TEAM NEWS Championship leaders Cardiff City will be without striker Fraizer Campbell for Tuesday's visit of Barnsley, but Robert Earnshaw is expected to return to the line-up. Campbell, the six-goal striker is struggling with a shin problem, while Matt Connolly is a major doubt after limping off early in Saturday's 0-0 draw at Watford with a groin injury. Barnsley are hopeful Kelvin Etuhu will be fit, having picked up a knock in the goalless draw at Crystal Palace. Defender Martin Cranie could return from a hamstring injury. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head • Cardiff are endeavouring to take their unbeaten run against Barnsley to five Championship games with a fourth successive victory over them. • Last season's corresponding fixture resulted in a 5-3 win for the Bluebirds; it was the highest scoring match ever between these clubs. • Barnsley have won only one of their last eight league visits to Cardiff; 2-0 in February 2010 in the Championship, when Daniel Bogdanovic scored both. Cardiff City • Cardiff, five points clear at the top of the table and eight points above the play-off places, need to win three of their last six remaining games to secure Premier League football next season. • 75% of the Bluebirds' Championship victories have been against lower-half clubs (18 of 24), and three points here would complete an eighth double - all against the bottom 12. • Malky Mackay's side have been top of the table since mid-November. • Two of Cardiff's fixtures after this are against fellow promotion chasers in Nottingham Forest (home) and Hull (away). Barnsley • Relegation threatened Barnsley are two places and one point above the drop zone, having won three of the last five - only one of which was lost. They are hunting a first away win in five. • The Tykes have only recorded one victory against a top five club, and have not managed to beat any of the top eight away from home. • The South Yorkshire side, who are looking for a third successive clean sheet, have been the most vulnerable in the division in the first 10 minutes of Championship games, when an unmatched 10 of 60 goals have been shipped. • All Barnsley's remaining fixtures are against top-half clubs, with the exception of an away trip to Huddersfield.
Will Kelvin Etuhu perform better for Barnsley against us than he ever did for us? I have missed the ritual chants of "You Jack Ba$tard" lately. It will be good to get that going again when Jason Scotland takes the field. Unfortunately I will miss the first half, due to a team squash match at Merthyr, damn!!! I will be performing at 7.15 so a very speedy match likely, win or lose, quick shower and then in the car for a straight run to CCS, hopefully avoiding the long arm of the law on the way and finding a parking space within 1/2 mile of the ground. Should be in my seat for when the second half starts.
I think TMM puts these little gems in to see how many read his thread. Was it TMM who posted the Wolves thread that has Steve Bull as a sub?
Hope we don't have a slip-up today. Need to get 3 points and open up an 11 point gap. Barnsley will be desperate to avoid relegation. I wonder if they will try to play for a win or just try to shut up shop. Hope to see an attacking performance at home. C'mon lads.
well, according to stats found here: http://uk.soccerway.com/teams/wales/cardiff-city-fc/691/statistics/ over a quarter of our goals come in the last 15 mins of matches, closely preceded by the rest of the 2nd half. 14.1% of our goals have come between the 15th and 30th mins of the first half but our average first goal scored is at the 43rd minute. our average first conceded goal is in the 49th minute. so if youre going tonight, expect to potentially be 1 up at half time, although it's highly likely barnsley will equalise just after the break before we get into the final third of the game and start banging them in for fun. with this in mind i reckon 4-1 to us, go back into the lead near the 70th minute and knock 2 in over the last 10 mins, lets see if i'm right hey. highly recommend that website by the way, tonnes of info. and yes i'm very bored
Okay then, a much better second half. Suits me fine - see earlier post. Have you put that on the Prediction League thread Drew?
haha aye BfB you don't have to rush that squash game after all i haven't made any predictions this season is it still worth chipping in? copy and paste coming up
Aaannd...relax......that nice warm feeling coming over me again!!!! Just got to kick on from here now and make it safe. But at least all the pressure has paid off.
