What a difference a day makes, just 24 little hours, oh and 2 goals…. As is the way with our crazy division, a team that hasn’t won away all season go to a team that are unbeaten at home and walk away with what sound like a very deserved 3 points (I’ve not seen the highlights yet). So the big question is, can we now take a little of that determination and skill that was on show at Vicarage Road and transfer that to a tricky home tie against an improved ‘other’ CCFC? I certainly don’t want to make a mountain out of molehill but given our recent home form I’d take us Robbing the points off the Sky Blue’s regardless of our performance. An awkward moment for Frank as he realises this isn't the Christmas screening of Elf and he's now landed himself a new job. Who Are You? As it wasn’t that long ago that we played the Sky Blues at the CBSA, I don’t suppose I need to say a huge amount about their team. Our away match against them was of course Frank Lampard’s first game in charge up there, and since that opening (and rather fortuitous) draw for him against our unfortunate Bluebirds, he’s actually done not too badly, with the team recording 3 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats under his stewardship, giving him a win % of 42.86 so far. Current top scorer for Coventry is the ever busy Haji Wright, with the American notching 7 goals in his 15 games thus far (1 behind our very own Callum Robinson I might add). Next on the goalscoring charts for the Sky Blues is Ephron Mason-Clark, with the former Posh man weighing in with 4 goals this term. The good news for the Bluebirds however is that BOTH players will almost certainly be missing from the game at the CCS due to injury. Chief creator appears to be Jack Rudoni, with the former Terrier clocking up 6 assists to go with his 3 goals so far (1 of which came against us in the away game), one for our own midfield terrier Manolis Siopis to keep an eye on perhaps? The other goal scorer in the away game (courtesy of that late controversial penalty) was of course Victor Torp, however the Dane still only has 2 goals to his name this season pointing to a rather blunt attack in the absence of the 2 top scorers, especially when you see even Ellis Simms only has 2 goals from his 21 appearances too. Last Time Out & Form As touched upon, last time out saw the sides play out an entertaining but ultimately frustrating (for the Bluebirds) 2-2 draw at the Coventry Building Society Arena. The Bluebirds took a very early lead through Yakou Meite, only to see the home side equalise within 3 minutes. The royal blue Capital City then went ahead once again thanks to a fine Alex Robertson strike, only to see our hopes of a 3 point haul cruelly denied us with the award of a harsh penalty for handball against Callum Chambers. Form wise Coventry have managed just 2 wins on the road so far this season, with those coming against Millwall and Middlesbrough, so they are capable of springing a result on anyone in the division, however those wins are also offset by some woeful results such as the recent 4-1 humbling by Portsmouth and a 3-0 reverse at Leeds. Their most recent outing was a 0-0 at home to Millwall, underlining perhaps their issues in front of goal (putting aside the 4-0 win v Plymouth – EVERYONE batters Plymouth nowadays, even us!). In, Out Or No Sign Of Them About Just as it seems Omer Riza is failing miserably to find the right combinations in our injury ravaged squad than he goes and plays a blinder by promoting an in form youngster in Cian Ashford and has Robbo on top form having given him a bit of a break. Combined with Chambers being deployed into the midfield on occasions and it seems he’s pulled off a tactical masterstroke a la Neil Warnock when he played big Sol at the base of the midfield. So, question is, does he stick or twist at home? With a few players starting to come back to fitness (Tanner and Willock making welcome returns) he may just have a few options this time around, though if rumours are correct, Willock may have had a further issue yesterday so may have to settle for a place on the bench? Predicted Starting 11 Alnwick Chambers Daland Goutas Rinomhota O’Dowda Robertson Siopis Robinson Ashford Meite The Odds Bods We have a player that started out with our visitors (though I’m not sure they love him quite as much as we do??) who ended up being one of the finest forwards I’ve had the pleasure of seeing in a City shirt and our only full England International to boot. How we’d love to have a player with his ability leading the line again eh? Him and Robbo would be a pretty awesome double act I reckon? Match Day Melody Given his impact in the last few days, it seems we’ve found a key to unlock some of our performances, so this ones for you young Ashford…. All together now; We’ve got the Cian, We kept him secret, We’ve got the Cian, To help us win away…. Blooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds!!! (P.S. Apologies for going a bit early with this one, I was a little worried that the gaffer (Clingo) would send teh boys around if I dawdled much longer, plus Mrs Brizzle and I are away for New Year, sampling the delights of Torquay of all places, so I won't be around to post it later tomorrow/New Nears day. We won;t howvere miss out on the football as we've got tickets for the 2nd biggest game of the weekend - Torquay v Truro!! )
Fantastic work Brizzle. See how much better you are when I apply a bit of pressure? I hope you and Mrs Brizzle have a great time in Torquay which is a place I've been to on numerous occasions but have memories of none of them. I'm not sure what to make of Robbie's boys this term but I'm sure they'll be up for it. I hope last Sunday's heroics are rewarded with a bumper home crowd. The home support too could do with finding some form again by being loud from the off. Let's be as one with our glorious Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds!
Torquay v Truro could well be worth watching. Hope you enjoy it Brizzle. I'm sure Robbie will tell us but Coventry under Lampard have yet to click being hampered by injuries to their main strikers. That said their defence is pretty sound, but being at home I 'm expecting O'Dowda and Willock to cause them problems with Robo and Ashford set pounce on the resulting opportunities created. I would also hope that if Tanner plays he shows the fast direct attacking flair he did at Watford on Sunday
Robbie can kiss Masky’s ring if he thinks Coventry are going to score the three goals needed to steal three points in this one. Where’s my old buddy Aberdude these days, he liked Masky’s ring?
TEAM NEWS Cardiff City XI: Alnwick; Rinomhota, Goutas, Daland, Chambers, O'Dowda; Siopis, Robertson; Ashford, Robinson, Willock. Subs: Horvath, Bagan, Kpakio, Ng, Ralls, Colwill, Meite, Tanner, Kanga.
Not surprising he's keeping faith with the starting line up. Interesting that Ng is on the bench. Not many attacking options on the bench.
Who'd have guessed that an injury and a substitution could affect a game so drastically? Pretty much in control before the referee limps off 7 minute respite tilted the balance to Coventry Reserve referee sees a red card that nobody else in the ground (with no bias) sees
I was so looking forward to the second half, us attacking my side of the pitch looking to capitalise on a half decent first half display but ruined firstly by Daaland getting his positioning all wrong which was disappointing in itself but nothing compared to a questionable red card. The ref was to put it simply was incompetent and should be sent back to League 2 where he plies his trade. He made so many errors aside of the red card. Saying that Tanner had such a good chance but equally so did Sims but over the 90 City deserved a point for their hard work rearguard defensive display in the 2nd half. Unbelievably our first home draw this season.
Looked harsh to me nin, Robinson seemed to think he'd caught Thomas, as he leaned over him to check he was ok, but seen those waved away or just a yellow.
This is how Riza saw it In contrast to Lampard: And further comment from Riza: What’s disappointing from a City point of view is the officials have arguably cost us 4 points in the CCFC v CCFC games this season.
