Bristol City v Cardiff preview Korey Smith could return for Bristol City's Severnside derby with Cardiff at Ashton Gate. Smith missed the 2-1 victory at Nottingham Forest last weekend due to bone bruising on his ankle and is currently in a protective boot, but Robins boss Lee Johnson says the midfielder will be tested in training on Friday. Full-back Luke Ayling is in contention to feature for the first time since January following knee surgery. Mark Little will also be available after being troubled by groin and foot injuries and Arnold Garita is making good progress from a knee operation, though the striker is not ready to feature this weekend. Cardiff hope midfielder Peter Whittingham will be fit as the seventh-placed Bluebirds seek to bolster their play-off ambitions. Whittingham missed last weekend's home victory over Preston with a calf strain but was in good form before that with four goals in five games. Full-back Fabio da Silva also missed the Preston game with a groin problem but he is less likely to return with the midweek visit of Leeds a more realistic target. Sean Morrison (knee) and Craig Noone (chest) are both nearing full fitness after long absences, though the pair may have to be patient to rejoin Russell Slade's matchday squad. The Gaffer Head coach wants City mentally ready for Cardiff test. Lee Johnson will be passing on his Severnside derby experience to his City players ahead of tomorrow’s crunch clash with Cardiff City at Ashton Gate (12noon). The former midfielder faced the Bluebirds five times in a red shirt, losing only once, and scored in the last of those in 2011. Now City head coach, Johnson is keen to stress the importance of his team not being overawed by the sense of occasion in front of another sell-out crowd in BS3. “It’s a great game and a local derby that’s normally aggressive,” he told Bristol City Player HD. “There have been some excellent games in the past, ones I’ve thoroughly enjoyed, and I’ll be trying to pass that on to the players – make sure you go out there, give your all and come away with no regrets. “Sometimes that does happen if you freeze or you’re like a rabbit in the headlights, and you go home and really despise yourself. “But if they give everything, no matter what the result, they can look in the mirror and say ‘I’ve had a good game’.” Johnson has mixed memories of playing in the fixture. “I’ve got some good ones,” he said. “We won 3-0 at home and I scored one of the goals, which was nice. It was a 40-yard tap in, but an important one at the time! “Then I remember going away when we were really poor. We changed the shape a little bit and I was slightly out of position, and I think we got beaten 3-0.” Visitors Cardiff have lost only one of their last eight matches, while City have won four of their last five. “They’re just next to us in the form table, so I think it’ll be a good game,” Johnson added. “They’ve got a Premier League hangover with some really good Premier League quality players still around the group, but they’ve lost a few as well. “Russell Slade has done a great job. He’s gone in there and settled everything, and they’ve been consistent this season. “There’s always been a fierce rivalry between the two clubs and I’d expect no different tomorrow. It’s a big game for us, but one we can win.” City supporters are reminded the Cardiff match is now sold out http://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/article/johnson-to-pass-on-derby-day-experience-2987222.aspx http://www.skysports.com/football/bristol-c-vs-cardiff/preview/339941 Score Prediction or Hope Bristol City 2-1 Cardiff City..
I'm not sure about this one to be honest - but then - I never am - I can never tell with Bristol City! Cardiff are strong at the moment - my heart agrees with Tom, but my head says a 2-1 defeat
Anyone else buzzed for the game? Expecting a quality atmosphere similar to when we played Swindon last year
I am buzzing, found a website with a link to the game so I will be watching! Glad it's a 1200 kick off, as the time difference isnt too bad then.
Well, what a ****in let down that was, every link that said Bristol City v Cardiff City ended up gloing through to Burnley v Blackbuen, gutted. On the plus side I did get a lot of pop ups for horny milfs who live close by!!
Midfield was why we lost. 4/5 players were practically identical. No physicality, no desire, no atmosphere, just dissapointing.
If we had Smith on the pitch they would have never of scored their first and Ayling's been done for the 2nd.... ah well, we now move on to our next game... Fulham! (yes I know we have Wolves first but it's honestly pointless us even turning up)
'Midfield was why we lost' We lost because we played football from the dark ages. I'd blame the midfield if we tried to play through them but all we did was 'Hoof it', the ball sailing over them 40 feet in the air. Aimed at Kodija - I ask you what manual did that come out of. You play to players strength not his weakness. All this from a 'new age coach'. Bobby Reid looked lightweight. Kodija needs to pass/cross/shoot before he beats a player for the 8th time. Ayling showed again he's good going one way, but defend ? You're having a laugh. Thought Baker and Goldbourne were our best players. We got what we deserved today, nothing.
To be honest I thought we was poor and Cardiff were two goals better than poor. Like Redprint says I lost patience when Kodjia got the ball today he just wanted to beat a player over and over and over and over again. Spoke to some Cardiff fans walking back to the car and they said how they managed to beat us was unreal. I mentioned that I always thought Cardiff played with more flair on the viewings previously to this season, they turned and said **** me we've played a lot worse than that this season. Was it just me or did Whittingham not look interested today? I got the impression he didn't want to be there.
According to some, the win we had was quite a lot to do with JP's input, but now we lose its to do with 'new age coach'. I gather that's LJ, Redprintt refers to!! I think sometimes the players needs to hold their hands up, or simply they are not good enough.....Hopefully if we stay up LJ will have chance to recruit whom he feels good enough!!
We were hoofing the ball to Kojak who cannot hold a ball up,play on the deck not hoofball. We were second best today,nothing to come from wolves,hope we get something at Fulham,if not itchy bum time again if we loose three on the trot. Results went against us today,get a quality striker in LEE to make sure we stay up. Yeovil done well getting Lita in,we need reinforcements up front. Shocking today,the best team won.
