' Anthony Pilkington '

ANTHONY PILKINGTON: AWAY WINS THE BIG FOCUS



Monday 24th November 2014
by Oliver Roderick

Despite having built some welcomed momentum on home soil, Anthony Pilkington has called on the clear need for Cardiff City to improve on the road results, if we are to have a chance to taste success this season.

Ahead of the Bluebirds’ difficult trip to face Watford this weekend, Anthony said plainly, “We need to pick up our away form. That’s what’s damaging our position in the table at the moment. We’ve got a tough away game again coming up and all the focus is on trying to get our first away win.

“If we pick up our away form to match our home form, we’ll be right up there. You can’t really put your finger on it, but I’m sure when the first one comes, a few more will roll along.”

Pilkington, who scored his first senior International goal for his country in the Republic of Ireland’s 4-1 win over the United States, was on the winning side again on Friday evening. He reflected on a tough 2-1 home victory and the frustrations in not keeping a clean sheet, saying, “We were disappointed with the goal. We work hard on set-pieces, so it’s disappointing to concede from them.


“I think before that we kept the ball reasonably well in the second half; and we did have a few chances as well. If we’d have put those away it would have all been different, and we could have been three or four-nil up. In the end though it’s three points and you can’t complain with that.

“They came out and started alright, but we got the first goal - and in this league it’s really important to do that. We got that, and we got the second goal as well, with them having a man sent off. Obviously we would have liked to score four or five goals when the opposition has gone down to ten men, but sometimes they sit and it’s difficult. We just wanted to keep the ball dead and see if we could dislodge one of them to create a few chances. We could have put those chances away, and that would have made things a little easier towards the end.”

Anthony then acknowledged teammates Ben Turner, Peter Whittingham and Adam Le Fondre against Nigel Adkins’ Royals; the midfielder saying, “[Ben] said in the huddle that it came off of one of their players’ legs. He didn’t want to claim it! What [Peter] can do with his left foot, it’s a wonder. You expect that from Whitts now though, because he’s been doing it for years and years, at this level and above. It’s not a surprise to see him doing that.”

On Adam’s contribution to the penalty, one that saw Reading’s Alex Pearce sent off, he added, “Alfie is a nuisance up front. He’s done really well, he’s worked hard and he’s got himself in a goalscoring position. I think Alex knew that he had to go, so yes, it definitely was a sending-off. Whitts has been taking them for years though, so I wasn’t going to argue with him!”

Cardiff City winger Anthony Pilkington insists an elusive away win at Watford will get the Bluebirds onto a roll
Nov 24, 2014 19:38 By Steve Tucker

Cardiff City haven't won away since they beat Southampton in the Premier League last season but winger Anthony Pilkington insists, once one comes, they'll arrive like the buses.

Cardiff City winger Anthony Pilkington has warned if the Bluebirds do not turn their awful away form around the dream of Premier League football will be scuppered.

Russell Slade and his men head to Watford next having not won on the road at all this season, a shocking record shared only in the Championship by rock-bottom Blackpool.

The Bluebirds’ away-day blues stretch back even further than this campaign; they have not won away since back on April 12 when they emerged victorious in the top flight at Southampton. Indeed, that remains their only victory in their last 25 league games away from the Welsh capital.

Slade has been at a loss to explain the poor away record, particularly with his side making it five wins on the bounce at home when they overcame Reading 2-1 on Friday.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/foot ... on-8168160?

BBC

Cardiff City must 'pick up' away form says Anthony Pilkington

Cardiff City winger Anthony Pilkington says the Bluebirds must "pick up" their away form to boost their promotion hopes.
Friday's 2-1 win against Reading was the Championship side's fifth in a row at home, but they have yet to win on the road in the league this season.
Pilkington, 26, hopes to put that right away against Watford on Saturday.
"If we pick up our away form... then we'll be right up there," said Pilkington.
"That's what's damaging our position in the table at the moment."


Last five Cardiff City away matches

30 September 2014: Brighton 1-1 Cardiff City -
3 October 2014: Blackpool 1-0 Cardiff City-
25 October 2014: Millwall 1-0 Cardiff City -
4 November 2014: Bolton 3-0 Cardiff City-
8 November 2014: Birmingham City 0-0 Cardiff City -

Russell Slade's side are 12th in the table, three points behind the Hornets who are in seventh and one point off the play-off places.
Cardiff have also failed to score in their last four games on the road and Slade has said he will "do everything he can" to improve their result away from the Cardiff City Stadium.
Pilkington is bemused as to why they have struggled on their travels so far.
"You can't really put your finger on it," said Pilkington, "I don't know what it is.
"I'm sure when the first one comes a few more will roll along.
"The league's very tight and if we put two or three wins together you go right up there."
Pilkington, a summer recruit from Norwich City, has scored one goal in 15 appearances since joining the Bluebirds.
Watford, have lost their last three matches, but despite that the Republic of Ireland international is expecting a challenging afternoon.
"Wherever you go away from home in this league it's tough," said Pilkington.
"It's going to be tough, but we'll be looking to get the first three points away."