Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:25 pm
Saturday's Sky Sports live game features two managers, Dave Jones and Paul Jewell, who have a lot in common:
- Both were born in Liverpool (Jones in 1956, Jewell in 1964)
- Both have taken clubs to the Premier League for the first time (Jones with Wolves in 2003, Jewell with Bradford in 1999 and Wigan in 2005)
- Both have suffered relegation as the Premier League's bottom team (Jones with Wolves in 2004, Jewell with Derby in 2008)
However, they have different targets this season and this is probably a bigger game for Jones because things are so tight at the top and Cardiff will hope to capitalise on any slip-ups from their rivals earlier in the day.
Currently in third, they are hoping to avoid the uncertainty of the play-offs after last season's disappointing defeat to Blackpool. In the last few seasons they have fallen off in the late stages of the campaign, but the current squad looks to be capable of going one step further. Any team that can boast a front three of Craig Bellamy, Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra are going to be a match for anybody.
They haven't been outside the top five all season. After dropping to fifth on January 1, people questioned whether they would drop out of the automatic race, but they have responded well. They are unbeaten in eight home games, scoring in all of them, and have lost only two of the last 24 at the Cardiff City Stadium. They seem to be hitting form at the right time.
If they can beat Ipswich it will set them up for a run of games that appear to be winnable against: Crystal Palace (a), Barnsley (h), Millwall (a), Derby (h), Doncaster (a), Sheffield United (a). We all know football isn't played on paper, but they will be looking for a high points return from those games.
If they want to go up automatically, they need to beat teams like Ipswich at home, but Jewell's men could provide a potential banana skin. His appointment has turned the team around and their record since his arrival reads: P9 W4 D2 L3.
They have lost their last two games and Jewell will be looking to learn more about his players ahead of a busy summer. They have no fewer than 14 players out of contract in July, including the likes of Damien Delaney, Carlos Edwards, Gareth McAuley and captain David Norris.
It will be hard to keep hold of some of the better players, but Jewell will be able to move out some of the people he doesn't want and delve into the market himself. It'll be an interesting summer for them.
They are harder to beat now, but it will be an acid test at Cardiff and his big players need to stand up and be counted. Jason Scotland, formerly of Swansea, will definitely be looking to prove a point.
This will be a fascinating game and even though Cardiff start as firm favourites the result is no foregone conclusion.
Thu Mar 03, 2011 9:27 pm
that was a good read fair play!!