MATCH THREAD “ CARDIFF CITY v MILLWALL “ MATCH THREAD

' UPDATED '

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A City win today will see them back into the top two and also a nice gap opening up between the top three and the rest. Still early days yet but I firmly believe City are gathering momentum as a team and will remain very hard to beat for the remainder of the season. A tough week ahead but one that will give us a big indication of our staying power!

C'mon City!

Millwall team.

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Cardiff City Team : Etheridge, Peltier, Bennett, Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bryson, Ralls, Hoilett, Mendez-Laing and Ward.

Subs : Murphy, Halford, Paterson, Feeney, Damour, Tomlin, Bogle.

Some encouraging stats for Cardiff today

Cardiff are unbeaten in their last five home league matches against Millwall (W2 D3), after losing back to back games between 2003-2005.

In contrast, Millwall have failed to score in five of those six league clashes with the Bluebirds, while also keeping four clean sheets in the process.

@Conormcl91 pokes a cross towards @lgreggers9 at the back post but it's banged straight back out again by Bamba (0-0)

Pretty scrappy start

A scrappy start here so far. Joe Ralls tries to make something happen on the edge of the area by spraying out wide to Hoilett, but his cross is charged down and Millwall ship it away. Some early signs of a midfield battle already here.

Some early musings from @DomBooth19

Interesting that Cardiff seem to have started in a 3-4-3, with Peltier and Bennett pushed up as wing-backs and Bamba dropping into a back three. That;s how they lined up at Boro last week and is probably designed to counter Millwall’s direct 4-4-2. Steve Morison is already making a nuisance of himself in the early stages, but is being shepherded by Bruno Manga.

A corner is steered in from the right by @GeorgeSav_ but it's too high for the awaiting Lions pack in the box (0-0) #Millwall

Cardiff are missing the power of Kenneth Zohore today. The high balls into the final third are just not suiting the former Rotherham striker, who is struggling with the aerial prowess of the visitors.

Close! @lgreggers9 ins't far away from meeting a lofty cross. Chances have been at a premium in the opening exchanges. (0-0) #Millwall

Gregory heads wide for the away team. (0-0)

Let off for Cardiff

Cardiff have made a sloppy start defensively, and they come close to being punished.

Lee Gregory very nearly gets on the end of a lofted cross from the right after Cardiff give the ball away far too cheaply.

Let off.

Ward struggling to get involved here. Millwall go close

Beautiful pass from @jedwallace12 finds @lgreggers9, who is knocked off balance as he prepared to fire. Best chance so far (0-0)

WARD!

So close for Cardiff. Peltier breaks free of his man beautifully and squares to Ward at the near post, but the striker’s effort is saved by ARcher from close range. Big, big chance.

Millwall had the better of the first 25 mins

Beautiful pass from @jedwallace12 finds @lgreggers9, who is knocked off balance as he prepared to fire. Best chance so far (0-0)

Joe Bennett looks to have pulled up with an injury. Callum Paterson is on. Could give the hosts a much-needed change of pace anyway. Still 0-0

Cardiff have got better as this half has wore on, but it shouldn’t have taken so long for the Bluebirds to hit their straps. They were indebted to Sol Bamba’s early interventions that stopped Millwall in their tracks… thankfully they’ve created much more since, largely through the combination of Mendez-Laing and Peltier on the right. Danny Ward has missed two chances but looked more lively in the last 10 minutes.

I do get concerned by our slow starts - luckily we have not been punished

Just wide from Bamba

Cardiff have enjoyed a flurry of corners but it’s a long throw from Paterson that nearly pays off. The ball drops to Bamba but his low effort is deflected agonisingly wide.




Nearly an instant impact

He’s only been on the pitch a minute and he’s already making an impact. A brilliant run down the right is capped off with a superb teasing cross for Hoilett, who chests down at the back post and forces Archer into a fine save. Corner comes to nothing, but the home crowd like what they see.

Cardiff have improved vastly with Paterson on the pitch

3 at the back is not working. A blind man can see that. We have to go to a back 4 with Bogle or Tomlin coming in.

Cardiff started second/half well

Millwall singing loud

Not that much quality football played today

Chancing our luck here.

Nothing up front and this has been a problem for us for quite a while.

As the game does on I fancy Millwall to sneak this one.