' MATCH THREAD: CARDIFF CITY v BIRMINGHAM ' MATCH THREAD

CARDIFF CITY v BIRMINGHAM
Championship
Saturday, 7 May, 12:30
Cardiff City Stadium



City : Marshall, Peltier, Manga, Turner, Malone, O'Keefe, Whittingham, Noone, Lawrence, Immers and Pilkington.

Subs : Moore, John, Connolly, Harris, Ameobi, Zohore, Saadi.

06th May 2016

Slade looks ahead to Birmingham game

We want a positive attitude from players.
We want to finish on a high. If not top six, aim for best best and that’s seventh.
Our form at home has been so strong, we need to show fans a good performance to send them home happy.


Cardiff City Team News:

Joe Ralls and Lex Immers are both recovering from knocks and are hopefully of being able to finish the season while Anthony Pilkington could also miss out.

Kenneth Zohore recently scored a very important late winner against Bolton Wanderers but could lose his place is Immers is fit.

Fabio Da Silva is likely to be absent but Aron Gunnarsson and Declan John are available again.




TEAM NEWS

Cardiff City

Cardiff will wait for news on Anthony Pilkington and Sean Morrison who were both brought off last time out but it’s unlikely either will be risked given nothing is at stake. Fabio Da Silva has been suffering from injury and again it’s unlikely he’ll be risked.

Cardiff will also wait to assess the fitness of loanee Lex Immers who s keen to extend his stay in South Wales. Fringe payers such as Ben Turner, Kadeem Harris and Declan John could all be given a run-out as well a few youngsters.



Birmingham have a number of first team players injured,so a few youngsters will be introduced.

TWO FREE TICKETS FOR CITY FANS WHO HAVE RENEWED THEIR SEASON TICKETS


Pay on the day

Birmingham have sold their allocation of 2,100 tickets



" UPDATED DAILY "

Latest News


Possible Lineups

Cardiff City

1 Marshall
2 Peltier
4 Morrison
16 Connolly
28 Malone
11 Noone
22 O'Keefe
15 Dikgacoi
7 Whittingham
38 Ameobiat
26 Zohore


Birmingham

1 Legzdins
31 Caddis
28 Morrison
32 Shotton
3 Grounds
8 Gleeson
6 Kieftenbeld
11 Cotterill
7 Fabbrini
26 Davis
9 Donaldson


The Opposition



History

Birmingham City Football Club is a professional football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943. They compete in the Football League Championship, the second tier of league football in England.

As Small Heath, they played in the Football Alliance before becoming founder members and first ever champions of the Football League Second Division. The most successful period in their history was in the 1950s and early 1960s. They achieved their highest finishing position of sixth in the First Division in the 1955–56 season and reached the 1956 FA Cup Final, progressed to the final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1960 and 1961, and won their first major trophy, the League Cup, in 1963, beating Aston Villa 3–1 on aggregate. They won the latter competition for the second time in 2011. They have played in the top tier of English football for the majority of their history. Their longest period spent outside the top division, between 1986 and 2002, included two brief spells in the third tier of the English League, during which time they twice won the Football League Trophy.

St Andrew's has been their home ground since 1906. They have a long-standing and fierce rivalry with Aston Villa, their nearest neighbours, with whom they play the Second City derby. The club's nickname is Blues, due to the colour of their kit, and their fans are known as Bluenoses.


2015/16 Latest Results

Cardiff

SAT 30 APR 2016 - CHAMPIONSHIP Sheffield Wednesday 3 - 0 Cardiff
SAT 23 APR 2016 - CHAMPIONSHIP Cardiff 2 - 1 Bolton
TUE 19 APR 2016 - CHAMPIONSHIP Brentford 2 - 1 Cardiff
SAT 16 APR 2016 - CHAMPIONSHIP Cardiff 0 - 0 QPR


Birmingham

FRI 29 APR 2016 - CHAMPIONSHIP Birmingham 2 - 2 Middlesbrough
SAT 23 APR 2016 - CHAMPIONSHIP Huddersfield 1 - 1 Birmingham
TUE 19 APR 2016 - CHAMPIONSHIP Birmingham 2 - 2 Preston
SAT 16 APR 2016 - CHAMPIONSHIP Birmingham 1 - 2 Burnley


Recent meetings

2015/2016 Fri 18 Dec Birmingham C. 1 - 0 Cardiff City Championship
2014/2015 Sat 21 Mar Cardiff City 2 - 0 Birmingham C. Championship
2014/2015 Sat 08 Nov Birmingham C. 0 - 0 Cardiff City Championship
2012/2013 Tue 01 Jan Birmingham C. 0 - 1 Cardiff City Championship
2012/2013 Tue 02 Oct Cardiff City 2 - 1 Birmingham C. Championship


Previous Highlights




Match Odds

Cardiff 6/5
Draw 12/5
Birmingham 13/5


Tickets

Cardiff v Birmingham is a GOLD category match (see prices here: http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/tickets/ticket-prices/)

Tickets can be purchased in person at the ticket office situated in the Grandstand, next to corporate entrance 2.

Alternatively you can call the Stadium Ticket Office on 0845 345 1400, which is open from 9am to 5:30pm - Monday to Friday and 9am to 3pm on non match-day Saturdays.

The easiest way is to book online. You can click here to purchase tickets: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cardiffcity

For all ticket enquiries, please call the Cardiff City ticket office 0845 345 1400

Guess the Score / Attendance
Post your predicted score/attendance below

City will prob win this as there is nothing to play for

We will win typically 3-1.

Hopefully Slade finally plays a few youth/younger players

Hopefully Slade finally plays a few youth/younger players

I hope so

City will prob win this as there is nothing to play for

Vintage City

" BRILLIANT SUPPORT COMING TO CARDIFF CITY "

Cardiff City v Birmingham City Championship game this Saturday 12.30pm at the Cardiff City Stadium.

With nothing to play for and a home average crowd of approx 16,000,plus after only having a mediocre season in the Championship, Birmingham City have sold their full allocation that Cardiff City gave them, 2,100 tickets.

Birmingham City would like to thank their supporters for supporting them all season and turning up in big numbers and to take 2,100 on our final away game is fantastic away support.

We sold our allocation two weeks before the match.

Brilliant support in my eyes,fair play to Brum.

2-2

TWO FREE TICKETS FOR CITY FANS WHO HAVE RENEWED THEIR SEASON TICKETS

City 3 Brum 1

Match officials for Cardiff City v Birmingham City



Peter Bankes is this weekend's referee

Assistants: Adam Bromley and Wayne Barratt
Fourth Official: Neil Radford

Peter Bankes is still a rookie referee as he completes only his second full season in the Football League. He has twice officiated City games before

Ironically his first game in charge of a Cardiff match was the final game of last season. The 2 - 1 City win at Nottingham Forest saw Bankes send off David Marshall

This season he has issued 146 yellow cards and five red cards but incredibly in his one game at CCS, the 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Shrewsbury, he didn't issue and cards at all. The only game in 36 that he kept his cards in his pocket

Postby Sven » Tue May 03, 2016 5:11 pm

A 'thank you' to 2016/17 Season Ticket holders on final day...

" TWO FREE TICKETS BIRMINGHAM HOME "

Cardiff City Football Club is pleased to be able to offer two complimentary tickets for Saturday’s game with Birmingham City to each supporter that has purchased a Season Ticket for the 2016/17 season.

Remember, the deadline for supporters looking to take advantage of a one year season ticket price freeze is fast approaching. Those who purchase 2016/17 Season Tickets prior to the 5pm deadline on Monday, 9th May, will be eligible to receive a fixed price for the 2017/18 campaign.


NB. If you’ve already purchased your 2016/17 Season Tickets AND tickets for City v Birmingham, you’ll be entitled to a full refund up to the value of those purchased (maximum of two). Please call the Ticket Office on 0845 345 1400 for further help.

All 2016/17 Season Ticket holders wishing to attend City v Birmingham should ensure they apply for tickets through the Stadium Ticket Office prior to Friday, 6th May (1.00pm). To do this, please call 0845 345 1400, apply online HERE*, or drop by to visit our friendly Ticketing team in person at the CCS Ticket Office.

*Please note that to secure online you will need to log into your e-ticketing account to access the promotion.

Birmingham City: Gary Rowett hints at chance for youngsters over loanees


4 MAY 2016




BY BRIAN DICK

Blues boss Rowett faced the media ahead of the final game of the season at Cardiff


Birmingham City will once again be without Tomasz Kuszczak and Jacques Maghoma this weekend as they travel to Cardiff for their final game of the season.

Blues boss Gary Rowett has revealed Kuszczak has had an operation on the nose he broke at Huddersfield, while Maghoma’s ankle knock has ended his season.

While Rowett suggested he could call on Charlee Adams and Viv Solomon-Otabor at the Cardiff City Stadium, he also hinted he is less likely to hand a final appearance to those loan players who will return to their parent clubs after Saturday.

That could mean Kyle Lafferty and Will Buckley may have to be content with places on the bench.


Who is Morgan Fox?
“Tomasz will be unavailable again, he has had his nose reset - that was done based on the fact he wouldn’t be available for the last two games,” Rowett said.

“I think Mags will still be unavailable, Jon Toral will be unavailable and obviously Neal Eardley.”

That won’t mean a wholesale transition to a young team, though.

“You play someone who you think is ready - that’s the key.

“I don’t think there’s any benefit me chucking four or five youngsters in because if I had felt there were four or five ready, knocking on the door, then I would probably have played those four or five already.

Birmingham City training in Marbella - Charlee AdamsCharlee Adams - could he get a chance?


“The obvious one will be Charlee Adams, who going into next season it would be nice to learn a little bit more about whether he can handle a game from the start.

“That will come into my thinking but by no means has that team be selected yet.

“Viv would be another one that comes into that category.

“It’s difficult when you have got that mentality of wanting to win every game, sometimes by experimenting you always worry you are going a little bit further away from winning the game.

“We watch the Under 21s in training every day, and we watch them in the Under 21 games and at the minute Charlee and Viv are the standout ones who would be able to come into the group and start the game.


“I don’t think there are too many others that would be saying to me ‘You have got to play me’. I think there are some moving into next season with that potential.”

Rowett was making no guarantees to his loan players either.

“The other thing that comes into your thinking is some of the loan players.

“My question would be if some of the loan players are not going to be here then is that an opportunity to make sure our players that are contracted are involved in the game at the weekend.”

" Would You Play These Three Players On Saturday? "
Link
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=172299

' EARLY TEAM NEWS FROM BRUM '


Blues will definitely be without the services (because of injury) of Tomasz Kuszczak, Jon Toral and Neal Eardley, with Jacques Maghoma also set to miss out against the Bluebirds.

"Tomasz will be unavailable again, he has had his nose reset - that was done based on the fact he wouldn't be available for the last two games," said Rowett.

“I think Mags (Jacques Maghoma) will still be unavailable, Jon Toral will be unavailable and obviously Neal Eardley."

Regarding any fringe players he may consider giving a start to, Rowett continued: "You play someone who you think is ready - that's the key.

“I don't think there's any benefit me chucking four or five youngsters in because if I had felt there were four or five ready, knocking on the door, then I would probably have played those four or five already.

"The obvious one will be Charlee Adams (pictured), who going into next season it would be nice to learn a little bit more about whether he can handle a game from the start. That will come into my thinking but by no means has that team be selected yet.

"Viv (Solomon-Otabor) would be another one that comes into that category.

“It's difficult when you have got that mentality of wanting to win every game, sometimes by experimenting you always worry you are going a little bit further away from winning the game.

"We watch the Under 21s in training every day, and we watch them in the Under-21 games and at the minute Charlee and Viv are the standout ones who would be able to come into the group and start the game.

"I don't think there are too many others that would be saying to me 'You have got to play me'. I think there are some moving into next season with that potential.

"The other thing that comes into your thinking is some of the loan players.

"My question would be if some of the loan players are not going to be here then is that an opportunity to make sure our players that are contracted are involved in the game at the weekend."

0-0

Peter Bankes will take charge of Blues' final Sky Bet Championship fixture of the season against the Bluebirds at the Cardiff City Stadium.
The Merseyside-based official has refereed a total of 36 games so far this season, during which he produced a total of 146 yellow cards and five reds.

The last time he refereed a Blues match was our Championship home fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers last October.

Blues were beaten 2-0 and Wolves' Kevin Mcdonald was the only player booked on that occasion.

Mr Bankes will be assisted by Adam Bromley and Wayne Barratt.

0-0

Agreed

Birmingham have a number of first team players injured,so a few youngsters will be introduced.

Cardiff City

Cardiff will wait for news on Anthony Pilkington and Sean Morrison who were both brought off last time out but it’s unlikely either will be risked given nothing is at stake. Fabio Da Silva has been suffering from injury and again it’s unlikely he’ll be risked.

Cardiff will also wait to assess the fitness of loanee Lex Immers who s keen to extend his stay in South Wales. Fringe payers such as Ben Turner, Kadeem Harris and Declan John could all be given a run-out as well a few youngsters.

Birmingham City

Gary Rowett has already hinted at giving youngsters a chance this Saturday so it will be difficult to predict a starting line-up. Jacques Maghoma and Jon Toral remain injured for the Blues while Neal Eardley is out long-term and could miss out on part of pre-season.

Cardiff City Vs Birmingham City: Match Preview

Thursday May 5, 2016

By Jamie Kemble



Cardiff City Vs Birmingham City: Match Preview


Cardiff City take on Birmingham City in a dead rubber fixture on the final day of the season at the Cardiff City Stadium. Both teams held play-off hopes throughout the campaign but those hopes have now faded for both cubs.


The Bluebirds host Birmingham City on the final day of the season as they look to seal a seventh place finish while Birmingham look to secure ninth. Cardiff are up against Ipswich for seventh place with the Tractor Boys only a point behind while Birmingham could finish as low as 11th.

Last time out, Cardiff’s play-off hopes were given the kiss of death by Sheffield Wednesday who booked their play-off place with a 3-0 rout at Hillsborough. Slade’s men will be looking to secure a more positive end to the season against Birmingham on Saturday.

Birmingham’s play-off hopes tailed off around a month ago due to a poor run of form and the Blues are still on that run with no win in five games and only one win in 11.



Gary Rowett’s men managed to pick up a good point last time out against promotion-chasing Middlesbrough. The two sides couldn’t be separated at St Andrews but a harshly disallowed Middlesbrough goal denied them a crucial away win.

When the two sides met earlier in the season, Birmingham managed to take all three points in a controversial 1-0 win at St Andrews. The referee awarded Birmingham a penalty for a handball when the ball actually collided with Matthew Connolly’s face.

With little to play for, both managers are expected to give young and fringe players an opportunity to shine, as is tradition in dead rubber finales.

I'm going for a 5-5 draw

The Football League have now announced the Match Day officials that will take charge of the game against Birmingham City this weekend.

Cardiff City host Birmingham City on Saturday May 7 for the game at the Cardiff City Stadium and the match carries a 12.30pm kick off.

Referee: Peter Bankes
Linesmen: Adam Bromley and Wayne Barrett
Fourth Official: Neil Radford

Match Day referee Bankes has officiated one Cardiff game this season.

He has however already taken in 36 other matches so far in 2015-16 and in those games, across all competitions and football divisions, he has handed out a total of 146 yellow cards and five red cards.

He was most card happy in the match between Birmingham City and Reading on August 8 with a total of nine yellows being shown.

PREVIEW: Cardiff City v Birmingham City


MAY 5, 2016 ~ SAM LAW

Cardiff City welcome Birmingham City to the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, as the curtain closes on the Football League season.

The Bluebirds’ play-off hopes all but faded as they suffered a 3-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday last weekend, and this fixture will be a chance for some of the younger players to prove their worth.

Birmingham travel to South Wales off the back of an impressive 2-2 draw with promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough.

Blues have had another stable season, finishing 9th after their play-off campaign suffered in the later stages of the season.

Russell Slade will be without a few first team players ahead of the fixture on the weekend. Top-scorer Anthony Pilkington will be missing after he picked up a knee injury in the defeat to Sheffield Wednesday. Pilkington was replaced just 20 minutes into the game and looks like he will miss out.

Fabio could well have played his last game for City.

Full-back Fabio will also be missing with a groin injury. The 25 year-old has missed the last few months with the same injury, and won’t feature on Saturday.

Blues will be without many of their first team regulars when they travel to Cardiff, with Gary Rowett expecting to start a number of youngsters.

Goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak will miss out after having an operation on his nose. The former Manchester United stopper has missed the last six games in which Rowett’s side have won just once.

Experienced full-back Neal Eardley is still missing after almost six months out. The 27 year-old suffered a serious knee injury in their FA Cup defeat to Bournemouth in mid-January.

Winger Jacques Maghoma will also miss the trip to South Wales as will midfield maestro Jon Toral. The 21 year-old has been one of Birmingham’s better players this season, but pulled his mastering in training a few weeks ago.

The reverse fixture earlier in the season saw Blues knick a 1-0 win at St Andrews. A Paul Caddis penalty was enough for Rowett’s side on that occasion.


Possible Cardiff City starting XI: Marshall, Peltier, Manga, Connolly, Malone, Noone, O’Keefe, Whittingham, Ameobi, Immers, Zohore.

Possible Birmingham City starting XI: Legzdins, Caddis, Shotton, Morrison, Grounds, Gleeson, Kieftenbeld, Cotterill, Fabbrini, Solomon-Otabor, Donaldson.

Cardiff have injury concerns ahead of their Sky Bet Championship finale at home to Birmingham.

Joe Ralls and Lex Immers both missed last weekend's game at Sheffield Wednesday with knocks, and Anthony Pilkington was also an early casualty in a 3-0 defeat which ended Cardiff's play-off ambitions.

Danish striker Kenneth Zohore is likely to drop out if Immers proves his fitness after missing the last two games.

Fabio da Silva (groin) could be absent again, but Aron Gunnarsson and Declan John are available.

Birmingham are waiting on Tomasz Kuszczak after he missed last Friday's 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough with a broken nose.

Adam Legzdins deputised but was at fault for Boro's first goal despite making a string of fine saves.

Jon Toral is out with a hamstring injury which will bring an end to his loan spell from Arsenal and Jacques Maghoma is unlikely to feature after he suffered an ankle injury

James Vaughan and Kyle Lafferty are pushing to start after being on the bench last week.

Team news ahead Saturday's Sky Bet Championship clash between Cardiff and Birmingham.

Cardiff have injury concerns ahead of their Sky Bet Championship finale at home to Birmingham.

Joe Ralls and Lex Immers both missed last weekend's game at Sheffield Wednesday with knocks, and Anthony Pilkington was also an early casualty in a 3-0 defeat which ended Cardiff's play-off ambitions.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=172358

Slade looks ahead to Birmingham game

We want a positive attitude from players.
We want to finish on a high. If not top six, aim for best best and that’s seventh.
Our form at home has been so strong, we need to show fans a good performance to send them home happy.

Cardiff City Team News:

Joe Ralls and Lex Immers are both recovering from knocks and are hopefully of being able to finish the season while Anthony Pilkington could also miss out.

Kenneth Zohore recently scored a very important late winner against Bolton Wanderers but could lose his place is Immers is fit.

Fabio Da Silva is likely to be absent but Aron Gunnarsson and Declan John are available again.