The points total Cardiff City need to bank before the next i

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The points total Cardiff City need to bank before the next i

Postby Forever Blue » Mon Sep 09, 2019 5:19 pm

The points total Cardiff City need to bank before the next international break

The next month could prove to be a crucial period for the Bluebirds



By Glen Williams


Monday 9th September 2019


Cardiff City's relatively unspectacular start to life back in the Championship has seen them slip to 13th in the table.

Two wins, two draws and two losses represents a less than middling start for Neil Warnock's men, who, before the season began, were up there with the favourites to be promoted straight back up to the Premier League.

The next month could prove to be crucial in terms of getting their promotion charge on track and Warnock will hope, at the very least, his side accrue their first win on the road to complement their solid home record.

The Bluebirds will have had two weeks of recuperation before heading into a packed set of fixtures ahead of the next international break in October.

City have five games to contend with before the next break, starting with three fixtures against teams nearing the foot of the table followed by a couple of teams in decent form.





Derby County vs Cardiff City (19.45 - September 13)

A trip to Pride Park this Friday and, make no bones about it, Cardiff City need a victory. There is no better time to play the Rams, who have not managed a win since their opening day of the season and have lost two of their last three.

Yes, the Bluebirds are yet to convince on the road so far this term — their first point away from Cardiff City Stadium came in the goalless draw against Blackburn — but this is a golden opportunity to rectify that.

Following the departure of Frank Lampard and since the arrival of Phillip Cocu, Derby have looked a far cry from the hugely impressive outfit they were last term.

They sit a lowly 19th in the table having earned just two points at Pride Park all season, if ever Cardiff were likely to take all three points away from home, it is this Friday.

Whether it's nicking a 1-0 win, scoring a late winner or hammering them 5-0, Cardiff need their first away win and it looks a very attainable target this week.

PREDICTION: Win







Cardiff City vs Middlesbrough (15.00 – September 21)

Middlesbrough have also endured a tough start to the season, wallowing down near the bottom alongside Derby in 18th.

The Bluebirds' home form this year has certainly been one cause for optimism, having won the games against Luton and Huddersfield and earned draw against high-flying Fulham, and they will hope that continues upon the Championship's recommencement after the break.

Boro have drawn each of their three games away from home so far this season and have won only one of their opening six fixtures.

You would expect Cardiff to come away from this one with all three points.

PREDICTION: Win







Hull City vs Cardiff City (15.00 – September 28)

Hull City have had a miserable start to this season and Warnock will hope that will have continued by the time his Bluebirds stroll into town.

The Tigers have just five points from their first six games and that is a record Cardiff City should be licking their lips at when they see this fixture in the calendar.

They have just five points, sitting below Derby in 20th, and have lost their last two matches at home. For Cardiff, nothing less than a win will do in this one, being away from home shouldn't matter if the Bluebirds are to seriously challenge for Premier League promotion once again.

Let's not forget, the likes of Neil Etheridge, Marlon Pack and even Sol Bamba could be nearing return to full fitness around this time – if they aren't back in the fray already, that is.

A full-strength Cardiff squad should, emphasis on the word should there, be no match for the out-of-sorts Tigers.

PREDICTION: Win


Grant McCann's Hull City sit 20th in the table


Cardiff City vs QPR (19.45 – October 2)

QPR will always represent tricky opponents but, if previous predictions are proven correct, the Bluebirds will be sky high on confidence heading into a game under the lights.

So far this season, the evening games at Cardiff City Stadium — against Huddersfield and Fulham — have produced some raucous crowds and dramatic finishes.

Against the Terriers, Junior Hoilett popped up with an 88th-minute winner, while the Cottagers clash saw Harry Arter sent off and a late flurry of attacking opportunities for City.

Given the momentum that will likely be behind Cardiff at this stage and, again, perhaps another player or two back into the fold having recovered from injury, this fixture could quite conceivably be another win.

However given the Bluebirds lack of firepower up top so far this term, they are bound to come unstuck at some stage. QPR are in eighth and are in a little bit of form having won their last two games.

It's difficult to look past a draw for this one.

PREDICTION: Draw










West Brom vs Cardiff City (15.00 – October 5)

The final hurdle before we enter the next international break and, at least right now, it certainly looks the most sizeable.

West Brom, spearheaded by Cardiff's summer departure Kenneth Zohore, are rubbing shoulders with the likes of Leeds, Charlton and Swansea at the top of the table and are yet to lose a game this season.

While another win would represent an incredible return for Warnock and Co, the trip to The Hawthorns might prove a step too far and could halt the run of results without a loss.

If Cardiff win both at Derby and Hull, it might be wishful thinking, given their early-season form on the road, to think that can make it three away wins in three in this next batch of fixtures.

PREDICTION: Defeat








How many points is par for the Bluebirds?

Should Cardiff get three wins and a draw from their next run of five games, then 10 points is what they should be aiming for.

That would mean after 11 games, the Bluebirds would have 18 points to their name, which represents a far healthier position than what they find themselves in right now.

At the same stage last season, 18 points would have placed the Bluebirds in fifth position, right among the promotion candidates and in the play-off spots which is undoubtedly where they are aiming.

However, if we rewind to that last time Cardiff were in the Championship, after 11 games they were top of the Championship table on 24 points – and 18 points would only have been enough to get you into eighth place.

Incredibly, exactly a year before that, in 2016, the Bluebirds found themselves in 23rd, with a paltry eight points from 11 games as Paul Trollope's reign came hurtling to an end.

So after 11 games in the Championship, it's been a mixed bag the last few years. And while they might not reach the heady heights of 2017, and will certainly not countenance the idea of replicating the nadir of 2016, 10 points could go a long way to getting them a lot closer to where they need to be.
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Re: The points total Cardiff City need to bank before the ne

Postby Forever Blue » Mon Sep 09, 2019 5:21 pm

:bluebird:
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