 Saturday, 2nd Apr 2011 00:40 by Mick McDermott
Four points from two matches took the Rams into the international break with much needed momentum. They head to Wales hoping for another top team scalp as they take on a stuttering Cardiff.
Cardiff vs. Derby County3pm Saturday 2nd April 2011 Stadium Dinas Caerdydd Cardiff - Wales
Cardiff v Rams - Historical P 24 W 14 D 7 L 3 F 25 A 44
Last game at Cardiff Tue 29 Sep 09 Cardiff 6 - 1 Derby; Hulse
Current Form
Cardiff: 4/24 P 38 W 18 D 9 L 11 F 59 A 33 Leading scorers: Bothroyd (15g2cp)
Derby: 17/24 Derby P 38 W 12 D 8 L 18 F 48 A 53 Leading scorers: Bueno, Cywka, Moore (4)
The Rams The win over Cardiff's rivals Swansea, and the draw against Home win specialist Palace seems to have calmed down the fears of many Rams fans that we might be relegated - but there's no room for complacency. The teams below us have not given up on the Championship and we have some difficult games in our run in. Starting with Cardiff away we then have Coventry and Leeds at Home, QPR away, Burnley(H), Norwich(A), Bristol City(H) and finishing up with Reading(A). Other than perhaps struggling Coventry and Bristol City, the rest of the fixtures look tough. Robbie Savage has done his bit to wind up the Cardiff players and fans by suggesting that Swansea will finish higher than the Bluebirds. Talking to the BBC he said: "Cardiff has got a lot of high-profile strikers and it's going to be interesting to see which one of the two finishes higher and maybe get to the Premier League."
"If I was a betting man I'd put my money on Swansea because I think they are more of a team unit." He went on to discuss the chances of the teams in the top flight: "But Cardiff are more equipped for the Premier League because of the individual players they've got - Craig Bellamy, Jay Boothroyd and Michael Chopra."
"Their manager [Dave Jones] has also managed in the Premier League but I still think Swansea have got the better chance" "It will be great to be back in Cardiff," he insisted.
"Playing in Wales still has a little spice for me because believe it or not the Welsh fans give me huge amounts of grief." I think some of the Derby fans might join them Robbie if the above backfires on us.
Possible team Jones Brayford Barker Ayala Roberts Green Savage Pearson Bueno S.Davies Ward SUBS: Severn Addison B.Davies Porter Cywka Pringle Doyle
Current Rams Squad No. Position Player 1 Keeper Stephen Bywater 2 Defender John Brayford 3 Defender Gareth Roberts 4 Midfield Paul Green 5 Defender Shaun Barker (vice-captain) 6 Defender Dean Leacock 7 Striker Steve Davies 8 Midfield Robbie Savage (club captain) 10 Striker Jamie Ward (on loan from Sheffield United) 11 Midfield Stephen Pearson 12 Striker Chris Porter 13 Keeper Saul Deeney 14 Defender Russell Anderson 16 Midfield James Bailey 17 Defender Jake Buxton 18 Midfield Ben Pringle 19 Striker Tomasz Cywka 20 Defender Miles Addison 21 Defender Daniel Ayala (on loan from Liverpool) 23 Striker Conor Doyle 24 Midfield Arnaud Mendy 25 Defender Mark O'Brien 26 Striker Callum Ball 27 Striker Alberto Bueno (on loan from Real Valladolid) 28 Midfield Ben Davies 29 Midfield Jeff Hendrick 33 Keeper Brad Jones
Cardiff Cardiff has a Premier League Stadium and some would argue Premier League expenses - all that's missing is the Premier League status. Both Cardiff and Swansea have been striving to break the all England hegemony of the Premier League - and both seem to have come off the rails. Though automatic promotion is still possible, the lottery of the play-offs seems to be the only way up. Given the cost of their Championship campaign, fans are concerned that failure may see the backers pull out - which would leave Cardiff in dire financial straits. Chief executive Gethin Jenkins has moved to reassure fans: "They will stick by the club, that is the short answer". "If you look at their track record, they stood by us after the play-offs and they are committed to carrying on with the club. They want us to grow into a strong, sustainable operation and they are fully supportive of doing that development." "And whatever goes on, we should fully recognise the commitment and support the Malaysians gave us last June and where the club was." "If you spend any time in Malaysia or the Far East then football is phenomenally big - especially the Premier League as it gets more coverage in Asia than in the UK, believe or not." I wonder who he's trying to convince? It doesn't sound very reassuring to me. Jenkins went on to dismiss talk of Dave Jones, the Championships longest serving manager - having an ultimatum to achieve promotion. He did state that the club would have a "fundamental review" at the end of the 2010-11 campaign - which again doesn't sound reassuring for Jones. Some good news for Jones is the return to fitness of Jay Boothroyd. Speaking on his Twitter site he said: "Should be fine for the derby fixture." And on Monday: "Trained today everything feels fine so far." Boothroyd has had a hamstring injury and though he is the clubs leading scorer, its ten games since he scored. His strike partner Michael Chopra is out for the rest of the season - also with a hamstring injury though Jones has moved swiftly to secure J Lloyd Samuel from Bolton on loan for the rest of the season. He also has Craig Bellamy available. Cardiff will also be without centre-half Mark Hudson and Stephen Bywater will not be available for the Bluebirds though some Rams fans would like to see him in goal.
Current Cardiff Squad
No. Position Player 1 Keeper David Marshall 2 Defender Kevin McNaughton 3 Defender Lee Naylor 4 Midfield Gavin Rae 5 Defender Mark Hudson (club captain) 6 Defender Gábor Gyepes 7 Midfield Peter Whittingham 8 Striker Michael Chopra 9 Striker Jay Bothroyd 10 Midfield Stephen McPhail (vice-captain) 11 Midfield Chris Burke 12 Defender Dekel Keinan 13 Keeper Jason Brown (on loan from Blackburn Rovers) 14 Defender Paul Quinn 16 Striker Jon Parkin 19 Midfield Jason Koumas (on loan from Wigan Athletic) 20 Midfield Seyi Olofinjana (on loan from Hull City) 21 Midfield Jlloyd Samuel (on loan from Bolton Wanderers) 22 Keeper Tom Heaton 23 Defender Darcy Blake 25 Striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (on loan from Arsenal) 26 Defender Martin John 27 Defender Adam Matthews 29 Midfield Jonathan Meades 30 Keeper Jordan Santiago 39 Striker Craig Bellamy (on loan from Manchester City) (Captain) 43 Keeper Stephen Bywater (on loan from Derby County) 49 Striker Nathaniel Jarvis
What the bookies think Unsurprisingly, the Bluebirds are favourites for this. William Hill has them at 7/10 on while the Rams are at 19/5. The draw is at 11/4. Jay Boothroyd, Craig Bellamy, Jon Parkin, Peter Whittingam, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Chris Burke are all at lower odds than Alberto Bueno who is at 8/1.
Getting To Cardiff Driving 150 odd miles to Cardiff. Take the A38 south until you reach the M6 Toll. Exit at T8 take the M6 South M5 and M4. Exit at J33 and take the A4232 towards Cardiff/Barry. Keep on the A4232 towards Cardiff and then leave the dual carriageway at the B4267 exit. At the end of the slip road, turn left at the roundabout, sign posted 'Cardiff International Athletics Stadium'. The stadium is situated a short distance down this road on the right to A48 for Cardiff. Parking Don't park in the retail park unless you fancy being clamped. There's some parking for away fans near the away end (turnstile 7) otherwise its head into Cardiff and park there. Apparently traffic wardens are out in force on match days so take care where you park. Drinking The locals are unfriendly in the pubs local to the old Ninian Park apparently so it's best to go into the town and get a pint or drink in the stadium.
Mick's prediction We never seem to do very well in Wales. Cardiff is stuttering and their leading goals corer hasn't scored for ten - usually this season this has heralded a heavy defeat for the Rams. Will Nigel go defensive with the odd lumped ball to a striker who can't win the ball and in any case his midfield support is back behind the half-way line? Or will he try to exploit Cardiff's uncertain form and lack of keeper and centre half by going for an attacking formation? I reckon the former and a defeat. Cardiff 2-0 Rams Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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