Cardiff City news 04/02/02

Mon 4th February 2002. February preview

Every game I seem to be saying how important it is and how much our season depends on it. To a point thats correct, every game is massive and if we are to make the play offs we need to get a decent run together. We've not managed a run of more than two consecutive wins this season in the league and if we are to sty in contention we are going to need a run of three or four wins to get back in there.

All is not lost, we are only 5 points off the play off places with games in hand. We can still be a part of the promotion shake up, although automatic is probably too tall an order, but we must get clinical in scoring goals and put teams away when we dominate. Its been said many time before this season and we'll probably say it again.

Tomorrow's game at Bournemouth is another must win game, as is Saturdays clash at home to Swindon, they all are.

We are about to hit a run in February of 7 games in 22 days. 21 points to play for. 3 home games, 4 away games. We have not drawn a game in over a month, I'd perfer to lose the odd game and win the others rather than pick up draws, with 3 points for a win they are so important.

From the seven game to play if we can win our home games and sneak a couple of away wins we can be right back in there. To be honest if we cannot pick up a few wins this month we don't deserve promotion anyway.

Tomorrow its Bournemouth, they beat Stoke on Saturday for their first win in 12 or 13 games. They are 6th from bottom of the table, we must be able to do a professional job and win this sort of game.

On Saturday we entertain Swindon. Swindon are upto 12th with a win over Northampton last weekend. Not the easist of fixtures but we are at home and we've already thumped them 3 - 0 this season. Should be no problem. Home win.

Next up on Tuesday 12th is Brentford. Difficult one to call, it really could go either way. Brentford put 4 past Brighton the other week but they were soundly beaten at Ninian Park before Christmas. It really is a hard one to predict.

The following Saturday we go to Wigan. Tough game but Wigan have struggled this season. They have had a good run but were beaten at home by Blackpool last Saturday. Its a winnable game.

Then a home banker surely, Bury at Ninian Park on Tuesday 19th. The players owe Bury one after the embarrassing 0 - 3 reverse at Gigg Lane earlier in the season. Bury are one place off the relegation.

Then its another home banker, Cambridge Utd are bottom of the division. 9 points from safety and without an away win all season. Like Bury Cambridge beat us earlier in the season and we must put one back over these teams. Another home banker.

A difficult end to the month with a trip to the McAlpine to play Huddersfield on Tuesday Feb 26th. While a win would be superb a draw would still be a good result.

In my opinion, looking at those games we should be able to get three home wins, we have a fair chance at Bournemouth and Wigan (all 5 of those teams below us) and anything from Brentford and Huddersfield would be a bonus, especially as it restricts their progress in the top half of the table.

After the Huddersfiled game we will know whether we deserve to be in with a chance.