Match Preview - Cardiff City (Away)

Cardiff were promoted with us, and Wigan, last season from Division Two. Cardiff were, up until the last 3 games, out main rivals for second spot but after 40 odd battling games it was an anti climax and ended up with us taking 2nd place with just a draw before the last game of the season. Looking back, it would would have been a hell of a match if the last game of last season, at home to Cardiff, had rested on each others promotion chance's. Easy to say that now.

The Welsh ended up in 6th place and after beating fierce rivals Bristol City in the play-off semi finals City needed a extra time goal from Andy Campbell to secure their Division One spot.

Last season saw two of the memorable games being played Vs Cardiff. At Ninian Park in the early stage of the season we were minutes away from a important victory after Rob Hulse gave us the lead. However Rob Earnshaw caused trouble, as he does against most sides, and two goals in 4 minutes from Earnshaw saw Cardiff stay top of the league that day.

On the last day of the season it was a different story. Cardiff were looking to the play-offs after the week before we snatched 2nd place. The game wasn't taken notice of as Alex fans celebrated promotion. It was 1-1 though, with Richard Walker scoring his first Alex goal with the last kick of the first half before a classy goal from Rob Earnshaw equalized things.

The two teams now face a mid-table clash. Cardiff sit in 14th with us 4 places above them in 10th. It's a important time to pick up the points as the table starts to even it's self out.

Cardiff have undoubted quality in their side. Earnshaw, Gabbidon and Rhys West are all full Welsh internationals and with the signings of Alan Lee from Rotherham, Richard Langley from QPR and Tony Vidmar from Middlebrough just this season. They also join former Stokie's Graham Kavanagh and Peter Thorne with former twice Alex midfielder Gareth Whalley.

Cardiff tried to add a second ex Alex kid to their team in the summer. They were one of several teams in the hunt for Rob Hulse. Cardiffs £1million bid was the first bid to have been accepted by the club but rumours that Hulse had been upset by Cardiff owner, Sam Hammam, saw the move fall apart. Hulse rejected Millwall afterwards he now contuinues his job with WBA, as his team will always be Crewe at heart. On a side note, good luck to Hulse vs Stoke this weekend.

Cardiff so far this season have started well enough but have conceded a fair few goals. A 2-1 win over Nottm Forest was followed up by a 4-1 win at hom to Derby and a 5-0 win at home to Gillingham. Before that a 4-1 victory at Leyton Orient was the only other win. They've drawn with Rotherham and Walsall and have lost four. 2-0 at Bradford, 1-2 at Reading, 5-3 at Sheff Utd and 2-3 vs West Ham, in the League Cup. In each of the last three they went ahead in all of them!

Ninian Park, the home of Cardiff, is quickly growing tired and old with it being kept up to date with little add ons every year. Early in the month Cardiff were given excellent news, for them, that Sam Hammam has been given the go ahead to have Cardiff built a 30,000-60,000 seater stadium. This with the money that was suppose to build Wimbledon a new stadium 12 years ago... but we won't go into that. :)

While on Ninian Park, Cardiff have had, and probably still have, problems rgarding hooliganism. In summer 2002 Cardiff started to clamp down on it all and it has seen a dramatic decrease in trouble. Away fans are still not welcomed with open arms but if there's no reason why you should be put off from going. Go to support Crewe!

If you do go then you may be seeing Cardiff's new loan signing. Whoever that may be. Cardiff announced they were signing someone onloan in time for the weekend but the player remains nameless with just Spurs defender Gary Doherty and Portsmouth's Steve Stone being the names linked.

Cardiff, in their current team, have former Charlton midfielder John Robinson out of tomorrow's game. Peter Thorne, Jason Bowen and former Alex midfielder Gareth Whalley are all 50/50 for the game with injuries. New, ish, signing Richard Langely will return to Lennie Lawrence's team though on the right.

We start our first league game without Dario for the first time in over 1000 games. Dario is still in hospital recovering well from his heart operation. He will be in hospital till mid-week next week when he will return home but be out of the game till mid-November. Neil Baker and Steve Holland continue to run the show.

Baker and Holland will be asessing Ben Rix and Steve Jones for Saturday. Ben Rix looks very doubtful after hobbling out of Tuesday's game with a twisted knee. Jonah missed Tuesday with a tight hamstring but there's a possibility he will make the game. If Rix doesn't make it then Vaughany will move up from left back onto the wing with Anthony Tonkin at left back. Steve Jones will go straight into the side if he's fit but otherwise youngster Paul Edwards will keep his place after a impressive full debut on Tuesday.

In defence Adie Moses returns to fitness only to find him having to fight for his place after Walker has impressed so much since Moses was injured last month.

So the probable line up:

Ince, Wright, Foster, Walker, Tonkin, Lunt, Brammer, Cochrane, Vaughan, Ashton & Jones/Edwards.

COME ON!!!
DEANO'S GONNA GET YA!

27 September 2003
Bradford v Sheff Utd
Coventry v Wigan
Norwich v Crystal Palace
Nottm Forest v Derby
Rotherham v Gillingham
Sunderland v Reading
Walsall v Preston
Watford v Ipswich
West Brom v Stoke
Wimbledon v Burnley

CCFC Official Site
CardiffCity.com