March 29, 2014 3:00 PM GMT The Hawthorns â West Bromwich WBA Manager: Pepe Mel CCFC Manager: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Recent Form: WBA 22 Mar 2014 Hull City 2 - West Bromwich Albion 0 EPL 15 Mar 2014 Swansea City 1 - West Bromwich Albion 2 EPL 8 Mar 2014 West Bromwich Albion 0 - Manchester United 3 EPL 22 Feb 2014 West Bromwich Albion 1 - Fulham 1 EPL 11 Feb 2014 West Bromwich Albion 1 - Chelsea FC 1 EPL Recent Form: Cardiff City 22 Mar 2014 Cardiff City 3 - Liverpool 6 EPL 15 Mar 2014 Everton 2 - Cardiff City 1 EPL 8 Mar 2014 Cardiff City 3 - Fulham 1 EPL 2 Mar 2014 Tottenham 1 - Cardiff City 0 EPL 22 Feb 2014 Cardiff City 0 - Hull City 4 EPL Recent results between WBA & CCFC Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 14 Dec 2013 Cardiff City 1 - West Bromwich Albion 0 FA Cup ‎(FA)‎ 7 Jan 2012 West Bromwich Albion 4 - Cardiff City 2 Capital One Cup ‎(CCUP)‎ 25 Sep 2007 West Bromwich Albion 2 - Cardiff City 4
Big must win game today. Anyone up? Whatever happens from now on, win or lose, whilst I haven't enjoyed the Premiership, Cardiff City have played a part in the closest season in history! Top and bottom too close to call anything! TEAM NEWS West Brom striker Victor Anichebe (hamstring) is a doubt, but Morgan Amalfitano and Diego Lugano could return from knee injuries. Head coach Pepe Mel has ruled out midfielder Claudio Yacob and defender Billy Jones with hamstring problems. Brian Robson could return after a lengthy layoff. Cardiff City winger Craig Noone has trained all week after missing the defeat by Liverpool and could figure. Defenders Mark Hudson and Matt Connolly remain unavailable with hamstring and ankle injuries respectively. MATCH PREVIEW Time and games are running out for Cardiff. It's now or never in their bid to make sure their first season in the top flight for 51 years isn't their only one. They certainly can't afford to lose at The Hawthorns and in all probability they need to beat West Brom. If they do, they will draw level on points with one of their relegation rivals. However, the Bluebirds have won only three times in their last 21 games, while the Baggies have been victorious just twice in their last 20. That's how huge the outcome could be. Not just in terms of the points but for the belief and confidence that their team could survive. LAWRO'S PREDICTION Mark Lawrenson Football analyst "These are two teams that have absolutely got it wrong this season in terms of managers. I think it's a major reason they are where they are. "If Cardiff had Malky Mackay still in charge they'd be relatively safe. If West Brom had Steve Clarke they'd be mid-table at the very least." Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has only seven points from 33 since arriving and has asked for heroes to step forward. I've seen Cardiff's last two home games and there are positives to take into this game. They've scored three in both matches for starters, a timely change in fortunes in front of goal having not scored in 16 matches this season. They've shown an encouraging energy and spirit and asked Liverpool questions last weekend. However they have to improve defensively to give themselves a foundation to win matches. West Brom have only lost one of their last seven home games but crucially have drawn five of them. Pepe Mel takes charge for the 10th time in the Premier League with only one win and seven points to his name. What a difference a year makes as 12 months ago Steve Clarke's Albion side were on their way to an eighth-place finish with goals coming from the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie. All have since departed and they now need the likes of Stephane Sessegnon and Victor Anichebe to step forward. It will certainly be a day to hold your nerve. We've seen potentially pivotal days at the top of the league recently, this certainly could provide one at the bottom. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head Cardiff are unbeaten in the last five league meetings (W2, D3). December's reverse fixture at Cardiff was the first top-flight match between the two clubs since 1962. West Bromwich Albion West Brom have lost just one of the last seven home league games, albeit against Manchester United in their last game at The Hawthorns (W1, D5, L1) The Baggies have won just two of their last 20 matches and kept one clean sheet in that period. Along with Arsenal and Hull City, West Brom have had the most individual goalscorers in the Premier League with 16, excluding own goals. Only Fulham have kept fewer clean sheets in the Premier League than West Brom's five. Cardiff Cardiff have lost eight of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's 11 league games in charge (W2, D1, L8). Solskjaer scored in each of his two league matches as a player for Manchester United against West Brom, and was on the winning side in both. The Bluebirds have suffered eight league away defeats in a row. They last lost nine successive top-flight away matches between December 1928 and March 1929. They have the best disciplinary record in the division with just 46 bookings and no red cards. David Marshall has made a league-high 124 saves this season at a rate of 3.76 per match.
Apologies Jay, just spotted this thread. Just made a similar one, maybe they can be merged! Cheers pal!
Been thinking it all week. I think everyone's underestimating West Brom BIG TIME. They will be harder to score against that Liverpool and will be wanting it just as much as we do.
I didn't really appreciate Dempsey saying in the PMI that no matter what happened in this one, there would still be 6 games left. FFS, winning this game is vital. Brom are one of the teams we should be looking to put behind us by May. Lose it and we'll be 6 points adrift of them and played a game more. Win it and we're back in it with a great shout with the confidence boost it will bring. To be honest, I'd probably settle for a point if we could beat Palace next week, but we really need all three today to go into that game on a high.
A must win game to build confidence and hopefully get us on a run. There is a possiblity that I may see this game tonight (yay me) as the local restaurant has Star Sports, hope it's VTs channel.
Hmmm, the last time Cardiff City lost 6-3 was back in 1984/5 in March away to Grimsby Town, followed by a 0-2 loss at home, followed by relegation from the old second division. Well, it's A different division, playing this one away...same month though....scary!
Cardiff City 01 Marshall 28 Théophile-Catherine 03 Taylor 08 Medel 06 Turner 04 Caulker 18 Mutch 17 Gunnarsson 39 Bellamy 10 Campbell 35 Fabio Substitutes 07 Whittingham 09 Jones 19 Cowie 27 Torres Ruiz 29 Daehli 32 Lewis 36 Zaha
Think a lot of people are underestimating Cardiff jay , including some Bluebird fans . Although I kind of hope I'm wrong , for obvious reasons , I think the Bluebirds are about to break out a bit .
Wonder why Ole's stuck Gunnar in there? You'd have thought he'd play him to sit on someone like Berahino or Anchibe, but neither start. Maybe overcautious leaving Zaha on the bench. Looks like a bit of a war of attrition is planned, but single goal win for us would do the job.
worst team sheet i've seen in a long time what he **** does ole think he's doing? 2-0 down in under 10 mins
Abysmal. Absolutely, unquestinably, undeniably, dreadful. We've not left out own ****ing half in ten minutes
Hopeless up till now. Gunnar is wandering around the pitch like a lost soul. Go for it Ole - Gunnar off and Zaha on.
