' MATCH THREAD: CARDIFF CITY v BIRMINGHAM ' MATCH THREAD

CARDIFF CITY v BIRMINGHAM
Championship
Saturday 11 March, 15:00
Cardiff City Stadium


TODAYS TEAM



Cardiff: McGregor, Richards, Bennett, Morrison, Bamba, Halford, Ralls, Gunnarsson, Pilkington, Hoilett, Zohore.

Subs: Murphy, John, Whittingham, Noone, K Harris, M Harris, Meite.



A CROWD OF UP TO 25,000 IS EXPECTED THIS SATURDAY

" ADULTS & UNDER 16'S ONLY £5 TO WATCH THE BLUEBIRDS "

1,497 Brum fans sold




" UPDATED DAILY "


10/03/17


NEIL WARNOCK:

"I don’t know how many (are unavailable), we’ll have to see."


"We can’t really plan the team until tomorrow."

"The back five is okay but there are problems elsewhere."

" Hopefully Gunnars can train, he’s been really knocked back by the virus, and there’s some others with a bug, so it’s all hands on deck. Gunnar has been too weak to train until today. He knows the situation, he’s been doing his own thing, we won’t risk him and leave it to him."



Latest News on Pilkington

Anthony Pilkington:

"I’m feeling alright now (after the thigh injury), I’m just getting back to match sharpness and see if I can get into the team."




09/03/17

Gunnarson and Connolly are expected to return after illness

Warnock is hoping their might be good news on Rickie Lambert as he is doing light training.

Manga,Peltier and Healey are still out.

Latest News

Birmingham have sold 1,300 tickets so far

A big crowd is expected on Saturday, as ST holders can bring up to 4 adults or kids for £5 each

PAY ON THE DAY


Possible Lineups

Cardiff City

1 McGregor
6 Richards
4 Morrison
14 Bamba
3 Bennett
15 Halford
24 K Harris
7 Whittingham
8 Ralls
33 Hoilett
26 Zohore


Birmingham

29 Kuszczak
25 Cogley
5 Shotton
4 Robinson
2 Nsue
26 Davis
7 Tesche
6 Kieftenbeld
33 Keita
12 Gardner
14 Adams


The Opposition



Birmingham

Full name: Birmingham City Football Club
Nickname: Blues
Founded: 1875 as Small Heath Alliance
Ground: St Andrew's
Capacity: 30,016
Owner: Trillion Trophy Asia
Manager: Gianfranco Zola
League: Championship


Birmingham City Football Club is a professional football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943. They compete in the Football League Championship, the second tier of league football in England.

As Small Heath, they played in the Football Alliance before becoming founder members and first ever champions of the Football League Second Division. The most successful period in their history was in the 1950s and early 1960s. They achieved their highest finishing position of sixth in the First Division in the 1955–56 season and reached the 1956 FA Cup Final, progressed to the final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1960 and 1961, and won their first major trophy, the League Cup, in 1963, beating Aston Villa 3–1 on aggregate. They won the latter competition for the second time in 2011. They have played in the top tier of English football for the majority of their history. Their longest period spent outside the top division, between 1986 and 2002, included two brief spells in the third tier of the English League, during which time they twice won the Football League Trophy.

St Andrew's has been their home ground since 1906. They have a long-standing and fierce rivalry with Aston Villa, their nearest neighbours, with whom they play the Second City derby. The club's nickname is Blues, due to the colour of their kit, and their fans are known as Bluenoses.


2016/17 Results

Cardiff

TUE 7 MAR 2017 - CHAMPIONSHIP Blackburn 1 - 1 Cardiff City
SAT 4 MAR 2017 - CHAMPIONSHIP QPR 2 - 1 Cardiff City
SAT 25 FEB 2017 - CHAMPIONSHIP Cardiff City 2 - 2 Fulham
SAT 18 FEB 2017 - CHAMPIONSHIP Cardiff City 5 - 0 Rotherham


Birmingham

TUE 7 MAR 2017 - CHAMPIONSHIP Birmingham City 0 - 1 Wigan Athletic
FRI 3 MAR 2017 - CHAMPIONSHIP Birmingham City 1 - 3 Leeds United
FRI 24 FEB 2017 - CHAMPIONSHIP Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 - 2 Birmingham City
SAT 18 FEB 2017 - CHAMPIONSHIP Birmingham City 1 - 4 Queens Park Rangers


Recent meetings

06 Aug 2016 Birmingham City v Cardiff City D 0-0 League Championship
07 May 2016 Cardiff City v Birmingham City D 1-1 League Championship
18 Dec 2015 Birmingham City v Cardiff City L 1-0 League Championship
21 Mar 2015 Cardiff City v Birmingham City W 2-0 League Championship
08 Nov 2014 Birmingham City v Cardiff City D 0-0 League Championship


Previous Highlights




Match Odds

Cardiff 17/20
Draw 5/2
Birmingham 10/3


Tickets


Tickets can be purchased in person at the CCS Ticket Office situated inthe Grandstand, next to Corporate Entrance 2.

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

The easiest way is to book online - http://www.eticketing.co.uk/cardiffcity


Guess the Score / Attendance

Post your predicted score/attendance below

3-1.

City 3 Brum 1


Must be looking at a 25,000 crowd with these prices £5 adults

With Brums record under Zola , Looks like a certain win for us. So Birmingham too win.
You all know what we are like, Cardiff 1 Brum 2

Let's go for it City 4-0 Hmmm

A CROWD OF UP TO 25,000 IS EXPECTED THIS SATURDAY

09/03/17

Gunnarson and Connolly are expected to return after illness

Warnock is hoping their might be good news on Rickie Lambert as he is doing light training.

Manga,Peltier and Healey are still out.

Cardiff City Vs Birmingham City: Match Preview

Date and Time: Saturday 11th March (15.00)

Venue: Cardiff City Stadium

Referee: Peter Bankes

Cardiff City welcome struggling Birmingham City to South Wales as they look to return to the top half of the Championship table.


Neil Warnock’s men took just one point from a possible four in the two away games over the last week and that return has seen them drop out of the top half.

The Bluebirds succumb to a late equaliser against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood park and managed to blow a one-goal lead at Loftus Road, leaving London with nothing.

Birmingham provide Cardiff’s next opponents and on paper they offer an opportunity to get back to winning ways.

The Blues a shocking run of form which has seen them go from play-off chasers to a team in danger of being sucked into the relegation battle.

Cardiff City v Birmingham City: Team news, kick-off time, TV details and more


Birmingham Mail

Thursday 9th March 2017


Gianfranco Zola's Blues story so far

Following Blues disappointing defeat to Wigan Athletic on Tuesday, they face a tricky trip to Cardiff City who sit safely in 14th place.

Gianfranco Zola’s men need to find some form desperately if they want to avoid being dragged into a relegation scrap.

The Bluebird’s season started very poorly under Paul Trollope, and changed manager in October to the vastly experienced Neil Warnock.

He sparked an upturn in form, and his side now look certain to remain in the Championship.

When the sides last met they played out a drab 0-0 at St Andrews. Only once in the last ten meetings between the two sides has more than two goals been scored.






What time is kick-off?

The game at the Cardiff City Stadium kicks off at 3pm, and is one of 11 matches taking place in the Championship on Saturday.

Is it on TV?

Nope, after the match against Leeds last week was televised, Blues won’t be on TV until after Easter.

You’ll be able to see all the goals post-match on Sky Sports News from 6pm.

Birmingham City’s social media outlets will also have a full highlights package.

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

16.000 maximum IMO

Home win 2-0.

should be too strong for them 3-1

Birmingham City travel to Cardiff on Saturday in what is another huge game for the team and Gianfranco Zola following Tuesday's home defeat to struggling Wigan.

We now sit just eight points above the relegation zone and, if the poor results continue, we will only get dragged ever closer to the bottom three.

It's hard to believe that things have got to this and although I think it's time for Zola to admit defeat at Blues, we still have a job to do on Saturday under his guidance.

If we are to win just our third game in 18 under Zola, then I think that Stephen Gleeson should come back into the side and will be key in protecting an extremely shaky defence.

The Irishman hasn't featured in any of the last four games and I really think we've missed his presence in front of the back line as well as his composure on the ball.

At times he can be a bit off with his distribution but I do think that he is one of the best in the squad when it comes down to technical ability and picking out a pass.

He keeps it simple and that is what Blues need right now. Nothing fancy, just someone that can keep the ball moving and pick it up from the defenders who are clearly not as comfortable on the ball.

Robert Tesche was excellent last Friday against Leeds and looked to be back to his best but I just feel that Gleeson needs to come back into the side.

It would be a big call, but I think that Tesche could also move further forward and maybe take the place of Craig Gardner in the attacking midfield position.

I just haven't been impressed enough with Gardner since he returned to Blues and a shake up in that position could give us something a little bit different. Tesche also played there previously when he was on loan at Blues a couple of years ago so it could be an option.

Read more: http://www.birmingham.vitalfootball.co. ... CZQFmoIt's hard to believe that things have got to this and although I think it's time for Zola to admit defeat at Blues, we still have a job to do on Saturday under his guidance.

If we are to win just our third game in 18 under Zola, then I think that Stephen Gleeson should come back into the side and will be key in protecting an extremely shaky defence.

The Irishman hasn't featured in any of the last four games and I really think we've missed his presence in front of the back line as well as his composure on the ball.

At times he can be a bit off with his distribution but I do think that he is one of the best in the squad when it comes down to technical ability and picking out a pass.

He keeps it simple and that is what Blues need right now. Nothing fancy, just someone that can keep the ball moving and pick it up from the defenders who are clearly not as comfortable on the ball.

Robert Tesche was excellent last Friday against Leeds and looked to be back to his best but I just feel that Gleeson needs to come back into the side.

It would be a big call, but I think that Tesche could also move further forward and maybe take the place of Craig Gardner in the attacking midfield position.

I just haven't been impressed enough with Gardner since he returned to Blues and a shake up in that position could give us something a little bit different. Tesche also played there previously when he was on loan at Blues a couple of years ago so it could be an option.

But, whoever plays on Saturday needs to put in a huge shift. Another defeat for Zola will surely signal the end of his reign as manager.

We are now in a relegation dogfight and I'm struggling to see where the next win will come from. Hopefully, though, it will come on Saturday against a Cardiff side on the up under Neil Warnock so it will be extremely tough for Blues.

Latest News on Pilkington

Anthony Pilkington:

"I’m feeling alright now (after the thigh injury), I’m just getting back to match sharpness and see if I can get into the team."

' MASSIVE DAY AT CARDIFF CITY TODAY '
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Officials - Cardiff v Birmingham (11/3/17)

Officials - Cardiff v Birmingham (11/3/17)
The Football League have now announced the Match Day officials that will take charge of the game between Cardiff City and Birmingham City this Saturday.

Cardiff City host Birmingham City on Saturday March 11 for the game at the Cardiff City Stadium and the match carries a 3pm kick off.

Referee: Peter Bankes
Linesmen: Timothy Wood and Daniel Leach
Fourth Official: Dean Whitestone

Match Day referee Bankes has officiated 31 games in 2016/17 with a return of 111 yellow cards and ten red cards already.

He was most card happy so far this season in the game between Newcastle United and Norwich City where he showed ten yellow cards. He also showed eight yellows and two reds in the match between Rochdale and Bury.

He took in 38 matches in 2015-16 and in those games, across all competitions and football divisions, he handed out a total of 153 yellow cards and five red cards.

He was most card happy in the match between Birmingham City and Reading on August 8 with a total of nine yellows being shown.

Bankes began refereeing in Liverpool in 1996, aged 14. Bankes was subsequently appointed to the EFL Referees List in 2014, prior to which he spent two years as a Select Group Assistant Referee, which included his appointment to the FA Cup semi-final between Wigan Athletic and Millwall. He refereed the National League Play-Off Final at Wembley in 2014. In his two seasons on the Referees List he has overseen two Play-Off semi-finals and was the fourth official for the FA Vase Final at Wembley in May.

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What about Birmingham?

Neil Warnock:

"They’ll have been buoyed by (the victory over) Wolves, I like Gianfranco, he was a super player, I used to love watching him play."

"It sounds the owners will persevere with him, he’ll want a pre-season under his belt to establish himself, pre-season is so vital, that’s what I’m looking forward to"

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

10/03/17


NEIL WARNOCK:

"I don’t know how many (are unavailable), we’ll have to see."


"We can’t really plan the team until tomorrow."

"The back five is okay but there are problems elsewhere."

" Hopefully Gunnars can train, he’s been really knocked back by the virus, and there’s some others with a bug, so it’s all hands on deck. Gunnar has been too weak to train until today. He knows the situation, he’s been doing his own thing, we won’t risk him and leave it to him."

3-2 City

Neil Warnock's side take on Gianfranco Zola's struggling Blues at Cardiff City Stadium


Cardiff City will look to banish any lingering disappointment from conceding late goals at Ewood Park and Loftus Road in the past week, when they take on Birmingham City at Cardiff City Stadium this afternoon (3pm kick off).

Neil Warnock's side have dropped into the bottom half of the Championship and will look to restore their place in the top 12 today.

Gianfranco Zola's Birmingham City side have struggled since the Italian replaced popular Gary Rowett at St Andrews. But the game will be yet another chance for Warnock to experiment with his Bluebirds squad ahead of next season's promotion push — if everything goes to plan.

Team news will be revealed at 2pm today and we'll have all the latest updates throughout the day.

1,497 Brum fans sold

Cardiff: McGregor, Richards, Bennett, Morrison, Bamba, Halford, Ralls, Gunnarsson, Pilkington, Hoilett, Zohore.

Subs: Murphy, John, Whittingham, Noone, K Harris, M Harris, Meite.

CARDIFF 3 BIRMINGHAM 0

BEEN 189 LEAGUE AND CUP GAMES SINCE WE HAVE WON BY THAT SCORELINE. TODAYS THE DAY.

Bamba has the first shot at goal from wide on the left, but it flies over. (0-0)

Bright

A bright start from the Bluebirds as Halford wins a free kick on halfway.

It's started to settle down now after a lively start from the Bluebirds

Gardner's low shot is held well by McGregor. (0-0)

Gardner picks up the ball in a central position and fires an effort goalwards from 20-yards, McGregor saves down low. 0-0

@GregHalford15 has two shots blocked, the second deflecting wide of goal. (0-0)

Foul

Poor challenge from Grounds on Jazz Richards and Cardiff have a free kick. Ralls to take.