Team news is that Ayite is out. Mitrovic was really struggling at the end of the Wednesday game but his problem apparently wasn't an injury; he was knackered. Reading, our nemesis last year. But where are they now? Well, they've got new manager Paul Clement and the style of play is marginally different. A boost for them is Sone Aluko beginning to look somewhere near is old self under the new boss and Dave Edwards returning from suspension. Mind the Reading we know is still lurking in the form of Liam Moore, voted their player of the month for March ! And somewhere in the background is gut busting Chris Martin. Their 1-0 win over Preston at the weekend will have raised confidence and eases relegation worries. But only just and they'll inevitably be fighting to get something out of the game. For us, the key question is whether Mitrovic will have recovered in time? Or saved for the Brentford game? Otherwise it's as ever the right wing spot. Ojo got the call against Wednesday and was kind of okay, apart from his shooting efforts which were frankly pathetic. The biggest problem with him though is that Fred doesn't trust Ojo to cover back and consequently doesn't make his usual charging runs forward. That's not acceptable for a must win home game. With Ayite out, it really should be between Kebano and Piazon. Kebano when he came on for Ayite made an immediate impact against Wednesday but there's the rub - he's an impact sub. And he's not really a right winger. But then, neither is Piazon. So who will start? ........................Bettinelli....... ..Fredericks..Odoi.....Ream....Targett ........................McDonald... ..............Cairney.........Johansen.. ......Piazon........Kamara.....Sessegnon...
I think Mitrovic will continue, even the Butcher's Dog gets tired once in a while. I going with Kebano again as I think impact at the start may open the doors for something special....... insider news I hear you say, "no just a massive hope".
I think it's time for Piazon to start with Kebano replacing him perhaps after 70 mins depending on what is going on. We've got a score to settle with them after last year's play offs which I am still frustrated about now. Ojo had his chance on Saturday, with some shooting boots the game could have been won easier much earlier on. Happy to trust Joka, we have strength in the squad and it might be an opportunity to start with some fresh legs. Not sure I want to see Chris Martin playing, he's been poor this season but the boos may be a distraction and he may think he has something to prove.
SuperBri got it spot about the referee. The man on parade tonight is Lee Mason. please log in to view this image You'll recall they rolled him out only a few weeks ago for our 2-1 win up at Derby. The Bolton whistler booked 5 that match; Johansen and Mitrovic for us. Not a lot more need to said other than Mason hasn't actually been used very much this season. He's only had 21 games, handing out 57 yellows and 3 reds. PS Little note about cards. We've got McDonald and Johansen on 10 yellows and Fredericks on 9. With the next marker being 15, which draws a 3 match ban, we should be okay given the number of League games left. But, if we get lumped into the playoffs a bit of caution is needed.
The dream goes on, 20 unbeaten, another win, another clean sheet ........................ oh and Cardiff lose again.
What a noise ! What an atmosphere !! When the Hammy End picked up that Villa had scored the Cottage went crazy. The players must have realised and really dug in for that last 10 minutes ... it was like Hamburg all over again. Well, almost. I've kind of forgotten most of what happened in the football match itself; seem to remember they had two good chances in the first 10 minutes or so, then we were in complete charge but while it stayed at 1-0 the nerves did have a wee jangle. Just wish we'd have a shot more often. But hey, what does the football matter when you get 3 points. What this team has achieved in a league so challenging and unpredictable as the Championship is simply unbelievable. The last twenty games are about to get framed - WWDWWWWWDWDWWWWDWWWW
Good win and the fact that Cardiff blew it again made it a perfect night. We made hard work of it though, I thought we looked a bit leggy. Should though have had the game well beyond Reading much earlier on as we tried t pass the ball into the net. Atmosphere was good despite only a handful of Reading fans, you could sense some nervousness but towards the end there was great jubilation. I don't remember a Reading shot but at one-nil it is never safe. Big test now on Saturday, we'll have to convert dominance into goals. Terrible tackle on Sessegnon, hope he is ok - and how stupid did those pitch invaders look.
This. We're starting to look tired and are just grinding out results - specifically worried about how Sess & Mitro are looking run down (although they are still delivering, which is a sign of their class). Four more games, basically a cup run - just need to keep winning and piling the pressure on Cardiff. He's been a great signing for us. Had another assist last night, but his biggest contribution has been in rebalancing the side and allowing us to play how we want to play.
