Cardiff City news 05/01/01

Fri 5th Jan 2001 - FA Cup preview

Cardiff and the FA Cup, its been big news this week. On Thursday the official announcement was made that the Millenium Stadium would host the most prestigious trophy in world club football for the next three years. Along with the FA Cup comes the Worthington Cup, all three play off finals and the Charity Shield. Some dream eh? Cardiff playing in one of those games.

So its fitting that this weekend is FA Cup third round day. The best round of the competition in many peoples eyes, there are several matches that might produce shocks, Arsenal travel to bottom of the league Carlisle, high flying Ipswich are away at non league Morcambe or ossibly Orient turning over Spurs.

Of course the giant killing in the eyes of City fans is that of 3rd division Cardiff beating 1st division Crewe, not as romantic as taking a Premiership scalp but a giant killing nonetheless.

Cardiff will be forced into at least two changes from the team that fired 6 past Exeter on New Years Day. Gavin Gordon is cup tied and will be replaced by Leo FW and James Harper was not signed and registered in time for tomorrows game. Willie Boland could return to fill Harpers boots.

So the likley line up could be

Walton, Brazier, Weston, Legg, Young, Gabbidon, Boland, McCulloch, Bowen, Leo FW and Earnie. Subs from Brayson, Eckhardt, Low, Nogan, Evans, Thompson, Hill and Jordan.

Crewe come into the game with 5 defeats in their last 6 games. Cardiff on the other hand have won four out of the last six, and also we are unbeaten at home all season and have won the last 13 on the trot at Ninian park in all competitions including two FA Cup games already.

It appears to be a sell out at Ninian Park, the last tickets are selling fast and there are expected to be over 12,500 City fans at the game. Crewe on the other hand are only expected to bring a few hundred at most.

If you have not ordered or purchased a ticket yet then do so now. There will be no pay at the gate tomorrow as all the tickets are expectd to have gone.

Have a great day and lets hope its Cardiff City that go into the hat for Sunday's fourth round draw.