davieG Posted 21 December 2012 Share Posted 21 December 2012 Malky Mackay’s Bluebirds must get a grip in midfield if they are to wipe away Posh tears in style tomorrow. City players are hurting from their first home defeat against bottom club Peterborough United when the visitors played flowing football and Mackay’s men slipped below their usual standards. Tomorrow, against Leicester City at their King Power Stadium, Cardiff face a major test of their resolve to be top of the Championship at the halfway point of this season. Click here: Read Terry Phillips' big-match preview There is big competition for places in midfield, but Mackay is likely to stick with playmaker Peter Whittingham and the tireless Don Cowie to take on Wales international Andy King and former Bluebirds loan player Danny Drinkwater through the middle. Mackay will ponder whether to add Jordon Mutch or Aron Gunnarsson, maybe even Kim Bo-kyung, to the mix in a five-man central midfield and bid to take control of an area where City can certainly step up their levels of performance. Leicester manager Nigel Pearson has been sticking to a set 4-4-2 formation. Personally, I would love to see Whittingham pushed further forward where it is even more likely he will cause damage to opposing teams and that would almost certainly mean Stephen McPhail slotting in for his first appearance of the season. ‘Macca’ is ideal for that anchor man role, an experienced playmaker who can calm things down when needed and set up attacks with his accurate passing game. But he yet to play a league fixture and Mackay will, for the moment at least, stick with his regulars. McPhail is ready and itching to play, but may have to wait a little longer and is a certainty to face Barrow or Macclesfield Town in the FA Cup early in the new year. City have immense midfield talent available and I want to see them dominate that area more and give themselves the platform to stay top of the pack. The return of captain Mark Hudson after suspension adds the leadership, experience and power at the back which was missing during the clash with Posh. Defender Hudson has been among City’s most consistent players this season and his role in helping to bring out the best in Turner, Matt Connolly and Andrew Taylor alongside him is vital. Connolly, surely, will return to right-back with Kevin McNaughton among the substitutes. Cardiff travel to Leicester as Championship leaders, but only a win will ensure they stay there. Crystal Palace are two points behind and preparing for a home match against Huddersfield Town. If the Bluebirds draw and Palace win the London club would go top on goal difference. Hull City, who play Derby County away this evening (Friday) and Middlesbrough, who are at Leeds United tomorrow, are both three points behind Cardiff. Craig Bellamy will be in Cardiff’s starting line-up for a fifth successive match tomorow and is running into the sort of form opposing team dread. His running, ability to take up the right positions and awareness of where team-mates are has been a factor in City performances. At times, Bellamy thinks so quickly and reacts instinctively, even catching out team-mates who don’t read the situation fast enough. But Bellamy has been back for six matches now and the more he links and links and gels with City players the better it will be. His ability to get in behind defences and set up chances will be crucial at Leicester. City have shared the goals around this season with Heidar Helguson and Whittingham leading the way on seven each followed by Gunnarsson five, Connolly, Hudson, Joe Mason and Craig Noone each on four and Bellamy three. Mackay, though, was frustrated his Bluebirds managed only seven shots on target from 24 attempts on goal and that fact was hammered home during their post-match debrief at their Vale of Glamorgan resort headquarters this week. He wants a dramatic improvement in those stats at the King Power Stadium, Leicester. Mackay will hope the quick feet of Noone plus Craig Conway’s hard, determined running will provide a threat from wide areas against a home team who have struggled to find the consistency they need this season. They have won only three times in their last 10 fixtures, but see Cardiff as a prize scalp and know a win could fire up their promotion drive. Cardiff, though, have earned two wins and a draw from their last three away fixtures and their 4-1 victory at Blackburn Rovers showed what they are capable on on the road. Leicester away, though, is for me an even tougher prospect than Ewood Park. Mackay’s men will have to be at their best for 90 minutes if they are to deny the Foxes. Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city/cardiff-city-fc/2012/12/21/91466-32470299/?#ixzz2FiKWTnrd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davieG Posted 21 December 2012 Author Share Posted 21 December 2012 PUBLISHED 08:00 20th December 2012 by Thomas Phillips Cardiff City will be looking to hit the half way mark still in pole position in the Championship table after their visit to Leicester City on Saturday. Leicester City will be in search of the win themselves though, after a couple of disappointing results. Last time out the Foxes went down 1-0 away to in form Millwall in what was a scrappy affair. This game followed a home draw with Barnsley where Leicester left it late to get a point with Jamie Vardy equalising in the final minute of normal time. The Blues are very much promotion contenders this season and currently lie fifth in the table. They are also free-scoring at home, with no fewer than twenty-six goals scored byNigel Pearson’ssquad so far at King Power Stadium. Their defence has only let in nine, which is the second best home defence record in the division; only Cardiff have a better record having shipped just seven. The impressive home scoring record and the resilient defence has led to only one defeat at home for Leicester City this term. This defeat came from fellow promotion candidates Crystal Palace back in the last week of October. The other ten home games have resulted in eight wins and two draws. Key Players:Nigel Pearson has a squad that is far from short of talent and experience. There are also two players that will be extremely familiar to many Cardiff City fans. Both Kasper Schmeichel and Danny Drinkwater joined City on loan earlier in their careers. Schmeichel made fourteen appearances during the 2007/08 season and came very close to joining permanently during the January transfer market. Drinkwater made nine appearances during the 2009/10 season which was hampered by injury prior to recall. Both players have been regulars this season with Drinkwater playing more minutes than any other Foxes players. He has also chipped in with one league goal. Schmeichel has kept eight clean sheets thus far and will no doubt be hoping for another one against his former club. With Malky’s men having their work cut out against a resilient defence, they will also have to be wary of Leicester top scorerDavid Nugent. Nugent has eleven goals in the league and his possible strike partner Jamie Vardy has got four. Previous Meetings: If previous games are anything to go by then this should by a very competitive game. There is not a lot between the two sides with Leicester City winning twenty-three games, Cardiff City winning twenty-two, and thirteen games ending all square. Even the last ten encounters are equal with four wins apiece and the Play-Off games ending in a penalty shoot out back in 2010. Last Meeting: Leicester City 2 – 1 Cardiff City (11/02/2012) The East Midland side ended a run of five home games without three points when they beat City 2-1 back in February. The Foxes took the lead when Paul Gallagherscored from the penalty spot after Haris Vuckic brought down Richie Wellens in the penalty area. Gallagher then doubled the lead and his own tally when he added a second this time from a free kick. Cardiff did get a consolation also from the penalty spot - Peter Whittigham scoring when Rudy Gestede was deemed to have been unfairly challenged by Paul Konchesky. Leicester City line-up:Schmeichel, Peltier, Konchesky, Mills, St Ledger, Dyer (Marshall), Drinkwater, Wellens, Gallagher (Howard), Beckford, Nugent. Subs not used: Logan, Morgan, Delfouneso. Cardiff City line-up:Marshall, McNaughton, Gerrard, Turner, Taylor, Whittingham, Cowie, Conway, Gunnarsson (Kiss), Vuckic (Gestede), Miller. Subs not used: Parish, Blake, Mason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pSinatra Posted 21 December 2012 Share Posted 21 December 2012 They're confident!! Sounds we needn't bother turning up?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theessexfox Posted 21 December 2012 Share Posted 21 December 2012 Can't wait for the confetti Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aus Fox Posted 21 December 2012 Share Posted 21 December 2012 I read the title and thought the club were giving away free confetti to the first 2000 supporters who turned up on Saturday... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theessexfox Posted 21 December 2012 Share Posted 21 December 2012 I hope Tezza is wrong about our midfield partnership... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Fox Posted 21 December 2012 Share Posted 21 December 2012 We need a win come on City nothing less will suffice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonthefox Posted 22 December 2012 Share Posted 22 December 2012 Got a feeling about today. I think were going to put at least 3 past them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sphericalfox Posted 22 December 2012 Share Posted 22 December 2012 Got a feeling about today. I think were going to put at least 3 past them. Risky...possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitlock Posted 22 December 2012 Share Posted 22 December 2012 I can see a 2-0 loss today and a loss against Hull also, haven't been that good recently, play offs will slowly start to slip away I feel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acooling08 Posted 22 December 2012 Share Posted 22 December 2012 I can see a 2-0 loss today and a loss against Hull also, haven't been that good recently, play offs will slowly start to slip away I feel. That's the spirit! Although I'd definitely take 4 out of 6 for those two games, probably take 3 tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyFromLE Posted 22 December 2012 Share Posted 22 December 2012 I can see a 2-0 loss today and a loss against Hull also, haven't been that good recently, play offs will slowly start to slip away I feel. Well, you're a barrel of laughs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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