TONIGHT: SQUEEKY BUM TIME; OR A WALK IN THE PARK?

Hull are in free fall, so why am I bricking it?
By Scott Johnson


Hull are not down yet, but they are really. Three points adrift at the foot of the table with a horrendous goal difference, their defeat at home to near rivals Luton last weekend killed their chances and they knew it. At full time, their players were slumped and resigned.

The club has been run in to the ground in recent years and selling their two best players in January pretty much sealed their fate. With contracts expiring, they were left with little choice, but that is no way to run an already struggling football club.


Hull are all that stand in the way of Cardiff and the top six. A point would do, but they may not even need that. Most seem to be treating the game as a foregone conclusion, so why am I bricking it?

I’m not going to do that thing that all fans do for every club, which is to say that it would be so typical of *insert name here* to bottle it in this way. Cardiff do not have a recent history of bottling it, whatever that means. On the contrary, in the last few years they have shown plenty of bottle.

It was a defining character trait under Neil Warnock, who saw off a fierce challenge from Fulham to get promoted. They also showed that they were down, but not out last season by going to Old Trafford on the final day and slapping Manchester United about the face for their best result, and performance, of the season.


That is probably at the root of my fear for facing Hull. Now that the pressure is off and their fate is confirmed, maybe they will play without fear and suddenly prove a formidable opponent. It could go the other way and they may just down tools and get pumped again. This is the side that recently went in at the break seven down against fellow strugglers Wigan after all.


Should Cardiff miss out, it would be a triple whammy. Not only what they have lost at home to the worst team in the league, they would have relinquished their play-off place and it would be filled by Swansea. That would be beyond grim. The sort of scenario that haunts your most anxious dreams.

Fortunately, that would take a rather freak set of results. A Hull renaissance aside, Swansea also face a tough trip to Reading, who may or may not already be on the beach. Cardiff will also have half an eye on Nottingham Forest, who share their current points total in fifth place and host Stoke.


This Cardiff side are also made of pretty stern stuff. Neil Harris has not yet received the praise that he deserves for salvaging the wreckage of Cardiff’s season, but maybe that will soon come. I have enjoyed all of games since the restart, but the stakes are so high now, that may no longer be the case.

It boggles my brain to think that Cardiff could be four games away from a swift return to the top flight. They look up for the challenge though and no one will fancy playing them. Should they manage to navigate Hull that is. Lets not get ahead of ourselves!

We must be doing alright if Scott Johnson is being vaguely positive.

We must be doing alright if Scott Johnson is being vaguely positive.

Indeed and for once a valid view by the writer

I see some rather tense supporters this evening and I will be one; but this is surely what we love football for...?

C'MON YOU BLUEBIRRRRRDS!

We must be doing alright if Scott Johnson is being vaguely positive.

Indeed and for once a valid view by the writer

I see some rather tense supporters this evening and I will be one; but this is surely what we love football for...?

C'MON YOU BLUEBIRRRRRDS!

Spot on Chris

Would rather be in our place than Swansea town comfortable win I think

Chris I was feeling quite positive until I thought about the Jacks pinching our place in the playoffs only joking. It will be a tough game tonight, but aren't they all since lock down, all I can say is I think that the players know what is at stake and are well up for it, my only worry is how they handle the pressure

An early goal to settle the nerves please. Just like at Boro. Never doubted the result after Moz got that one.

If you had to pick any fixture to end the season Hull at home would be that game

Hull are in disarray, their manager is almost certainly going to get sacked they are all but relegated and a very, very poor team

As we all know there are NO easy games in the championship but this must be the nearest thing to one

We have enough experienced players who know not to take this game lightly and I am sure they won’t

A comfortable win 2-0

Party time 4-0

It's the Championship anything can happen, although the bookies who are usually right will tell you Cardiff should win, I agree 3 nil

Butterflies.

About 4-0

For once I’m totally glass half full. How can City not win this game? There’s no certainty in anything of course in football but surely this is a slam dunk.

As was Leeds winning the FA Cup in 1973

Confident, yet extremely nervous early goal to settle the nerves please

To be fair. If we don't win or draw we deserve to miss out! Hull are woeful since restart.

P8
W1 D1 L6
GF 8 (none in last 3)
GA 21 (10 in last 3)

But this is the championship!!

Over the years I have known city will put me on edge all night Never a comfortable night for us If we get 3-0 with 5 mins to go I will be happy

We must be doing alright if Scott Johnson is being vaguely positive.

Indeed and for once a valid view by the writer

I see some rather tense supporters this evening and I will be one; but this is surely what we love football for...?

C'MON YOU BLUEBIRRRRRDS!

Exactly seven, this is what football is all about and why I love the championship so much! That being said, slipping through the back door this year would be pretty sweet.

We must be doing alright if Scott Johnson is being vaguely positive.

Indeed and for once a valid view by the writer

I see some rather tense supporters this evening and I will be one; but this is surely what we love football for...?

C'MON YOU BLUEBIRRRRRDS!

yes its a decent write up..... to what degree have Hull given up the ghost though ?.. its not exactly crystal clear where the teams down there actually stand ..Wigan have appealed their 12 point deduction which will be heard on the 31st of this month, { and they do have a case having been put into admin by an owner who only 4 weeks earlier had passed the EFL fit and proper
milarky }.. and both Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County have been charged with various financial misconduct issues , both hearings have taken place with the findings / punishments {which could be large points deductions } yet to be announced... and both would be subject to appeal.. so where does this leave the current bottom 3..? if i were a Hull fan id be desperate to win this , get as many points as possible and hope we are then saved by other teams points deductions ...

Hull won't "give up the ghost".

Even if it was confirmed they were relelgated they will be coming ot us with the intention of winning the game. Now if they have the confidence to do that is the question we should be asking. I would imagine they will play a defence game and try and catch us on the break. Perhaps go for a late winner. I would imagine that will be their game plan.

Of course if we look nervy they might try and put us on the back foot and give it a go. We will soon find out.

Take nothing for granted in the Championship, nightmare scenario is that we batter them for 89 minutes and they break away and score in time added on, and the Jacks get a last minute winner. AAAAARRRRRGGGHHH. Cue mass suicides in Cardiff.

No need for anyone to panic

I know it’s the championship and every week there are surprise results, but let’s not forget that since Xmas when they sold their 2 star players Hull have been WOEFUL

I have live streamed bits of their last couple of games and believe me they showed no belief or fight and looked clueless

If we go for the juggler tonight they will capitulate

I’m going for a comfortable 2-0 but it could easily be 4 or 5-0

Player getting sent off can always change any so let's hope no city or reading player gets a red

I think Hull are now effectively relegated as the EFL have said any points deduction for Wigan will happen next season rather than this season so they would have to win by something like 17-0 to overturn the goal difference between them and Charlton. Before if they won and two or three other results went their way they might just have escaped relegation.

I think Hull are now effectively relegated as the EFL have said any points deduction for Wigan will happen next season rather than this season so they would have to win by something like 17-0 to overturn the goal difference between them and Charlton. Before if they won and two or three other results went their way they might just have escaped relegation.

Wigans points deduction will be immediately after tonights games finish... i assume Wednesday and Derbys punishments ,{ if any } will be applied also ?

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/foo ... c-18641856

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/f ... ip-4352222

Thats barmy give them 12 points deduction after game but then face possibility of it being overturned on 31st... makes as much sense as WG...

Cardiff City, Swansea City and Nottingham Forest will go into the final day of the Championship fighting for two play-off spots.

The likelihood is that Cardiff and Swansea are competing for one place, although Forest's loss at Barnsley means they are not secure in fifth.

Forest are level with sixth-placed Cardiff on 70 points, with Swansea three adrift in seventh.

The Reds' goal difference is +11, while Cardiff stand at +7 and Swansea +6.

Sabri Lamouchi's Forest side, who have not won in five matches, need only a point when they host a Stoke City team with nothing to play for on Wednesday to book their play-off place.

Cardiff are at home to Hull City, who need a first win in six games to give themselves any hope of staying up, while Swansea go to mid-table Reading.