' This is Cardiff City's Chance '

TWO HOMES GAMES IN THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS WOLVES & BARNSLEY


Cardiff have been unable to pull away from trouble but have two big opportunities this week


By Phil Smith


Sunday 11th December 2016


Neil Warnock is now eight games into his Cardiff City and it can be said with confidence that his impact has been significant, if not spectacular.

This was another good point, and as Chris Hughton predicted last weekend,

Cardiff are showing that they are a tough nut to crack for any opponent.

That shut-out against the current second place side was impressive and the Bluebirds showed their mettle again at Portman Road.

Sol Bamba's implosion left them reeling, ten men suddenly robbed of a player who has been a talismanic presence in recent weeks. Their leader at the back, their organiser, their best communicator.

Yet they dug in, kept their nerve, adjusted. Remarkably, they finished the game the stronger of the two sides, leaving Mick McCarthy aghast as he totted up the chances his time gave away at the death.

“The sending off probably affected us more than them strangely enough. They sat deep and made it difficult for us to play through them or around them.

“We were doing alright against eleven men but it had a worse affect on us,

maybe the thought of not winning, or losing against ten men gets in the player's heads.

“Our game management there is ridiculous. We gave them a chance, gave them that free-kick. They had a chance from a corner then a chance from the one after that. They just kept sustained pressure on and Noone could have nicked it right at the end.”

That twenty minute performance truly was one for which the Cardiff players are due some credit. Yet having ticked the first and most important box in football, not giving games away easily, now is the time to start backing these solid points up with the crucial wins.


For all their improvements, for all the strides made, they remain rooted near the bottom and you cannot accuse the table of lying at this stage in the season.

These two games against Wolves and Barnsley are majorly important and Cardiff must find a way to take the game by the scruff of the neck.


Preparation time is short and that Warnock now has to reshuffle his defence as a first priority is frustrating in the extreme.

Yet he is unlikely to move Lee Peltier or Matt Connolly infield and so will probably use the same system trialled at Portman Road to try and cut Paul Lambert's struggling XI open.

It's pitfall, and it's significant positives are clear.

Moving Joe Bennett further forward is logical. Bennett has impressed since coming into the team but has occasionally been guilty of losing his runner,with Huddersfield Town's first goal last month the most notable example.

Teaming him up with Lee Peltier bolsters the Cardiff defence that bit more and in theory, Bennett's pace and attacking instincts mean they shouldn't lose out going forward.

It didn't quite work out that way at Ipswich, and the inconsistency of his wingers is one of the major reasons why Cardiff can't pull away from trouble.

Kadeem Harris, impressive against Brighton, struggled here, losing the ball on far too many occasions and not once finding Rickie Lambert in the right area. Craig Noone and Anthony Pilkington were excellent off the bench but neither have delivered on a regular basis.

Warnock conceded last week that confidence in that part of his squad was suffering and getting them flying again is a priority. Particularly at home, where the crowd need to be lifted and given something to work with.

The system leaves Cardiff with two in midfield but Whittingham and Gunnarsson showed that doesn't mean the Bluebirds can't dictate the tempo of the game.

Both were very good here, Gunnarsson particularly impressive, not only breaking up the play and surging forward, but also moving the ball crisply across the turf.

Whittingham did well, delivering a crucial assist again, while an early through ball could have sent Cardiff into dreamland had Craig Noone managed to stay onside.

Junior Hoilett, meanwhile, underlined how important he will be if Cardiff are to become an attacking force at home. This was far from his best display but the moments when he broke free from the Ipswich defence showed his unique abilities.

So Cardiff move into this pivotal week quietly confident that their relegation fears will eventually be eased.

They have shown the fight necessary to back that up, but now is the time to move into the next gear.

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We need to start winning and 6 points now would be dam handy.

Needa win soon and ideally this Tuesday.

2 home draws and we have a problem.

I'm quietly confident we will win both.

Anything less than six points will be a disappointment.

No excuses for not beating both of those teams at home.

I'm quietly confident we will win both.

Anything less than six points will be a disappointment.

No excuses for not beating both of those teams at home.

I would take 4 points right now, we are down the bottom not the top. Wolves aren't great but scored 4 this week while Barnsley went to brum last week and beat them comfortably. We are improving but it's true, we need to now get a few wins. Brentford is a winnable game.

I wrote a fortnight ago that a min of 7 points were needed up to including Villa on 2Jan to keep in touch. We've got 2pts so far so still need 5 from
Wolves Barnsley Brentford Brighton and Villa. I will be happy with 4pts from Wolves and Barnsley, so hopefully my target will be exceeded.
Provided we are in the pack come January Warnock will strengthen the team to take us over the line and up the table.

Anything less than six points will be a disappointment.

No excuses for not beating both of those teams at home.

I would take 4 points right now, we are down the bottom not the top. Wolves aren't great but scored 4 this week while Barnsley went to brum last week and beat them comfortably. We are improving but it's true, we need to now get a few wins. Brentford is a winnable game.

Same here, I'd be happy for 4 points.

I would be dissapointed if we dont win them both but would take 4 tbh.

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For all their improvements, for all the strides made, they remain rooted near the bottom and you cannot accuse the table of lying at this stage in the season.

Im not sure I can agree with that statement. We are a far better team since Warnock took over and if he had lead us from the start we would certainly not be anywhere near the bottom!

I personaly think we are curently better than our league position suggests. I would not be suprised if we take 6 points in the next two games at home as I feel we are in an acendency!

Out of interest when was the last time we won 2 games back to back?

The people talk on here assumes that 6 points is a banker, I hope you are right but on current form I would be happy with one win anything else is a bonus.

C'mon the City

Out of interest when was the last time we won 2 games back to back?

The people talk on here assumes that 6 points is a banker, I hope you are right but on current form I would be happy with one win anything else is a bonus.

C'mon the City

4 points would be great, really would. Barnsley turned Norwich over on weekend and beat brum a few weeks back easily. Am really pleased with our progress given our lack of firepower and the good thing with Warnock is he can make you difficult to beat of need be. Nasty, dirty call it what you like but we played against his sides over the years and you had to earn a win. Looking forward to next two games.

Out of interest when was the last time we won 2 games back to back?

The people talk on here assumes that 6 points is a banker, I hope you are right but on current form I would be happy with one win anything else is a bonus.

C'mon the City

To be fair you have injected an element of realism into this thread! Its easy to be biased and get carried away! Yes 4 points would be a great result under the circumstances!

Wolves have a decent away record, winning 1 and drawing 2 of their last 3. They drew at Villa as well. The more I think about it, the more likely this is going to be a draw. 2 draws this week would be disappointing, but not a disaster. As long as we keep in touch with the pack till Jan we will be ok.

I would be dissapointed if we dont win them both but would take 4 tbh.

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