CONNOLLY VOWS TO BATTLE

Saturday August 31st

Cardiff City full-back Matt Connolly determined to stay Premier League first choice

The man who has been picked twice ahead of new signing John Brayford says he hopes to stay number one at the Cardiff City Stadium

Cardiff City defender Matthew Connolly is determined to fight for his Premier League life.

The 25-year-old has started the season as manager Malky Mackay’s first choice at right-back.

It has been a big boost for Connolly who earned his third straight Premier League promotion with Cardiff, but had previously with Reading and QPR found top-flight action hard to come by.

And after a tepid showing in the Bluebirds’ opening day defeat at West Ham many believed Mackay might be looking to summer signing John Brayford sooner rather than later.

But Connolly put in a good showing in Cardiff’s great win over Manchester City last weekend and said he knew the pressure was on now week-in and week-out.

“To be fair I put pressure on myself to perform in every game,” said Connolly.

“I know John Brayford has come in and he’s a very good player so I know that I have to perform in every game if I am going to keep my place.

“It’s fantastic to be a Premier League player. I’ve waited for this chance having been promoted a few times so to finally get the chance is great.

“Now I want to play every game and must make sure I’m performing at a good enough standard to stay in the team.”

The win over Manchester City sent shock waves through the Premier League and earned the Bluebirds their first points of the campaign.

It proved an emotional day in the Welsh capital before a passionate crowd, but with Everton the visitors today Connolly warned not every outing would prove so epic.

“We are not going to play that way every week even though we will try our best,” said Connolly.

“But it’s tough to win games like that. When you’ve just gone up, to get any result against the top four or even the top six is a plus the main thing is to beat the teams in and around you.

“We do want to pick up points in every game and that is what we will be trying to do, but it won’t always happen like that. But the Manchester City win has given us belief and we believe we can compete against the best.”

Everton arrive today under new boss Roberto Martinez looking for their first three points.

Martinez cut his management teeth at Wigan and Swansea City and is renowned for his preferred passing style.

Connolly said he and his teammates were ready to deal with that and not adverse to playing a bit of football themselves.

Although the defender admitted the Bluebirds were not unfamiliar with the physical side of the game as well.

“Martinez’s team have that reputation for keeping the ball. He did that very well at Wigan,” added Connolly.

“Everton have great players and we will respect that, but it’s up to the manager to come up with a game plan as well stick to that.

“We’ve got a good team ourselves, we’ve got some good creative players, we will get the ball down and play but sometimes, like against Manchester City, you have to get in there and rough them up a bit.”

Opta Facts

Cardiff City have the chance to win back-to-back top-flight matches for the first time since April 1962.

Roberto Martinez has won just one of his last 10 games as a manager in the Barclays Premier League (W1 D5 L4).

This will be the first competitive meeting between the two teams since September 1979, when they met over two legs in the League Cup. Everton advanced by a score line of 2-1 on aggregate, but Cardiff won the home leg 1-0.

Only Manchester City (66.5%) have averaged more possession in the Premier League so far this season than Everton (64.7%).

Cardiff won 51 points at home in the Championship last season, losing just two of 23 games (W15 D6).

No team has used more English players than Cardiff City so far this season in the Premier League (8).

Former Liverpool forward Craig Bellamy has scored three times in the Premier League against Everton. However, he has failed to net in his last seven appearances against the Toffees in the competition.

Should he score, Craig Bellamy will become the first player in the history of the Barclays Premier League to score for seven different clubs in the competition.

Frazier Campbell is already halfway towards equalling his best ever goal return from a single Premier League season (four in 2009/10 for Sunderland).

Only once under David Moyes did Everton fail to win any of their opening three games in a Premier League season (2010/11; D1 L2).

people like connolly, cowie, turner etc don't get enough credit for what they do. just because they don't do spectacular things people assume they need replacing. i like connolly, very good and composed defender

Connolly had a good game today - he improved against Citeh and looked fairly decent today.

He was brilliant today, looks much more composed and confident. Had a nightmare on the first day, improved last match, and was the second best player behind Kim today for me

Average. Clearly playing out of position and logically Brayford should be number one. We'll regret it in the long term playing him there.

Must have been me and those around me then that thought he was constantly being attacked as the weakest link. Lucky not to get booked in first half for shirt pulling being skinned twice and by the end of the second half thought he looked like a lost sheep and forgot where his position was. Just seemed like he didn't know what to do with the ball. Thought Caulker had to spend a lot of time covering him. Great point tho, happy weekend all

Average. Clearly playing out of position and logically Brayford should be number one. We'll regret it in the long term playing him there.

this

Solid in defence but woeful going forward and with the ball at his feet. Have the ball away so many times today.

Gave his all for the team and deserves a load of credit.Hes clearly not comfortable at right back though and we cant get away with players out of position at this level

Gave his all for the team and deserves a load of credit.Hes clearly not comfortable at right back though and we cant get away with players out of position at this level

Exactly. He's out of position. I wasn't and still ain't convinced but he's doing something right as we've just got a clean sheet. Thought he did ok today and deserves credit

Yeah fair enough possibly out of position but used to playing RB aswell. Why not go with brayford then? Not even on the bench as cover. Maybe this newboy is the answer. If so can see Connelly going maybe before Monday.

Yeah fair enough possibly out of position but used to playing RB aswell. Why not go with brayford then? Not even on the bench as cover. Maybe this newboy is the answer. If so can see Connelly going maybe before Monday.

Bit pointless putting a fullback on the bench imo.
Not sure why connelly is playing tho.

Lots of right backs now tho

I agree that Connolly was average today, had a couple of good runs forward but also got skinned a few times. I do have some sympathy for him as Bellamy is clearly not 100% fit. Bellers did make a few brilliant covering runs but couldn't do all the time and this is when Connolly struggles.

Personally I would prefer to see a revamp of our right-hand side with Beckford and/or another winger/forward in front of him brought in for the next game.

I agree that Connolly was average today, had a couple of good runs forward but also got skinned a few times. I do have some sympathy for him as Bellamy is clearly not 100% fit. Bellers did make a few brilliant covering runs but couldn't do it all the time and this is when Connolly struggles.

Personally I would prefer to see a revamp of our right-hand side with Beckford and/or another winger/forward in front of him brought in for the next game.

Yeah fair enough possibly out of position but used to playing RB aswell. Why not go with brayford then? Not even on the bench as cover. Maybe this newboy is the answer. If so can see Connelly going maybe before Monday.

Bit pointless putting a fullback on the bench imo.
Not sure why connelly is playing tho.

Lots of right backs now tho

Yeah maybe, can Brayford only play right back?

Yeah fair enough possibly out of position but used to playing RB aswell. Why not go with brayford then? Not even on the bench as cover. Maybe this newboy is the answer. If so can see Connelly going maybe before Monday.

Bit pointless putting a fullback on the bench imo.
Not sure why connelly is playing tho.

Lots of right backs now tho

Yeah maybe, can Brayford only play right back?

I read he played CB at Derby, not sure how he performed at CB.

Simply not a RB , he's doing his best but lies too deep and invites opposition to attack us.

Did well last week, out of place today - Baines allowed way too much space and time.
" ruthless cuts" Malky promised? Brayford "best right back in championship last season" Malkys words? What's going on there I wonder? Connolly does get himself forward I'll give him that but lacks final ball that Taylor possesses. Glad we signed the Frenchie! Fingers crossed for another winger.... I mean seriously Cowie as super sub playing wide right? That was an issue last year I though would be dealt with by now.

Did well last week, out of place today - Baines allowed way too much space and time.
" ruthless cuts" Malky promised? Brayford "best right back in championship last season" Malkys words? What's going on there I wonder? Connolly does get himself forward I'll give him that but lacks final ball that Taylor possesses. Glad we signed the Frenchie! Fingers crossed for another winger.... I mean seriously Cowie as super sub playing wide right? That was an issue last year I though would be dealt with by now.

He may have been the best RB last season but no doubt all the players have been given a chance in training and it's up to them to prove themselves.

I don't really see an issue with cowie, an assist against man City.
And like you said Baines was getting to much space, made sense to try and tighten it up on the right with cowie.

Cowies assist was from a corner mate, his game play is shocking. The guy has an engine granted, works hard but neither has the skill, passing ability nor pace to play wide right. I don't think bringing him on was Malkys way of shutting out Baines - we were 80 minutes in for Christ sake? Malky needs to be careful throwing in his blue eyes. I'm all for caution against top teams but if Cowie over Noone or Conway gets a run out against lower opposition it'll cost us in the long run.

Cowies assist was from a corner mate, his game play is shocking. The guy has an engine granted, works hard but neither has the skill, passing ability nor pace to play wide right. I don't think bringing him on was Malkys way of shutting out Baines - we were 80 minutes in for Christ sake? Malky needs to be careful throwing in his blue eyes. I'm all for caution against top teams but if Cowie over Noone or Conway gets a run out against lower opposition it'll cost us in the long run.

Yes an assist from a corner, they all count.

Totally disagree, as the game went on Baines was getting further and further forward. I thought it was a perfect sub and ideal to bring on.

I agree he isn't a wide player to start a game but ideal as a sub to come on and do a job.

Cowie literally did not touch the ball for the 10 minutes he was on the pitch v Everton. If he was brought on as fresh legs to deal with Baines' freedom down the left then how did Baines skip down the wing 89th minute only to be body checked yet again by Connolly (which could have seen him walk after second yellow)?

Ran around like a school boy chasing a crushed can in the playground IMO