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Fri 13th Aug 1999 - Oxford Utd v Cardiff City. Preview |
| August Headlines |
 Make no mistake, Saturday 14th August 1999 will be a
big day in Mike Ford's life. He looks likely to lead out the Bluebirds against Oxford Utd,
the club that he gave 10 years service to, playing 338 games and scoring 22 goals. Ford
returned to the City side which went down 2 - 1 against Q.P.R on Tuesday. It was his first
game this season after injury, and he came through the 90 minutes is is fit and raring to
go again. Whilst Mike loves Oxford he will be trying his best to put one over on them
tomorrow. He would like nothing better then to be the winning captain in the bar after the
game. Ford's links with Oxford are still strong. He will receive a testimonial from the
Club in honour of his 10 years service. That will be later in the season against
Premiership opposition. When Mike joined Cardiff last season an Oxford supporter started
to follow the fortunes of Mike Ford with Cardiff City. While Chris Brown is Oxford through
and through he has taken an active part in the mailing list on this website and has
created a feeling of goodwill between the two clubs. Oxford themselves have received a
massive boost with their future looking secure after planning permission has been given
for a new stadium. They have a well to do backer and the dark days of possible extiction
seem to be long gone.
On the playing side Cardiff will take the same squad to the Manor Ground. Russell Perrett is still unfit as is Richard Carpenter and Scott Young. It is hoped that Scott will return to light training next week. There does not appear to have been any new injuries picked up so Frank will have the same names to play with. A major talking point will be the role of sweeper. Jason Fowler has had a nightmare start to the season in that role. Last Saturday against Millwall he gave away a penalty and got sent off. On Tuesday v Q.P.R he scored an own goal. Jason is a very talented player. He has shown he can be effective in a sweeper role when coming forward. His defending abilities though are limited. Its possible Frank might bring Lee Jarman into the central role and move Fowler upfield possibly at the expense of Danny Hill who did not play at his best on Tuesday. John Cornforth made a sound start after coming on as a 60th minute sub against Rangers for Mark Bonner, but I do not think he is fit for 90 minutes of football. I would expect Frank to stick with mark Bonner and maybe do the same thing again. So for my opinion on the line up tomorrow.
Hallworth On the bench. Kelly, Thomas, Brazier, Hill, Cornforth. |
Copyright Michael Morris 1999.
Oxford
were 1st division last season but were relegated and have been struggling through the pre
season with off the pitch matters. On the pitch though they earned a creditable 2 - 1 away
win at Stoke last Saturday and a 2 - 0 Worthington Cup win over Southend in midweek. With
the flair football we have seen from Cardiff in the last two games it looks like being a
great match.