The four games Cardiff City must win to avoid relegation
Fri Apr 05, 2019 10:19 am
The four games Cardiff City must win to avoid relegation
Friday 5th April 2019
Neil Warnock said in the wake of defeat to Man City on Wednesday night that he believed Cardiff City would need three wins and a draw to stay in the Premier League this season.
However, with the gap to Burnley, Southampton and Brighton five points — with the two south coast clubs having a game in hand — Cardiff may need to hit the 40-point mark to be sure of survival.
It only takes two wins for their relegation rivals to hit 39 points, so that puts the Bluebirds under pressure to win four of their remaining six games of the campaign, to take their tally from 28 to 40.
Their record against top six sides suggests contests with Liverpool and Manchester United won't yield any points, so here are the four matches it seems Cardiff must win to pull off their great act of escapology...
BURNLEY (A) - April 13
Arguably the most important of the lot and if Cardiff don't win it, they'll be in big trouble.
First, all eyes will be on Burnley's visit to Bournemouth this weekend, with Bluebirds fans hoping they slip up to leave the gap at five points with a game in hand for Cardiff.
If Cardiff manage to win the battle at Turf Moor, they'll put themselves firmly back in the mix. Burnley face three of the top six in their remaining four games of the season, so will be banking themselves on swatting aside the Bluebirds to widen the gap.
It's likely to be an ugly, turgid game of fine margins. Warnock and Sean Dyche play in similarly robust styles, so this won't be a game for the faint-hearted.
BRIGHTON (A) - April 16
Cardiff's game in hand on Burnley and a chance to turn the tables on the Clarets, providing previous results have gone in their favour.
Brighton are a better side at home than away, but the Bluebirds will be confident of making things nervy.
This may be the game from which Warnock would take a point — though a win would immeasurably boost survival hopes and complicate the picture drastically, dragging Brighton back into the mire.
FULHAM (A) - April 27
Truly a must-win, given Fulham are down and with little to play for.
Surely Cardiff will be right up for this game, still scrapping for every point while enjoying the satisfaction that they've vastly outperformed their 2017/18 promotion rivals in the top flight.
Scott Parker will be under a different kind of pressure, with this game by far the most winnable of Fulham's run-in. He needs to chalk up a victory if he's to make a case for getting the job permanently at Craven Cottage.
But Warnock and the Bluebirds have Fulham's number, having beaten them stylishly earlier in the season and ground out a draw at Craven Cottage last term. They'll be confident of three points here.
CRYSTAL PALACE (H) - May 4
The only home game remaining for Cardiff that you could really call winnable, given the other is against Liverpool.
Who knows what the permutations will be by this stage in the season, but Cardiff will have every confidence they can beat a Palace side who'll likely be home and hosed, safely ensconced in mid-table by this point.
The Eagles are a dangerous counter-attacking team away from home, though they've proven inconsistent and the Bluebirds held them 0-0 at Selhurst Park earlier in the campaign.
This game could be a must-win to seal Premier League survival, Cardiff City Stadium will be rocking, and don't bet against the Bluebirds to snatch a huge three points in that environment.
THE FULL RUN-INS
Cardiff City's run-in
April 13: Burnley (A)
April 16: Brighton (A)
April 21: Liverpool (H)
April 27: Fulham (A)
May 4: Crystal Palace (H)
May 12: Man Utd (A)
Burnley's run-in
April 6: Bournemouth (A)
April 13: Cardiff (H)
April 22: Chelsea (A)
April 28: Man City (H)
May 4: Everton (A)
May 12: Arsenal (H)
Brighton's run-in
April 13: Bournemouth (H)
April 16: Cardiff (H)
April 20: Wolves (A)
April 23: Tottenham (A)
April 27: Newcastle (H)
May 4: Arsenal (A)
May 12: Man City (H)
Southampton's run-in
April 5: Liverpool (H)
April 13: Wolves (H)
April 20: Newcastle (A)
April 23: Watford (A)
April 27: Bournemouth (H)
May 4: West Ham (A)
May 12: Huddersfield (H)
Friday 5th April 2019
Neil Warnock said in the wake of defeat to Man City on Wednesday night that he believed Cardiff City would need three wins and a draw to stay in the Premier League this season.
However, with the gap to Burnley, Southampton and Brighton five points — with the two south coast clubs having a game in hand — Cardiff may need to hit the 40-point mark to be sure of survival.
It only takes two wins for their relegation rivals to hit 39 points, so that puts the Bluebirds under pressure to win four of their remaining six games of the campaign, to take their tally from 28 to 40.
Their record against top six sides suggests contests with Liverpool and Manchester United won't yield any points, so here are the four matches it seems Cardiff must win to pull off their great act of escapology...
BURNLEY (A) - April 13
Arguably the most important of the lot and if Cardiff don't win it, they'll be in big trouble.
First, all eyes will be on Burnley's visit to Bournemouth this weekend, with Bluebirds fans hoping they slip up to leave the gap at five points with a game in hand for Cardiff.
If Cardiff manage to win the battle at Turf Moor, they'll put themselves firmly back in the mix. Burnley face three of the top six in their remaining four games of the season, so will be banking themselves on swatting aside the Bluebirds to widen the gap.
It's likely to be an ugly, turgid game of fine margins. Warnock and Sean Dyche play in similarly robust styles, so this won't be a game for the faint-hearted.
BRIGHTON (A) - April 16
Cardiff's game in hand on Burnley and a chance to turn the tables on the Clarets, providing previous results have gone in their favour.
Brighton are a better side at home than away, but the Bluebirds will be confident of making things nervy.
This may be the game from which Warnock would take a point — though a win would immeasurably boost survival hopes and complicate the picture drastically, dragging Brighton back into the mire.
FULHAM (A) - April 27
Truly a must-win, given Fulham are down and with little to play for.
Surely Cardiff will be right up for this game, still scrapping for every point while enjoying the satisfaction that they've vastly outperformed their 2017/18 promotion rivals in the top flight.
Scott Parker will be under a different kind of pressure, with this game by far the most winnable of Fulham's run-in. He needs to chalk up a victory if he's to make a case for getting the job permanently at Craven Cottage.
But Warnock and the Bluebirds have Fulham's number, having beaten them stylishly earlier in the season and ground out a draw at Craven Cottage last term. They'll be confident of three points here.
CRYSTAL PALACE (H) - May 4
The only home game remaining for Cardiff that you could really call winnable, given the other is against Liverpool.
Who knows what the permutations will be by this stage in the season, but Cardiff will have every confidence they can beat a Palace side who'll likely be home and hosed, safely ensconced in mid-table by this point.
The Eagles are a dangerous counter-attacking team away from home, though they've proven inconsistent and the Bluebirds held them 0-0 at Selhurst Park earlier in the campaign.
This game could be a must-win to seal Premier League survival, Cardiff City Stadium will be rocking, and don't bet against the Bluebirds to snatch a huge three points in that environment.
THE FULL RUN-INS
Cardiff City's run-in
April 13: Burnley (A)
April 16: Brighton (A)
April 21: Liverpool (H)
April 27: Fulham (A)
May 4: Crystal Palace (H)
May 12: Man Utd (A)
Burnley's run-in
April 6: Bournemouth (A)
April 13: Cardiff (H)
April 22: Chelsea (A)
April 28: Man City (H)
May 4: Everton (A)
May 12: Arsenal (H)
Brighton's run-in
April 13: Bournemouth (H)
April 16: Cardiff (H)
April 20: Wolves (A)
April 23: Tottenham (A)
April 27: Newcastle (H)
May 4: Arsenal (A)
May 12: Man City (H)
Southampton's run-in
April 5: Liverpool (H)
April 13: Wolves (H)
April 20: Newcastle (A)
April 23: Watford (A)
April 27: Bournemouth (H)
May 4: West Ham (A)
May 12: Huddersfield (H)
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Re: The four games Cardiff City must win to avoid relegation
Fri Apr 05, 2019 10:21 am
April 13 — Burnley v Cardiff City
Tuesday April 16 - Brighton Away
April 21 — v Liverpool, Home
April 27 — v Fulham, Away
May 4 — v Crystal Palace, Home
May 12 — v Manchester United, Away
Tuesday April 16 - Brighton Away
April 21 — v Liverpool, Home
April 27 — v Fulham, Away
May 4 — v Crystal Palace, Home
May 12 — v Manchester United, Away
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Re: The four games Cardiff City must win to avoid relegation
Fri Apr 05, 2019 10:42 am
If Burnley lose to Bournemouth and we beat Burnley it’s on like donkey kong. Such a shame we got robbed against Chelsea I would of taken a point even, Burnley will not win their last 4 games.
Re: The four games Cardiff City must win to avoid relegation
Fri Apr 05, 2019 11:02 am
3 wins wiill see us fine.
Re: The four games Cardiff City must win to avoid relegation
Fri Apr 05, 2019 11:51 am
phildavies wrote:3 wins wiill see us fine.
Agreed especially if its Burnley Brighton and Palace
Re: The four games Cardiff City must win to avoid relegation
Fri Apr 05, 2019 11:57 am
I agree on 3 wins especially if we beat Burnley but that one although would be a great win is really must not lose, going to be a tight horrible game.
I don't think Liverpool home and United away are to be totally written off either to collect something.
I don't think Liverpool home and United away are to be totally written off either to collect something.
Re: The four games Cardiff City must win to avoid relegation
Fri Apr 05, 2019 4:44 pm
looking like we will probably need 3 wins or 3 wins and a draw depending on Burnley vs Bournemouth and Burnley vs Cardiff really.
Re: The four games Cardiff City must win to avoid relegation
Fri Apr 05, 2019 6:37 pm
Bluebird Warrior wrote:looking like we will probably need 3 wins or 3 wins and a draw depending on Burnley vs Bournemouth and Burnley vs Cardiff really.
key games, Burnley beat Bournemouth and draw with or beat us I don't see us staying up..
Burnley lose to both us and Bournemouth and we might even need less than 3 wins..
Re: The four games Cardiff City must win to avoid relegation
Fri Apr 05, 2019 7:23 pm
I think it all depends on Burnley's result against Bournemouth.
If they lose we will only need to beat them and win one other game because I cant see them getting anything after our game.
I think 2 wins including beating them will see us safe by a point
The killer will be if they steal a point somewhere . That's when goal difference will come into play
If they lose we will only need to beat them and win one other game because I cant see them getting anything after our game.
I think 2 wins including beating them will see us safe by a point
The killer will be if they steal a point somewhere . That's when goal difference will come into play
Re: The four games Cardiff City must win to avoid relegation
Fri Apr 05, 2019 7:54 pm
Bluebina wrote:phildavies wrote:3 wins wiill see us fine.
Agreed especially if its Burnley Brighton and Palace
A win against Burnley and two wins from palace Fulham and Brighton. Not easy but not impossible.
Re: The four games Cardiff City must win to avoid relegation
Fri Apr 05, 2019 7:56 pm
On the other hand we could beat Burnley and then need just one more win providing they lose remaining games. That’s hard to call.