Well this is what the Premier League is all about, as we go to big spending Chelsea. It's going to be a difficult ninety minutes, but just imagine if we get a result? My fear is if we lose, and there is every chance of that, we have another tricky one at Carrow Road to follow. Don't like the thought of a losing run, but it does get a bit easier after that. Chelsea forward Fernando Torres has recovered from a knee injury but Ashley Cole and Andre Schurrle will miss the visit of Cardiff, but Peter "The Cat" Bonnetti expected to start after a lengthy lay off! Hey Pete...show us your pussy dear! Cole is out with the rib injury that caused him to miss England's World Cup qualifiers, while Schurrle picked up a minor injury playing for Germany. Peter Odemwingie is expected to keep his place in the Cardiff attack in preference to Craig Bellamy. Danish striker Andreas Cornelius remains Cardiff's only injury absentee. MATCH PREVIEW It's been a week of turmoil in south Wales, and at one point I'm sure the Cardiff fans were concerned they might lose their manager. Football never fails to surprise. But for a 23-year-old to go from doing the painting on work experience to being Cardiff's acting head of recruitment is undoubtedly one of the stranger stories. Despite that, I don't think the manner in which their former head of recruitment Iain Moody has left the club will have a negative effect on the Bluebirds - quite the opposite in fact. I think the goings-on will strengthen Malky Mackay's standing as manager with the team, and Chelsea will do well to be on their guard on Saturday. Cardiff, after all, emerged from their last trip to south-west London with all three points. There is a wealth of dangerous attacking players on show at Stamford Bridge - and not all of them come from Chelsea. Jordon Mutch scored a fantastic late winner against Fulham, and was also impressive as a substitute in the defeat against Newcastle. Mark Lawrenson "Chelsea have had a mixed start to the season but are only a couple of points off the top of the table. "We know the problems they have had with the balance of their team and Jose Mourinho has fired off a broadside about it, but they are still sat in there and looking good. This should be a comfortable afternoon for them." What will be equally interesting is how their midfield duo of Aron Gunnarsson and Gary Medel deal with Chelsea's attacking threat. The Blues have seemingly settled down now under Jose Mourinho and, after four unbeaten games on their travels, they'll be looking to maintain their 100% league record at the Bridge. Fernando Torres is fit again, while Willian got off the mark for Chelsea in their 3-1 against Norwich last time out and Juan Mata is seemingly back in favour. Now that the second international break is out of the way, the Premier League will start to take shape - I still believe Manchester City and Chelsea have the best squads. Want some more dudes...having said that, where is Aber these days? Perhaps as never before has a Premier League manager been so delighted to be travelling to Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge lair to try and pit their footballing wits against those of Jose Mourinho. But for Cardiff City’s Malky Mackay, tomorrow’s tough excursion to London SW6 at least offers the chance to refocus on matters on the pitch after a two-week international break dogged by controversy. The no-nonsense Scot’s future in the Welsh capital may still be wreathed in doubt, but what is not is that Mackay and his staff will have the Cardiff players prepared to perfection as they look to cause a major upset. Chelsea sit third right now and with ‘The Special One’ back at what many regard as his spiritual home, they are many people’s favourites to win the Premier League itself this campaign. But the Bluebirds have proved already in their first top-flight campaign in more than half a century that they are no respecters of reputations. Their good start to proceedings has already seen them humble Manchester City in the Welsh capital. And Mackay admits his side travel to the west London giants without fear and with a real expectation that they can come away from Stamford Bridge with a result. “These are the kind of fixtures you looked forward to once promotion had been achieved,” said Mackay. “We won’t go there with any fear, that is not our style at all, we’ll be going there fully aware how difficult it is going to be, but fully determined to relish the occasion. “Chelsea are a top, top team, but we have had some very positive results so far this season, ourselves and we will be looking to keep improving and to keep moving our season forward.” Mourinho’s return from Real Madrid to the club where he enjoyed so much success previously dominated the headlines in the summer, but this will be the first time Mackay has come up against the Portuguese tactician. But the Bluebirds boss has heard a lot about his methods from former Swansea City and current Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who was made Chelsea’s head youth coach by Mourinho back in 2004. Mackay later worked as Rodgers’ assistant at Watford before going on to manage the Hornets himself and he admits his old boss at Vicarage Road regaled him with plenty of tales about Mourinho. And Mackay believes of all the foreign managers to have worked in Britain it is Mourinho who understands most of all what the Premier League is all about. “Brendan used to talk a lot about Jose. He obviously made a big impact on him,” said Mackay. “He has plenty of stories about him. Jose’s a charismatic figure and obviously an excellent manager. His record speaks for itself. For me, of all the foreign managers who have come over, he is the one who I believe really knows what the Premier League is about. “Some don’t get it, but Jose has completely. He’s completely embraced it. The passion, the pressures, the excitement of it all. He really enjoys the cut and thrust of it. You can tell by the way he talks about the Premier League what a strong impact it has made on him. And he has really brought a lot to the division, too. “I met him at the Premier League managers meeting recently and I’m very much looking forward to crossing his path again.” Despite all the off-field upheaval Mackay insists it is business as usual when it comes to matters on the pitch. He is awaiting a clutch of his players to return now after World Cup duties with their countries. One man still ruled out though is big money striker Andreas Cornelius who is recovering from his ankle problem. The big Dane is making progress, though with Mackay insisting: “There is light at the end of the tunnel for Andreas.” Mackay looks likely to keep faith with Peter Odemwingie tomorrow ahead of Craig Bellamy, who is set to take his place amongst the Cardiff substitutes once again. Bellamy played in both games for Wales over the last week before confirming his international retirement. Meanwhile, rising Bluebirds talent Kadeem Harris is set to head out on loan to Brentford. The 20-year-old, signed by the Bluebirds from Wycombe in January 2012, has not yet burst into first-team contention, but has proved a big hit in Cardiff’s development side. Blessed with electric pace, the Bluebirds hope a spell in League One with Brentford, where young centre-half Ben Nugent is also on loan, will prove the next step in his development. The loan is set to last in the first instance until January and Mackay believes it will prove a good move for the player. “Kadeem is starting to learn all aspects of what it takes to be a professional,” said Mackay. “He’s picked up on the fitness side of things and worked on his strength, too. I think time at Brentford will help him take the next step to what he is already becoming and that is a first-team player at Cardiff City.” Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Mourinho has praised his old guard insisting Blues skipper John Terry remains a major force at Stamford Bridge. During Mourinho’s time away from the Bridge, Terry found himself embroiled in controversy on a number of occasions, but his manager believes the 32-year-old defender is back to his best. “He’s recovering his self-esteem,” said the Chelsea manager. “In the last few years he was not playing a lot, he had problems on the pitch, he had problems outside the pitch, he had suspensions for different reasons, he had injuries, he had managers who didn’t trust him enough. And it looked like, at a certain moment, his career was going in the wrong direction.
You will always find a good stream on this site: http://www.viplivesports.eu/sports/football.html Good luck today boys!!
Team news Marshall Taylor Caulker Turner Theo Whitts Medal Mutch Gunner Cowie Odemwingie Subs: Lewis, Hudson, Campbell, Kim, Gestede, Noone, Maynard
Looks like a National Express selection today. Mutch in for Kim as expected but Cowie in for Campbell. So Odemwingie playing up top and a 5 man midfield of Cowie, Mutch, Gunnar, Pitbull and Whitts. The rest as per Newcastle. Looking a little light on attacking options?
Looks like we're playing for a point. Very defensive, which I don't think is a bad thing against Chelsea. Can't see it being a very exciting game though.
Looks like a pretty negative approach. I suggested in an earlier thread that if Malky started with Cowie, he'd be just trying to keep the score down to something respectable. Having said that, if (and that a BIG "IF") we can keep it tight for an hour, "Anything can happen in the next half hour" folks! (courtesy "Stingray")
Where is Bellamy lads/lasses? Did he get injured playing for Wales last week? Good luck against Chelsea
Good point VG. He played the whole game in Belgium so disappointing if an injury there caused his absence today.
Contrary to my earlier comment, in reality the bench options are very attacking with 3 strikers, Noone and Kimbo. But what do we do if we are 1 - 0 up with 15 minutes to go and our defence is tiring? No one to bring on to shore up midfield and only Hudson at the back. I think that shows our dearth of defensive minded midfielders compared to other clubs.
