My mind goes back a while to a certain Palace team coming here for a vital relegation battle, a few years ago now. Malcolm Allison brought his team needing to win to stay up, and send us down. Can't remember who won! Earlier in the season at theirs, we were coasting at 2-0 against a very ordinary side, when Bellamy missed a difficult chance foe a third, normally would've put your money on him to net that one, and that started off their good run, and what a good run it was. However, I get the feeling that Olly was on the slide with Blackpool, and he struck lucky by joining a top of the table side at the time. How unusual to join a successful team, normally have to pick them up from the doldrums. I suspect that Olly has had his day, and they do not seem as effective as they were...or is it wishful thinking on my part?
TEAM NEWS Cardiff manager Malky Mackay will be without defender Matthew Connolly (suspension) for his side's Boxing Day clash with Crystal Palace. Midfielder Kadeem Harris (ankle) is close to making a comeback but Nicky Maynard (knee) is out for the season. Crystal Palace will be without defender Damien Delaney who is suspended. Danny Gabbidon could be handed his full debut in the absence of Delaney and midfielder Jonny Rotten. • Glenn Murray scored all three goals, two from the spot, when Crystal Palace ended odd goal in five victors in the reverse fixture in September. • Cardiff have kept clean sheets in their last three home matches in league and cup against Palace, and have only lost two of their last 13 home and away league matches against the South London club. • The Eagles have won nine and lost eight of 29 away league games against Cardiff, but are yet to win at the City of Cardiff Stadium. Cardiff City • Cardiff, who've won 14 of their last 20 league games, are hoping to become the fifth club in succession to gain promotion to the Premier League when top at Christmas. • Victory would see the Bluebirds become the first to claim 50 Championship points this season. When they last won promotion to the top-flight in 1959/60, they had the equivalent of 48 points after 24 games. • Malky Mackay's side share the honour with Crystal Palace as joint top scorers in the Championship. Together they have netted 88 goals in 46 combined games. Crystal Palace • Third-placed Crystal Palace have lost one of 20 league games, are unbeaten in five and are on the joint longest current drawing sequence in the division of three. • They have 43 points after 23 games. When last promoted to the Premier League in 2003/04 they only had 25 points at this stage, but then enjoyed an amazing second-half to the campaign. • The Eagles have found the net in 22 of their 23 Championship outings; only Cardiff can match that
Talking to myself again... 2010 Sad news this weekend, which I've been dwelling on. Malcolm Allison has died at the age of 83. Not much to do with betting, but regular readers of this blog will know that fate made me a fan of Crystal Palace Football Club. They were my local professional side, and when Bernard Ingham, later Sir Bernard Ingham, took me to my first match at Easter 1967 v Birmingham City along with his son John, from that moment I was hooked. For better, for worse, (ok, mostly worse), Crystal Palace was my team. Malcolm Allison was appointed manager in March 1973, and while I had nothing against Bert Head who had served the club well taking 'us' up to the First Division for the first time in 'our' history in 1969, Mr Head was not exactly charismatic. Big Mal was, and his period in charge at the club gave me some of my best memories, even though those years were not exactly hugely successful on the field. Far from it. It started off well, with Palace beating another London team for the first time in Division One (Chelsea 2-0) giving a young Jimmy Cannon his debut (he scored), but we were ultimately relegated a month after his appointment. But not to worry. The next season saw the introduction of three-up / three-down, and Allison promised that we would not be in Division Two for long. He was true to his word. With a new nickname (Glaziers was never that cool, But Eagles, taken from Benfica, was more like it) and new colours (although I'm a traditionalist preferring the old claret and blue) and the sash shirts, Palace started the new season with high hopes. A 1-4 loss to Notts County on opening day soon put paid to those. We were relegated in 1974 too, (in the 'new' third relegation spot) after starting off the season without a win in, I think, 18 games before we won at Bristol City in November - after almost half the season had gone by! But it was exciting stuff as he had us playing entertaining football in front of big crowds, and we almost saved ourselves before a failure to win the last game at Cardiff put us down. So we were back to the third level, where we will be again if we don't start to win some games this season, and after coming close to promotion in 1975, it was the 1975-76 season that was most memorable. We started off winning the first five league games, and looked to have promotion within reach before we started the FA Cup in November with a game against Walton and Hersham. Then came a trip to Millwall. I remember the event rather vividly, though not much of the game, as I went in the wrong end and watched the game in a rather uncomfortable manner. We won the replay, won at Scarborough in Round Three, and then drew Leeds away in the fourth round. Leeds at this time were of course one of, if not the, strongest sides in the country, but Third Division Palace went to Elland Road, and not only won, but outplayed the opposition. On the Monday I placed my first ever football bet - £2 on Palace to win the Cup at 66/1 with Corals in Oxted. It nearly paid off. At some point, Malcolm Allison started wearing a lucky fedora, and he was wearing it in Round Five when we went to Chelsea and won 3-2 although again there some scary moments in the crowd, later highlighteed by Jimmy Hill on MOTD with a slow motion replay of a 'kung-fu' kick. Before the game, Allison walked across the pitch in his fedora and sheepskin coat and raised three fingers to The Shed. And we won 3-2! Quarter-Final day, and I was on one of four special trains for the trip to Sunderland, who were unbeaten at home all season, and we won 1-0 (amid more crowd trouble) and were into the semi-final. In those days the draw was at noon on the Monday, and I listened at work hoping to avoid First Division Derby County and Manchester United, and be drawn with Southampton. My wish was granted, and Palace were actually favourites to win, but we played terribly at Stamford Bridge, losing 0-2 to two late goals, on Grand National day (Rag Trade won) and the dream was over, but I was a teenager at the time, and those vivid memories will stay with me forever. Well, until Alzheimer's kicks-in. Palace were distracted by the Cup run, and missed out on promotion, and Allison left at the end of the season, to be replaced by Terry Venables who had gained some valuable experience as coach. Allison had also put in place a strong youth system, which saw Palace win the FA Youth Cup two consecutive years and the players formed the nucleus of the side that became known as the Team of the Eighties. Well, that didn't quite pan out, but I have very fond memories of Malcolm Allison, and still have his autograph somewhere. It's probably valuable now! Great days, and a great coach. I think every Palace fan of a certain age can have nothing but fond memories from those days. He drinks champagne and smokes cigars...
Wednesday December 26th, kick-off 3pm. Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff. Team News Palace Damien Delaney starts the first of his three-game ban for his red card just 10 minutes into the 1-1 draw with Huddersfield on Saturday. Danny Gabbidon, who deputised impressively for him against the Terries, is expected to be given his first start since signing for Palace. Meanwhile, Jonny Williams could get a place on the bench after resuming full training after a groin strain. Youngster Jason Banton is again in the squad after impressing for the U21s and will be hoping for a place on the bench and a chance to impress. Cardiff Cardiff manager Malky Mackay will be without defender Billy Connolly (suspension) for his side's Boxing Day clash with Crystal Palace. Midfielder Kadeem Harris (ankle) is close to making a comeback but Nicky Maynard (knee) is out for the season. Possible lineup After his sending off against Huddersfield, centre defender Damo Delaney will be missing, which will be a huge blow for the Eagles. Delaney has been in fine form and been crucial to Palace's great form. Danny Gabbidon will likely take his place for his Palace debut, and it could be a baptism of fire of sorts for the Welshman. In midfield KG and Jedinak will likely keep their partnership and Owen Garvan will play in the attacking role, after being unlucky enough to be sacrificed for Gabbidon last weekend after Delaney's red, when he seemed to be having a good game. Muzza, Wilf and Yala are, again, the dream attacking trio, Key Players Glenn Murray The last time Muzza played against Cardiff, he netted his first Palace hat-trick. He's gone on to score another treble this season in a goal-busting first half. He'll be keen to add to those tomorrow. Peter Whittingham Yet again it's the Cardiff No.7 driving things forward for the Welsh side, with seven goals from midfield this season. Anything good on Wednesday from the Red Dragons will go through this man. Stats Stats provided by Palace Stats Crystal Palace have won 30, drawn 19 & lost 15 games against Cardiff City in all competitions. The Eagles last won in Cardiff against the Bluebirds in the 2003/2004 season where Crystal Palace were 2-0 winners. The Bluebirds have not won against Crystal Palace in the league at the Cardiff City Stadium. Crystal Palace have scored 100 goals against Cardiff City (66) in all competitions. Cardiff City have won eight, drawn 12 & lost nine league games against Crystal Palace in Cardiff whilst conceding 34 goals & scoring 32. The Eagles have the 2nd best away form in the league by winning five, drawing three & losing three. The Bluebirds have the best home form in the league by winning all but one game against Peterborough in their last home game. Crystal Palace have the 3rd best away defence in the league by only conceding 14 goals & keeping three clean sheets. Cardiff City have scored in every home game so far this season scoring 22 whilst conceding only seven games at the Cardiff City Stadium. The Eagles are unbeaten in their last five games but have drawn their last three games. Crystal Palace are without a win away from home in their last three games. Prediction It's a top of the table clash (sort of) in Cardiff and is undoubtedly the game of the day in the Championship. Palace could close the gap on the Red Dragons to just one point with a win. It'll be close, we're going for a draw. Cardiff 1 Palace 1
Warm welcome for Danny Gabbidon today, very popular in his time with us. First classy player in a long time....then!
"Billy" Connolly is supended? I know we have a couple of senior players but when did we sign him? The Big Yin could use his height at set pieces though.
Cheers Red! Noticed they have cameras there for Sky Sports News- I can't make it today, does anyone know whether its worth looking for online or Is this a CCFC Player job? C'mon City!!!
I hope malky plays Gunnarsom at full back or even Negent or Ralls. I think after the Boro game Mcnuggets confidence will be too low to deal with Palace, though I'm sad to say it and hope he can prove me wrong if he plays. Anxious to see the team sheet now
Can see your point snag. Was there for the posh game- (bad luck I am) and nuggs had a totally terrible game. We were a one man team and his name was Craig. However we all know what nuggs can produce so maybe he needed that kick up the proverbial to bring out the best in him? We can only pray... I mean today is a day for fullbacks to perform...
McNuggs prediction: - Malky will play him at right back and he'll have a blinder. Zaha will swap wings to try to get into the game.
Totally agree Sparks. A 6 ft 4 ins Nugent does not have the speed of feet to deal with Zaha and he is a centre back not a full back and he is left footed and would really struggle should Zaha go down the outside. Similar comments for Ralls although not the height one. Gunnar could do it but it needs a proper full back to deal with Zaha as McNuggs has done on several previous occasions. Don't forget also that Connolly (a not very communicative player) was inside McNuggs v. Posh. Captain Fantastic is back today and will chivvy on all those around him. Today is the day we will want Kev to sleep with our wives again. Assuming he plays of course.
Cardiff City 01 Marshall 02 McNaughton 03 Taylor 05 Hudson 06 Turner 07 Whittingham 11 Conway 16 Noone 18 Mutch 22 Helguson 39 Bellamy Substitutes 32 Lewis 08 Cowie 13 Kim Bo-Kyung 17 Gunnarsson 24 Lappin 15 Gestede 20 Mason Crystal Palace 01 Speroni 21 Moxey 28 Ramage 33 Gabbidon 04 Parr 07 Bolasie 08 Dikgacoi 10 Garvan 15 Jedinak 16 Zaha 17 Murray Substitutes 34 Price 06 Martin 20 Williams 22 O'Keefe 30 Moritz 19 Easter 24 Appiah Ref: Gibbs
need to get at Gabbs early. Didn't look that sharp when he came on last week. A warm welcome, then a torrid time. Letts see Bellars running at him from the off. NOOOOOOO..... 1-0 down.
