'RUSSELL SLADE: "PREPARING FOR THE CUP FINAL"
Sun Apr 24, 2016 7:09 am
Russell Slade on crucial Cardiff City win: "If I had any hair left it would be gone now!"
SUNDAY 23RD APR 2016
BY STEVE TUCKER
Cardiff City boss Russell Slade insists his side’s chances of play-off glory remain slim, but has now urged his players to prepare for a ‘cup final’ at Hillsborough next weekend.
The Bluebirds left it late against Bolton with Peter Whittingham stroking home from the penalty spot with the last kick of the game after Kenneth Zohore had cancelled out Zach Clough’s early opener for the Trotters.
Cardiff are now four points behind Wednesday in sixth after the Owls drew at Derby earlier in the day.
Cardiff must now win at Hillsborough, then beat Birmingham at home on the last day and hope Wednesday slip up at Wolves.
“Our chances are still slim, but probably not as slim as they were before this,” said Slade.
“The gap is four points and now we have to prepare for a cup final next weekend. We are going to have to be ready for that.
“We’ve two games left and if we get opportunities in them we are going to have to be ruthless because that will make the difference.
“I’ve always said if we can take it to that last game we would probably have taken that. We’ve got to go to Hillsborough and win, that can be our only focus. We have to get the three points. The odds are probably stacked against us, if you’re a betting man, you’ll be fancying Sheffield. But if I was a Sheffield Wednesday fan, I would have been disappointed to see our last goal go in. It means it’s game on.”
And Slade was keen to praise the tenacity of his side.
“We left it very late. If I had any hair it would be gone now for sure,” said Slade.
“They got off to a great start, I thought it was a soft free-kick, it was given and it was well taken. We struggled a bit despite having decent possession, even in the first-half. We struggled to get a clear sight of goal.
“In the second-half it was more one way traffic. We had opportunities, we got the equaliser in good time, but for all we created we had to wait a long time for the winner. We did think maybe it was not coming, but our fans stayed with us.
“Credit to the players, they kept going and credit to Whittingham for keeping a cool head, and thanks to that, our season goes on. David Marshall did not have a lot to do, but again he made a couple of vital saves for us. He is outstanding at this level.”
After falling behind to Clough’s great free-kick, Cardiff’s cause was helped when, just after the half hour, Bolton’s Niall Maher was sent off for violent conduct after appearing to elbow Craig Noone as both players challenged for an aerial ball. Slade insisted the referee had got things right.
Noone takes on Maher shortly before the latter was sent offNoone takes on Maher shortly before the latter was sent off
Relive the game as it happened
The Cardiff boss added: “My first reaction was that it looked quite naughty. He looked like he led with his arm, whether that was to protect himself, I don’t know. The referee was in a good position to see it mind.”
Kenneth Zohore, who got his second goal in two games for Cardiff, started the match after Lex Immers picked up a hamstring injury. Slade said the Dutchman was now rated 50/50 to play in the big showdown at Hillsborough next week.
SUNDAY 23RD APR 2016
BY STEVE TUCKER
Cardiff City boss Russell Slade insists his side’s chances of play-off glory remain slim, but has now urged his players to prepare for a ‘cup final’ at Hillsborough next weekend.
The Bluebirds left it late against Bolton with Peter Whittingham stroking home from the penalty spot with the last kick of the game after Kenneth Zohore had cancelled out Zach Clough’s early opener for the Trotters.
Cardiff are now four points behind Wednesday in sixth after the Owls drew at Derby earlier in the day.
Cardiff must now win at Hillsborough, then beat Birmingham at home on the last day and hope Wednesday slip up at Wolves.
“Our chances are still slim, but probably not as slim as they were before this,” said Slade.
“The gap is four points and now we have to prepare for a cup final next weekend. We are going to have to be ready for that.
“We’ve two games left and if we get opportunities in them we are going to have to be ruthless because that will make the difference.
“I’ve always said if we can take it to that last game we would probably have taken that. We’ve got to go to Hillsborough and win, that can be our only focus. We have to get the three points. The odds are probably stacked against us, if you’re a betting man, you’ll be fancying Sheffield. But if I was a Sheffield Wednesday fan, I would have been disappointed to see our last goal go in. It means it’s game on.”
And Slade was keen to praise the tenacity of his side.
“We left it very late. If I had any hair it would be gone now for sure,” said Slade.
“They got off to a great start, I thought it was a soft free-kick, it was given and it was well taken. We struggled a bit despite having decent possession, even in the first-half. We struggled to get a clear sight of goal.
“In the second-half it was more one way traffic. We had opportunities, we got the equaliser in good time, but for all we created we had to wait a long time for the winner. We did think maybe it was not coming, but our fans stayed with us.
“Credit to the players, they kept going and credit to Whittingham for keeping a cool head, and thanks to that, our season goes on. David Marshall did not have a lot to do, but again he made a couple of vital saves for us. He is outstanding at this level.”
After falling behind to Clough’s great free-kick, Cardiff’s cause was helped when, just after the half hour, Bolton’s Niall Maher was sent off for violent conduct after appearing to elbow Craig Noone as both players challenged for an aerial ball. Slade insisted the referee had got things right.
Noone takes on Maher shortly before the latter was sent offNoone takes on Maher shortly before the latter was sent off
Relive the game as it happened
The Cardiff boss added: “My first reaction was that it looked quite naughty. He looked like he led with his arm, whether that was to protect himself, I don’t know. The referee was in a good position to see it mind.”
Kenneth Zohore, who got his second goal in two games for Cardiff, started the match after Lex Immers picked up a hamstring injury. Slade said the Dutchman was now rated 50/50 to play in the big showdown at Hillsborough next week.
Re: 'RUSSELL SLADE: "PREPARING FOR THE CUP FINAL"
Sun Apr 24, 2016 8:11 am
Did'nt think we would have got this far under Slade,will the fans support him if we dont make it,will he be in charge next year if we do..
Who cares at the moment we need to see this through together for the moment and pick this up in 2 Months..
Cardiff will need to keep it tight at the back,let the flanks get the ball in foe Zahore to hopefully get us there..
Fingers crossed we will beat Sheffield and have a sell out at home for Birmingham..
Who cares at the moment we need to see this through together for the moment and pick this up in 2 Months..
Cardiff will need to keep it tight at the back,let the flanks get the ball in foe Zahore to hopefully get us there..
Fingers crossed we will beat Sheffield and have a sell out at home for Birmingham..
Re: 'RUSSELL SLADE: "PREPARING FOR THE CUP FINAL"
Sun Apr 24, 2016 7:01 pm
All in all Slade has done well for us this season, hope he delivers a result on Saturday and we make the play-offs (appreciate its a tall order though) 
Re: 'RUSSELL SLADE: "PREPARING FOR THE CUP FINAL"
Sun Apr 24, 2016 8:34 pm
Slade deserves credit this season. 
Re: 'RUSSELL SLADE: "PREPARING FOR THE CUP FINAL"
Sun Apr 24, 2016 8:53 pm
Rydogsccfc wrote:Slade deserves credit this season.
