MATCH THREAD : BRISTOL CITY v CARDIFF CITY ' MATCH THREAD

Bristol City v Cardiff City
SkyBet Championship
Saturday, 5 March, 12pm
Ashton Gate

Friday 4th March 2016

Cardiff Team : Marshall, Peltier, Malone, Connolly, Manga, Ralls, O’Keefe, Whittingham, Lawrence, Immers, Pilkington.

Subs: Moore, Morrison, Dikgacoi, Ameobi, Noone, Zahore, Saadi



Slade provides an injury update on his squad.

Slade says:

Peter Whittingham trained yesterday. He had a session.
Sean Morrison and Craig Noone have completed a full week’s training.
Fingers crossed I have a selection problem in terms not just of the 11, but the 18.
That would be welcome. It’s a nice problem for a manager to have players back who have been missing.
All three are in contention for the squad.
Fabio is not available but is making progress and is training again on Monday.


03/03/16

Team News

Cardiff City

Peter Whittingham will be 50/50 to make this one after missing out last time out with a calf strain while Fabio will miss out again with a groin problem. Sean Morrison should be fit to return from a long spell on the sideline but he is unlikely to feature in the starting line-up. Craig Noone should also be fit to return after an airline fracture to his rib.

Ben Turner is expected to return sometime in April but there is a real doubt whether he will get any first team action for Cardiff before his contract expires in the summer.

02/03/16

Team News

Bristol City
Luke Ayling and Nathan Baker are back and City could be unchanged.

Cardiff
Peter Whittingham may miss out and so Cardiff could be unchanged.
Sean Morrison is still out, but Sammy Ameobi is pushing for a start.


SOLD OUT FOR CARDIFF CITY FANS

A crowd of 16,500 is expected the current Ashton gate capacity


" UPDATED DAILY "

Russell Slade has confirmed Fabio and Peter Whittingham will miss out.

Cardiff City have sold their allocation of 1,400 tickets

LATEST NEWS

Cardiff City's 2-1 win over Preston means they are currently three points off the play-off positions.

Bristol City sit in 19th position and eight points ahead of the bottom three.

Possible Line-Ups

Bristol City

12 O'Donnell
13 Golbourne
02 Baker
04 Flint
17 Baker
15 Freeman
23 Bryan
21 Pack
09 Tomlin
22 Kodjia
14 Reid

Cardiff City

01 Marshall
02 Peltier
16 Connolly
05 Manga
28 Malone
08 Ralls
17 Gunnarsson
22 O'Keefe
37 Lawrence
27 Immers
13 Pilkington

The Opposition

Bristol City Football Club is a football club in Bristol, England. Their ground is Ashton Gate, located in the southwest of the city. They currently play in the Championship after winning League One during the 2014–15 season. In sealing the League One title, Bristol City became only the second team to win both the third-tier championship and Football League Trophy double during the same season.

Bristol City won the Welsh Cup – despite being an English club – in 1934. In 1907 they finished runners-up in Football League Division One, which is their highest ever final position. In 1909 they lost the FA Cup final to Manchester United, their only final. Since relegation in 1911, however, they only returned to the top division from 1976 to 1980 and did not contend for any honours then. In 1982, Bristol City became the first English club to suffer three consecutive relegations. They were promoted to the Football League Championship in the 2006–07 season after finishing second in League One but failed to make a second consecutive promotion to the Premier League after they were defeated by Hull City in the 2008 Football League Championship play-off Final at Wembley Stadium. With victories in 1986, 2003 and 2015, Bristol City are now the most successful team in the Football League Trophy.

The club's nickname is "The Robins", and a robin featured on the club's badge from 1976 to 1994. Official club merchandise, including replica kits, still has a label showing a robin. An attempt by the club to alter the badge was abandoned after it was criticised fiercely by fans. The team's main rivals are Bristol Rovers in the Bristol derby and Cardiff City in the Severnside derby, along with other regional teams in the West Country derby.

Bristol City's current manager is Lee Johnson; a former Bristol City player who made 199 appearances for the club. Coincidentally, he is the son of former City manager Gary Johnson, who took City to the Championship play-off final in 2008, where they eventually lost 0-1 to Hull City.

2015/16 Latest Results

Bristol City

Nottingham Forest 1-2 Bristol City
Bristol City 0-4 Brighton
MK Dons 0-2 Bristol City
Bristol City 2-1 Ipswich

Cardiff City

Cardiff City 2-1 Preston North End
Middlesbrough 3-1 Cardiff City
Cardiff City 4-1 Brighton
Charlton 0-0 Cardiff City

Recent Meetings

Cardiff City 0-0 Bristol City -
Cardiff City 2-1 Bristol City -
Bristol City 4-2 Cardiff City -
Bristol City 1-2 Cardiff City -

Match Odds

Bristol City 6/5
Draw 12/5
Cardiff City 2/1

TICKET NEWS - SOLD OUT FOR AWAY FANS

Guess the score/attendance

Post what you think the score and crowd will be below.

1-3 Cardiff.

Cardiff City have sold their allocation of 1,400 tickets

Bristol C 1 Cardiff C 2

Bristol 1-1 Cardiff. . Would love to come away with the 3 points

Bristol 0 - 2 Cardiff

Bristol City 0-3 cardiff city. Looking forward to this no restrictions either should be a great day out. Train gang!

Bristol City 1-3 Cardiff City

Scums 1 Cardiff city 3

" ITS ALL IN RUSSELL SLADES HANDS '
Link
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=169704

The Severnside Derby: A tone-setter for the rest of Cardiff City’s season?



The severnside derby has played second fiddle to the South Wales derby for much of the past but as Cardiff threaten to mount their assault on the Championship’s play-offs with a quarter of the season to go and with Swansea still otherwise occupied in the Premier League, this ‘Severnside Derby’ could be all the more important.

Russell Slade’s men continue to loiter on the edge of the play-offs but the time to mount a serious push is nearing ever-closer. As games begin to run out for the Bluebirds, it is starting to become make or break and the month of March will be crucial to where Cardiff end up in May.

Cardiff go up against Bristol City for the 88th time this Saturday in what could be a crucial game for Slade’s men, it could really set the tone for how they finish the season.

The Bluebirds visit Ashton Gate on the back of a hard-working victory over Preston last Saturday at the Cardiff City Stadium. It wasn’t pretty but it certainly felt like an important win as Cardiff put distance between themselves and Preston below them.



The month of March provides Cardiff with the opportunity to set up the final run-in perfectly and with April being a difficult month, Cardiff need to make the most of the next four games.

March sees Cardiff face Bristol City, Leeds United, Ipswich Town and Reading, facing the two closest clubs away from home. Bristol City and Leeds United continue to struggle in the leagues lower regions while Reading battle it out in mid-table and Ipswich Town remain one of Cardiff’s biggest play-off rivals.

With Cardiff’s ongoing inconsistency, you feel they may need to take three points away at Ashton Gate to get their second set of back-to-back wins of the season, to set the tone and to give them confidence to pick up upwards of seven points from the three games that follow.



Bristol City have put distance between themselves and the relegation zone thanks to the appointment of former player Lee Johnson and go into the Cardiff fixture in good form with four wins in their last five.

It’s the big wins that tend to spark a good run for teams in any league and a win against Severnside rivals in front of a sold out away end with 1,400 travelling fans, certainly qualifies for a big win. A win that Cardiff City as a team and as a fan-base may need to make a surge towards the play-offs.

Achieving a play-off position will always be a tough ask for a club who have spent virtually nothing on transfers but a win against Bristol City on Saturday would really set the tone for Cardiff to go and grab sixth place by the scruff of the neck with Leeds and Ipswich home to follow.



There’s no doubt it will be a tricky affair on Saturday afternoon but if Cardiff can come away with a win then it may send their confidence into free-flow.

One win doesn’t define a season but if you ask Sunderland, who’s annual win against rivals Newcastle in March time so often sends them on a run to survive in the Premier League, a big win over rivals can certainly set the tone for a solid finish to any season.

A win please, can't contain my excitement for this fixture.. haven't been away since Wolves in 2014.

There is a RV for Bristol City on Saturday, there are two times, the first is at 10.45am and the other at 11.15am, it is a shock as it has come as a late announcement after being told that originally there would be no restrictions whatsoever. The supporters club and travel group have sounded their dissatisfaction at the RV.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=169764

Great news, does this also mean there's no RV for the coaches now?

Hope I'm wrong but I have a feeling we will lost this one, going for Bristol 1-0.

Cardiff City

Peter Whittingham may miss out and so Cardiff could be unchanged.
Sean Morrison is still out, but Sammy Ameobi is pushing for a start.

Team News

Bristol City
Luke Ayling and Nathan Baker are back and City could be unchanged.

KOREY Smith is likely to be fit and firing in readiness for this Saturday's big Severnside derby clash between Bristol City and Cardiff City at Ashton Gate.

Robins vice captain Smith was ruled out of City's 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest last weekend after suffering an ankle injury.

Bobby Reid deputised for the former Norwich and Oldham midfield man, who stayed behind in Bristol to undergo treatment.

Smith's ankle has responded well and, even though he was unable to train during the early part of this week, head coach Lee Johnson is confident the midfield terrier will be available for selection for the Anglo-Welsh derby.

Back in the day they always used to beat us but times have changed ,hopefully

2-1 city

Team News

Cardiff City

Peter Whittingham will be 50/50 to make this one after missing out last time out with a calf strain while Fabio will miss out again with a groin problem. Sean Morrison should be fit to return from a long spell on the sideline but he is unlikely to feature in the starting line-up. Craig Noone should also be fit to return after an airline fracture to his rib.

Ben Turner is expected to return sometime in April but there is a real doubt whether he will get any first team action for Cardiff before his contract expires in the summer.

Team News

Bristol City

Mark Little is a doubt after picking up groin and foot injuries while Luke Ayling is back in training following knee surgery some time ago. Frank Fielding is back in contention following rib injury picked up back in January. Jonathan Kodjia, the striker who caused Cardiff a whole host of problems back in October will start for the Robins.

Korey Smith could return for Bristol City's Severnside derby with Cardiff at Ashton Gate.

Smith missed the 2-1 victory at Nottingham Forest last weekend due to bone bruising on his ankle and is currently in a protective boot, but Robins boss Lee Johnson says the midfielder will be tested in training on Friday.

Full-back Luke Ayling is in contention to feature for the first time since January following knee surgery.

Slade provides an injury update on his squad.

04/03/16

Slade says:

Peter Whittingham trained yesterday. He had a session.
Sean Morrison and Craig Noone have completed a full week’s training.
Fingers crossed I have a selection problem in terms not just of the 11, but the 18.
That would be welcome. It’s a nice problem for a manager to have players back who have been missing.
All three are in contention for the squad.
Fabio is not available but is making progress and is training again on Monday.

For me this is the best game all season,really been waiting for Bristol City away

Great news, does this also mean there's no RV for the coaches now?

is there RV tomorrow or just a good old scrap with the wurzels - in the park !!!!!!! and a euro ban ?

Interesting to read that both teams have won 5 of their last 10 games and both are on a decent run of current form with Cardiff a little more resilient having drawn 3 of their other 5 and Bristol 2 of their other 5

Another tough game is on the cards, which can create a better atmosphere if we stay strong as a support!

Likely line ups

Bristol City (4-2-3-1): O’Donnell, Little, Baker, Flint, Golbourne, Pack, Reid, Freeman, Tomlin, Bryan, Kodjia.

Cardiff City: (4-2-3-1): Marshall, Peltier, Manga, Connolly, Malone, Ralls, O’Keefe, Lawrence, Immers, Whittingham, Pilkington.

Team news
Bristol City: Korey Smith missed the 2-1 victory at Nottingham Forest last weekend due to bone bruising on his ankle and is currently in a protective boot, but could make it.

Full-back Luke Ayling is in contention to feature for the first time since January following knee surgery. Mark Little will also be available after being troubled by groin and foot injuries and Arnold Garita is making good progress from a knee operation, though the striker is not ready to feature yet.

Cardiff City: Bluebirds’ boss Russell Slade has received a huge boost with the new three of his key players, Peter Whittingham, Craig Noone and Sean Morrison are all back fit.

Whittingham, who missed the win over Preston with a calf strain, could come straight back in whilst Noone, now over his back injury, could be amongst the substitutes. Morrison, out since December will have to wait with Bruno manga and Matthew Connolly keeping their places. Fabio is still absent with his foot problem, but making progress.


Sean Morrison, Peter Whittingham and Craig Noone are all in contention to face Bristol City



Ones to watch
Bristol – Jonathan Kodjia: The French striker cost the Robins £2m last summer and has proved a success. An excellent and instinctive finisher he has 12 Championship goals this term in 33 starts. After a bit of a barren spell he seems to be firing again with three goals in his last three games.

Cardiff – Tom Lawrence: The young Welsh international has brought something to the Bluebirds since arriving on loan from Leicester. The Bluebirds have looked more threatening going forward with Lawrence in their ranks and five games into his Cardiff career all that is missing is a goal.

What the bookies say
Bristol City 5/4, Cardiff 9/4, draw 9/4

Last time they met
Back on a Monday night in October in the Welsh capital the Severnside Derby proved a rather uninspiring affair as the two sides fought out a 0-0 draw. The game was live on TV with viewers receiving not too much by way of entertainment. The law of averages dictates this weekend’s game is an improvement on that last encounter.

What the managers say
Lee Johnson (Bristol): “It’s important the players understand the derby and that the fans appreciate the players are going to give everything they can to try and win the game. Sometimes, you have to motivate and, other times, players understand what is coming. This is one of those occasions where I will have to have a quiet word in the ear of certain players just to let them know that this game is really important to everybody.”



New Bristol City manager Lee Johnson
Russell Slade (Cardiff): “They can be aggressive matches. It’s all about control, about having that out there. You need to control your emotions, you can control the performance. That’s very important in these games. You don’t want to let the occasion catch up with you, keep your concentration and keep focused in the key moments. You need to keep to your game plan and your strategy.”



Who's the ref
Graham Scott (Oxfordshire): The official has taken charge of 15 games so far this season and has brandished 63 yellow cards, but sent just one player off. He last refereed a Cardiff game back in December 2014 when the Bluebirds were beaten in the Championship 3-2 at home by Brentford.

Interesting to read that both teams have won 5 of their last 10 games and both are on a decent run of current form with Cardiff a little more resilient having drawn 3 of their other 5 and Bristol 2 of their other 5

Another tough game is on the cards, which can create a better atmosphere if we stay strong as a support!

Chris, going to be tough,but we should beat them