Crewe -v- Cardiff

Last updated : 27 September 2002 By
Cardiff City - Crewe Alexandra

Dario Gradi
After going 9 games unbeaten the Railwaymen travel to South Wales in a bid to mantain that excellent run and keep in touch with the promotion places.

The Alex should field the same team that defeated Tranmere last week, that will mean Ben Rix retaining his left midfield place and David Wright filling in at left back. The mid-week op that David Vaughan underwent will rule him out of action for a few weeks and Dean Ashton will again be on the bench unless Dario decides to give him a starting role on the left of midfield, as the Alex attempt to continue their fine away form.

Recent encounters between the teams:
2000/2001Tue 16 JanCrewe2 - 1CardiffFAC
2000/2001Sat 06 JanCardiff1-1CreweFAC
1994/1995Sat 06 MayCrewe0 - 0CardiffLD2
1994/1995Sat 08 OctCardiff1 - 2CreweLD2
1992/1993Sat 27 FebCardiff1 - 1CreweLD3

Rob Hulse
The Bluebirds were many almost everyones tip for automatic promotion, yet although they occupy top spot, they have yet to hit top form, much like ourselves, and will consider their best form is yet to come. Lennie Lawrence's team have already lost at home, a 2-0 defeat to our opening day oppenents, Northampton, veteren forward Marco Gabbiadini scoring both goals, one of which was a 40 yard lob.

The Alex will go to Ninian Park full of confidence, the away performaces have been very encouraging so far this season, the demolishion of Mansfield, controlled performance over the Vale and the hard fought win at Wycombe have proved that we are capable of scoring goals and winning away. It has been our lack of goals at home which has prevented us from siting top of the table.

Current form guides:PWDLFAP
Cardiff642013514
Crewe642011114

Dario will look to the pace of Rodney Jack and the firepower of Rob Hulse to unsettle the big spending Welsh club, and with our solid backline Dario will plot the defeat of Cardiff based around the tight back four and swift counter-attacking. The defence will be our key focal point for tomorrow, Cardiff will undoubtably bombard us with attack after attack as the pressure will be on them, if our back four can keep solid, as they have of late, then we will create chances on the break. If one of these chances can be taken then I predict a 1-0 win to the Alex.

It will undoubtably prove to be our toughest test so far, but if we are to consider ourselves promotion contenders then we must look to take points from our rivals at the top of the table. The game will be a tight one as both sides have decent form of late and two goalscorers in Rob Hulse and Robert Earnshaw.

Sequence statistics:
CardiffUnbeaten in the last 3 home games.
Unbeaten run of 8 matches.
CreweUndefeated in last 7 away games.
10 games since last defeat.
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Prediction
1-0 win to the Alex.