The Cardiff City v Burnley Premier League relegation battle predicted and the games that could make all the difference
By Dominic Booth
Monday 18th March 2019
Relegation battle - Game week 30
It now looks like Burnley are going to be the team Cardiff City will battle for a place in next season's Premier League.
As next year's season tickets go on sale , there's a sense around the Welsh capital that this miracle can be achieved. Neil Warnock's side have every chance of keeping top-flight football in Wales for 2019/20 — but there's a tough nine-game slog ahead of them and a two-point gap to be bridged.
Southampton are still in the mix and the likes of Newcastle United, Brighton and Crystal Palace can all feasibly be drawn into the scrap, but it's Burnley the Bluebirds can look to overhaul.
The Clarets' morale-sapping 2-1 defeat to Leicester City at the weekend certainly brought a smile to faces across Cardiff, meaning Sean Dyche's side will be left stewing for the next two weeks during the international break.
The current table sees Cardiff two points behind Burnley and Southampton, but with a game in hand on the former.
And with the run-in looking tough for both sides, here's how it could pan out and the points tally that will be enough for survival...
MARCH 30/31: Burnley v Wolves , Cardiff v Chelsea
Let's do this fairly... Wolves will be preparing for an FA Cup semi-final and may rest players at Turf Moor, while Chelsea will be desperate to win at Cardiff to stay in the hunt for the top four.
It's unlikely Burnley will lose to a second-string Wolves side, while the Bluebirds haven't gained a point against top six opposition all season. Our prediction here is that Burnley will get a point and Cardiff will get none.
Standings: Burnley 31 points from 32 games, Cardiff 28 from 31
Cardiff City's relegation battle — read more
APRIL 6 : Bournemouth v Burnley
A tough game for the Clarets here, while Cardiff are likely to have another week off as their scheduled opponents Man City are in FA Cup semi-final action.
Burnley should pick up a point against the Cherries — it's difficult to see them getting more away from home. This would leave the Bluebirds three points behind with two games in hand.
Standings: Burnley 32 points from 33 games, Cardiff 28 from 31
APRIL 13 : Burnley v Cardiff
The big one. A game that could define the teams' fates, with Burnley needing a win to extend the gap and Cardiff probably content with a point to keep their chances of survival in tact.
It will be close, there's no doubt about that.
And Warnock's men will probably do enough to draw a low-scoring, ugly sort of game to keep the relegation race very much open and alive.
Standings: Burnley 33 points from 34 games, Cardiff 29 from 32
Josh Murphy of Cardiff City takes on Johann Gudmundsson of Burnley
APRIL 21/22 : Liverpool v Cardiff , Chelsea v Burnley
Cardiff have the advantage of playing first, a Sunday clash with title-chasing Liverpool, while Burnley travel to Stamford Bridge for a Monday night contest.
In reality, neither side will pick up points against high-calibre opposition. It will be as you were.
Standings: Burnley 33 points from 35 games, Cardiff 29 from 33
CARDIFF'S GAMES IN HAND : v Man City and Brighton
At the time of writing, it's still not known when the Bluebirds' two postponed fixtures will be played.
Man City and Brighton's progress in the FA Cup has put a spanner in Warnock's plans, though perhaps he will be glad to avoid Pep Guardiola's side for the time being.
When that fixture at the Etihad rolls around, the only result that seems possible is a landslide win for the reigning Premier League champions.
The trip to the Amex, however, represents another almighty chance for Cardiff to pick up precious poiints.
Chris Hughton's side are fairly solid in front of their own supporters on the south coast, but you can envisage Warnock setting up his side to be resolute and grinding out a point. That would put the Bluebirds in striking distance of Burnley once again.
Standings: Burnley 33 points from 35 games, Cardiff 30 from 35
APRIL 27/28 : Burnley v Man City , Fulham v Cardiff
Opportunity will knock for Cardiff on this weekend. It could be when they finally catch Burnley and capitalise on the fact Dyche's men will almost certainly be beaten by Man City at Turf Moor.
A trip to Scott Parker's doomed Fulham side will not daunt the Bluebirds, so we're predicting a win at Craven Cottage while Burnley lose.
Standings: Both teams on 33 points from 36 games, Burnley ahead on goal difference
MAY 4 : Everton v Burnley , Cardiff v Crystal Palace
The penultimate weekend of the season and both sides will be under huge pressure to get a result.
Burnley were thrashed 5-1 by Everton on their own patch earlier in the season, so it's difficult to imagine they'll fare any better at Goodison Park.
Cardiff, meanwhile, held Palace at Selhurst Park on that same day, Boxing Day.
But the pace and power of the Eagles on the counter-attack has actually made them a strong unit away from home this season. Having said that, a packed-out Cardiff City Stadium will inspire Warnock's side and they should take another point and edge ahead of Burnley at a vital time.
Standings: Cardiff on 34 points from 37 games, Burnley 33