Tues 14th Sep 1999

Tues 14th Sep 1999 - Wimbledon previews

"Underground, overground, wombles are we, coming to Cardiff to play the City". After the poor return at Wycome City have the chance to redeem themselves with a tough Worthington Cup tie at home to Wimbledon tonight. City will be boosted by the return of Jason Fowler. Its probably too soon yet for Danny Hill and Lee Phillips but both have returned to training. Mark Bonner, Craig Middleton, Russell Perrett and John Cornforth are still out. The City team will have plenty of skill tonight as we have a pretty decent squad, what was lacking on Saturday was the right attitude, that must be rectified tonight if we are to keep John Hartson and Carl Cort off the scoresheet. Wimbledon also include Neil Sullivan in goal, the Scottish international is one of the top rated keepers in the Premiership. Wimbledon are not in the best of form but Cardiff are also lacking home victories. The last competitive match won at Ninian Park (excl FAW games) was last March. Since then all our league games have been drawn, the only defeat was in the 1st round of the Worthington Cup when we went down to a 2 - 1 reverse to Q.P.R. Famously though we turned that around at Loftus Rd and emerged winners on penalties to earn this tie tonight.

I will be at the game so the website will be updated later in the evening. I should have the video action in my possession tonight as well but that will follow later. You can follow the game in the chatroom on this website when you can get action as it happens from Gill Samuel or you can use the Official Wimbledon real audio commentary.

Here are some other previews.

Preview coutesy of www.wimbledon-fc.co.uk.
THE DONS open their Worthington Cup campaign at Cardiff City this evening, with Egil Olsen determined to continue the club's recent success in the competition.

The Crazy Gang has fallen at the semi-final stage twice in the last three years, and Drillo is certainly one manager who is taking this Cup seriously.

He said: "We will try hard and I will be very disappointed if we can't beat Cardiff in two matches."

John Hartson will again lead the Dons' forward line after grabbing a goal in Saturday's 2 - 2 draw with Derby County.

The Welsh international always relishes a return to his homeland, and will be particularly fired up to face Cardiff as he's a life-long Swansea fan.

City boss Frank Burrows is someone John knows well from his
days at West Ham where he was a member of Harry Redknapp's coaching team.

Cardiff will be eager to win in front of their home fans. The Second Division side, promoted last season, haven't won at Ninian Park since March.

The Welsh club has already produced one giant-killing act in the competition in beating QPR in the first round.

Preview from The Daily Mirror
CARDIFF CITY manager Frank Burrows will urge his players to think of Ninian Park as a fortress rather than a theatre of fear when they face Wimbledon tonight.

Cardiff have not won before their own fans since March - even though they were promoted from the Third Division last season.

Burrows dismissed any talk of jinx or hoodoo, however, when he said: "You tell me the last time we lost a League game at home."

That was way back in October, when Cambridge beat them 1-0.

The only other reversal at Ninian Park came in the Worthington Cup last month, when QPR won 2-1.

Cardiff went on to avenge that defeat in the second leg to set up tonight's second round clash with the Premiership side.

Where City have come adrift is in the number of home draws - nine in the last 10 games, including all three League matches this season.

"It's not a statistic which frightens me because most of the time we've played quite well," said Burrows.

"What we have to do is to make that good approach play count. That's the message I will pass on to my players before we face Wimbledon. We have nothing to be afraid of at home.

"And playing a side from the top division should be all the incentive they need. It's a chance for them to pit their skills against the best, something they ought to relish."

Jason Fowler, plagued by a nagging back injury, could be fit enough to return tonight to ease Cardiff's chronic injury problems in midfield.

The Dons' attack will be led by Wales international John Hartson, who said: "We will be favourites but with Frank Burrows in charge of Cardiff City I'll be taking nothing for granted."

Burrows played a major role in Hartson's development at West Ham that eventually saw him leave Upton Park for Wimbledon in a pounds 7million transfer.

Burrows was a member of Harry Redknapp's coaching team until he decided to return to Cardiff as manager in February last year.

"I've got a great deal of time for Frank and his footballing opinion is one I will always respect," said Hartson, who returned from injury and found his scoring touch with a goal in Wimbledon's 2-2 draw with Derby on Saturday.

"Frank was good for me at West Ham. He would take me for extra training and one thing I know for certain is that any team managed by him will be no easy nut to crack.

"At the same time, Frank knows I am a professional and that I will. be doing my utmost to ensure Wimbledon knock Cardiff out."

Centre-back Jeff Eckhardt will be doing his best to make sure that does not happen but he admitted: "It's going to be some challenge.

"We have already come up against some big, awkward strikers in Steve Anthrobus of Oxford United and Millwall's Paul Moody and we did pretty well against them.

"John, though, will definitely be a further step up in class."

Burrows will hope his side learned a lesson on Saturday when they were undone by a Wycombe outfit managed by Crazy Gang old boy Lawrie Sanchez and playing familiar Wimbledon long-ball style.

Captain Mike Ford said: "It's going to be a great game to play in because Wimbledon will be aggressive going forward."