Cardiff City have it in them to save their promotion dreams

Cardiff City players look dejected after defeat

MALKY MACKAY has insisted Cardiff City have it in them to save their promotion dreams – despite West Ham taking a giant step towards a Wembley play-off final.


The Bluebirds boss was in defiant mood at Cardiff City Stadium and refused to rule out a comeback even though Welsh international Jack Collison’s double puts the Hammers firmly in the driving seat in this semi-final tie.

Mackay’s verdict came as Hammers chief Sam Allardyce mocked talk of play-off pressure, claiming his side showed they can handle the tension and are ready to finish the job off at Upton Park on Monday.

But Mackay said he is ready to lift his men in time to force the issue in East London, stating: “The scoreline is disappointing but 2-0 is a dangerous score in the play-offs – and the way we finished the game and created chances gives us hope.

“Looking at the goals we’ve conceded we’re disappointed how we defended. But in the second-half we were much more on the front foot, we created plenty of chances and on another day they go in.

“We have to give a good account of ourselves. We’ve got 90 minutes and this is only half-time. One goal can change it and if we get it, it can make a big difference.”



West Ham took control of the game through Collison just nine minutes into this clash, the midfielder scoring a second via a deflection just before the break.

And the impressive Welsh youngster said: “We’re in a great position, but we know we’re only half-way there and we want to get to Wembley. This was a team performance, we all dug-in, the defence was outstanding and Carlton Cole worked his socks off.

“We can be really happy and we’ll be confident we can see it through – but we know we have to be up for it.”

Allardyce insisted he will make sure his men are ready to do just that despite Mackay’s belief, claiming his Hammers proved they won’t buckle under the weight of expectation.

He said: “We asked the lads to control the emotions on a big night like this and they handled the pressure well and played very well.

“Tactically we did everything right. We nullified Cardiff’s threat and restricted them to minimal chances on their own ground. At 2-0 Cardiff had to come at us and put us under pressure but we soaked it up pretty well

“The onus is on them now. There’s no pressure on Cardiff, they can come and try and claw something, so we have got to be right for that mentally.

“But the players handled the pressure here extremely well and we performed really well which gives us a great platform.

“You can talk about our home record but we’ve only lost four at home all season, now we’re in a position where if we don’t lose we go through. But we want to win if we can and continue playing like we have done.”




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Lets sit back at look at this - would you honstly want to go up with this squad and could we afford millions to bring in 8 players we would need to even compete - lets re-build this summer

I think last year was a similar situation.we went to Reading and got a good result but they came into the second leg with a totally different attitude,they were positive and went away with a convincing victory,we witnessed two completely different games and we have to be like Reading on Monday and go all out for an early goal,I know this is risky but we have nothing to lose so whatever will be will be.
I will be there next year regardless

My prediction 2-0 to City - we win on penalties

Lets sit back at look at this - would you honstly want to go up with this squad and could we afford millions to bring in 8 players we would need to even compete - lets re-build this summer

I think most of us would be delighted to go up with this squad, because if you think we wouldn't add to the main team and cast off the dead wood if we were to be promoted, then you've lost the plot!

It'll be a lot easier to add quality to the squad as a Premiership team, with a premiership budget (around £50 million in the first season), than have to rely on the Malaysians to assemble a squad on a championship budget and add to our already sizeable debt!

Annis not often I disagree with your views but I agree with NIbluebird. Last night showed we do not have the pace or finishing power to compete with the top clubs. Too many times last night we gave the ball away cheaply and just lumped the ball up to the front men. Even when Kenny Miller went off we still hit high balls up to Ernie who was against my man of the match for them Tompkins.

Am I happy with the season you bet I am and hopefully Malky will be given the go ahead to bring in players for us to push for an automatic place. If the rumours are correct we could see the debts cleared and then lets go full pelt for the Premiership next year.

Onward and Upward guys

I think last year was a similar situation.we went to Reading and got a good result but they came into the second leg with a totally different attitude,they were positive and went away with a convincing victory,we witnessed two completely different games and we have to be like Reading on Monday and go all out for an early goal,I know this is risky but we have nothing to lose so whatever will be will be.
I will be there next year regardless

My prediction 2-0 to City - we win on penalties

Can't agree about Reading coming to our place with a more positive attitude last year, as they weren't in the game for nearly 30 minutes, until Keinan had a brainstorm, when instead of clearing a ball upfield himself, he tried to to launch a ball back (through McNaughton) to a goalkeeper (Bywater), who couldn't kick for toffee!

The same player then had another brainstorm shortly before half time, when we had slowly worked our way back into the game and gave away a needless penalty!

I thought we were the better team against Reading last season, until due to 2 astronomical whoppers by Keinan, we gifted them the tie!

West Ham were a different proposition last night and we had to be defensively sound, or we'd get found out, which we were!

The frustrating thing for me, is that we had some decent half chances and although we were second best on the night, had we defended better, we'd be going to Upton Park in a far better frame of mind and with the pressure back on them to deliver a performance at home, which they've rarely delivered all season!

We can still do it

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Whatever happens thanks for a great season all the cardiff players/staff/and fellow fans.

Always remember you could always be in Halifax instead

I think last year was a similar situation.we went to Reading and got a good result but they came into the second leg with a totally different attitude,they were positive and went away with a convincing victory,we witnessed two completely different games and we have to be like Reading on Monday and go all out for an early goal,I know this is risky but we have nothing to lose so whatever will be will be.
I will be there next year regardless

My prediction 2-0 to City - we win on penalties

Can't agree about Reading coming to our place with a more positive attitude last year, as they weren't in the game for nearly 30 minutes, until Keinan had a brainstorm, when instead of clearing a ball upfield himself, he tried to to launch a ball back (through McNaughton) to a goalkeeper (Bywater), who couldn't kick for toffee!

The same player then had another brainstorm shortly before half time, when we had slowly worked our way back into the game and gave away a needless penalty!

I stick with what I said,at the end of the game we came away without scoring,errors happen in games,you said they were not in the game for the first 30 mins,the game lasts 90 minutes and my point is you do not win away from home 3 - 0 by being lucky but by being more positive and thats what we need to do on Monday.SIMPLE
I thought we were the better team against Reading last season, until due to 2 astronomical whoppers by Keinan, we gifted them the tie!

West Ham were a different proposition last night and we had to be defensively sound, or we'd get found out, which we were!

The frustrating thing for me, is that we had some decent half chances and although we were second best on the night, had we defended better, we'd be going to Upton Park in a far better frame of mind and with the pressure back on them to deliver a performance at home, which they've rarely delivered all season!

Having got over my disappointment, I am now looking forward to the away leg and I am so glad that I am booked on the away trip.The odds may be stacked against us but in the event that something special should happen then these are the trips that live long in the memory. I just hope that I will witness one of those special occasions.

Lets sit back at look at this - would you honstly want to go up with this squad and could we afford millions to bring in 8 players we would need to even compete - lets re-build this summer

I think most of us would be delighted to go up with this squad, because if you think we wouldn't add to the main team and cast off the dead wood if we were to be promoted, then you've lost the plot!

It'll be a lot easier to add quality to the squad as a Premiership team, with a premiership budget (around £50 million in the first season), than have to rely on the Malaysians to assemble a squad on a championship budget and add to our already sizeable debt!

How much of that would be used to pay bonuses and massive debts ? Swansea never spent much but realistically half of our team are not prem standard

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