Cardiff City news 11/04/00

Tues 11th April 2000 - FAW Premier Cup preview.

Match preview. Updated at 1700 hrs.

City have taken a 16 man squad to Caernarfon tonight. As earlier reported Mike Ford and Russell Perrett missed the trip to North Wales. Scott Young returns to the side and will partner Jeff Eckhardt in central defence. Billy Ayre left out Willie Boland and Schwinke from the travelling party.

The 16 on duty tonight then are. Kelly, Faerber, Young, Eckhardt, Legg, Bowen, Bonner, Carpenter, Brazier, Nogan, Nugent, Buttery, Fowler, Brayson, Hill and Low. I think in the FAW only 3 subs can be named unlike the 5 in the Nationwide league so two players will miss out altogether.

Update at 0001 hrs
Theres a break from league action tonight when City go on the FAW Premier Cup trail. After seeing Caernarfon go to the Vetch and knock out Swansea in the last round the Bluebirds will ensure against complacency. The first leg tonight is live on BBC Wales on terrestrial television and is available nationwide to Sky Digital viewers on the BBC Choice Wales channel (check TV guide for channel no).

Cardiff will play a strong side. Its important to do the hard work tonight, a good result will enable Billy to rest players for the return next Monday. The second leg is only 48 hours after the crucial battle with Cambridge on Saturday.

City will be without Jon Hallworth for the rest of the season. So Seamus Kelly will get some much needed first team practice in preparation for Saturdays game. City will be without Russell Perrett and Mike Ford who both picked up knocks against Preston. Perrett is more precautionary and should be back for the weekend. I'm not sure on the extent of Fords injury. The rest of the team will probably the players who played on Saturday.

While the league is obviously the most important there is a pot of over Ł100,000 to the winners of the FAW Cup. City will want it this season after being beaten finalists two years ago, Wrexham beat City in the final. Last season we were beaten in the semi finals by Wrexham again. The first leg of the other semi final saw Wrexham win 4 - 0 over Barry. I guess if we do get to the final it will the Robins again trying to stop us win the trophy. Maybe a Millenium Stadium final instead of the toss of a coin?? Who knows.

Teamtalk are carrying the following report on tonights game.
Caernarfon manager Dixie McNeil has spoken of his fear at being overwhelmed by the Bluebirds in tomorrow's FAW Premier Cup sem-final first leg in North Wales. Caernarfon's relegation from the League of Wales was confirmed on Saturday when they were beaten by Barry and McNeil said: "I just hope Cardiff don't hit a cricket score against us, we don't deserve that. Over two legs it will be exceptionally hard for us, but I only hope Cardiff field their full team, that will at least give our lads a full sense of occasion to rise to." McNeil's likely to have his wish, with Billy Ayre determined to have the Premier Cup to show as solid reward for City's disappointing season. Caernarfon remarkably reached the semi-finals with a 1-0 win at the Vetch Field over Swansea, who rested their entire first team and fielded a squad of fringe and youth players. Ayre is unlikely to make the same mistake.

Match preview from TotalWales.
SEAMUS KELLY has been given an unexpected opportunity to help keep Cardiff City in the Second Division and clinch a new contract.

Injury to first-choice goalkeeper Jon Hallworth has plunged the 25-year-old into City’s relegation fight.

Hallworth broke a finger in the last minute of Saturday’s goalless draw with leaders Preston at Deepdale.

He will miss the closing stages of the season as he did last year after sustaining a rib injury in the 1-l draw against Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road - also on Grand National day.

Irishman Kelly proved an able deputy, three clean sheets in the last five games enabling City to finish third and go up from Division Three.

His task this time is to keep out the goals that would take them down to the basement section again.

“It’s strange how history has repeated itself,” said the 6ft 1in Kelly, signed from University College Dublin.

“I came in for the last five games last season to help City gain promotion and fortunately it all worked out fine.

“This time it’s all about staying up. I just hope I can be lucky again.”

Kelly’s two-year contract runs out soon but his form in the six remaining league games, starting with Saturday’s crucial clash against fellow strugglers Cambridge United at Ninian Park, will enhance his chances of being offered a new deal.

Hallworth is backing his understudy to do the business.

“Seamus did a good job when he stepped in last season and there’s no reason he shouldn’t do the same again,” said the 34-year-old, himself coming to the end of a three-year contract.

And City manager Billy Ayre also has confidence in Kelly to do well.

“Seamus is in the same kind of situation he faced last season,” he said.

“There was just as much pressure going for promotion as there is trying to avoid relegation.”

Kelly’s only league appearance this campaign was in the 3-2 defeat at Bury in October.

But he played in four of the six FAW Premier Cup games that have taken the Bluebirds to tonight’s semi-final first leg against Caernarfon Town at The Oval (7pm).

Kelly and YTS keeper Paul Buttery are named for a cup-tie that centrebacks Russell Perrett and Mike Ford will probably miss through injury.

Caernarfon pulled off the shock of the season to knock out Swansea City in the quarter-final at the Vetch Field.

“No matter what happens against Cardiff the lads did brilliantly to beat the Swans on their own ground,” said manager Dixie McNeil. “Financially, this is a huge bonus game I want the lads to go out and enjoy it.”

The North Wales club will bank a minimum Ł20,000 in prize money plus an Ł11,500 fee for live television coverage by BBC Wales.

The bulk of the money will be used to build a squad strong enough to make a swift return to the League of Wales, Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Barry having confirmed relegation.

Caernarfon have taken a leaf from the Welsh FA’s book by slashing prices and allowing accompanied children free admission for the City game.

“Fans have had to endure an awful season and we just want to give a bit back to the local community. The more people we can get there, the better,” added McNeil, the former Wrexham manager, who took over in January. He has included sons Richard and Jamie in his squad.