The breakdown of Cardiff’s six remaining ‘cup finals’
Thu Apr 07, 2016 9:10 am
As Cardiff ramp-up their play-off chase, we’re going to look ahead at the six remaining fixtures and predicts what the Bluebirds need from their six remaining fixtures.
07/04/16
Russell Slade’s men are going to need a fine finish to this season if they want to compete in the Championship play-offs at the end of the season. There's just a half-dozen of games remaining and arguably, other than the two teams occupying fifth and six,Cardiff are the only other team in the play-off race.
There are 18 points left to get or 21 if you’re Birmingham City but the Blues are a massive 11 points off while Ipswich have an incredibly large task if their to challenge with an overhaul of seven points needed with 18 left to get. Cardiff have six remaining fixture split evenly with three home and three away.
Fulham (Away)
Points Needed: 3
Cardiff travel to Fulham this Saturday in the return leg of the opening game of the season where an early mistake from Simon Moore put the Bluebirds behind, thankfully, Craig Noone rescued Slade’s men on that occasion with an injury time leveler but Fulham have hit hard times since then.
Fulham still have something to play for going into the last six with relegation knocking on the door but with two wins from two, the London-based club look all-but save despite the mathematical possibility. There are no easy games in the Championship but Cardiff need to be looking at a win from Craven Cottage with their aspirations.
QPR (Home)
Points Needed: 3
This one could well be the toughest of the remaining home fixtures with QPR seemingly improving week-by-week under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. QPR are sitting around in mid-table or eleventh to be precise and that’s dangerous because, as Cardiff proved last season, when the pressure off the game becomes much simpler.
It will be a tall order to secure what will be 10 points from 12 but that’s what Cardiff need to look at if they have play-off aspirations. Nothing ever seems to go to the script in the Championship but the Bluebirds need to look at winning all three of their home games.
Brentford (Away)
Points Needed: 1
Cardiff need to take four points from Fulham and Brentford away so the points needed can certainly inter-change in that respect. The trip to Brentford was a memorable one last season but the roles have reversed this season with Cardiff with something to play for and Brentford with nothing.
The Bees are safe from relegation is 14th place but they certainly have no hopes of achieving a play-off place but again, when a team has no pressure on them to get a result they can be unpredictable. Dean Smith’s man will be battling for a mid-table finish with the likes of Reading and Wolves.
Bolton Wanderers (Home)
Points Needed: 3
Most will view this as the easiest game on Cardiff’s fixture list with Bolton at home with the Wanderers due to be relegated with five games to spare. It’s been an awful season on and off the pitch for the Wanderers who will certainly have nothing to play for, although on an individual basis, some players may be playing for their futures.
Cardiff certainly need to take three points from this one and they’re more than good enough to do so, especially with the home record they have. This fixture comes at a nice time because Cardiff may need to win to go into the final two with and they have a great chance of getting one.
Sheffield Wednesday (Away)
Points Needed: 1/0
Sheffield Wednesday are one of Cardiff’s main competitors but dare I say, if they’re going to lose one game then this is the most likely and the hope is that by this point the Bluebirds may be able to afford one slip-up with the final game being at home.
Wednesday are a very good team and I think they will have a play-off place regardless of whether Cardiff get one. Derby look to be the Bluebirds main rivals for sixth spot with Sheffield having become a very consistent side under Carlos Carvajal. A point at Hillsborough would be a very good result.
Birmingham City (Home)
Points Needed: 3
The penultimate home fixture against Birmingham could be the most important game of Cardiff’s season but there will be a lot of twists and turns before then and who knows what this game will or won’t mean? Birmingham’s play-off chase has tailed off but they will feel they’ve somewhat overachieved this season nevertheless.
The Blues will prove a tough test – they’ll want to finish the season strongly and there won’t be any pressure on Gary Rowett’s men. There’s no telling at this point how much pressure will be on the Bluebirds but they’ll want and may possibly need a win here. The three home wins are Cardiff’s safest bet of securing 9 of the 12 points.
How many points do Cardiff need?
The points tally always differs but the average is 75 and the total this season is unlikely to exceed that too much if does peak above the magic number. The best return would be four wins, a draw and a loss which would take Cardiff to the 76 mark while allowing them a slip. Three wins and three draws may be enough also but that allows little margin for error and the pressure may build.
http://insidecardiffcity.co.uk/breakdow ... up-finals/?
07/04/16
Russell Slade’s men are going to need a fine finish to this season if they want to compete in the Championship play-offs at the end of the season. There's just a half-dozen of games remaining and arguably, other than the two teams occupying fifth and six,Cardiff are the only other team in the play-off race.
There are 18 points left to get or 21 if you’re Birmingham City but the Blues are a massive 11 points off while Ipswich have an incredibly large task if their to challenge with an overhaul of seven points needed with 18 left to get. Cardiff have six remaining fixture split evenly with three home and three away.
Fulham (Away)
Points Needed: 3
Cardiff travel to Fulham this Saturday in the return leg of the opening game of the season where an early mistake from Simon Moore put the Bluebirds behind, thankfully, Craig Noone rescued Slade’s men on that occasion with an injury time leveler but Fulham have hit hard times since then.
Fulham still have something to play for going into the last six with relegation knocking on the door but with two wins from two, the London-based club look all-but save despite the mathematical possibility. There are no easy games in the Championship but Cardiff need to be looking at a win from Craven Cottage with their aspirations.
QPR (Home)
Points Needed: 3
This one could well be the toughest of the remaining home fixtures with QPR seemingly improving week-by-week under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. QPR are sitting around in mid-table or eleventh to be precise and that’s dangerous because, as Cardiff proved last season, when the pressure off the game becomes much simpler.
It will be a tall order to secure what will be 10 points from 12 but that’s what Cardiff need to look at if they have play-off aspirations. Nothing ever seems to go to the script in the Championship but the Bluebirds need to look at winning all three of their home games.
Brentford (Away)
Points Needed: 1
Cardiff need to take four points from Fulham and Brentford away so the points needed can certainly inter-change in that respect. The trip to Brentford was a memorable one last season but the roles have reversed this season with Cardiff with something to play for and Brentford with nothing.
The Bees are safe from relegation is 14th place but they certainly have no hopes of achieving a play-off place but again, when a team has no pressure on them to get a result they can be unpredictable. Dean Smith’s man will be battling for a mid-table finish with the likes of Reading and Wolves.
Bolton Wanderers (Home)
Points Needed: 3
Most will view this as the easiest game on Cardiff’s fixture list with Bolton at home with the Wanderers due to be relegated with five games to spare. It’s been an awful season on and off the pitch for the Wanderers who will certainly have nothing to play for, although on an individual basis, some players may be playing for their futures.
Cardiff certainly need to take three points from this one and they’re more than good enough to do so, especially with the home record they have. This fixture comes at a nice time because Cardiff may need to win to go into the final two with and they have a great chance of getting one.
Sheffield Wednesday (Away)
Points Needed: 1/0
Sheffield Wednesday are one of Cardiff’s main competitors but dare I say, if they’re going to lose one game then this is the most likely and the hope is that by this point the Bluebirds may be able to afford one slip-up with the final game being at home.
Wednesday are a very good team and I think they will have a play-off place regardless of whether Cardiff get one. Derby look to be the Bluebirds main rivals for sixth spot with Sheffield having become a very consistent side under Carlos Carvajal. A point at Hillsborough would be a very good result.
Birmingham City (Home)
Points Needed: 3
The penultimate home fixture against Birmingham could be the most important game of Cardiff’s season but there will be a lot of twists and turns before then and who knows what this game will or won’t mean? Birmingham’s play-off chase has tailed off but they will feel they’ve somewhat overachieved this season nevertheless.
The Blues will prove a tough test – they’ll want to finish the season strongly and there won’t be any pressure on Gary Rowett’s men. There’s no telling at this point how much pressure will be on the Bluebirds but they’ll want and may possibly need a win here. The three home wins are Cardiff’s safest bet of securing 9 of the 12 points.
How many points do Cardiff need?
The points tally always differs but the average is 75 and the total this season is unlikely to exceed that too much if does peak above the magic number. The best return would be four wins, a draw and a loss which would take Cardiff to the 76 mark while allowing them a slip. Three wins and three draws may be enough also but that allows little margin for error and the pressure may build.
http://insidecardiffcity.co.uk/breakdow ... up-finals/?
Re: The breakdown of Cardiff’s six remaining ‘cup finals’
Thu Apr 07, 2016 3:06 pm
The one thing that is certain is that all the teams vying for the play-offs will win and lose points in the most unexpected manner.
Lots of potential twists and turns yet.
Lots of potential twists and turns yet.
Re: The breakdown of Cardiff’s six remaining ‘cup finals’
Thu Apr 07, 2016 4:17 pm
Don't derby have 2 of top 6 teams plus Ipswich as last 3 games? Derserve playoffs if get 9 points from that? 