October
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Cork will have many options this coming weekend with the return of Thorne and Gordon. He also has Graham Kavanagh back from suspension and Jason Bowen and Paul Brayson have recovered from their injuries.

The only first team squad members not fit are Michael Simpkins who is still hoping to return to training in the new year and for the short term Mark Bonner who hurt his knee at Notts County.

With three home games coming up in 8 days City will have to have a marked improvement in home form. There have been too many draws and fans have become disgruntled.

Sam went to the press yesterday saying that the injuries to the squad had affected the performances.

"We have to be fair

We have been playing the last four or five games without Peter Thorne, Gavin Gordon, Jason Bowen and Paul Brayson.

They are key players. Graham Kavanagh and Des Hamilton were also out against Notts County, while Michael Simpkins will not be able to play for some time. Name me one club who could cope with that as well as we have.

If Stoke City, Bristol City, Brighton or any other club suffered the same level of problems they would have lost 6-0, but we went to Notts County and earned a draw.

We were away to a well-run and well-managed Notts County and we drew 0-0 without six or seven of our key people.

Kavanagh and Hamilton are the heart of our midfield - and they were both missing.

Yet, with all those team problems, the expectation of every Cardiff supporter, the expectation of Alan Cork, the expectation of Sam Hammam, the South Wales Echo and the people of Wales is that we should go and beat Notts County.

That shows how much belief there is in Cardiff City. The fact that we drew becomes a tragedy, a trauma."

Nothing less than a win against Oldham will keep the fans from turning even more on City boss Alan Cork. There is an unhealthy relationship building with players fighting each other on the pitch, Cork refusing to accept that there is anything wrong with the performances the players now refusing to talk to the press.

Expectation is high and rightly so when several million pound has been spent. Its time for the players to start performing as Cork has stated before that they are not following instructions. Sam is clearly unhappy with rumours of meetings with Cork to try and get it sorted and with meetings with a selection of fans to ask who should be in charge if not Cork.

Cork himself must accept that some things are not working, the 4 - 3 - 3 approach at Ninian Park for one thing. We have quality players being played out of position, no wingers getting balls over for the strikers (and hoofing it from halfway does not count as a quality cross).

The time to stand up and be counted is fast approaching. We have 8 games in 31 days. 7 of them league games with 4 of them at Ninian Park. The Cup game is at Ninian Park as well.

Jan 1st will hopefully see City firmly entrenched in the play off positions and also in round 3 of the FA Cup.