We return to league action once again following the start of our glorious cup run on Tuesday night by welcoming Rotherham United to an expectant CCS this Saturday. Quite what we can expect from this game is anyone’s guess after last week’s chastening experience at Port Vale, which very much helped to temper the excitement from our opening day home win. In saying that though, we remain undefeated across 3 games this season and somehow have contrived to concede only twice over the 270+ minutes played which is an improvement on last season for sure (quite how we’ve managed to restrict out opponents to that degree though I’m not sure as my eyes keep telling me we are shakier than an epileptic that is fitting whilst sat in a paint mixing machine at a DIY store (apologies to any epilepsy sufferers out there – no offence intended)). With the squad seemingly getting slimmer by the week (gotta be a commercial opportunity with Slimfast in there somewhere surely?) it’s beginning to look like the road to the Championship will be mostly uphill for us, but hey, we are Cardiff City and we rarely do things the easy way! Who Are You? Rotherham’s club history can be traced back as far as 1877 when they were initially formed as Thornhill FC (Later Thornhill United). They subsequently went through a name change to Rotherham County whilst a rival club Rotherham Town were also in existence but struggling. Come 1925 it was decided that the town couldn’t sustain having 2 clubs and so a merger was made, along with a switch from the historic Black & Amber kit adopted by Thornhill to the Red and White colours seen today. The Millers highest ever league finish is 3rd in the 2nd division in 1955, when they narrowly missed out on promotion to the top flight to Luton Town on goal average. Our visitors also have a colourful history where their home stadium is concerned. Having been resident at Millmoor from 1907 through to 2008, following an inability to agree a new lease, the club moved out and took up residence in the Don Valley Stadium in nearby Sheffield some 4 miles down the road whilst a new stadium was developed on the former Guest and Chrimes foundry site in Rotherham. The Don Valley Stadium has subsequently been demolished and the area utilised for a research centre, sports centre and educational facilities for local universities. Millmoor however remains intact and is still utilised for various sports within the City. After 4 years at the Don Valley, the Millers moved into their shiny new stadium, named the New York Stadium, and subsequently sponsored to become the circa 12k capacity AESSEAL New York Stadium – or as it’s commonly known as nowadays in these parts, the Rotherham Municipal Pool and Paddy Field. There are a few very familiar faces in the Rotherham squad, none more so than our very own Kion Etete who will be ineligible to play against us and even if he wasn’t ineligible is once again unsurprisingly injured. So far he has made just 2 short sub appearances totaling 30 minutes gametime and amassed 1 shot in that time. A more dangerous former Bluebird comes in the form of Jordan Hugill who is still plying his trade with Rotherham but who, despite his brace against us last time we faced the Millers, has yet to get above 5 goals in a season for them, so maybe not so dangerous after all (hope I don’t live to regret that statement!). Current top scorer with 2 league goals is Sam Nombe, with the former Exeter man scoring Utd’s only goals so far this season. Former Wurzel (and Sky Blue) Liam Kelly appears to be a regular starter in a midfield “Wintle” role in an overall 3-1-4-2 type formation (if the BBC can be trusted). Their gaffer is the relatively unknown Matt Hamshaw who was given the permanent manager's job on a three-year deal after he picked up three wins as caretaker boss. Hamshaw was a coach for the Millers under former manager Paul Warne and took charge of the first team after Steve Evans was sacked in March. First And Last Our first ever game against Rotherham came in August 1951, a game which finished in a 4-2 defeat for the Bluebirds at Ninian Park in a 2nd Division match played out in front of 32,422 spectators. Wilf Grant bagged City’s goals that day. Grant would go on to be City’s top scorer that season with 26 goals and City would go on to be promoted to the 1st Division. Finishing as runners up behind Sheffield Wednesday. Grant would again be top scorer for City in the next season, ultimately being sold on to Ipswich after 4 seasons in a Bluebirds shirt, netting a total of 67 times in 154 appearances in League and Cup and earning an England ‘B’ International cap along the way. Wilf Grant - not to be confused with Karlan Grant - very different dress sense and scoring records! Last time out saw the Bluebirds take an absolute thumping on the last day of the season, as 2 former Bluebirds ran riot in helping the Millers inflict a painful (though pointless) 5-2 defeat on our travelling ‘warriors’. 2 goals from former loanee Hugill and an assist from Lee Peltier amongst the highlights for the home side. City’s goals came from the on-loan Nat Phillips and Ollie Tanner. Some context needs to be added however as this was the end to the season when we’d lost 3 of our preceding 6 games, losing any shot at the play-offs and ultimately finishing 12th , whereas Rotherham didn’t have a care in the world having had their relegation confirmed some weeks earlier and so played with 3 up top which caused us all manner of issues. Form The Bluebirds head into this one following an energy sapping ‘battle’ last Thursday away at Port Vale where we somehow came away with a creditable point given the circumstances, but if we ever needed reminding that we are a million miles away from where BBM wants us to be then that certainly provided it. That point gained however does mean that we remain unbeaten so far this term in both league and cup, unlike our visitors who tasted defeat last weekend away at Stevenage and having failed to register an attempt on target during the match. Their opening day win (against Port Vale of all teams) was also a little fortunate with Vale going down to 10 men almost immediately after going 2-0 down. 10 man Vale then stepped up a gear and were the better side for a large part of the 2nd half, pulling a goal back and having Utd on the back foot for the majority of the remainder, especially when the Millers themselves were reduced to 10 men on 77 minutes. Overall I can see this being another nervy/tight game with Rotherham not setting the world alight in an attacking manner (they also needed penalties to see off Salford City in the league cup following a 0-0 draw in normal time) but I fully expect Mr Hugill to be ‘up’ for this one as he looks to give our young guns a torrid time and they don’t concede many either, so a possible 0-0 on the cards unless Rubin gets a free kick anywhere near the box!! On The Pitch It seems we are beginning to see BBM’s preferred starters with only a couple of changes in midweek for the cup game. As much as the majority of us would like to see Chambers dropped I just can’t see that happening despite his 2 very shaky performances so far. Likewise I’m sure Trott will continue between the sticks despite another less than convincing display on Tuesday and can imagine Ashford getting a start after a decent showing on Tuesday – sadly Isaak Davies did himself few favours apart from taking a few decent corners - question is will BBM risk playing Tanner or Ashford on the left? If not then we could see Willock start again. One player I think could just have played himself into contention for a start is Dave Turnbull who gradually seems to be finding his feet once again. Perry Ng is edging closer to a return and is back in full training with Alex Robertson not too far behind him. Ng is being lined up for a possible return against Luton. Apparently we have fitness tests needed for both Wintle and Fish following Tuesday night’s cup exploits, so we may see a few more changes yet. News also broke this week that Jesper Daland is in talks on a move away so we can pretty much consider him gone and unavailable from this point onwards. Predicted Starting 11 Trott Bagan Fish Chambers Kpakio Wintle Ashford Colwill (R) Turnbull Tanner Salech The Odds I sidled past a well known Gaelic betting establishment in Cardiff City centre this week and noticed that we are oddly once again overwhelming favourites for the win. Let’s hope that we can live up to the hype – maybe the bookies owner is a friend of BBM and this is just a show of confidence eh?? C’mon The City!!!!
Another great read briz. After our first 3 games, I'm surprised the odds favour us so much. No doubt, another youthful team tomorrow.
Top notch again A sobering thought: we may only have conceded 2 this season (with one from a suspect penalty) but only scored one from open play in 270 minutes.
Cheers BB. Another great read. We can do without the defensive cock ups we saw in that last game although their 4th goal was a cracker. No doubt Hugill will be aware of our frailties at centre back and be in bullying mode. I hope Chambers has his 3 weetabix for breakfast and be in the mood to strong arm him.
And no goals from our main strikers. I see Ashford as a winger who can score. Time for Salech and Robbo to show they can score, tomorrow.
Another masterpiece Brizzle. You mentioned our slim squad so maybe we could get Mounjaro to sponsor us. After all they are raking it in. Are we still the only team in the EFL, except for Spurs, who don’t have a stadium sponsor? In fact is there a marketing manager in place at our club and what do they do? I’m sure if someone took the naming rights for the CCS we could buy some players. Or maybe Tan would pocket the cash!
Ah hem!!! Spurs are in the Premier League not the EFL. Only just after last season I'll grant you but still there nevertheless. You knew I would bite, didn't you?
Come to Porthcawl? Nice run in the sun with a cooling sea breeze. Plenty of choices for coffee after.
I usually decide from my NENDY list on the 5K app on Saturday morning. Stick a pin in and tap google maps! I’ll definitely do Porthcawl soon and I’ll let you know. Be nice to meet for a coffee as well. I’ll try and convince Mrs Irish and Rumney to come also. I did my first 75-79 age group last week after my 75th birthday. Jeez, I’m getting old! Now bearing in mind which thread this is I definitely won’t be doing the Rotherham parkrun.
Will be great to see you all there. I will probably be away on 6th September. Well done on getting up an age category. Not so competitive the older you get!!!
The only good thing about Salech having a barren time is no club may be looking at him. There I’ve jinxed it
Cardiff City XI: Trott; Kpakio, Fish, Lawlor, Mafico; Wintle, Turnbull, R. Colwill; Tanner, Salech, Ashford. Subs: Turner, Bagan, Chambers, J. Colwill, Davies, Willock, Robinson. The back 4 gets even younger. Didn't seem possible.
BBC at it again. We're lining up 4141. Wintle at LB and Mafico in front of the back 4. Oh, and Lawlor is captain. Also, just noticed, WoL showing Robinson on the bench, BBC have Robertson.
Sounds like Salech is getting chances again. It feels as though if he gets one, he'll go on a run. 28 minutes gone and the crook for mafico.
Another who would benefit from an old head inside him and an experienced winger in front of him. Its unfair on youngsters to throw so many of them in at the same time. 3 teenagers in the back 4.
Listening on the radio. Turnbull seems to be instrumental to a lot of the transitional / attacking play. 70 minutes gone. Another game on Tuesday. Time to rest a few legs.
76% possession. It was like a training exercise for last 20 minutes. No goals conceded from open play yet. ps Could have been different had the ref given Mafico a second yellow which by his own standards he should have. Be interested to hear why he starter ahead of Bagan.
