Why Cardiff City need to show the rest of the league they mean business by beating rock-bottom Sunderland?
By Jamie Kemble
Tuesday 9th Jan 2018
The Bluebirds are without a win in five matches in all competitions and need to show a statement of intent to the rest of the league following their poor form over the festive period.
Neil Warnock’s side host rock-bottom Sunderland on Saturday afternoon and a win could help them kick on going forward in the league.
But it’s alright winning, what the Bluebirds need to do is show they mean real business in the Championship this season by beating a Black Cats side who are rooted to the bottom of the Championship and are currently deprived of any sort of confidence.
Even under the influence of former Wales manager Chris Coleman, Sunderland are struggling to move up the Championship table, and two straight relegations could well be on the cards for the Black Cats come the end of the season.
Coleman guided Wales to a European Championship semi-final in 2016, but has struggled since taking over from the reins of Simon Grayson since taking the Sunderland job, and has won just three games since taking charge.
It must be noted, though, when he took over the job, Sunderland looked doomed, but under Coleman they have shown some sort of life that they will fight to stay in the Championship in recent weeks.
Given his Swansea links, he’ll want to put one over on Cardiff on Saturday afternoon, and they’ll look to stifle and frustrate the Bluebirds in the Welsh Capital.
Cardiff need to become more ruthless in front of goal. Warnock even admitted his frustrations after they failed to score in their latest encounter, as they were held to a stalemate against league two opposition Mansfield in the FA Cup third round.
With the likes of Kenneth Zohore and Lee Tomlin in their squad, Cardiff have more than enough quality to see off the Black Cats, there is little doubt about that, but they have been goal-shy in recent weeks and this is cause for concern for the Bluebirds manager.
What the Bluebirds need to do, is find that form which they showed at the start of the season, where they were seemingly taking teams apart with ease, and had a real confidence about the nature in which they played.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in particular has lacked that cutting edge in recent weeks, and almost looks scared to take on defenders.
There is a huge contrast between his form now and at the start of the season, when he was being lauded as one of the ‘signings of the summer’ following his fine form in-front of goal, when the winger scored five times in four games for the Bluebirds.
Cardiff have seemed to have lost that winning mentality over the last month or so, and endured a torrid festive period.
A game against Sunderland could be the perfect solution to put an end to their miserable form and show the rest of the league that they do mean business this season, and why they should be a force to be reckoned with.
If the Bluebirds have any plans of going up to the Premier League this season, a game against Sunderland is one they should be winning, and they should look to pile more misery on the Black Cats in front of the home faithful on Saturday afternoon.
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