MATCH THREAD: “ SOUTHAMPTON v CARDIFF CITY “ MATCH THREAD

SOUTHAMPTON v CARDIFF CITY
Saturday 2nd December, 3pm
Sky Bet Championship
St Mary’s Stadium 





Cardiff City: Runarsson; Ng, McGuinness, Goutas, Collins; Siopis, Wintle; Bowler, Robinson, Grant; Meite.

Subs: Alnwick, Romeo, Ralls, Etete, Ugbo, Adams, Panzo, Colwill, Tanner.




2,800 Bluebirds




Update:

Ramsey and O’Dowda both out till January.

Karlan Grant is back after not being available for Albion game, as he is on loan from West Brom.

Jamilu Collins is back after a one match suspension.




Erol Bulut on the injured players:


“Ramsey he’s getting stronger and fitter, hopefully we will get him back on the pitch soon.”

"O’Dowda, I saw him running next to us today! I was surprised! I hope before the new year that we can get at least one of those guys in”

“I won’t rush both of them back, they are running well.”


So far:

And not back till at least January:

In 20 League and Cup appearances Ramsey has only made 6 appearances for Cardiff City this season.

O’Dowda In 20 League and Cup appearances this season has played even less, just 4 appearances.




The Opposition's Manager

Russell Martin was appointed Southampton manager in the summer.

After a slow start to the season, he now sees his time doing well in the league. They currently sit in 4th place - six points clear inside the play-off places, eight points off the top two and seven points clear of us in 9th.

They are unbeaten in their last ten games, winning seven of them.

As we know, he was previously Swansea manager before taking the Southampton job. He spent two years in South Wales.

Before that, he had a spell in charge of MK Dons.

Opposition Dangerous Players

Adam Armstrong has ten goals and four assists in the league this season.

Head To Head 

We have won three out of our last five meetings with Southampton.

That includes a win in our last visit to St Mary’s in a Premier League fixture in February 2019.

Our last meeting with them was a 4-0 defeat at CCS in a pre season friendly in July 2021.

Team News - Predicted Line-Ups

Southampton: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning, Downes, Charles, Alcaraz, S Armstrong, Sulemana, A Armstrong

Cardiff City: Runarsson, Ng, McGuinness, Goutas, Collins, Siopis, Ralls, Robinson, Bowler, Grant, Meite

Last Game

We lost 1-0 at home to West Brom on Wednesday night.

Southampton beat Bristol City 1-0 on Wednesday night at home.

Match Odds

Southampton - 4/7
Cardiff City - 9/2
Draw - 3/1

Predictions

Post your predictions below 

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Updated:

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Update:

Ramsey and O’Dowda both out till January.


Karlan Grant is back after not being available for Albion game, as he is on loan from West Brom.

Jamilu Collins is back after a one match suspension.

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SAINTS striker Ross Stewart has suffered a setback in his injury recovery, manager Russell Martin has confirmed.

The 27 year old has made two substitute appearances against West Bromwich Albion and Huddersfield Town, following over 10 months out.

However, Stewart, signed from Championship rivals Sunderland on deadline day, was then absent from the squad for Wednesday's 1-0 win over Bristol City.

The Daily Echo understands Stewart missed training on Tuesday and Martin issued an update on the Scot at St Mary's.

He said: "Ross couldn't be in the squad. He has had a setback with his injury recovery and this sometimes happens when you come back from a long-term injury.

"We're assessing him but he couldn't be in the squad today and he won't be in the squad on Saturday.

"Hopefully, we will have an update on Friday with a bit more of a clear answer on Ross and where his situation is - he has been scanned

Erol Bulut on the injured players:


“Ramsey he’s getting stronger and fitter, hopefully we will get him back on the pitch soon.”

"O’Dowda, I saw him running next to us today! I was surprised! I hope before the new year that we can get at least one of those guys in”

“I won’t rush both of them back, they are running well.”


So far:

And not back till at least January:

In 20 League and Cup appearances Ramsey has only made 6 appearances for Cardiff City this season.

O’Dowda In 20 League and Cup appearances this season has played even less, just 4 appearances.

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2,800 Bluebirds

Ross Stewart & Kamaldeen Sulemana: Southampton forwards ruled out until new year -

Southampton forwards Ross Stewart and Kamaldeen Sulemana have been ruled out through injury until January.

Deadline day signing Stewart picked up a muscle injury at Huddersfield on Saturday in just his second substitute appearance for Saints.

Sulemana injured his hamstring in Wednesday's win over Bristol City.

Boss Russell Martin told BBC Radio Solent: "Unfortunately they're both going to be out for quite a while. It's really disappointing - two big losses."

Scotland striker Stewart, 27, missed the start of the campaign with an Achilles injury after a reported £8m move from Sunderland and Martin said: "Ross is hugely disappointing because he's worked so hard to get fully fit. He landed in a really awkward, compromising position late on in the game against Huddersfield.

"We don't expect him this side of Christmas, probably mid to late January all being well. Maybe even later than that. We'll see. he's still being assessed and monitored and seeing a specialist about it - I am heartbroken for Ross, the whole group are. It's not the same injury, which is a bonus.

"There's always a risk when you come back from a long-term injury. We haven't rushed him. Everyone's been in agreement with the plan. Ross has been desperate to play and be back quicker. It's really unfortunate. Hopefully he'll come back fit and firing."

Ghanaian winger Sulemana, 21, came off in the first half at St Mary's and Martin said: "We were hoping it wouldn't be too significant but he's going to be a similar timeline.

"It's really disappointing but that's football and it's an opportunity for someone else. We have a lot of games between now and then to really focus on."

Updated:

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Southampton will be without striker Ross Stewart for the Bluebirds' visit to St Mary's this weekend.


Stewart missed the first 11 games for the Saints with an Achilles tendon injury but returned earlier this month off the bench against West Brom, making his debut for the club. He came on once again against Huddersfield in the following game.

But he missed the midweek clash against Bristol City and manager Russell Martin says he won't be involved this weekend, either.


We’re assessing him but he couldn’t be in the squad today [against Bristol City] and he won’t be in the squad for Saturday," the former Swansea manager said.

"Hopefully we will have an update on Friday with a bit more of a clear answer on Ross and where his situation is – he has been scanned.”

“It’s a muscle injury, not his Achilles injury, his Achilles injury is fine. He landed in a really awkward position at the end of the game on Saturday.”

Saints are a good side but we usually do well against them.

Erol Bulut:


"If you work hard on the field, anything is possible, so we don’t need to fear anybody."

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Bluebirds

Cardiff City: Runarsson; Ng, McGuinness, Goutas, Collins; Siopis, Wintle; Bowler, Robinson, Grant; Meite.

Subs: Alnwick, Romeo, Ralls, Etete, Ugbo, Adams, Panzo, Colwill, Tanner.

Strong start by the home side.

What a goal


1nil Southampton

Don’t tell Bulut will say it’s a lucky goal

Goal Southampton, its been coming.

Can’t get the ball off them.
This could end up being bad if we don’t sort ourselves out.

What a goal

Armstrong is a class act anf took that really well; and sadly not against the run of play...

The Bluebirds need to pick up now, as Siuthampton are as sluck as I've seen in this first few minutes...

LATEST SCORE: SOUTHAMPTON 1 - 0 CARDIFF CITY (11 mins)

Goal Southampton, its been coming.

The fact that it's been coming & we're only 11 minutes in is scary.

Good goal by them but the build up play was too easy for them.

Good goal by them but the build up play was too easy for them.

Agre, Ned; and now another!

LATEST SCORE: SOUTHAMPTON 2 - 0 CARDIFF CITY (15 mins)

2nil and not a lucky goal awful defensive

Great. 2-0, 15 mins in.

2-0 Southampton. This is going to be a long day.

Far far too easy for them so far.

We need to sort things out or this could be a cricket score.

Sadly this has been coming for a while. The players just seem to have no energy and no plan B.

What a goal


1nil Southampton

Don’t tell Bulut will say it’s a lucky goal

You are definitely turning on him.

I think others won’t be far behind.

Suspect Keeper.... No control over men in front of him.
Take Alnwick over Runnarson all day long.

I we keep this under 5 we have gotten a result here

They are a good team. Full of prem quality.

We aren’t so good without Ramsey.

It is what it is.

Should we have played three holding midfielders? He would have been crucified if he had.

The keeper decision continues to baffle me.

What a goal


1nil Southampton

Don’t tell Bulut will say it’s a lucky goal

You are definitely turning on him.

I think others won’t be far behind.

Can’t blame Bulut. He’s done absolutely amazing with what he’s had to work with.

My only criticism, is I don’t know what Colwill has to do to get a start!

Bulut needs reinforcements, and this is proving it. Personally I think Leeds, Leicester and Southampton are all clicking now. All three are steps ahead of any other team in the league!