Cardiff City news 02/02/01

Fri 2nd Feb 2001 - Rochdale preview

What an occasion we have to look forward to tonight. Its a massive wekend for sport in Wales. With rubgy at the Millenium Stadium tomorrow City have been finding it hard to get column inches or media coverage but a win tonight will surely redress that. If the Bluebirds win the game then a new record will be set, 10 home league wins on the trot. The current nine games had equalled a record set twice before in the 22/23 season and in the 50/51 season.

Of course without that the game is a top of the table clash. City are second, 4 points ahead of Rochdale who are 4th. A City win would put us 7 points ahead of Rochdale and more importantly 7 points above the play off zone.

But it will not be easy 'Dale have the tightest away defence in the division, they have only conceeded 8 goals on their travels this season and only losd twice. Mind you Macclesfield had only conceeded 8 at home until last week and we put 5 past them.

Kick off is at 7:45pm and a crowd of over 10,000 is expected. The ticket office at Ninian park is open until kick off time but internet bookings will only be accepted until 5pm, if you book on the net your tickets will be available for collection at the ground before the game. So far over 6,000 pre booked tickets have been sold.

Team news to follow later.

Preview from TotalWales.
CAPTAIN Andy Legg last night admitted Alan Cork’s criticism of his “cocky” Cardiff City side following last week’s 5-2 victory at Maccles-field was fully justified,

City’s chief coach has threatened to replace players who seem to be getting carried away by success unless they “grow up.”

He added, “I was fed up rowing about the same things so after the game I decided to have a drink with the owner Sam Hammam rather than risk my blood pressure going through the roof.”

Cork has demanded total concentration against fourth-placed Rochdale at Ninian Park tonight as the Bluebirds strive to beat a 50-year-old record.

And Legg said, “You can’t argue with the boss because he’s right.

“We have been sloppy and casual at times. We played some great football in patches at Macclesfield but didn’t keep it going for long enough.

“This is something the whole team has to put right. We need to become more consistent.

“We are basically a very young team and it’s a learning curve but the great thing is we have battled our way into second place. Now, with 20 games to go, we have to make sure we stay in the top three.”

City have gained nine successive home league wins for the first time since the 1951-52 Second Division promotion season when they drew the 10th against West Ham.

To beat that record tonight they must break down opponents with the best away record in the Nationwide League - a miserly eight goals conceded in 12 matches showing just two defeats.

“Rochdale play 4-5-1 away from home. They will try to smother us, hit us on the break and catch us out on set-pieces,” said Cork.

City await a late fitness test on centre-back Scott Young, who withdrew with an ankle injury after scoring twice at Macclesfield to take his tally to eight.

Striker Gavin Gordon, a record Ł550,000 signing from Lincoln, will probably be on the subs’ bench again.

“People you spend money on should be in the side. It’s difficult when things are going so well. But Gavin’s time will come,” added Cork.

Three Welshmen are in the Dale’s starting line-up - ’keeper Neil Edwards, full-back Wayne Evans and former Manchester United winger Simon Davies, capped once by Wales at senior level.

“This is a vital game for us,” said Rochdale manager Steve Parkin.

“Robert Earnshaw can’t stop scoring and Andy Legg is hurling long throws from all over the place for Leo Fortune-West. That’s some thing we’ve been working on.”