' MATCH THREAD: CARDIFF CITY v DERBY ' MATCH THREAD '

The Cardiff City record attendance at our current home came in our Premier League season of 2013/14. The biggest crowd of the campaign was 28,018 against Liverpool on March 22nd.

The Bluebirds fans were out in force, and in fine voice as well, as the game turned out to be a thriller, unfortunately ending 6-3 in favour of the Reds. City twice took the lead, with Jordon Mutch and Fraizer Campbell finding the back of the net in the first half. However, Luís Suarez was to score an impressive hat-trick and, along with a double from Martin Skrtel, and a strike from Sturridge, the Uruguayan’s goals won the points, and earned him the match ball. Mutch’s second of the match couldn’t earn the Bluebirds anything from the match, despite a valiant effort from the home team.

However, the stadium’s capacity has increased more recently, with the opening of the Upper Ninian Stand, bringing an even higher record attendance. 30,854 people saw Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale lift the UEFA Super Cup in August of 2014, after Real Madrid defeated Sevilla 2-0. Then in June 2015, Bale was the hero for Wales, after his goal in front of 33,280 spectators – the stadium record – helped defeat Belgium in a UEFA Euro 2016 Qualifier.

DERBY COUNTY

Jason Shackell and Jeff Hendrick have shaken off minor injuries to be fit in time for Derby.
Defender Shackell suffered a groin problem in the 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest, while midfielder Hendrick returned early from international duty with the Republic of Ireland due to a shoulder complaint. Both have returned to full training however, boosting boss Darren Wassall's resources for the trip.

Ireland duo Cyrus Christie and Richard Keogh and Scotland forward Chris Martin have all returned from international unscathed too.

01/04/16

Bluebirds boss Russell Slade can only hope that a virus that hit the Cardiff camp earlier this week does not leave any lingering effects that could hamper team selection.

Matt Connolly and Fabio were players Slade required updates on, while goalkeeper David Marshall has resumed training following a recent bout of pneumonia and could be in the frame for the visit of the Rams. Elsewhere, Wales international Tom Lawrence and the Republic of Ireland's Anthony Pilkington both suffered knocks while away with their countries on friendly duty, but both are expected to be available this weekend.

The Football League have now announced the Match Day officials that will take charge of the game against Derby County this weekend.

Cardiff City host Derby County on Saturday April 2 for the game at the Cardiff City Stadium and the match carries a 3pm kick off.

Referee: Christopher Kavanagh
Linesmen: Mark Pottage and Timothy Wood
Fourth Official: Colin Lymer

Match Day referee Kavanagh is yet to officiate a Cardiff game this season.

He has however already taken in 28 other matches so far in 2015-16 and in those games, across all competitions and football divisions, he has handed out a total of 97 yellow cards and two red cards.

He was most card happy in the match between Huddersfield and Preston on Boxing Day with a total of seven yellows being shown. Blackpool and Barnsley on September 19 saw a total of six yellows and he also showed six earlier in the season in the Capital One Cup clash between Aston Villa and Notts County in August. Most recently in the game against MK Dons and Brighton in March he showed seven yellows, with one red.

Team News

Cardiff City

Cardiff could be without David Marshall who missed the Bluebirds’ last outing as well as international duty after contracting pneumonia – the Bluebirds’ skipper has returned to training. Anthony Pilkington should return despite picking up a reoccurring knee injury during Republic of Ireland training, he played just over 20 minutes for Ireland on Monday. Peter Whittingham should return from a hamstring injury.

Arrive Early!

If Your Heading to the game tomorrow

Cardiff City have advised supporters to arrive early to avoid excess traffic and queuing times. The club are expecting more than 27,000 supporters for the Bluebirds' crunch clash with Derby County.

MATCH FACTS

01/04/16

Head-to-head

Cardiff haven't won any of their last five league games against Derby, having won each of the previous four before that (D3 L2).
The Rams have never won successive away games at Cardiff.
The Bluebirds have lost just one of their last 15 home games in the Championship (W8 D6).
By contrast, Derby have won just one of their last eight away matches (D3 L4).
Anthony Pilkington has scored more goals in 2016 than any other Cardiff player (5).
Chris Martin has scored in three of his last four away games for Derby.

Derby are an attacking team but that doesn’t mean they’re not resolute at the back. With Richard Keogh in the back four they have a wealth of experience and that tends to show.

By Jamie Kemble

Inside Cardiff City

01st March 2016

Of course, Derby’s main strength remains going forward; with players like Tom Ince and Johnny Russell, who, on their day, wouldn’t look out of place in the Premier League.

Cardiff will need to be careful throughout the 90 minutes because Derby are a team who can cause serious damage on the break.

The Rams have spent a lot of money in the summer to get a squad with real depth and don’t be deceived by their slightly underachieved league position because they really do have one of the best squads in the division.

If Johnny Russell, Tom Ince and Chris Martin don’t already cause you problems then they have the likes of Darren Bent and Andreas Weimann to come off the bench, both with Premier League experience. Jacob Butterfield and Craig Bryson are another two players who could easily fit in somewhere in the top flight.

2-0 to the mighty Bluebirds

anyone got 2 spares going at the canton for me and my mate ?
Went down to city centre today and yesterday.
Couldn't score a goal
it was harder than you think

' EXACTLY HOW IT STANDS TODAY '
Link
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=170862

City to win 2-1. PLEASE!!!

City to win 2-1. PLEASE!!!

' DERBY HAVE SOLD & SO HENCE CARDIFF FANS HAVE BEEN GIVEN '
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viewtopic.php?f=2&t=170887

Got 4 pound on city to win 3 1 100 quid back cmon the bluebirds!! Buzzing

Team : Marshall, Peltier, Malone, Morrison, Manga, O'Keefe, Ralls, Whittingham, Noone, Immers and Pilkington.

Subs : Moore, Fabio, Dikgacoi, Gunnarsson, Ameobi, Lawrence and Zohore.

Great start by City

Two shots from Ralls so far

I've been in Norway since the day after reading away, will be back monday night. Listening on player. Sounds as if at the moment its all City!

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the last 10 mins very subdued

Atmosphere quite so far

Derby. Looking ordinary

37th min Whitts corner ,Manga powerful header one nil

1-0 manga f*cking get in there!

f*CKING OUTSTANDING! BRUNOOOOO!

Come on City

FFS Now we are going to have to struggle! Great perormance and now Pilks gets a, a, yellow!! Should have been red shit we were lucky!!!

Cant help thinking that decision will decide it for us!

Derby offered nothing.

City 1 shot on target, Derby 0.

Half-time CCFC 1 Derby 0

Cardiff came out asleep 1-1