' MATCH THREAD : CARDIFF CITY v BLACKBURN ' MATCH THREAD '

CARDIFF CITY V BLACKBURN ROVERS
Championship
Saturday, 2 January, 15:00
Cardiff City Stadium

Pay on the day

01/01/2016

City Team : Marshall, Peltier, Connolly, Manga, Malone, Gunnarsson, Ralls, Noone, Pilkington, Watt and Mason.

Subs : Moore, Fabio, Dikgacoi, O'Keefe, Whittingham, Ameobi and Macheda

Cardiff remain without defender Sean Morrison who will return late in January if not February but in his absence, Bruno Ecuele-Manga is currently thriving.

Idriss Saadi is said to be close to a return in the Cardiff front-line but there has been no date provided thus far, Saadi has featured just once since signing in the summer. Ben Turner remains out until near the end of the season with a serious ankle injury.

Aron Gunnarsson suffered a knock in Tuesday Night’s fixture against Nottingham Forest and will be touch-and-go for this one.





30/12/2015

Gunnarsson hobbled off last night and could be a doubt for Blackburn game?

" UPDATED DAILY "



Blackburn Rovers

Paul Lambert has named an un-changed line-up in Blackburn’s last two fixtures but they are not expected to do so this time around with Bengali-Fode Koita a doubt, the striker was replaced at half time in Rovers’ last outing. Corry Evans has missed the last few games with a groin problem and he is racing against time to stand a chance of being in the Rovers’ starting line-up for this one.

Nathan Delfouneso and Jordan Rhodes will be expected to lead the line for Blackburn and Bluebirds’ fans will also recognize former Cardiff winger Craig Conway who is also expected to start.

blackburn.png

Latest News

Cardiff and Blackburn meet on the back of three games each without a win, with Blackburn losing their last two.

Blackburn sit in 16th place in the table, 6 points behind Cardiff who are in 10th place.

Possible Lineups

Cardiff City

01 Marshall
02 Peltier
05 Ecuele Manga
16 Connolly
28 Malone
38 Ameobi
17 Gunnarsson
08 Ralls
13 Pilkington
09 Jones
33 Watt

Blackburn

30 Steele
02 Henley
22 Duffy
05 Hanley
14 Olsson
32 Conway
21 Akpan
23 Guthrie
10 Marshall
08 Koita
11 Rhodes


The Opposition



Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team competes in the Football League Championship from the 2012–13 season. They were relegated from the Premier League, the top tier of English football, at the end of the 2011–12 season.

The club was established in 1875, becoming a founding member of The Football League in 1888. It is one of only three clubs to have been both a founder member of the Football League and the Premier League (the others being Aston Villa and Everton). In 1890 Rovers moved to its permanent home at Ewood Park. Prior to the formation of the Premier League in 1992, most of the club's successes were before 1930, when it had gained league and FA Cup trophies on several occasions. Relegation in 1965–66 was followed by 26 successive seasons of football outside the top flight.

In 1992, Blackburn gained promotion to the new Premier League a year after being taken over by local steel baron Jack Walker, who installed Kenny Dalglish as manager. In 1995, Blackburn became Premier League champions, having spent millions of pounds on players like Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton. However, the title-winning team was quickly split up and, in the 1998–99 season, the club was relegated. It was promoted back to the Premier League two years later, in the 2000–01 season, just after Walker's death. During this time it has qualified for the UEFA Cup four times: once as League Cup winners, twice as the Premier League's sixth-placed team and once via the Intertoto Cup. The 2011–12 season marked the club's 72nd, non-consecutive, year in the top flight. Blackburn are currently one of only five clubs to have won the Premier League, along with Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Manchester City.

The club's motto is "Arte et Labore", which the club translates as "By Skill and Hard Work" in Latin.

2015/16 Latest Results

Cardiff

TUE 29 DEC 2015 - CHAMPIONSHIP Cardiff 1 - 1 N Forest
SAT 26 DEC 2015 - CHAMPIONSHIP MK Dons 2 - 1 Cardiff
FRI 18 DEC 2015 - CHAMPIONSHIP Birmingham 1 - 0 Cardiff
TUE 15 DEC 2015 - CHAMPIONSHIP Cardiff 3 - 2 Brentford


Blackburn

MON 28 DEC 2015 - CHAMPIONSHIP Bolton 1 - 0 Blackburn
SAT 26 DEC 2015 - CHAMPIONSHIP Blackburn P - P Middlesbrough Postponed
SUN 20 DEC 2015 - CHAMPIONSHIP Reading 1 - 0 Blackburn
MON 14 DEC 2015 - CHAMPIONSHIP Blackburn 0 - 0 Nottm Forest


Recent meetings

2015/2016 Tue 18 Aug Blackburn R. 1 - 1 Cardiff City Championship
2014/2015 Tue 17 Feb Cardiff City 1 - 1 Blackburn R. Championship
2014/2015 Fri 08 Aug Blackburn R. 1 - 1 Cardiff City Championship
2012/2013 Mon 01 Apr Cardiff City 3 - 0 Blackburn R. Championship
2012/2013 Fri 07 Dec Blackburn R. 1 - 4 Cardiff City Championship


Previous Highlights




Match Odds

Cardiff 6/4
Draw 11/5
Blackburn 19/10


Tickets

Cardiff v Blackburn is a SILVER category match (see prices here: http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/tickets/ticket-prices/)

Tickets can be purchased in person at the ticket office situated in the Grandstand, next to corporate entrance 2.

Alternatively you can call the Stadium Ticket Office on 0845 345 1400, which is open from 9am to 5:30pm - Monday to Friday and 9am to 3pm on non match-day Saturdays.

The easiest way is to book online. You can click here to purchase tickets: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cardiffcity

For all ticket enquiries, please call the Cardiff City ticket office 0845 345 1400


Guess the Score / Attendance

Post your predicted score/attendance below

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

A MUST WIN GAME.

Blackburn are on an awful run,just lost to bottom of the table Bolton.

City 3 Blackburn 1

Finally take our chances and win 3-1.

city 1 blackburn 2.

Cardiff remain without defender Sean Morrison who will return late in January if not February but in his absence, Bruno Ecuele-Manga is currently thriving. Idriss Saadi is said to be close to a return in the Cardiff front-line but there has been no date provided thus far, Saadi has featured just once since signing in the summer. Ben Turner remains out until near the end of the season with a serious ankle injury.

Aron Gunnarsson suffered a knock in Tuesday Night’s fixture against Nottingham Forest and will be touch-and-go for this one.

Blackburn Rovers

Paul Lambert has named an un-changed line-up in Blackburn’s last two fixtures but they are not expected to do so this time around with Bengali-Fode Koita a doubt, the striker was replaced at half time in Rovers’ last outing. Corry Evans has missed the last few games with a groin problem and he is racing against time to stand a chance of being in the Rovers’ starting line-up for this one.

Nathan Delfouneso and Jordan Rhodes will be expected to lead the line for Blackburn and Bluebirds’ fans will also recognize former Cardiff winger Craig Conway who is also expected to start.

Bluebirds 2-2 Blackburn

2-0 Cardiff

If we don't win this one then Slade will really need to walk

2-0 Bluebirds

3-1 city

THE problem Paul Lambert has is that there is hardly much quality waiting in the wings to change things up for the back-to-back trips to Wales. So hearing the Rovers boss say earlier in the month that the January business done will be ‘more or less loans’ was slightly disappointing.

Lancashire Telegraph

' Paul Lambert has little quality to chose from '

Thursday 31st Dec 2015

THE problem Paul Lambert has is that there is hardly much quality waiting in the wings to change things up for the back-to-back trips to Wales. So hearing the Rovers boss say earlier in the month that the January business done will be ‘more or less loans’ was slightly disappointing.

Yes the embargo has only just been lifted and the club would never want to be in that situation again, but the last few games have shown the squad needs improving.

The last game of 2015 was up there with the worst performances of the season and the defeat at Reading was not much better. Winning every game is not possible but Rovers never looked like taking three points at the Macron for the first time in six years.

It was equally frustrating to play a team who are hopeless at the back, in a game that was there for the taking and yet Rovers were still unable to create chances to win it.

Lambert needs to find a striking partnership that produces goals and stick with it. Jordan Rhodes is not in good form but the lack of service is also a real problem. Starting Tom Lawrence from the outset against Cardiff would inject some creativity into the side and hopefully help Rovers get a few more goals.

Have a feeling this could be our day. Going for Cardiff 4-1. We are due a good win.

Cardiff look to get their first win in three attempts as an out-of-sorts Blackburn visit the Cardiff city stadium in the first fixture of the new year. Like Cardiff, Blackburn have just one win in their last four and are without a win in three.

In their last outing, Cardiff were held at home against mid-table Nottingham Forest in a 1-1 draw and Ipswich’s win at Brighton meant Cardiff dropped six points behind the desired play-off positions. The Bluebirds now sit in tenth place.


The visitors have benefited little from a change in management with Paul Lambert replacing Gary Bowyer at Ewood Park. Blackburn will have targeted the play-off’s during pre-season but they are far from meeting their objective, currently in sixteenth place, seven points from relegation and twelve from the play-off’s.

In their last outing, Blackburn fell to late defeat against bottom of the table Bolton Wanderers at the Macron Stadium with Gary Madine getting the Trotters’ crucial goal. The two games previous have seen Rovers lose to Reading and draw a blank against Nottingham Forest.

As per usual, Rovers top goalscorer is none other than Jordan Rhodes who has nine goals to his name so far this season, former Bluebird Craig Conway and former Blackpool man Nathan Delfouneso come the closest with only two goals each.



In their previous meeting this season, Cardiff were denied a win at the death at Ewood Park with Grant Hanley scoring the late equalizer to cancel out Joe Mason’s early goal. Cardiff are unbeaten in six meetings with Blackburn but the last three clashes have been draws, the remaining three were all Cardiff wins.

The Blackburn squad wouldn’t be blamed for booking a week-long stay in South Wales with Cardiff away in the league followed by Newport County away in the cup the following week.

The Football League have now announced the Match Day officials that will take charge of the game against Blackburn Rovers this weekend.

Cardiff City host Blackburn Rovers on Saturday January 2 for the game at the Cardiff City Stadium and the match carries a 3pm kick off.

Referee: Andy Woolmer
Linesmen: Adam Bromley and Steven Plane
Fourth Official: Oliver Langford

Match Day referee Woolmer (Northamptonshire) is yet to officiate a Cardiff game this season.

He has however already taken in ninteen other matches so far in 2015-16 and in those games, across all competitions and Football divisions, he has handed out a total of 61 yellow cards and one red card.

He was most card happy in the match between Boreham Wood and Northwick in the FA Cup on November 16 with a total of seven yellows shown. Bury and Rochdale in October saw six yellows, as did the game between Millwall and Coventry City back in August. Gillingham v Burton in December saw five yellows and one red.

Let`s hope it`s not another repeat and more of our players edge closer to automatic bans.

Craig Conway is enjoying his third season at Blackburn this year, and has continued to impress, playing a part in seven strikes for Rovers so far in this campaign (5 assists, 2 goals).

Cardiff's Championship season continues against Blackburn at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday; with this a 3pm kick-off.

As Cardiff are without a win in the last three-matches, losing two against Birmingham and MK Dons drawing the other with Nottingham Forest, the Bluebirds know a positive result is needed against Blackburn tomorrow as the New Year (in footballing terms) gets underway.

Russell Slade might freshen things up, Kenwyne Jones is technically available but with him poised to leave Cardiff he could be left out with Federico Macheda or Sammy Ameobi coming in to partner Charlton loanee Tony Watt, who should sign permanently in the coming week.

Blackburn have a doubt over Fode Koita (hamstring) with Leicester loanee Tom Lawrence coming in but Jason Lowe (foot) is out due to injury.

The last three league meetings have ended in a one-all draw with Cardiff unbeaten in the last five-matches with Blackburn, winning two with the other three drawn with the Bluebirds needing this run to continue but with a win really, but will this happen?

CARDIFF HOME
Cardiff have won 1, drawn 1 and lost 0 of the last 2 stagings of this fixture, outscoring their opponents by 4 goals to 1.

Cardiff have scored in 75% of their last 20 home games.

Cardiff have kept a clean sheet in 35% of their last 20 home games.

Cardiff are without a win in the last three-matches, losing against Birmingham & MK Dons drawing the other with Nottingham Forest, with a positive result needed tomorrow....

Blackburn Rovers begin the New Year with a SkyBet Championship match at Cardiff City this afternoon as Blackburn look for a better start to this year than how the last one ended after successive defeats.

Rovers lost a lot of ground over Christmas so if an unlikely play off push is to be achieved in the second half of the season we need to go on a winning run of a dozen matches or so starting with this one at The Cardiff City Stadium.

The last three matches against Cardiff have ended in 1-1 draws with Rovers coming from behind in each of them but we've not beaten The Bluebirds in any of the last five matches against them, however, three of these have been drawn.

Cardiff don't have any injury concerns, however, with just won win their last eight matches Russell Slade's expected to make changes not that they'll be forced on him.

Paul Lambert's made it clear he'll give Fode Koita as long as possible to recover from his injury with Leicester City midfielder Tom Lawrence ready to come in for what could be his final involvement for Rovers with a return to his Premier League club possible. Jason Lowe's closer to making his comeback but still misses this match.

Cardiff aren't in good form themselves with Rovers needing a win this afternoon and I'll say that I think we'll get it with it a good time for Jordan Rhodes to get among the goals again and score against The Bluebirds for the first time.

Drop Jones for Macheda, Pilks for Kennedy and we will have our strongest and most attacking line up available to us. But im expecting Slade to that instead he will probably replace Noone for Ameobi or something stupid like that.

Drop Jones for Macheda, Pilks for Kennedy and we will have our strongest and most attacking line up available to us. But im expecting Slade to that instead he will probably replace Noone for Ameobi or something stupid like that.

Spot on were playing with 10 men when Jones is on the field.Lazy b*stard

Cardiff City 2 Blackburn 1

Macheda is a long way from being match fit. But he has to start somewhere. Give him 60 minutes I say.

City 2-0

City Team : Marshall, Peltier, Connolly, Manga, Malone, Gunnarsson, Ralls, Noone, Pilkington, Watt and Mason.

Subs : Moore, Fabio, Dikgacoi, O'Keefe, Whittingham, Ameobi and Macheda

Bright start by City

Worst fecking first half I've seen this season

Dire shocking first half

Match by match we re getting worse