Normally a fixture that we could expect to get little from, maybe fair to say. However, we are magnificently placed to give these lowly adversaries a severe thwacking. Amazing how every other week the results seem to go our way, and suddenly it seems that games are running out fast! MALKY Mackay maybe loved by Cardiff City fans for his passion, but right now he admits even he may need to take the emotion out of the game. The Bluebirds’ boss heads to Wolves looking to bounce back to winning ways after a rare defeat at home to Brighton in midweek. It was a result which saw City’s lead at the top of the table, which once stood at 11, trimmed to five and by the time they kick off at Molineux that could be down to two. Supporters have seen their fair share of missed opportunities by their side in recent seasons and nerves could be starting to kick-in among the Bluebirds faithful. Mackay admitted he understood the rollercoaster of emotions fans might be set to experience with 14 games of what could be an historic season remaining. But he said for him and his players now professionalism has to be the watchword. “I’ve got great empathy with our fans,” said Mackay. “All I ask now is that they stay strong and stay with us because we’ve got very professional people working here. “Fans should be different. They are passionate about their club as am I. We can all wear our hearts on our sleeves, but my task is to do more than that. “I must keep my team and everyone at the club focussed on the task in hand. I need to make it cold and emotionless at times. “We are working very hard every day to try to make sure we get to the place where we all want to be. “We’ve got to keep looking forward, keep looking straight ahead at the team that is in front of us next. “It’s good copy for newspapers to look at where everyone is in the table, but I’ll only be doing that when there’s three games to go. “I don’t look at the gap or whatever honestly. I’ve been in this division long enough. “I’ve had success in terms of getting in the play-offs and winning the league outright and it’s all about keeping steady and keeping focussed on what you are doing yourself. “It comes with being a professional footballer and being a professional football manager. It comes with the territory. It’s what we do.” Preparations for the Wolves game have had a slightly unusual feel for Mackay in that Cardiff are coming off the back of a defeat. The Brighton reverse was their first in 10 outings and only their second at home all season. The 2-0 defeat by Gus Poyet’s outfit was frustrating for Cardiff who created a glut of chances but were simply unable to put the ball in the net. Mackay said the performance his side had put in on Tuesday made his job quite straightforward this week. “I think it shows the consistency of the group when it is such a long time since we go into a game having lost,” said Mackay. “It’s one of those things. “We spoke about it, analysed it, had a word about it. We do it after every game, win, lose or draw. “We are professional about it and now we move on to Wolves. “We’ve done nothing different from normal. I was happy with the way we played.” In contrast to their high-flying visitors, Wolves, under new boss Dean Saunders, are languishing three off the bottom of the Championship. However, they are expected to provide stern opposition, even though top striker Steve Bull is out with hamstring problems. Former Welsh international and Wrexham boss Saunders has not seen his side win yet after joining last month from Doncaster. Wanderers are in real danger of slipping into League One – just 12 months after they departed the Premier League. But Mackay believes it is still the top-flight Wolves are more suited to than the third-tier of British football. “It’s going to be very difficult. People will look at this match in different ways,” said Mackay. “They are a team in the bottom three who have changed their manager during the season and seem to be on not such a good run. “But the other side is that you are looking at a team which has just come down from the Premier League. “They have the strength of finances available through the parachute payments over the next couple of years and a squad which I look at and think rivals any in the division. “It’s at Molineux too, an away game for us, in front of what will be a fervid home crowd. “So add all that together and for me it’s a tough, tough game.” And Mackay insisted despite the current predicament at the Midlands club, Saunders had got himself a top job, adding: “I’m sure Dean knew the job he was taking on and I’m sure he’s desperate to change the fortunes of the club. “What a great job and club to be able to do that to. “That being the case we won’t be taking anything lightly that’s for sure. For me Wolves are a proper football club.” Mackay has no new injury concerns ahead of the clash although young centre-half Ben Nugent is still out with a dead-leg. Meanwhile another Bluebirds youngster, Jesse Darko, has moved out on loan to AFC Wimbledon.
Bloody hell they must be in trouble if Bully has been recalled. He must be close to 50 years old by now. Who's next, Billy Wright? He was their centre half in the '50's for you youngsters out there, got 105 caps for England and married to one of the Beverley Sisters. Recall unlikely in his case as he died in 1994. However, this game is just the sort of banana skin we can slip up on. They are dropping like a stone, playing badly, not getting any luck and their new manager , a Jack, is pulling his hair out at the lack of success. Peterboro anyone? I'm sure Malky will keep the guys grounded and focused on what is needed. This is where he is different from and excels over DJ. I hope.
We're 8 points shy of our total for last season. We'll drop more points before the end of the season, but I don't see us imploding. I suppose it comes down to how long the rest can hang in for. Watford seem to be on the best run but even they have had losses. A win today and we're back to 8 clear with the chasing pack having 12 to play. Can 2 teams pull back 8 in 12? One team maybe, two is unlikely.
score an early goal and we'll win this one, their fans get on their players backs if they start badly at the best of times, let alone after the dross they've had to put up with over the past 12 months.....
Stephen Ward should return to the starting XI for Wolves after recovering from a midweek virus and defender Roger Johnson could also win a recall. Wolves manager Dean Saunders must choose between Kevin Doyle and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake in the forward line. Winger Craig Conway, one of Cardiff's few bright spots in the midweek loss to Brighton, could be given a start ahead of Craig Noone or Tommy Smith. Ben Turner and Fraizer Campbell are also pushing for selection. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head • Cardiff came from behind to beat Wolves 3-1 in the reverse fixture, with a hat-trick from Peter Pieman • Now the Bluebirds are seeking a first win at Molineux since January 2007, when they last completed the double over their black-country opponents. • Wolves have failed to score in one of their last 16 league matches against Cardiff. Wolverhampton Wanderers • Third in October, Wolves have plunged into the relegation zone without victory in 10 Championship matches since Christmas, during which four points out of 30 have been secured. • Dean Saunders has overseen four draws and three defeats, and desperately needs to inspire Wanderers to a first Molineux triumph since 8 December. • The only club without a Championship win in 2013, have not won a league game all season in which the opposition has scored first, losing 11 of 13. Cardiff City • Frontrunners Cardiff lost for the first time in 10 Championship outings, when Brighton eclipsed them 2-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday night. • Malky Mackay's side have not lost in eight league games on the road, racking up 20 points out of 24 subsequent to an odd goal in nine loss to Charlton at the Valley on 6 November. • If the Bluebirds leave the black-country with a point, it will be their 500th away draw in league football.
Cardiff City FC ‏@CardiffCityFC #CardiffCity Starting XI: Marshall, Taylor, Turner, Hudson, Connolly, Conway, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Cowie, Bellamy & Campbell. Cardiff City FC ‏@CardiffCityFC #CardiffCity Bench: Lewis, McNaughton, Mutch, Kim, Noone, Mason & Helguson.
Haven't heard a thing regarding Smith and would rather Kim starting than Cowie.... we'll see Travelling Bluebirds please log in to view this image
Kim, Noone or Mason before Cowie for me. Wolves playing 3 centre backs and 2 wing backs (full backs?)
Put radio wales on through the sky box just before kick off. Got a bloody 2 hour build up to the cup final. After a bit of a panic, fould the game on radio 5 live. Yessss.....1-0
