Cardiff are celebrating after reaching the Premier League
Tue Apr 16, 2013 10:31 pm
Cardiff City promoted after 0 - 0 draw with Charlton:
Crowd of over 26,000
16 Apr 2013
Cardiff City are celebrating after reaching the Premier League following a 0-0 draw with Charlton
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Cardiff City star Leon Barnett is hoisted aloft by jubilant fans
AND now you’d better believe it.....Malky Mackay’s blues are going up.
OK, so they were actually wearing read and black, but 26,000 home fans weren’t going to let that worry them as Cardiff City, finally, reached Premier League dreamland last night.
Craig Bellamy fell to the ground in sheer joy as the final whistle blew on this tense stalemate with Charlton, before being engulfed by delirious fans as they raced on to celebrate.
Announcer Ali Yassine yelled ‘Cardiff City are in the Premier League’ and within seconds the pitch was full of fans bouncing, celebrating, dancing, some even crying.
The stadium became a party zone as the music blared out, a cauldron of noise which could surely have been heard from miles away.
The sight of thousands of Cardiff fans doing the Ayatollah on the pitch in front of the grandstand was a joy – and the players soon emerged to join the fans in celebrating.
‘The blues are going up’, they chanted time and again as time ran down on this all-important encounter.
The goal they hungered for, the strike that would send the atmosphere into overdrive would not come, but again, that paled into insignificance the moment the clock had run down.
Millwall’s late winner against Watford made things more or less certain with 10 minutes to go, while Hull’s defeat at Wolves puts City seven points clear of second with three games left, tantalisingly within reach of the Championship title.
The pain of 50-plus years outside the Premier League is over – and the winners’ trophy is within touching distance.
Now that promotion is secure that’s the prize City want and they won’t stop pressing until they have it.
Burnley away, Bolton home and Hull away represent three chances to earn the one win needed to be absolutely certain City go up as the number one team in the division.
So April 16 proved successful again, just as it was when City were last promoted in 1960, and the power of the number three once again brought itself to bear.
The Bluebirds have gone up in 1983, 1993, 2003 and now 2013.
City made two changes ahead of kick-off with Craig Noone and Rudy Gestede taking over from Tommy Smith and injured Heidar Helguson who had begun the win against Forest on Saturday.
The determined Addicks, still in with a shout of the play-offs, ensured Cardiff would not have things their own way and French striker Yann Kermogant was a first half pain for Cardiff defenders as he won a series of aerial challenges against Ben Turner and Leon Barnett.
But there were few real chances at either end.
Captain Johnnie Jackson fired in a shot from Charlton’s left which keeper David Marshall managed to push onto the inside of a post before being relieved to see it fly away to safety.
Bellamy swept a shot over the bar at the other end, while Kim Bo-Kyung twice had chances to give the visitors problems.
The South Korean broke clear with Bellamy inside him, but his poor first touch allowed a defender to move in and block the pass, and then his fierce free-kick flew just wide and into the side netting.
The goalless situation at half-time was a fair scoreline with City just a little edgy as they tried to take control.
City were out to wipe away memories of probably their poorest performance of the season in a 5-4 defeat at the Valley, and their crisp passing and movement raised hopes of reward.
City tried to maintain a high tempo while staying calm and cool, but it was difficult with automatic promotion almost in their grasp.
When half chances came along they snatched slightly at shots or final passes and the opportunities were squandered.
A touch of nerves delivering the final shot, the final delivery, stopped them gaining the upper hand, but they stayed solid, organised and ensured there were no silly slip-ups.
For an hour it was a solid team performance and no more.
Kim, Jordon Mutch and Aron Gunnarsson were all eager and effective through midfield without being able to spark that decisive move, and Bellamy was constantly involved.
He was on the move, always available and linked well, while he chased back to stop Charlton when they threatened.
There was loads of endeavour from City, but a calm, experienced head was needed.
Had Mackay made a mistake leaving out Smith, who has big experience of these pressure matches?
Noone’s quick and tricky feet produced glimpses of magic, but there was no end product.
Probably the pick of City players at that stage was Kevin McNaughton, a marauding full-back who has found a new lease of Championship life since taking over from injured Matt Connolly.
He’s been suffering from bumps and bruises, but has simply got on with the job. It’s been refreshing to see ‘Naughts back in such good form.
McNaughton earned a big cheer when he battled to win a corner from a lost cause and kept the pressure on Charlton.
There was, of course, the factor that City would go up if they earned a point – and Watford had to win at Wolves to stand any chance of keeping hope alive.
With an hour gone both matches were still locked at 0-0 and City were on course to claim their prize of promotion to the Premier.
There was no chance for the Bluebirds to relax and Charlton maintained a patient and disciplined approach in the hope that one chance would turn it for them.
It almost did on 65 minutes when Ricardo Fuller bent in a shot which was on target to fly just inside the far post until David Marshall’s flying, one-handed save pushed the ball away.
This was a genuine test of character for Mackay’s men, but there is a different culture in and around the team these days. They stood tall, stayed strong and kept probing.
Noone even fired home on 70 minutes, but the roars of relief were killed when a linesman’s flag signalled offside.
But this was Cardiff’s night. The Bluebirds are heading to the Premier League – and now the title is the next aim.
Crowd of over 26,000
16 Apr 2013
Cardiff City are celebrating after reaching the Premier League following a 0-0 draw with Charlton
Share on print Share on email
Cardiff City star Leon Barnett is hoisted aloft by jubilant fans
AND now you’d better believe it.....Malky Mackay’s blues are going up.
OK, so they were actually wearing read and black, but 26,000 home fans weren’t going to let that worry them as Cardiff City, finally, reached Premier League dreamland last night.
Craig Bellamy fell to the ground in sheer joy as the final whistle blew on this tense stalemate with Charlton, before being engulfed by delirious fans as they raced on to celebrate.
Announcer Ali Yassine yelled ‘Cardiff City are in the Premier League’ and within seconds the pitch was full of fans bouncing, celebrating, dancing, some even crying.
The stadium became a party zone as the music blared out, a cauldron of noise which could surely have been heard from miles away.
The sight of thousands of Cardiff fans doing the Ayatollah on the pitch in front of the grandstand was a joy – and the players soon emerged to join the fans in celebrating.
‘The blues are going up’, they chanted time and again as time ran down on this all-important encounter.
The goal they hungered for, the strike that would send the atmosphere into overdrive would not come, but again, that paled into insignificance the moment the clock had run down.
Millwall’s late winner against Watford made things more or less certain with 10 minutes to go, while Hull’s defeat at Wolves puts City seven points clear of second with three games left, tantalisingly within reach of the Championship title.
The pain of 50-plus years outside the Premier League is over – and the winners’ trophy is within touching distance.
Now that promotion is secure that’s the prize City want and they won’t stop pressing until they have it.
Burnley away, Bolton home and Hull away represent three chances to earn the one win needed to be absolutely certain City go up as the number one team in the division.
So April 16 proved successful again, just as it was when City were last promoted in 1960, and the power of the number three once again brought itself to bear.
The Bluebirds have gone up in 1983, 1993, 2003 and now 2013.
City made two changes ahead of kick-off with Craig Noone and Rudy Gestede taking over from Tommy Smith and injured Heidar Helguson who had begun the win against Forest on Saturday.
The determined Addicks, still in with a shout of the play-offs, ensured Cardiff would not have things their own way and French striker Yann Kermogant was a first half pain for Cardiff defenders as he won a series of aerial challenges against Ben Turner and Leon Barnett.
But there were few real chances at either end.
Captain Johnnie Jackson fired in a shot from Charlton’s left which keeper David Marshall managed to push onto the inside of a post before being relieved to see it fly away to safety.
Bellamy swept a shot over the bar at the other end, while Kim Bo-Kyung twice had chances to give the visitors problems.
The South Korean broke clear with Bellamy inside him, but his poor first touch allowed a defender to move in and block the pass, and then his fierce free-kick flew just wide and into the side netting.
The goalless situation at half-time was a fair scoreline with City just a little edgy as they tried to take control.
City were out to wipe away memories of probably their poorest performance of the season in a 5-4 defeat at the Valley, and their crisp passing and movement raised hopes of reward.
City tried to maintain a high tempo while staying calm and cool, but it was difficult with automatic promotion almost in their grasp.
When half chances came along they snatched slightly at shots or final passes and the opportunities were squandered.
A touch of nerves delivering the final shot, the final delivery, stopped them gaining the upper hand, but they stayed solid, organised and ensured there were no silly slip-ups.
For an hour it was a solid team performance and no more.
Kim, Jordon Mutch and Aron Gunnarsson were all eager and effective through midfield without being able to spark that decisive move, and Bellamy was constantly involved.
He was on the move, always available and linked well, while he chased back to stop Charlton when they threatened.
There was loads of endeavour from City, but a calm, experienced head was needed.
Had Mackay made a mistake leaving out Smith, who has big experience of these pressure matches?
Noone’s quick and tricky feet produced glimpses of magic, but there was no end product.
Probably the pick of City players at that stage was Kevin McNaughton, a marauding full-back who has found a new lease of Championship life since taking over from injured Matt Connolly.
He’s been suffering from bumps and bruises, but has simply got on with the job. It’s been refreshing to see ‘Naughts back in such good form.
McNaughton earned a big cheer when he battled to win a corner from a lost cause and kept the pressure on Charlton.
There was, of course, the factor that City would go up if they earned a point – and Watford had to win at Wolves to stand any chance of keeping hope alive.
With an hour gone both matches were still locked at 0-0 and City were on course to claim their prize of promotion to the Premier.
There was no chance for the Bluebirds to relax and Charlton maintained a patient and disciplined approach in the hope that one chance would turn it for them.
It almost did on 65 minutes when Ricardo Fuller bent in a shot which was on target to fly just inside the far post until David Marshall’s flying, one-handed save pushed the ball away.
This was a genuine test of character for Mackay’s men, but there is a different culture in and around the team these days. They stood tall, stayed strong and kept probing.
Noone even fired home on 70 minutes, but the roars of relief were killed when a linesman’s flag signalled offside.
But this was Cardiff’s night. The Bluebirds are heading to the Premier League – and now the title is the next aim.
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Re: Cardiff are celebrating after reaching the Premier Leagu
Tue Apr 16, 2013 11:11 pm
just brilliant lads, here's video of the end http://youtu.be/IdBGuRO89aU see if you can spot with in the red shirt
Re: Cardiff are celebrating after reaching the Premier Leagu
Tue Apr 16, 2013 11:15 pm
We done it !!! c'mon lads lets celebrate !!!! 
Re: Cardiff are celebrating after reaching the Premier Leagu
Wed Apr 17, 2013 6:29 pm
Not sure where these are to go so I'll stick 'em everywhere. 