Wed Aug 28, 2013 8:21 am
Wednesday 28th August 2013.
Tonight Cardiff City come right back down to earth.
When you’ve just beaten Manchester City in your first Premier League home match for more than half a century, the prospect of a League Cup trip to Accrington Stanley might seem like small beer.
But Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay has insisted the clash against the League Two side tonight will have the Bluebirds’ undivided attention for a very good reason.
Mackay cited his side’s heroics in reaching the final against Liverpool at Wembley two years ago as an achievement which helped kick-start the march to the top flight.
So the value of this Capital One encounter certainly isn’t lost on the man who masterminded Sunday’s brilliant 3-2 success against one of the favourites for the title.
Ben Turner celebrates his goal in the 2012 League Cup final
“The belief that we built from that cup run and that season, when expectations were low, was important,” said Mackay.
“It probably attracted people to the club too and kicked us on and helped us get to the play-offs that year as well.
“The final, the day out at Wembley, was another day that went down in the club’s history. It certainly was a good foundation stone for things at the club that we have managed to achieve since then.
“People matured that day at Wembley. Particularly our younger players, for a few of them it was the biggest game of their careers.
“Since that final I think Sunday was the biggest game this club has played. We were against top, top players for Manchester City very much like we were in the Liverpool game.”
That said, Mackay is expected to rip up his Premier League team sheet tonight and give a run-out against Accrington to members of his squad in need of pitch time.
It could mean competitive starts for the likes of club captain Mark Hudson, midfielder Jordon Mutch, new signing John Brayford and back-up goalkeeper Joe Lewis.
Mackay acknowledged that this season’s main priority is survival in the top flight, but he insisted his side are committed to the cups, with tonight a good chance for him to run the rule over some of his more fringe players.
“We’ve got total respect for the cup and we will be making sure we fully respect Accrington. It’s an away game and it’s going to be tough. We are going to need to be diligent if we are going to get through to the next round,” said Mackay.
“I’ll look at my squad to see who is involved. That’s the beauty of having the squad in that we’ve got the players here capable of going there and doing a job.
“We’ve got two or three players who are going to need the full 90 minutes there. We will go out and be professional as we always are.”
Cardiff City captain Mark Hudson will start
The Bluebirds, though, could be forgiven for having one eye on their next big Premier League clash, when Robert Martinez and his Everton side visit the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday.
Ahead of that, Mackay is working tirelessly to bring in more new players before the transfer window closes at 11pm on Monday. The Cardiff manager has ruled out a move for Icelandic international, Alfred Finnbogason, from Dutch outfit SC Heerenveen, but refused to be drawn on reports he is in the hunt for young Barcelona striker Isaac Cuenca on a season-long loan.
Match details
Crown Ground, 7.45pm
Accrington Stanley: (Probable) Dunbavin, Murphy, Liddle, Aldred, Wilson, Atkinson, Joyce, Richardson, Naismith, Mingoia, McCarten. Subs: Wilson, Clark, Hatfield, Windass, Gray, Carver.
Player to watch: Piero Mingoia: The young midfielder was a trainee at Watford previously and has an eye for goal. Scored the winner in the first round as Stanley pulled off a shock at Middlesbrough.
Cardiff City (Probable): Lewis. Brayford, Hudson, Oshilaja, John, Noone, Mutch, Smith, Conway, Maynard, Mason. Subs: Moore, McNaughton, Harries, Kiss, Gestede, Cowie, Velikonja.
Player to watch: Nicky Maynard: The striker is back from his big injury, had a good preseason and will now be looking to put a bit of pressure on his manager when it comes to his striking options.
Referee: David Webb (Lancashire)
Form guide: Stanley had a good 2-1 win at Boro in the first round, but in League Two have three defeats, including an opening day reverse at Newport, and a draw so far. Cardiff have lost at West Ham and won at home against Manchester City as their Premier League campaign gets underway.
Bookies odds: Accrington 6/1, Cardiff 1/2, draw 3/1. (Ladbrokes)
Steve Tucker's verdict: Whatever side Mackay chooses it should have enough to beat Stanley who lie rock bottom right now of the Football League. I'll go for 2-0 to the Bluebirds within 90 minutes.