 61 goals, a record which only Burnley have surpassed. Despite their high-scoring record, Fulham are not 19th without reason – the Cottagers have the third worst defensive record in the league with 66 conceded.

The two teams went head-to-head on the opening day of the season in the previous meeting this season and they finished level on the day. Simon Moore’s blunder lead to Matt Smith’s early second half goal and Craig Noone pulled his side level with a late equalizer.

Cardiff are unbeaten in five meetings against Fulham with three wins in five. The last time Fulham beat the Bluebirds was back in 1998 in a League Cup tie.

TODAYS TEAM
: Marshall, Peltier, Malone, Morrison, Manga, Gunnarsson, Ralls, Whittingham, Noone, Lawrence, Immers.

TODAYS TEAM
: Marshall, Peltier, Malone, Morrison, Manga, Gunnarsson, Ralls, Whittingham, Noone, Lawrence, Immers.

Subs: Moore, Fabio, Connolly, O'Keefe, Dikgacoi, Saadi, Zohore.

How the f**k is O Keefe on the bench????? atleast Saadi is there.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=171180

Gunnarsson's header saved by Bettinelli.

Both sides going for it

Bruno Ecuele Manga heads over from Whittingham's corner kick. Good start from the #Bluebirds! (0-0)

Fulham attacking, shot to the right of Marshall

Evens stevens

Marshall fantastic save,top draw save