CAN THE CCS MAKE A DIFFERENCE ?

Malky Mackay’s Bluebirds are being heavily written off by most pundits and fans, but defender Matt Connolly reckons Cardiff have two aces up their sleeve.

Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City superstars have been warned they are walking into a Cardiff City Stadium cauldron this weekend.

The Premier League big spenders, favourites to win the title, head to South Wales for the historic first Premier League game to be played in the Welsh capital.

Malky Mackay’s Bluebirds are being heavily written off by most pundits and fans, but defender Connolly reckons Cardiff have two aces up their sleeve.

Connolly believes the noise and fervour created by a sell-out 27,000 crowd could surprise even battle-hardened figures like Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Yaya Toure.

And he also insists the Bluebirds, who many argued had stage fright on their Premier League bow at West Ham last Saturday, will play a more flowing game this time around.

Connolly maintains the pressure is off the Bluebirds because they are expected to lose, which will relax them more and enable them to play with freedom.

Looking ahead to Cardiff’s first home match in the top flight for more than 50 years, Connolly said: “Do I want to be preparing for a match against Manchester City or playing in the Championship? Every one of our players would take the first option every time.

“We want to test ourselves against the best teams, the best players.

“This Sunday, at Cardiff City Stadium, we have that chance in front of a packed home attendance.

“We’ll talk through our tactics, prepare properly as we always do and go out with confidence.

“We want to make our stadium, in front of passionate fans, a bit of a fortress. This match against Manchester City is one most people will expect us to lose, but maybe that will let us to go out with a bit more freedom in our play.

“The atmosphere will be tremendous. City fans have been looking forward to this for some time.”

Connolly, 25, is under pressure from City’s new signing John Brayford at right-back, but said: “That’s the way it should be. There is competition in every position and that will push every one of us to work harder.”

Manager Mackay will make one definite change in his back four, with Andrew Taylor taking over from teenager Declan John at left-back.

Mackay will also ponder whether Brayford, City’s £1.3m new signing from Derby, is pitched in ahead of Connolly – or whether club captain Mark Hudson’s leadership could be a key factor at the centre of defence.

Whatever the line-up, Connolly said: “We have to start quicker then we did at Upton Park and play our football.

“There are positives to be taken out of out of our performance against West Ham in that we kept the ball and moved it around well at times.

“There is no doubt that we have enough quality to keep our place in the Premier League this season.”

It's clear we are massive underdogs for this game but our tradition as fans is to get behind the team 100% in such circumstances.


I fancy Man City will find the CCS something of a hellhole on Sunday. Can't wait.

We absolutely can create an intimidating atmosphere to unsettle man city but it will take every fan making twice as much noise as last year.

This game got a bit of Cardiff v Leeds 2 written all over it. Lets make it intimidating and mental in the stadium and turn these fuckers over!

If we can make half the noise that we did at NP for the Leeds game they'll shit themselves

One problem is these quality players play in this kind of atmosphere every week.

It could,but it won't in my opinion, the feeling, the atmosphere,the pride,the belonging,the way the fans are set up in the stadium,is not there compared to the big games that were at Ninian Park.

It could,but it won't in my opinion, the feeling, the atmosphere,the pride,the belonging,the way the fans are set up in the stadium,is not there compared to the big games that were at Ninian Park.

Obviously we can never repeat ninian parks hostile atmosphere but I believe we can still make a big difference, can't wait everyone of us needs to be up for this, just hope they don't get an early goal

It could,but it won't in my opinion, the feeling, the atmosphere,the pride,the belonging,the way the fans are set up in the stadium,is not there compared to the big games that were at Ninian Park.

the answer is as simple as this....

The atmosphere will be 100 times better than most premier league grounds that's for sure. It WILL spur the players on... First game back in the top league for so long too!

if our players are giving a good account of themselves, keeping the game close etc then the atmosphere will be fantastic. if we are down 2-3 nil within the first 15odd minutes then unfortunately I can see everyone's heads dropping along with the atmosphere. Our players need to keep up there workrate and us fans need to keep up the noise throughout the game. Both feeding off eachother

if our players are giving a good account of themselves, keeping the game close etc then the atmosphere will be fantastic. if we are down 2-3 nil within the first 15odd minutes then unfortunately I can see everyone's heads dropping along with the atmosphere. Our players need to keep up there workrate and us fans need to keep up the noise throughout the game. Both feeding off eachother

This is spot on & exactly what happens at the CCS since we've been there.
Anybody who thinks Man City will be intimidated at our ground is disillusional I'm afraid.
On a positive note I still think we should all give it our best shot at creating as much noise & atmosphere as we can though.

its gunna be nuts on sunday - 4pm kick off = lots of drinking time ... every1 got monday off = more drinking ... good weather = more drinking ... 1st home game in the premier league against manchester city ... = atmoshphere will be unf@£kingbelievable !!! trust me lol

its will never be hostile as a big game at NP, if you stand and sing in most sections people look at you like you have 2 heads. our home crowd has changed loads in the last few years, too many do good cunts watch us nowadays.

its gunna be nuts on sunday - 4pm kick off = lots of drinking time ... every1 got monday off = more drinking ... good weather = more drinking ... 1st home game in the premier league against manchester city ... = atmoshphere will be unf@£kingbelievable !!! trust me lol

spot on and if the players believe in themselves who knows we could get something out of this game.Lets enjoy the day.

As long as they let you lot be in the Ninian stand, I think it has potential to be one of the greatest atmospheres ever at the ccs

I doubt players like aguero are going to be shitting it

I must of missed all the cauldron games

Yes it can.Most stadia these teams visit are like Libraries.The Lib is bouncing when these sides come down to us and there's no reason why it can't be the same at your's.

It doesn't make any difference at all.

Our away support is genuinely above average. How home support is just average or just below.

It doesn't make any difference at all.

Our away support is genuinely above average. How home support is just average or just below.

Sounds like you've thrown the towel in after 1 game

The CCS always sounds its best when it's a big game and a full house.


They don't get much bigger than this.

ccs can make a differance but what is worrying for me is the new fans last few years have been used to everthing being brilliant at ccfc ,what happens if we start doing the opposite in the prem what will these new fans do.

Do they leave 20 mins early will they boo the team I dont now. All I no is there will be plenty of us supporting the club and players 100 % hope all are fans do the same .

Hopefully the atmosphere is electric Sunday

Palace was electric and we weren't even the underdog. We will make this place a fortress. Stop glorifying Ninian Park and appreciate the home ground we have now

We can make the CCS a real fortress if we produce lots of noise, The CCS will never have the same hostile/fearful factor as Ninian Park though.

it made the difference after all

Im going to ask Connolly for next weeks lottery numbers - he was spot on!!

Annis you miserable old sod, the CCS CAN be a fortress!!!

I hold my hands up and admit i was wrong the atmosphere was awesome on Sunday, long may it continue