The perfect match for Mick McCarthys Trojans up next
Mon Mar 15, 2021 8:31 am
Cardiff City play host to Stoke City on Tuesday night under pressure to remain in the hunt for a Championship playoff spot.
While the Bluebirds now sit seven points off the top six, the visitors are all but out of the race for promotion after four defeats in five games.
While there will not be an over-reaction to two matches without success, the last-gasp defeat against Watford has left the Welsh outfit as rank outsiders to earn promotion to the Premier League.
Needing to overcome a seven-point deficit in 10 matches, it leaves McCarthy to consider changes to his personnel and tactics, aware that draws are no longer enough for his side.
A fixture against an out-of-sorts Stoke team represents the perfect opportunity to end their wait for a 16th triumph of the campaign, but there is now a sense of urgency with regards to Cardiff's attack rediscovering their ruthless streak.
As far as Stoke are concerned, Michael O'Neill knows that the 3-0 reverse at Middlesbrough is a hammer blow when it comes to staying into the playoff race.
The Potters would have fancied their chances against the inconsistent North-East outfit, but they were outfought and outclassed over the 90 minutes.
Now trailing sixth-placed Barnsley by 13 points, only winning at least eight of their remaining 10 matches will keep Stoke motivated during the closing weeks of the campaign.
However, having collected less than a point per game since the start of 2021, O'Neill may already feel it necessary to start laying the foundations for next season.
While the Bluebirds now sit seven points off the top six, the visitors are all but out of the race for promotion after four defeats in five games.
While there will not be an over-reaction to two matches without success, the last-gasp defeat against Watford has left the Welsh outfit as rank outsiders to earn promotion to the Premier League.
Needing to overcome a seven-point deficit in 10 matches, it leaves McCarthy to consider changes to his personnel and tactics, aware that draws are no longer enough for his side.
A fixture against an out-of-sorts Stoke team represents the perfect opportunity to end their wait for a 16th triumph of the campaign, but there is now a sense of urgency with regards to Cardiff's attack rediscovering their ruthless streak.
As far as Stoke are concerned, Michael O'Neill knows that the 3-0 reverse at Middlesbrough is a hammer blow when it comes to staying into the playoff race.
The Potters would have fancied their chances against the inconsistent North-East outfit, but they were outfought and outclassed over the 90 minutes.
Now trailing sixth-placed Barnsley by 13 points, only winning at least eight of their remaining 10 matches will keep Stoke motivated during the closing weeks of the campaign.
However, having collected less than a point per game since the start of 2021, O'Neill may already feel it necessary to start laying the foundations for next season.
Re: The perfect match for Mick McCarthys Trojans up next
Mon Mar 15, 2021 11:43 am
Stoke are definitely out of playoff contention. Even if they did win eight of their last ten games it would probably not be enough. We have to hope they will do a Derby and play a few youngsters against us in preparation for next season. What did for Soke was their home game against us they lost it and also lost Tyresse Cambell who is their Keifer Moore for the rest of the season.
Re: The perfect match for Mick McCarthys Trojans up next
Mon Mar 15, 2021 12:22 pm
Still a decent squad, quite a difficult game, but one we are more than capable of winning 
Re: The perfect match for Mick McCarthys Trojans up next
Mon Mar 15, 2021 7:16 pm
Bluebina wrote:Still a decent squad, quite a difficult game, but one we are more than capable of winning
Agree,no easy games anymore,all cup finals!!! C'mon city!