December
Newsfile

Newsfile Archive

Latest unconfirmed news from the dressing room is that Schwinke and Mark Bonner have been dropped. Danny Hill and Andy Legg will start the game. Craig Middleton may well continue in his defensive role but with Mike Ford now fit its probable that Eckhardt, Perrett and Ford will fill out the back three. Winson, again unconfirmed, is not playing so either Middleton or Low will go right wingback and Andy Legg returns at left wingback. The midfield will be Fowler, Carpenter and Hill. Hill impressed in the midweek reserve game and is without doubt one of the most creative players at the club. Bonner and Schwinke played a half each last week against Preston but have not been able to keep Hill out. Frank may decide to go withe his preferred partnership of Nugent / Bowen up front. They've scored 18 goals between them this season so they are our most successful partnership.

The game will mean a lot to Low, Ford, Fowler and Nugent. As previously reported they all have either been born there or played there.

After Saturday's matches City dropped a place after Colchester produced an incredible 5 - 4 win over Bristol Rovers at Layer Rd. 4 of the 5 teams below us played each other. Reading and Blackpool drew 1 - 1 while Cambridge beat Wrexham 2 - 1 at the Racecourse but that was in the FA Cup. It was Cambridge's first away win this season.

There's no doubt that this season we have struggled to cope with the step up in divisions. That aside we have played above ourselves and not come away with anything. I said after last weeks hammering by Preston that a change is needed. Something different. An away win at Bristol would do for starters. The Robins are 6 points ahead of us, a Bluebirds victory keeps us intouch with mid table, a defeat and we must surely consign ourselves to a releagtion battle. We then have two even more important games. Oxford next Saturday are 1 point ahead of us. Wrexham the Saturday after are 1 point behind us. They are must win matches if we are to progress in the right direction.

So then 3 games against teams who are within a few places of us in the table. I would say we are to looking for a minimum of 5 points from these 3 games. 7 is not unthinkable although we are not an in form team so I would not expect us to win them all.

From www.bcfc.co.uk
Keith Millen and Mickey Bell face late fitness checks before Sunday's Noon kick-off against Cardiff City at Ashton Gate.

Millen is rated the more doubtful of the pair, having turned an ankle in Monday's 1-0 win at Wrexham.

If he is ruled out Louis Carey will partner Shaun Taylor in central defence, with Gerard Lavin or Scott Murray operating at right-back.

Bell suffered a kick on the outside of a knee at Wrexham, but is responding to treatment. Academy defender Matt Hill is a possible replacement if he does not recover in time.

Tony Pulis intends to retain the strike partnership of Steve Torpey and Alex Meechan, which finished the Wrexham game.

Academy striker Meechan impressed as a substitute and keeps his place. Peter Beadle, available again after suspension, will be among the substitutes.

From the Western Mail.
CARDIFF CITY manager Frank Burrows read the riot act after Monday’s 4-0 home defeat by Preston, demanding that his players make amends against Bristol City at Ashton Gate tomorrow.

“I don’t like losing heavily,” he said. “I certainly haven’t enjoyed the last few days, and I know thousands of supporters found Monday’s result hard to swallow.

“I’ve made sure my players also found it hard to swallow. If I’m not happy and the fans aren’t happy, why should they be?

“There’s no point in running for cover and hiding. Directors, players and the manager ignore the passion of the fans at their peril.

“The people who wear the blue shirt of Cardiff City have got to do it justice. Otherwise the fans will let them know what they think - and quite rightly so.

“It’s nobody’s fault but the manager and his players. We have to take the criticism on the chin, pick ourselves up, shake ourselves and do all we can to win the next game.”

Around 1,500 Bluebirds followers are expected to cross the Severn Bridge for tomorrow’s noon showdown, and Burrows urged them to be on their best behaviour.

“Our fans are worth their weight in gold. We had 700 or 800 at Cambridge willing us to get a result when we were down to eight men,” he said.

“The Bristol match is like a local derby. I take great pride in being manager of Cardiff City.

“I am also representing the Welsh capital. I think it’s a fantastic city, one of the liveliest and most vibrant places you could find.

“But if we get a good result and there is trouble off the pitch it spoils my day. I like winning but I like to win the right way. If I have to lose I have to lose the right way.

“There’s absolutely no excuse for damaging property or other people.”

Fit-again Jason Bowen is likely to resume his attacking partnership with Kevin Nugent in place of Richie Humphreys, who has a thigh strain.

Andy Legg is ready to return at left wing-back, while Willie Boland and Danny Hill staked claims for midfield recalls by playing well for the reserves in the midweek away win over Swansea City.

Jorn Schwinkendorf could be rested. The 6ft 5in German was withdrawn at half-time against Preston complaining of a back problem.

“Jorn must do a lot of hard work to adjust to the pace and competitiveness of the Football League. It’s a big transition for him,” added Burrows.

“But we are strong in midfield. The weakness is in both boxes. If I had as much competition for places in de-fence and attack there wouldn’t be a problem. But the latest training sessions have been nice and lively, and I’m looking for us to do ourselves justice.”

Cardiff City (from): Hallworth; Faerber, Perrett, Nugent, Fowler, Eckhardt, Middleton, Carpenter, Schwinkendorf, Low, Bowen, Hill, Boland, Roberts, Humphreys, Thomas.

From the Bristol Evening Post.
Bristol City manager Tony Pulis could finally be ready to give youth its chance with Academy graduates Alex Meechan and Matt Hill under consideration for tomorrow’s Severnside derby with Cardiff.

Striker Meechan, 19, is battling to keep out Peter Beadle after impressing as a first-half substitute against Wrexham on Monday.

And youth team skipper Hill, 18, is standing by to fill in at left-back, should Mickey Bell fail to recover from an ankle injury.

“Alex did very well against Wrexham,” said Pulis. “It will be a tough decision for me whether to play him or Peter Beadle on Sunday.

“Alex is a good kid. He makes dangerous runs, is full of energy and is a good option to have.

“Mickey Bell will have a fitness test on Sunday morning and if he doesn’t make it then I will seriously consider giving Matt Hill a chance.

“He’s fit again after the injury he had before Christmas and is a naturally left-sided defender, so he would be Mickey’s obvious replacement.”

Meechan has started just one league game in his City career so far, against Gillingham earlier this season, while Hill has just two substitute appearances to his name, both made under Benny Lennartsson last year.

Both teenagers are eager to stake their claim for a regular place in Pulis’ plans.

“Obviously I’d love to get the chance to prove myself. I think I’m ready but it’s not my decision,” said Meechan.

“To be honest, Pete has to be favourite to come back, but I’ll just have to keep my fingers crossed.”

Hill added: “I feel that I’m getting back to fitness now after my injury and the last couple of youth team games have gone well.

“I really enjoyed being involved with the first team last year and it would be great to get another chance. I’m sure I would do okay.”

In addition to Bell, centre-half Keith Millen is also facing a late fitness test on a knee injury and Pulis admits he would be sorely missed if he failed to come through.

“Keith Millen has been outstanding since he came to this football club and it would be a massive blow if he were ruled out,” he said.

Louis Carey looks set to keep his place in defence after making his comeback from a broken foot against Wrexham, although he could be switched to centre-back if Millen is ruled out.

Pulis will stick to the 4-4-2 formation he employed at the Racecourse Ground and claims he is expecting Cardiff to put up stiff resistance despite their position near the foot of the second division table.

“It is a local derby and I expect them to make it very difficult for us,” he said. “It’s important that we compete with them if we are to get anything out of the game.

“Their result against Preston (a 4-0 defeat) will undoubtedly fire them up and they will be up for it. It will be a high tempo game and we have to be prepared for that.”

Injured striker Steve Jones returned to Bristol yesterday to see the club doctor but still faces further hospital tests on his stomach complaint and Pulis admits he has no idea when the former Charlton man will be available again.

Meanwhile 16-year-old striker Marvin Brown, who was in the squad which travelled to Wrexham, is currently unavailable.  He is away on England youth team duty at La Manga, in Spain.