November
Newsfile

Newsfile Archive

Cardiff go into tonights game with arguably nothing to lose. A win will obviously fantastic but defeat, while always hard to take will of course give us chance to concentrate on out lowy league position. The winners of the tie tonight will travel to play Grimsby on Jan 8th 2000. If tonights game is a draw then the replay will be at Ninian Park on Jan 8th with a new date arranged for Grimsby away. Also should we win or draw tonight it would mean the cancellation of our away tie at Brictol City which is planned for Sunday Jan 9th.

City welcom back Russell Perrett after a one match ban and he will regain his place at the expense of Jorn Schwinkendorf. Matt Brazier and Mark Bonner are ruled out with flu. Kevin Nugent is fit again but is likely to once again be on the bench.

Here are some more articles from this mornings press.

From Total Wales.
CARDIFF CITY have turned to a 32-year-old First Division striker to solve their goal famine.

Cash-starved Swindon Town have reluctantly agreed a £110,000 fee for Glasgow-born Iffy Onuora, their 20-goal top scorer last season.

Frank Burrows hopes to agree personal terms in time for the 6ft 1in Onuora to make his debut against Reading at Ninian Park on Sunday (12.15).

“With the amount of games we have coming up and the severe weather it’s important to have greater competition for places,” said City’s manager.

“Kevin Nugent is just coming back from injury but Christian Roberts may need a knee operation and Richie Humphreys is only on loan to us from Sheffield Wednesday.”

Onuora, scorer of 24 goals in 74 first-team games for Swindon since his £120,000 move from Gillingham last year, turned down a return to his former club last week.

But the former Huddersfield and Mansfield player said yesterday, “My agent has told me that Cardiff have met my personal terms and I expect the deal to go through in the next 48 hours.

“I’m sorry to be leaving Swindon but they need the money. I look on this as a fresh challenge.”

Swindon manager Jimmy Quinn said, “I don’t want to lose Iffy but have no choice. We have to sell him to keep this club alive.”

Losing £25,000 a week, the Wilt-shire club were forced to sell forward George Ndah to Wolves for £750,000 and cut their wage bill further by letting Mark Walters join Bristol Rovers on loan.

Although City have managed to score only 23 times in 21 Second Division games (10 defeats), Burrows believes results will improve.

“I’ve told my players there is nothing wrong with the team that a few good results won’t put right,” he said.

“They are playing well and showing a good attitude. But I am sick of opposing managers telling us how well we played.

“Results have got to speak for themselves. The FA Cup hasn’t been kind to us with all our ties away from home.

“But we scrapped our way through to win replays against Leyton Orient and Bury and want to stay in the competition.

“We could cause a cup exit at the Reebok Stadium. We are certainly good enough to do so if we play well and Bolton have an off night.

“A good display and more importantly a good result against the First Division side would obviously help confidence for the Boxing Day game with Reading.”

Russell Perrett is poised to return to the centre of defence after missing Saturday’s 2-l defeat at Burnley through suspension.

Jorn Schwinkendorf, who deputised, will probably be relegated to the subs’ bench, Burrows explaining that the 6ft 5in German had been recruited primarily as a holding mid-field player.

Torrential rain washed out the cuptie 13 days ago but under-soil heating at the Reebok should ensure the pitch being playable tonight.

Wanderers will make at least two changes to the side beaten in the league for the third time running, by Stockport County on Saturday.

Darren Holloway, on loan from Sunderland, and Gareth Farrelly are both cup-tied.

Local discovery Dean Holden will replace Holloway at right-back with Hasney Aljofree probably taking over from Farrelly in midfield.

Sam Allardyce hinted at further changes with Danish striker Bo Hansen in line for a recall alongside Icelandic international Eidur Gud-johnsen.

“We’ve knocked three Premiership clubs (Derby, Sheffield Wednesday and Wimbledon) out of the Worthington Cup but struggled against lesser opponents,” said Allardyce.

“We’ve been up for the big guns and have got be up for the not so big teams.”

From the Daily Mirror
THE shadow of Swindon's Iffy Onuora hangs over Cardiff City's struggling strikers at Bolton tonight.

Cardiff manager Frank Burrows is poised to sign Onuora in time for the crucial Second Division relegation battle with Reading on Boxing Day.

That puts an extra strain on the forwards in FA Cup third round action against First Division Bolton.

Cardiff have managed only 23 goals in 21 League games, despite Burrows giving half-a-dozen strikers their chance.

Having brought Richie Humphreys to Ninian Park on loan, Burrows is ready to add firepower in the shape of Onuora, 32, who scored 20 in 43 games for Swindon last season.

"Any deal is still at the negotiating stage," was all Burrows would say.

But Swindon are desperate for cash to ease their financial plight and manager Jimmy Quinn said: "The deal should go through by Christmas."

With treacherous weather expected in Lancashire last night, Cardiff delayed their journey to Bolton until this morning.

The tie has been postponed once and Burrows said: "I don't want my players stuck in a coach for hours for another wasted journey."

Despite their weekend defeat at Burnley, which left them a point above a relegation spot, Burrows insisted: "There is nothing wrong with Cardiff City.

"That's what makes it all the more frustrating. I can't fault my players for effort or for any lack of commitment.

"If we can bring Bolton back for a replay it would get the crowd going again and give our season a lift."

Team news from Bolton W.
Gareth Farrelly was not registered in time for the Cup match, Darren Holloway will not be given permission to play by Sunderland and there is the list of long term injuries.

Those are the selection problems Sam faces with Jimmy Phillips, Dean Holdsworth and Paul Warhurst still ruled out though injury. The game he says will offer the chance to the younger members of the squad to impress.

"The list has not eased so we go into the Cardiff game with quite a bare squad. But it is a game which some of the lads who don't normally get a chance should relish and I would hope they would come through it very positively."

"I want them to show that when they come in and play in the team that they players who are missing on a regular basis are, in fact, not missed as much as we might think."

Hasney Aljofree in midfield and Dean Holden at right back look the most likely players to be drafted in as cover for Gareth Farrelly and Darren Holloway.