This is a crunch game for Watford as they will want to keep the pressure on Hull so they will probably attack from the off. Even though we have a cushion I suspect MM will go for the "grind it out" team and not an open game of footy. Either way he's onto a hiding if we lose, who'd be a manager heh!
Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia looks likely to return for Watford after six games out with a hamstring injury. Jonathan Hogg (calf), Fitz Hall (hamstring) and Matthew Briggs (knock) are all unlikely to feature. Cardiff give a late test to striker Fraizer Campbell after he was forced off in the Easter Monday win over Blackburn. Joe Mason is on standby. Boss Malky Mackay may opt to keep Craig Conway, Jordon Mutch, Aron Gunnarsson and Kim Bo-Kyung together in midfield. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head • Aron Gunnarsson's late header gave Cardiff a 2-1 win over Watford in the reverse fixture in October - and ensured they started a season with six successive home league wins for the first time in their history . • Cardiff have lost only one of their last 10 Championship games against the Hornets; 4-1 at Vicarage Road in December 2010. • Watford have avoided defeat in 11 of their last 12 home second-tier league matches against the Welsh club over 42 years, the exception being a 4-0 reverse in October 2009. Watford • Watford go into the weekend one place and one point outside the automatic promotion places, with the best Championship record in 2013, winning nine out of 16 games and notching 30 points. • They have a 50% winning record in league games at Vicarage Road this season (10 of 20), and victory would give the Hornets 37 home points, one more than they gained in total on their own turf last term with two further matches to play. • Gianfranco Zola's side boast the strongest attack in the Football League going into weekend's games (76 goals in 40 games). Cardiff City • Victory over Watford would leave Cardiff requiring a maximum of five more points from six games to secure promotion to the Premier League for the first time, and a return to top-flight football after an absence of 51 years. • The Bluebirds have won two of their last six games, but are aiming to clinch a third maximum in four. • A point for Malky Mackay's current club against his former one would give Cardiff their 500th away draw in league football, in their 900th away fixture at second-tier level. • David Marshall could keep goal for Cardiff for the 150th time.
i think keeping organised and keeping the game tight is what we should do........ avoid defeat and we'll be 8 points (or 10 if we win) ahead of watford in 3rd with them having just 5 to play. that would be promotion all but wrapped up..........
Going there to avoid defeat is a sure recipe for losing. Damned if you do, damned if you don't may be in Malky's thinking, but he should set this one out to take the game to Watford, not sit back and try to contain them. If we didn't have the players in the squad to do just that, I'd have some sympathy with a cautious approach, but to ignore the quality available to him to win this game rather than "not lose it" would be a mistake. Win it and we're up.
Morning Sparkey. Given their attack is their strength and the defense their weakness I think we should take it to them. Rather than let them have the ball and try and contain them, lets keep the ball in their half. Hard for them to score from there. It may make for a high scoring game but a draw would suit us better than them. With them needing to open up for the win, pace in our side running against a suspect defense with their midfield pushing forward should se plenty of opportunity for us to score.
Morning to you to remote. Been off the forum for a while with a mind-clogging month of consultancy work (good money though ). Mostly done and dusted now, and if anyone wants to know anything about automatic deployment of solar protection shields with rain sensor activation - don't ring me!!!........ As far as the game tonight is concerned, I firmly believe we're well capable of winning this one.
I had noticed your absence and was hoping it was a temporary thing. Good to have you back. Know what you mean about the remuneration associated with consultancy. The reason my end was loose at the back end of last year was because I was negotiating my way out of my previous employment and once my exit plan was complete and the value of the cheque agreed they put me on garden leave for over 3 months. I'm now consulting with a more than adequate day rate. Very busy at the moment, but I know there will be quiet times when I can further indulge my passion of attempting to catch salmo salar. Regarding the game, I think we can win this one especially given the nature of Watford's win over Hull. If MM picks an attacking side and is positive in his approach we can exploit their defensive frailties. We're at the pointy end of the season now and I'm not sure I like being top at this stage. A very strange feeling. I'm used to us falling away and still hoping for the best but being satisfied with a play off spot. I'm more nervous now than I have been in previous seasons. Promotion. Smell it? If we win today I'll be ****ing tasting it!!!!!!
Cardiff team: Marshall; Connolly, Barnett, Turner, Taylor; Gunnarsson, Mutch; Kim, Conway, Bellamy; Mason. subs: Lewis, McNaughton, Whittingham, Cowie, Smith, Gestede and Helguson.
great line up, actually surprised not to see whitts in there but it worked brilliantly on monday. come on you bluebirds!!!
excellent. going there with the right approach. Plan B on the bench with Rudy and Heidi. The only question is where is Noone?
Good question ccfc, haven't seen anything about him picking up any injuries, and he always troubles the defense.
nervy and tough first half, ought to be behind really barr a headed corner bouncing of an unsuspecting marshall. lets hope the 2nd is just as open as the 1st, def take a draw
