December
Newsfile

Newsfile Archive

""If City can get past Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday and into the 4th
round of the FA Cup, it will mark the third year in the last four
that City has advanced to the 4th round.  The Bluebirds advanced only
as far as the 3rd round last season, of course, but by returning to
the 3rd round this season City's already achieved something special.
Some 37 clubs have played in the lower two divisions in each of the
last four seasons (1997/98 thru 2000/2001).  Cardiff City stands alone
as the only such lower-division side to get at least as far as the 3rd
round in each of the last four campaigns.  That's right, the only one
of the 37.    

Here are some updated stats on City's 3rd round FA Cup history:

All-time Records

* City's all-time record in 3rd round FA Cup matches stands at 27
wins, 35 losses, and 18 draws.

* At Ninian Park, City's all-time 3rd round record shows 12 wins, 10
losses, and 18 draws.  Away from home, City's all-time mark shows 15
wins, 25 losses, and 5 draws.

* City's all-time 3rd round mark versus top division clubs checks out
at 11 wins, 17 losses, and 8 draws.  City has six 3rd round wins
against top-flight opponents since World War II -- West Brom in the
1949-50 competition, Leeds in both 1956-57 and 1957-58, Sheffield
United in 1971-72, Tottenham in 1976-77, and Middlesborough in
1993-94.  In only one of those seasons was City a top division club
as well.

* City has a record of 6 wins, 10 losses, and 3 draws against old
2nd/new 1st division opponents.  Against old 3rd/new 2nd division
clubs, City stands at 6 wins, 6 losses, and 2 draws.  Against old
4th/new 3rd adversaries, City has but six results (2 wins, 3 draws,
and a loss).   

City Versus the Great and the Not-so-great

* At first glance, these all-time marks don't look that hot.  They
start looking a good bit better, though, when you check out the very
tough opposition City's had to face through the years.  City's played

36 of its 79 3rd round matches against top division clubs!  That's
45.6% of all 3rd round matches.  During one astonishing stretch
starting in  1976-77, City drew a top-flight opponent six out of a
possible seven times.

* When City met Yeovil Town two years ago, it marked only the second
time that the club had met a non-league opponent in the 3rd round.
Peterborough United provided the only other non-league opposition,
back in 1953-54.  City won that encounter at Ninian, 3-1.

Biggest Wins, Biggest Losses

* City's biggest 3rd round win came during the 1921-22 competition,
when the Bluebirds blasted Nottingham Forest 4-1 at Ninian Park.  
City has two 3-0 wins as well, versus Bristol City at Ninian in
1923-24 and at Plymouth in 1958-59.

* City's most lopsided 3rd round defeats: a 6-1 pasting at the hands
of Aston Villa at Villa in 1928-29 and a 5-0 loss at Charlton in
1937-38.

John Heyda
in Middletown, Ohio USA""