" Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay vows to fight for

" Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay vows to fight for play-off spot "
March 19th 2012



CARDIFF CITY boss Malky Mackay refused to use tiredness as an excuse for another below-par performance.

The Bluebirds’ goalless draw with Burnley was their 46th game of an energy-sapping season but Mackay insisted his players would keep fighting with the play-off race set to go down to the wire.

Cardiff are a point away from the play-off places in eighth with nine games remaining.

“We have played more than almost everyone else in the league,” said Mackay. “But that’s an excuse and is not something I want to throw to my players or anyone else.

“We have nine games to go and we are sitting two points from fourth position. The players themselves have got us to this point and that is what will drive us on now.”

Mackay expressed his frustration after his side drew a blank at home for the third successive match.

“It was one of those games where you just hoped something goes in off someone’s backside,” he said. “The pressure we had in the second half and the way we went at them, sometimes you just hope a ball drops.

“It didn’t do that but I am delighted with our clean sheet and the fact in the last third of the game we limited them to no shots on our target.

“The pressure we applied in the second half gives me hope and it means we have lost just one game in the last four.



“We get a goal against Burnley and we go fourth, so it’s fine margins.

“Everyone is fighting for their lives, they are fighting for something. We are part of that.”

Cardiff next face struggling Coventry at home on Wednesday night, desperately needing to get back to winning ways.

To do that they obviously need at least one goal, but main frontman Kenny Miller has now gone 12 matches without finding the net. But Mackay insisted his Scotland striker brought a lot more to his side than goals.

“When you play up top you want to score goals every game,” he said.

Malky is right Kenny Miller does a lot of work he just needs that 1 goal and i think they will come in abundunce, he really is like a terrior all game,

Nice to see we had a clean sheet, we looked a lot better when we changed to a 4-4-2 formation with 15 minutes to go

kenny miller played well again yesterday, I'm just gutted for him that he's not getting the goals, it's certainly not from lack of effort!.

I don't think a 4-5-1 formation does him any favours. He is constantly running around and holding the ball up. He needs support up there. I believe he would be far more effective in a 4-4-2 formation. 20 goals plus.

I don't think a 4-5-1 formation does him any favours. He is constantly running around and holding the ball up. He needs support up there. I believe he would be far more effective in a 4-4-2 formation. 20 goals plus.

def agree Kenny Miller can't and shouldn't be going it alone up there, he needs another body. he's an easy target for the opposition. if he had help, things would improve, he works his socks off, for nothing.. it would be great to have another body there

players wouldnt be knackered if he didnt stick to the same xi all the time...

conway looked fresh yesterday, as did earnshaw chasing the ball down, im sure darcy is fit also...



if players need a rest there are replacements available, even if they are not scottish, im sure they can do a job ie. darcy, earnie, kiss etc..

This is nothing to do with Kenny, sure he sky's a few and if he missed Earnies effort all hell would break lose on here, but the gap between him and Joe is shocking. In all honesty Joe looks like a league two player in this advanced right sided midfield role and poor old Super Kev must be gutted to see his cover aimless jogging around in no mans land.
Either play the kid up front on his own, or with Kenny, Earnie or Rudy. But don't play him there anymore !!!!!! It doesn't work.

Next master stroke will be playing Kev centre half......

I'm not sure MM knows what to do to turn around the situation we are in. Getting Rudy back will help for no other reason than he is the only target man type player we have. If Rudy returns on Wednesday it will take pressure off Miller, Mason and Earnie but have said that if Rudy returns Earnie will disappear again.

Whatever your opinion on Parkin letting him out on loan without signing a replacement was a huge mistake by MM, hopefully he will learn from it.

MM talksabout the number of games we have played and of course he is right but it does beg the question why play the same 9-10 players game afer game? This has made our small squad much smaller and I think MM needs to get a rest into a number of these players - Macnaughton, Taylor, Cowie, Miller, Mason with Birmingham the weekend.

Having taken only 1 point out of the last 9 at home we now need to make up ground at Birningham this weekend. All the good work at Brighton and Bristol City has been undone by failing to win at home in the last 3 games.

well said Malky - we still have a chance this season