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There is a history between the two teams with City have taken Cork from being Mickey Adams' assistant and bringing him to Cardiff. While Adams and Cork are best friends, one being the others best man and all, there will be no love lost at 3pm on Saturday when Brighton will look to strengthen their lead at the top and Cardiff will hope to re-affirm Ninian Park as a fortress. Last weekend the walls were breached when Huddersfield became the first club in 28 games to leave with 3 points.

After Saturdays game City have a 10 day break. The game at Bury on Sunday 7th October has been cancelled because of the Wales U 21 call ups of Josh Low, Layton Maxwell and Daniel Gabbidon.

The next game then is at Ashton Gate on Tuesday 9th October, 7:45pm. Followed 3 days later with a home game against Wigan on Friday 12th October, 7:45pm.

With a 10 day break without a match the fans will have plenty of time to reflect upon Saturdays game and the previous games we have just played. At the moment its not nice reading. 3 defeats in 4 games, twice after leading and then losing 2 - 1. The other lost game was a surrender against lowly Cambridge. Even the win was hardly impressive. Nothing less than a massive change of fortune this weekend will help Alan Cork regain some support from the fans. More and more are becoming dis-illusioned with the management team. While its drastic to call for the managers head early into the season and saying you should allow a team to "gel" etc etc etc, its obvious to most that the way we are playing is predictable, easy to defend against and poor. Players are being played out of position and there is a lack of motivation.

Scenes on the touchline of players being prepared to come on the pitch, then being told to put their tracksuits back on show their is conflict at pitchside. The case in question Mark Bonner, both last Saturday and at Q.P.R. he was prepared to come on then stood down.

There are murmuring that Ian Atkins, the assistant remember, is having too much influence on tactics. He has a reputation for long ball football and his experience is all lower division with players of little financial value. Is he qualified to handle our squad?

What has happened to Alan Cork's attacking 3 - 5 - 2 formation. The system that Josh Low thrived on? Cork's outlook was to attack and play football. Last season he did it but why close up this season. Could Atkins again be influencing this?

Is there also behind the scenes friction? Atkins and Cork alleged to have fought at the begining of the week. Leon Jeanne omitted from the squad for ill-discipline before the Q.P.R. game.

Who's in charge here, who's steering this ship? We need someone in control. Thats why the fans are turning against Cork / Atkins. Strong leadership is needed, a man not afraid to make changes, admit now that the system is wrong, admit now that players who are under performing have been under performing, change the line up, sort out differences, experienced right back Andy Thompson does not get a look in, he's on the transfer list and away from the first team. Poor Rhys Weston is struggling, game after game. he's never played at this level before. Give him a break.

Players like Matt Brazier could come in and cover for Simpkins, again he's having difficulty. Defensivly he's been OK but poor going forward. Brazier, an attacking left back, could do a job while Simpkins is rested.

Q.P.R. were under the cosh at half time the other night, they changed it at half time and run us ragged when their winger came on. What did we learn from that? Very little, it took until the last 15 minutes before the end before we made a change and then we left two wingers still on the bench.

Alan Cork remains upbeat, he is quoted today as saying

"The pressure does not worry me If we were playing badly I would be worried about it.

We've conceded too many goals this season and we have been in front quite a few times only to lose the lead. We've got to grow up quickly and stop being so naive. I can shout as much as I want on the touch-line but some of the players have got to start shouting on the pitch.

But the boys are performing OK. All they need is a little bit more steel between themselves.

The lads are taking a lot of criticism personally instead of the fans inspiring the players to do their jobs better.

People are jumping on the bandwagon with this Route One tag but it is all about getting balls into the box because that's where Leo Fortune-West and Peter Thorne score their goals."

Cork obviously thinks then the long ball into Leo and Thorne is the answer. Thousands of City fans disagree.