MALKY EXCITED BY TENSE FINISH
Sat Apr 14, 2012 6:56 am
CARDIFF CITY head for a crunch Championship clash at Barnsley today with manager Malky Mackay insisting there is excitement in his dressing room, not pressure.
The Bluebirds have a two-point cushion in sixth place and know victory at Oakwell would keep their play-off destiny in their own hands with three games remaining.
The masses though are gathering behind the Bluebirds as the season reaches its nail-biting conclusion.
But Mackay said there was no angst in the Cardiff camp, even though his players and staff knew the enormity of every game.
“It’s really quite exciting. We are in the top six with four games to go,” said Mackay.
“So there is an excitement here. We are in and amongst it and the boys are looking forward to every game.
“We don’t feel any added pressure at all. I’ve got confidence in this group of players
“In a way every game now is a must-win, but over the past few weeks there’s been so many twists and turns that I don’t think many people are collecting money from the bookies in the Championship. I just don’t see that changing.
“We’ve got three weeks now to apply ourselves and give ourselves the best chance we can to get into the play-offs.”
The Bluebirds have struggled to find any real fluency in the league since way back in January.
Yet despite just three Championship wins since then, they have remained in play-off contention thanks to the stuttering form of from almost every club in the division.
But, as Mackay is keen to point out, his side have proved difficult to beat, having not registered a reverse in their last six outings – even if five of those have been drawn.
Mackay added: “People put different takes on different statistics, but right now we are on an unbeaten run.
“It’s amazing how things change. We obviously have a bit of momentum going into these last four games. We’ve got to keep believing it.”
If the Bluebirds are to make it a happy ending to the campaign, then they are going to need big performances from perhaps their two biggest names.
Striker Kenny Miller finally ended a 15-game run without a goal when he scored the opener in the 1-1 draw with Watford on Easter Monday.
And midfield maestro Peter Whittingham also hit the headlines this week when he was voted the best player in the whole Football League by readers of the respected magazine FourFourTwo.
Mackay paid tribute to both men, saying: “Kenny is someone who is not a young boy, he’s a man.
“He’s had a long career with varying degrees of ups and downs throughout it.
“But the amount of work he has been putting in for the team is the reason why the crowd have not been getting on his back and why the other players don’t get on his back.
“But he is a player who loves to score goals and it was good to see him get one.
“I’ve spoken a lot about Peter and his abilities and the things he’s improved on this year to make him a better player.
“The basis of it is that he is someone who wants to get better.
“He is someone I want to put demands on. Peter is someone who has improved this year.
“He signed a much longer contract so he’s committed himself to the club.
“But anything can happen I suppose so we will deal with that when the season ends.
“Right now our focus is on Barnsley, then Derby, then Leeds and then Crystal Palace.”
Barnsley, under manager Keith Hill, are all but safe with an eight-point cushion over the relegation places.
Indeed, Hill identified one more win as enough to secure another Championship season for the Tykes.
In their last home game Barnsley were trounced 4-0 by West Ham, but followed that up with a battling 1-1 draw at play-off contenders Blackpool.
That result might have come against a Tangerines’ side down to 10 men for a large slice of the match, but Mackay is expecting nothing but a stern test in south Yorkshire.
“Barnsley bounced back against Blackpool and that speaks volumes for Keith Hill and his team,” said Mackay.
“I think he’s a good manager and a good man, and Barnsley are certainly not a team that we are going to be taking lightly.
“They will be smarting after that home game against West Ham and will be trying to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
“But they showed some resilience to get a draw at Blackpool because I know exactly what kind of team Blackpool are. It’s not easy there.
“I think their manager will just be pushing them now to finish as high up the table as they can.
“It’s an away game and any away game in this division is going to be tough.”
Mackay has a couple of injury doubts and one player ruled out for the rest of the season.
Winger Craig Conway will be out for three months with ankle ligament damage sustained following a heavy challenge by Watford midfielder Jonathan Hogg.
Mackay was angered Hogg received only a booking for the tackle and revealed the Hornets’ player apologised to him at the end of the game.
“It’s a blow for us and it’s a blow for Craig himself,” he said.
“It is disappointing for him and disappointing for us, but we just have to get on with it now.
“Craig knows that and he has got his head around it.
“He’s been to see the specialist and they are treating it accordingly. He’ll be back for pre-season.
Joe Mason (groin) and Rudy Gestede (hip) are both rated doubtful, though the Republic of Ireland Under-20 striker is more likely to feature than his French counterpart.
Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z1rzkKNf2Z
The Bluebirds have a two-point cushion in sixth place and know victory at Oakwell would keep their play-off destiny in their own hands with three games remaining.
The masses though are gathering behind the Bluebirds as the season reaches its nail-biting conclusion.
But Mackay said there was no angst in the Cardiff camp, even though his players and staff knew the enormity of every game.
“It’s really quite exciting. We are in the top six with four games to go,” said Mackay.
“So there is an excitement here. We are in and amongst it and the boys are looking forward to every game.
“We don’t feel any added pressure at all. I’ve got confidence in this group of players
“In a way every game now is a must-win, but over the past few weeks there’s been so many twists and turns that I don’t think many people are collecting money from the bookies in the Championship. I just don’t see that changing.
“We’ve got three weeks now to apply ourselves and give ourselves the best chance we can to get into the play-offs.”
The Bluebirds have struggled to find any real fluency in the league since way back in January.
Yet despite just three Championship wins since then, they have remained in play-off contention thanks to the stuttering form of from almost every club in the division.
But, as Mackay is keen to point out, his side have proved difficult to beat, having not registered a reverse in their last six outings – even if five of those have been drawn.
Mackay added: “People put different takes on different statistics, but right now we are on an unbeaten run.
“It’s amazing how things change. We obviously have a bit of momentum going into these last four games. We’ve got to keep believing it.”
If the Bluebirds are to make it a happy ending to the campaign, then they are going to need big performances from perhaps their two biggest names.
Striker Kenny Miller finally ended a 15-game run without a goal when he scored the opener in the 1-1 draw with Watford on Easter Monday.
And midfield maestro Peter Whittingham also hit the headlines this week when he was voted the best player in the whole Football League by readers of the respected magazine FourFourTwo.
Mackay paid tribute to both men, saying: “Kenny is someone who is not a young boy, he’s a man.
“He’s had a long career with varying degrees of ups and downs throughout it.
“But the amount of work he has been putting in for the team is the reason why the crowd have not been getting on his back and why the other players don’t get on his back.
“But he is a player who loves to score goals and it was good to see him get one.
“I’ve spoken a lot about Peter and his abilities and the things he’s improved on this year to make him a better player.
“The basis of it is that he is someone who wants to get better.
“He is someone I want to put demands on. Peter is someone who has improved this year.
“He signed a much longer contract so he’s committed himself to the club.
“But anything can happen I suppose so we will deal with that when the season ends.
“Right now our focus is on Barnsley, then Derby, then Leeds and then Crystal Palace.”
Barnsley, under manager Keith Hill, are all but safe with an eight-point cushion over the relegation places.
Indeed, Hill identified one more win as enough to secure another Championship season for the Tykes.
In their last home game Barnsley were trounced 4-0 by West Ham, but followed that up with a battling 1-1 draw at play-off contenders Blackpool.
That result might have come against a Tangerines’ side down to 10 men for a large slice of the match, but Mackay is expecting nothing but a stern test in south Yorkshire.
“Barnsley bounced back against Blackpool and that speaks volumes for Keith Hill and his team,” said Mackay.
“I think he’s a good manager and a good man, and Barnsley are certainly not a team that we are going to be taking lightly.
“They will be smarting after that home game against West Ham and will be trying to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
“But they showed some resilience to get a draw at Blackpool because I know exactly what kind of team Blackpool are. It’s not easy there.
“I think their manager will just be pushing them now to finish as high up the table as they can.
“It’s an away game and any away game in this division is going to be tough.”
Mackay has a couple of injury doubts and one player ruled out for the rest of the season.
Winger Craig Conway will be out for three months with ankle ligament damage sustained following a heavy challenge by Watford midfielder Jonathan Hogg.
Mackay was angered Hogg received only a booking for the tackle and revealed the Hornets’ player apologised to him at the end of the game.
“It’s a blow for us and it’s a blow for Craig himself,” he said.
“It is disappointing for him and disappointing for us, but we just have to get on with it now.
“Craig knows that and he has got his head around it.
“He’s been to see the specialist and they are treating it accordingly. He’ll be back for pre-season.
Joe Mason (groin) and Rudy Gestede (hip) are both rated doubtful, though the Republic of Ireland Under-20 striker is more likely to feature than his French counterpart.
Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z1rzkKNf2Z
Re: MALKY EXCITED BY TENSE FINISH
Sat Apr 14, 2012 7:44 am
Joe Mason out with groin strain today....... Hopefully not but just mention on SSN
Re: MALKY EXCITED BY TENSE FINISH
Sat Apr 14, 2012 8:28 am
And I know Gestede is defo out too. 4-5-1 will be fine away from home anyway. Snatch & grab 
Re: MALKY EXCITED BY TENSE FINISH
Sat Apr 14, 2012 8:30 am
This is definitely one of the easier of our last 4 games.
Win this one and I think another 6 points should do us then
Win this one and I think another 6 points should do us then
Re: MALKY EXCITED BY TENSE FINISH
Sat Apr 14, 2012 8:37 am
KEEP THE FAITH
