Match Day Thread Cardiff City @ The Cardiff City Stadium 31/1/2017

North End travel to Wales on Tuesday night to take on a slowly improving Cardiff side under the leadership of 168 years old Neil Warnock, one thing about Tuesday nights game it won't be a classic given the rather functional football both managers play.
City lost the reverse fixture 3-0 which led to the potting shed for Paul Trollope, if I remember rightly City were rock bottom at the time they are now sixteenth so it just shows that that the old codger Warnock is doing his usual firefighting act.
He has used the transfer market astutely bringing in Bamba, Halford and Hoilett, also keeper McGregor from Hull to fill a position that City have had a few problems with this season.
They have lost their last two games although playing Brighton and Reading and not getting results is no disgrace, they are a solid unit and will be well organised but then again so are we.
They have won three out of the last four home league games although did lose to Fulham in the FA Cup, only drawn twice at home which I think will be the result on Tuesday.
The ground holds 33280 suspect that it will not be a sell out, Vincent Tan is still the owner although these days seems to take a rather lower profilethan he used to do, we have a board level connection with them as the Riddler was on City's board at one ime and he now advises our board.
Don't think we have any new injury worries, should have a new full back in the squad also Cunningham will be back from suspension which is good news because we have been vulnerable at full back in the last two matches.
Personal view give Robinson a break play Horgan who creates more from what I have seen, also maybe time to give Beckford a start.
This game is one for which the majority of North Enders will give a big miss too not me will arrive home at 4am on Wednesday morning the joy of night games!!!!

 

It will be a somewhat dour match with accents on not losing. It does seem time to give Horgan his chance from the start.

 

The badge of Preston has the letters PP on them it usually stands for Proud Preston last night it stood for piss poor, in truth the last couple of games the performances have not been great and last night we reached the zenith of ineptitude.
Off the pitch things went pear shaped as well, realised when I reached Stafford that I'd left my sandwiches at home therefore was forced to pay exorbitant Motorway services prices.
North End made a couple of changes bringing in Horgan, Cunningham and Browning who has just signed on loan from Everton, on a wet night the game started and was in keeping with the lown key atmosphere in the ground, North End started well without looking dangerous but the first major effot came for the home side when Hoillet dummied the entire North End defence only being denied by a blocked clearence. North End retaliated and McGeady fired in a great cross which Hugill just failed to reach.
City took the lead from a penalty which we give away on a regular basis at this ground (gave two away last year) Easy decision as Hoilett was pulled to the ground by Johnson after again getting into a decent position. Whittingham didn't miss.
If the defending was bad for the first it was even worse for the second.
North End seem to have a vulnerability about them when taking free kicks in the opposition half, having completely cocked up the free kick the ballfell to Zohore 65 yards from goal with three covering defenders around him, absolutely no danger to North End, how wrong can you be, he evaided all three non tackling players and advanced unchecked towards the North End goal before chipping the ball over the advancing Maxwell to double the lead. Cardiff dominated the rest of the half although Pearson with a fine bit of skill tricked a couple of defenders before having his shot well saved by MacGregor. On the stroke of half time City hit the bar suspect at half time many of the away support also did the same.
To be fair for 15 minutes at the start of the second half we looked a bit more positive McGeady went extremely close with one effort and Hugill fired over the top from a corner. The home side possibly should have had another when Morrison headed over from close range, once the initial burst faded out North End looked about as likely to score as Tim Farron and the SNP are going to vote for Brexit. Cardiff cruised home from then on in and all was left was the long soggy journey home which raised the question why was Almen Abdi teh Sheffield Wednesday player at Strensham services? We shall never know.

Cardiff City 2 Preston North End 0 Att 13000 est


Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock told BBC Radio Wales: "It was comfortable, quite professional. We could have been a bit more greedy and got a few more goals.

"It showed how far we have come really. In every area it was pleasing.

"You're only as good as your forwards and I thought they were all a threat. Midfield did well too. It was a pleasing night."

Preston North End manager Simon Grayson: "It was a disappointing performance and Cardiff haven't worked too hard for it tonight.

"We've based our success on being hard to beat and playing attractive football, but we didn't do that. We didn't get anything out of the game and that's what we deserved.

"You can't give teams easy goals. We should've managed the game better but we have to accept it, move on and be better."

 

Great report Themaclad, covered all the bases very fairly.

Apart from the odd moment, your boys didn't turn up. I was expecting a more high tempo pressing game but perhaps the conditions were not suitable for that.

At least you have the consolation of knowing that our second goal was one of the best our guys have scored for quite some time.

Enjoy the rest of your season and see you in 2017/18 - unless something goes terribly wrong for us.

It is a little concern that 5 first team squad players have gone out on loan and no new ones in apart from Halford and McGregor - both short term signings and unlikely to be around after the summer.

 

It seems as though the steam has gone out of the team or maybe the defence has had too many changes especially at full back.

 

Young lad played well