' MATCH THREAD : BURNLEY v CARDIFF CITY ' MATCH THREAD '

Two of us Coming down from Scotland for this. Hotel booked and night out in the hot spots of Burnley

Sky Bet Championship leaders Burnley could be unchanged for a fourth successive fixture against Cardiff.

Scott Arfield, one of three Clarets players to start every league game this term along with goalkeeper Tom Heaton and defender Ben Mee, shook off a back problem he picked up on international duty to start in midfield at Brighton on Saturday.

Striker Ashley Barnes came off the bench for the final nine minutes to make his first appearance for the east Lancashire outfit since he suffered a knee injury on the final day of last season.

Russell Slade says Cardiff City must seize play-off initiative at Burnley with games running out


TUESDAY 5 APR 2016



BY PHIL SMITH



Leaders Burnley have the best home record in the division but the Bluebirds need a win to have any chance of breaking into the top six on Tuesday night



Russell Slade believes the momentum is with his Cardiff City side, but knows time is ticking if they are to force their way into the Championship’s top six.

The Bluebirds face a daunting trip to Turf Moor this evening to play a Burnley side who are unbeaten in 17 league games.

They also boast the best home record in the division, winning 13 and drawing four of their 19 games.



Slade said: “We’re still outside and the challenge for us is to get into that top six. Despite the win, we’re still a couple of points adrift and we’re running out of games.

“Burnley is the toughest place to go in the Championship right now, they’re very strong and looking like favourites to go up.”

Analysis: The Cardiff City boss said this is the toughest game of the season... so what makes Burnley so good?

The win over Derby County put his side within just two points of the Rams, and tonight’s games could be defining in the race for the play-off spot.

Darren Wassall’s men host Hull City at the iPro stadium, knowing if they and Burnley win they will surge five points clear of City.

If they lose, however, and Cardiff can force a positive result, then the demons of last seasons spectacular collapse, when they surrendered a strong position in the top two and missed out on the top six altogether, could begin to resurface.




Though determined not to get ‘carried away on the back of one win’, Slade knows his side’s push is gathering pace.

He said: “Its important to try and build on the momentum we had before the international break. I always think that first game back is an important one, we managed to win it and that hopefully will give us confidence going on into this game.”

Cardiff face a considerable challenge in trying to withstand Burnley and their 23 goal striker Andre Gray, but the outstanding form of the likes of Stuart O’Keefe will give them hope.

O’Keefe believes other teams will be starting to take notice of their good form.



He said: “We’ve got a real belief that we can beat anyone and get into the top six. Beating Derby is a big statement to the rest of the league, hopefully we can kick on and take into the next game.”

Cardiff City celebrate Stuart O'Keefe's goalCardiff City celebrate Stuart O'Keefe's goal against Derby
The combative midfielder is also encouraged that his team are hitting their straps at a good time.

He said: “Since late January we’ve had a really good spell, if you’re going to have a good time in a season this is the time to do it.”

Two of us Coming down from Scotland for this. Hotel booked and night out in the hot spots of Burnley

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If we can get anything from this game it will be a good result.

Burnley 2-2 Cardiff City

Sean Dyche says his side are feeling stronger than ever in the promotion race.

What the bookies say

Burnley 10/11, Draw 5/2, Cardiff City 18/5

Sean Dyche (on twice coming from behind at Brighton): We know how strong we are mentally, but that was a fantastic reaction to not be disappointed in the moment and keep plugging away.


Russell Slade: Burnley is the toughest place to go in the Championship right now, they're very strong and looking like favourites to go up.

Burnley v Cardiff City, Turf Moor, Tuesday April 5, 7.45pm
Team news

The Bluebirds will hope to have Matthew Connolly back after missing the win over Derby with illness for the trip to the league leaders.

Burnley's Ben Mee has recovered from a back problem and striker Ashley Barnes is fit after a long lay-off because of a serious knee injury.

Likely line-ups

Burnley: Heaton, Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward, Boyd, Barton, Jones, Arfield, Vokes, Gray

Cardiff City: Marshall, Peltier, Connolly, Manga, Malone, Noone, O'Keefe, Ralls, Whittingham, Pilkington, Immers

Recent Form

Burnley: WWWDD

Cardiff City: WLWDW

Sean Dyche: “Physically we’re looking superb. We’re showing really high stats similar to where the players were at the beginning of the season, and that’s a powerful feeling to have going forward.

“There’s still a freshness and an ability to play super strong football technically and physically for 90 minutes plus, and that’s a strong marker as well.

“We know Cardiff are coming here, they mean business, we mean business and we look forward to everything that comes our way.

“They’re hanging around the play off zone, so they’ve got their own challenges this season. But we can only concern ourselves with ourselves and we will know we are ready to play when the whistle blows.”






Russell Slade: “'We’re still outside and the challenge for us is to get into that top six.

“Despite the win, we`re still a couple of points adrift and we`re running out of games.

Two of us Coming down from Scotland for this. Hotel booked and night out in the hot spots of Burnley

Isn't that Preston?

I went to Burnley once overnight on business. Ultimately, I think the best way to describe Burnley is that it makes Newport look like Paris.

I went to Burnley once overnight on business. Ultimately, I think the best way to describe Burnley is that it makes Newport look like Paris.

The former Cardiff City goalkeeper looking to dent the Bluebirds' play-off hopes and seal his Euro 2016 spot


5 APR 2016


BY PHIL SMITH


Tom Heaton enjoyed a good Cardiff career but the form of David Marshall meant he had to move on. A few years later, he could be in line for a England spot and a move to Everton


The crowd at Turf Moor tonight will be treated not only to game of huge significance in the Championship promotion race, but also the chance to watch two of the very best goalkeepers in the division ply their trade.

Cardiff City knew they had a richly talented stopper on their hands from the moment Tom Heaton stepped through their doors in 2008.

Though his first season was occasionally interrupted by injury, the former Manchester United youngster did more than enough to prove he had a bright future ahead of him.

So when United released him in 2010, it was no surprise to see Dave Jones move swiftly to bring him in.

When David Marshall suffered an elbow injury, Heaton established himself as Number One and went on to earn the Young Player of the Year award.


Marshall's brilliance became quickly apparent to Malky Mackay, however, and the man who would later go on to be named in the Premier League team of the season by Sky Sports quickly became the go-to choice between the Cardiff sticks.

Heaton left after rejecting the offer of a new deal, but not before some spectacular heroics in Cardiff's run to the League Cup final.

Two penalty saves in the play-off semi final win over Crystal Palace and and a determined display at Wembley mean he will forever be an immensely popular figure in the Welsh Capital.

It would be a cruel twist of fate then, if he was to have a defining contribution in putting a halt to Cardiff's play-off charge tonight.


One of the most consistent keepers in the division, he is more than capable of doing so. He is beginning to make serious waves in the game, and could go on to reach the very top yet....




BECOMING BURNLEY'S BEDROCK

We spoke to our colleagues at the Lancashire Telegraph to find out more about Heaton's impressive form there.

They told us that he has already become one of the key components of their very impressive table-topping team, and there are no signs of his improvement coming to a halt any time soon.

When Jason Shackell left to join Derby in the summer, Heaton was the 'obvious choice' to become club captain.

Andre Gray is the Championship's top scorerGray and Heaton are two key players for Burnley
Why? Well, since arriving at Turf Moor in the summer of 2013/14, he has started each and every one of 123 league games.

Dyche's faith has been handsomely rewarded.

Much has rightly been made of Andre Gray's heroics high up the field, but Burnley have a miserly defence and Heaton has been a tremendous last line of defence.

Never more so than in a crucial 1-0 win over local rivals Blackburn Rovers, with the 29-year-old making a string of superb saves to protect his side's narrow lead.

Saves/Shots Ratio %
Tom Heaton
Heaton celebrates a Burnley win earlier in the season
78.4
David Marshall
Cardiff City goalkeeper David Marshall
72.6

When the Clarets were struggling to secure what looked before the game to be a nailed on win against Bolton Wanderers, Heaton kept them in the game. Gray scored twice and a shock deficit was overturned.

Roy Hodgson was obviously paying attention....

Looks like Whitts is out

Whitts is sub

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

Subs : Moore, Fabio, Whittingham, Noone, Gunnarsson, Ameobi and Zohore.

Whitts is sub

Interesting that he is starting with Dikgacoi

Anyone else nervous?

I've just bit my nails after scratching my knob and balls

I think I may need a shower

TWO CHANGES

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Come on city!!!!!!

Cardiff are wearing blue tonight. So presumably third kit will now never be used.

Glad it's not a must win game after Saturdays great result

Glad it's not a must win game after Saturdays great result

As long as we win at Fulham, I will be happy

Glad it's not a must win game after Saturdays great result

As long as we win at Fulham, I will be happy

Yes we must be realistic the win on Saturday as given us a bit of a breather! And a win Saturday will set us up nicely

Pilkington and Okeefe both have shots blocked

Lawrence has a shot blocked