Cardiff City news 05/04/00

Wed 5th April 2000 - News / player round up.

With no midweek action after the cancellation yesterday of our game with Gillingham the media have focussed on other issues at Ninian Park.

Tuesdays Echo featured the following story about the strikers with the responsibility to score the goals to keep City in Div 2.
BLUEBIRDS boss Billy Ayre has thrown down the gauntlet to his four-man strike force to shoot the club to second division safety. Ayre will enjoy the comparative luxury of being able to choose from Kurt Nogan, Jason Bowen, Kevin Nugent, and Paul Brayson when Cardiff City travel to Preston’s Deepdale on Saturday. It’s the first time the quartet have all been at the boss’ disposal, and Ayre is likely to start with Nogan and Nugent, who has completed a three-match ban. Regardless of the permutation Geordie boss settles on, City must prove their resillience after Saturday’s shattering home defeat by Burnley.

“I’ll have the four lads available for the first time since they came together a few weeks ago,” said Ayre. “It gives me the options I want and it should also create healthy competition for the places available in the side. “They have different qualities. Kevin’s physical presence gives us options. “Kurt had a quiet game on Saturday by his own standards, but still scored. “Kevin and Jason have got 14 goals between them this season, but our big problem has been a lack of goals from midfield and set-pieces. “We will need goals if we are to stay up, and these four lads will play a big part for us. “There are no easy games at this stage of the season because the majority of the clubs are fighting for something. “We have got to retain our belief in ourselves. “The result at the weekend was not as we would have liked, but there is still a long way to go and football is always full of ups and downs. “I will not be setting us any points targets for staying up because things have a habit changing very quickly.’’

TeamTalk, turned their attantion on the three other strikers at the Club. Jamie Hughes, Rob Earnshaw and Dai Thomas.
"Teenage striker Robert Earnshaw has had his hopes of an early return to action dashed. He damaged knee ligaments in the 2-2 draw at Blackpool last month, but has now been told by doctors to rest and will be missing for at least another month. Fellow striker Dai Thomas is also an injury casualty, he picked up a groin strain during the 3-0 reserve team victory over his former club Swansea last week. And another striker, Jamie Hughes is remaining on-loan at Cwmbran for a third month. Hughes scored twice in a recent Cwmbran victory over Carmarthen and was named man of the match."

Further to to the Dai Thomas mention by TeamTalk I can tell you that Dai was a substitute in a practice game held at Ninian Park yesterday.

The XI that were selected to play against Gillingham took on a "B" XI in a practice game. The "A" team line up was as previously reported on Monday. The "A" team won by 2 goals to 1. Kurt Nogan scored as did Mark Bonner with a shot from distance to win the game.

There was an interesting report on teamTalk regarding out of favour Willie Boland. The player tells of his frustration of not playing first team football and his desire to win a place back in the team.
Willie Boland has been speaking of his frustration at the way things haven't yet worked out for him following his arrival from Coventry. Boland was left out of caretaker-manager Billy Ayre's squad for Saturday's game at Burnley, and has managed just one goal so far this season. "I don't know what the fans expected from me, but one of the main reasons I left Coventry to come here was to get first team football, so you can imagine how frustrating its been. "It is a situation I am determined to address, and I want to force my way back into the first team as soon as possible, then stay there and show the fans my true ability. "I scored a lot of goals pre-season and I suppose that increased the expectation, and if I get back into the side I know I have to up my goal ratio," said Boland.