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So, game #12 and the second time within a week we get visitors from Lancashire, this time in the shape of Blackburn Rovers. Following our weekend come-back against their near neighbours Burnley on Saturday Bluebirds fans will be looking for some more hot shots rather than hot pots on Tuesday evening.
Rovers come into this clash in what can only be described as intermittent form, with their last 6 games running as LWLWLW, so let's hope the Bluebirds can help them continue this fine sequence of results!
Despite this up and down form the Lancastrians sit in 6th spot in the table, but despite the apparent gulf in position, should 18th placed Cardiff come away with a victory we will be a mere 3 points behind our promotion chasing rivals come tomorrow night.
Jon Dahl Tomasson, Rovers manager has stated he has a fully fit squad to choose from, with just Clinton Mola being left behind for the game v the Bluebirds just to allow him to continue building fitness. This of course means danger-man Ben Brereton Diaz, who is again topping Rover's scoring charts with 5 goals and 1 assist (making him joint 5th in the scorers charts for the division) will be available to torment the Bluebird's backline once again, for only against Birmingham (4) does Brereton Diaz have more goals against an opponent in the League than Cardiff (3), with the forward netting a hat-trick against the Bluebirds in September 2021.
Last season saw Rovers run out 1 nil winners at the CCS despite being reduced to 10 men on 76 minutes.
After that game the gaffer for that month Steve Morison was quoted as saying;
"We weren't good enough in the final third. We dominated the game but couldn't put the ball in the net.
It is another game we should have got something out of, but that's where we are at the minute.
We went toe-to-toe with Blackburn, but they had that moment of quality which we didn't have.
The boys need help. We need to be better in the final third.
Like I said to the players in there, 'Don't make me go and get someone for the final third from elsewhere'."
Since then of course the Bluebirds have looked elsewhere for a new manager!
As a result of last season's home reverse our visitors are now looking for consecutive away league wins against the City for the first time since a run of four between 1980 and 1985.
Overall, the City and Blackburn have faced off 74 times, with Rovers holding the edge in terms of wins, besting the Bluebirds with 28 wins, to our 24. This match has also finished as a draw on 22 occasions. Three of Rovers’ triumphs have come in recent seasons, with four draws also taking place since our last victory over the side from Ewood Park 8 games ago.
This came on August 17th, 2016, in a memorable meeting. Paul Trollope’s first competitive win as Bluebirds boss was at the expense of Rovers, with Shane Duffy enjoying a busy night. The defender netted twice on the evening, but both efforts went in his own goal. He topped off the game by being shown a second yellow card, with the home side going on to win 2-1.
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Duffed Up... Shane Duffy relaxes with a nice lie down after knowing his work to help the Bluebirds to their fist win of the season was almost complete, with just the early shower to sort out remaining.
Despite Cardiff's recent poor record against our visitors, and the gulf in the table as it stands, with 13 goals scored but 14 conceded, hopes will be high that with a defence even more suspect than our own, the boys in blue should be capable of getting something out of our second home game in quick succession.
Early Team News
Current hot seat incumbent Mark Hudson has indicted that Rubin Colwill will, sadly, once again be absent due to injury, following a slip in training. Isaak Davies is now out of his leg brace, but is still some way off a return, although Kion Etete may feature on the bench having been described as "not too far away".
Ebou Adams appears unlikely to feature still too although Cedric Kipre's knock from Saturday isn't likely to keep him out of this game.
Potentially we may see Watters start ahead of Harris, although with both racking up 0 shots on the weekend it's pretty much anyone's guess, however Robinson, after opening his account for the season will undoubtedly lead the line.
Prutton Predicts
The Sky pundit incorrectly predicted a 1-0 defeat for the Bluebirds on the weekend, and has once again predicted the same scoreline for Tuesday night's televised game too.
The Sky Bet bookies are also keeping faith with the pundit's doom laden punt with odds as follows;
Home Win 29/20 Draw 11/5 Away Win 2/1
Sharing The Love
We actually have a few "stellar" names who have performed in front of both Bluebirds and Rovers fans with great names such as Barry Hole, Mike England and Warren Feeney appearing for both clubs.
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The late great Barry Hole. Not to be confused with the Barry Horns or the Hole that is Barry. Striker Robbie Fowler, after a promising though injury hit start for the Bluebirds left South Wales to pursue another shot at glory in the Premier League with Rovers, managing to amass a huge 3 appearances for them
before going on to play down under for North Queensland Fury (no doubt fleeing the wrath of Bluebirds fans who wanted him to pay back his wages and signing on fee to the club after doing the dirty on them).The one I am going to single out though is a player who for me, summed up what being a "real" player is about. Not necessarily with skill (although he was solid enough for the City) but with sheer willpower, determination and grit. Take a bow Gary Croft.
I recall being in the canton stand watching Crofty suffer a dislocated shoulder during the second half of a match v Norwich. After moving to the sidelines, the full back appeared to just pop it back into place and subsequently started to lose his rag with the manager and bench after realising that they'd had the temerity to substitute him after such a "minor" injury, with (Frank) Spencer Pryor taking his place.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/croft-shoulders-city-burden-2445604
Definitely one of the funniest, yet heart warming examples of a true professional in my experience!
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Gary Croft (right) remonstrates with Bluebirds manager Lennie Lawrence after suffering a minor scratch of a dislocated shoulder.
So, can the Bluebirds beat the Blue & Whites? Will the Rovers Return to Lancashire potless and pointless?? Will Rovers defender Travis have suffer travesty and do a Duff Double???
Blooooooobirds!!!!!
. It's mostly cut and paste really 
