Championship. Results, Reviews and Table for 2008/9

[devilsadvocate]

Reading got up though, so the gap widens above the Clarets.
Clarets went 1-0 up in the first half, before conceding just after the break.
Looking forward to JTC's wrap.

[johntheclaret]

Clarets 2 - 2 Bluebirds

What can you say. Burnley went 1 - 0 up and then had to come from behind to make the draw, but in between, what a crock of shite. To be fair to Cardiff, they don't look a bad side and have some pace on the wings, but Bothroyd, what a w4nker. Big strong player, won everything in the air and has good feet for an ex-b4st4rd, but spent half the game on his arse, crying foul. Absolutely no need for it mate.

Then there was the Caldwell / Routledge episode. Caldwell fouls Routledge, fair enough, he gives away a free kick on the 1/2 way line, no big deal, but Routledge seemed to take exception to that, jumps up and promptly goes up and gives Calders a right kicking whilst he is on the floor. Now under normal circumstances you would expect the BITB to pull out the read card for the GBH, noooooo, after the mellie had died down, he gives Routledge a Yellow. Not only that but he decided to even up the card count by giving Caldwell a Yellow too. I can only guess that was for the challenge although it looked pretty harmless to me.

Still, you know sitting there in -7 degrees, freezing like a brass monkey, that fate will always decide that when the opposition have an ex-b4st4rd in their ranks, and a player that should have gone for an early bath is still on the pitch, you are gonna have to score more than two to win, and good old fate didn't let me down as in the 1st 1/2 Bothroyd was on hand to scab a rebound off "The Beast" for the Bluebirds equaliser and Routledge was there to slot home the easiest of goals from a deflection early in the 2nd half to take the lead 2-1. Why does that always happen eh. Bloody tell me, because you know as sure as eggs is eggs, Routledge would score after he should have walked.

As for the game, Burnley started the brightest, with some good passing and moving and got their reward of the 1st goal. In fact after they scored they piled on the pressure and looked like they would win at a cantor as the Bluebirds seem to panic. they relied on the long ball lob to Bothroyd too much but to be fair he was winning everything, and it was another longball, this time falliing to Routledge that got Cardiff back into it. routledge ran in on goal but his shot was saved by Jensen onoly to rebound into the path of Bothroyd. the goal itself was a bit of a scab as the ball hit Bothroyd more than he hit the ball, and in it went. Fair do's, a goal is a goal and it was just what Cardiff needed as they dominated the rest of the half, still relying on the long ball lob.

Within seconds of the kick off, Mr I M Lucky, (the ref's brother-in-law) was in the right place at the right time to net Cardiff's second and from there on in theyt never looked like losing it. Burnley offered very little and Cardiff always looked the more likely to add to their tally. In fact the real change came when Cardiff subbede Bothroyd andBurnley put on Thompson. Burnley took control again and quite rightly equalised through ex- Bluebird Thompson (There's that fate again). The goals was a bit of an odd one really. Paterson forced a fantastic save out of Enkleman who tipped the ball onto the foot of the post where the Cardiff leftback (I bet you they wish he was) mis-kicked it and it rolled gently onto the boot of Thompson from a yard out. 2 -2 and it was all Burnley. Funny thing that fate though, as Thompson was a dead cert to score the winner with his head, only to miss the target completely from 3 yards unmarked. Bugger.

Still on the upside, Cardiff didn't gain any ground and a point is better than a loss. On the downside, it was bloody freezing, and Reading and Brum pull further away.

[RoosterMarty]

Nice report JTC even if it was a little biased.

Sounds like an entertaining game, especially with the weather.. would have loved to have been there. I will have to try and source some highlights, hopefully the goals will be on the Coke highlights show which is Monday or something.

[johntheclaret]

Nice report JTC even if it was a little biased.

Sounds like an entertaining game, especially with the weather.. would have loved to have been there. I will have to try and source some highlights, hopefully the goals will be on the Coke highlights show which is Monday or something.

I thought I was being reasonably evenhanded RM. I did say that Cardiff looked a decent side and how much more likely they looked to score.

I even gave b4st4rd Bothroyd a bit of a plug.

[johntheclaret]

Sorry fella's, been busy on the road this week. Here's a weekly catch up from 6th Dec onwards.

Results

Barnsley 0-1 Reading
Birmingham City 3-2 Watford
Blackpool 2-0 Charlton Athletic
Bristol City 0-0 Swansea City
Cardiff City 2-0 Preston North End
Coventry City 2-2 Nottingham Forest
Derby County 1-2 Crystal Palace
Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Plymouth Argyle
Queens Park Rangers 1-0 Wolverhampton Wndrs
Sheffield United 2-3 Burnley
Southampton 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday

Norwich City 2-0 Ipswich Town

Crystal Palace 3-0 Southampton

Round Up

Birmingham closed the gap on Coca-Cola Championship leaders Wolves to three points as they edged to a 3-2 victory over Watford.
As well as cutting Wolves' advantage, Alex McLeish's Blues stay four points above third-placed Reading after a 3-2 victory over the Hornets at St Andrews.
Tamas Priskin gave the visitors a shock lead after only seven minutes but Kevin Phillips equalised immediately and Marcus Bent's long-ranger put the hosts ahead (18).
Substitute Cameron Jerome made it 3-1 (85) moments after he had had another effort disallowed but Watford were not finished and Ross Jenkins made it a nervous last few minutes with the visitors' second (89).
Birmingham held on, though, and were further boosted when Martin Rowlands' super strike sent Wolves spinning to a first defeat in nine games.

The QPR captain hit a stunning goal midway through the second half at Loftus Road to dent Wolves' promotion hopes and fire his own side into the play-off picture.
Rangers were good value for their win in what was new boss Paulo Sousa's sternest test since he took over last month.

Elsewhere Reading triumphed in adversity to beat Barnsley 1-0 at Oakwell.
The match was delayed after the Royals' coach broke down and they were reduced to 10 men after 35 minutes when Jimmy Kebe was dismissed for violent conduct.
However, they grabbed the only goal of the match 64 minutes in through Brynjar Gunnarsson.

Burnley ended a brilliant week on a high with a 3-2 victory over fellow promotion chasers Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
The Clarets found out at lunchtime they will play Tottenham in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup following their midweek victory over Arsenal.
And they held onto fourth place after an eventful game. Martin Paterson put the visitors ahead after 19 minutes when Steven Thompson's header hit the striker and went in.
James Beattie equalised with a penalty after keeper Brian Jensen fouled Billy Sharp (36), but another spot-kick, this time from Graham Alexander (42) following Gary Naysmith's foul on Chris Eagles, saw Burnley go in ahead at the break.
Eagles then put Owen Coyle's side further in front (79) with a 25-yard effort but there was still time for Stephen Quinn's low free-kick to reduce the deficit (87).

Cardiff moved up to fifth place thanks to a 2-0 victory over Preston, leapfrogging their opponents in the process.
Defender Roger Johnson broke the deadlock with a header three minutes before half-time. Jay Bothroyd hit the post in the second half but the striker then earned a penalty by drawing a foul from Youl Mawene, which Michael Chopra converted (76).

Crystal Palace moved to within two points of the play-off places with a controversial 2-1 win over Derby at Pride Park.
The visitors took the lead after only three minutes through defender Paddy McCarthy's terrific long-ranger but Derby were level four minutes before half-time thanks to Luke Varney's header - although the striker appeared to jump into Palace 'keeper Julian Speroni, while it was also unclear whether the ball crossed the line.
Shefki Kuqi won the game for the visitors just after the hour mark, but again there were protests from the defending side as Craig Beattie appeared to be offside before crossing for the Finn to convert (61).

Charlton fell to the foot of the table after Liam Dickinson scored twice (47, 56) in a 2-0 win for Blackpool at Bloomfield Road. The striker made it four goals in two games since his loan move from Derby.

The Addicks dropped below Nottingham Forest after they twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw at Coventry.
Elliott Ward put the hosts ahead in the second minute but Rob Earnshaw's diving header levelled matters (27). Parity lasted just two minutes before Clinton Morrison volleyed Coventry back in front, only for Joe Garner to come up with a second equaliser (61).

Doncaster recorded their third home win of the season to move up to 22nd, Brian Stock's brilliant 35-yard strike earning them a 1-0 win over Plymouth.

Sheffield Wednesday's Marcus Tudgay equalised three minutes from time to deny Southampton a priceless victory after Bradley Wright-Phillips (14) had put them ahead in the 1-1 draw, while Bristol City and Swansea drew 0-0.

Burnley 2-2 Cardiff City
Charlton Athletic 1-2 Coventry City
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Sheffield United
Plymouth Argyle 0-1 Birmingham City
Preston North End 1-0 Doncaster Rovers
Reading 1-0 Blackpool
Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Queens Park Rangers
Swansea City 2-2 Barnsley
Wolverhampton Wndrs 3-0 Derby County

Round Up

Wolves coasted to a 3-0 victory at home to Derby to maintain their three-point lead at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship.
Mick McCarthy's team were a goal up in the first minute thanks to Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's penalty. David Edwards then made it two just before half-time, and Ebanks-Blake's second came in the 58th minute.

Second-placed Birmingham kept pace with their West Midlands rivals and still trail by only three points, after Lee Carsley (62) gave them a 1-0 win at mid-table Plymouth.

Reading captain Ivar Ingimarsson (27) kept the promotion-chasing Royals in business with a 1-0 win at home to 10-man Blackpool, who had Lee Hendrie sent off for a high challenge on Marek Matejovsky just after the half-hour mark.
Steve Coppell's men could not extend their lead - Stephen Hunt missing a last-minute penalty - but they did enough to stay in touch with Wolves and Birmingham.

Burnley kept hold of fourth place above Cardiff, after an entertaining scrap between the two sets of play-off hopefuls finished 2-2 at Turf Moor.
Owen Coyle's hosts went in front via Robbie Blake just before the quarter-hour mark. But Cardiff recovered through Jay Bothroyd (26) and Wayne Routledge (47) to shade it - only for a Steven Thompson tap-in to level the match for good in the 76th minute.

Coventry were 2-1 winners, away to bottom club Charlton.
Chris Coleman's visitors were in front shortly before the break through Robbie Simpson, found themselves level again thanks to Deon Burton's 49th-minute penalty but hit back within seconds when Daniel Fox restored their lead.

Nottingham Forest could not take advantage of Charlton's continued woes and remain off the bottom on marginal goal difference only after a 1-0 defeat at home to Sheffield United - for whom Brian Howard (31) did the trick.

Doncaster stayed in trouble too, just a point above Forest and Charlton, as Jon Parkin (82) sentenced them to a 1-0 defeat at Preston.

A stalemate looked in the offing at Sheffield Wednesday, thanks in part to a missed first-half penalty by QPR's Martin Rowlands, until Leon Clarke struck in the 75th minute to give Brian Laws' men the points with the only goal of the match.

Barnsley were having no trouble at Swansea, after a 49th-minute goal by Jonathan Macken and then a penalty from Jamal Campbell-Ryce appeared to have put Simon Davey's team on course for an away victory.
But Jason Scotland had other ideas for the Welshmen, pulling one back in the 66th minute and then making it 2-2 just before the final whistle.

Ipswich Town 3-1 Bristol City
Watford 2-1 Norwich City

Round Up

Three goals in seven minutes saw Ipswich come from behind to beat Bristol City 3-1 at Portman Road.
The hosts had trailed at half-time through a Stern John header but hit back with goals from Jon Walters and Pablo Counago. And their comeback was capped by a bizarre own goal from Liam Fontaine from 20 yards.
Despite playing the last 30 minutes with 10 men following Alex Bruce's sending off, Ipswich ended up comfortable victors.
John headed the visitors ahead after five minutes from an Ivan Sproule cross, but Ipswich started the second half brightly and were level after 49 minutes through Walters when he latched onto a Stead knockdown and fired in off the inside of the far post from just inside the area.
A minute later Ipswich took the lead when an unmarked Counago headed in a Moritz Volz cross from the centre of the penalty area. And, to cap a blistering start to the second half, Ipswich went further ahead after 56 minutes, this time through an own goal from Fontaine as the left-back intercepted a Stead pass as Walters bore down but could only divert the ball past Basso.
Ipswich were now looking dangerous with every attack but their momentum was halted in the 60th minute when defender Bruce was sent off for a two-footed lunge on Nicky Maynard, who left the pitch on a stretcher with his leg in a brace.

Watford captain Tommy Smith scored midway through the second half to sink fellow strugglers Norwich 2-1 and give boss Brendan Rodgers his first win in charge.
The midfielder produced a fine finish from just inside the box two minutes after Norwich's Lee Croft had cancelled out Tamas Priskin's first-half opener.
The Hornets had won just once in their last 11 games going into this fixture, and they were under the cosh in the early stages as Norwich, buoyed by their derby win over Ipswich at the weekend, started brightly.
Norwich had the ball in the net in the 12th minute but it was ruled out for a push on Loach, and three minutes later Watford took the lead with their first attempt on goal. Liam Bridcutt stooped to head a poor clearance from keeper David Marshall into the path of Priskin, who raced clear on the right and tucked a low shot in at the far post.
City's pressure finally told when Croft, unmarked in the box, met David Bell's cross from the left and planted a firm downward header past a helpless Loach.
Two minutes later, however, Watford regained their lead. Smith collected the ball on the left edge of the area, jinked his way into space and fired a low shot in off the inside of the far post.

Table

Teams P GD PTS
1 Wolves 22 21 50
2 Birmingham 22 13 47
-------------------------
3 Reading 22 25 43
4 Burnley 22 5 37
5 SheffUtd 22 10 35
6 Cardiff 22 7 34
-------------------------
7 Preston 22 2 34
8 CPalace 22 8 33
9 QPR 22 -2 32
10 SheffWed 22 -8 32
11 Ipswich 22 8 31
12 Swansea 22 3 31
13 Plymouth 22 -1 29
14 Coventry 22 -3 28
15 Bristol C 22 -4 27
16 Blackpool 22 -7 27
17 Barnsley 22 -5 25
18 Derby 22 -7 25
19 Watford 22 -4 23
20 Norwich 22 -6 23
21 Southampton 22 -13 22
----------------------------
22 Doncaster 22 -15 18
23 Nott'm Forest 22 -13 17
24 Charlton 22 -14 17

[devilsadvocate]

Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Ar5ena1

And so, realistically there goes any chance Le Arse had of challenging for the title. Oh and enjoy UEFA next year .

[JK]

Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Ar5ena1

And so, realistically there goes any chance Le Arse had of challenging for the title. Oh and enjoy UEFA next year .

Isnt this the Championship thread mate?

[devilsadvocate]

Touche.

JTC, could you do the honours and clean up my rubbish? Thanks mate .

(When you get over the excitement of Burnley being 3-0 up after 11 minutes!!)

[johntheclaret]

Have you ever heard of that cliche' "Football is a game of two halves"? Well if you ever want a perfect example of how true that is, try watchinig Burnley v Southtampton, Sat 13th Dec 2008.

Another cold, cold, wet, wet day in Lancashire saw the Clarets start like they were playing Arsenal and not lowly Saints. From the kick off Burnley just tore them apart and the 1st goal after 5 minutes was the result of 5 minutes of total domination. 3 miunutes later and 2 - 0. 3 minutes later and 3 - 0. Joey Gudjonnson socred two cracking goals and it looked like this game would turn into a Turkeyshoot.

The pain continued and on 15 minutes Chris Eagles picked up a great through ball from McCann only to see his shot crash against the crossbar. Within 25 minutes Burnley were 3 - 0 up, had hit the cross bar twice and the post once. not to mention, alright I will mention it, forcing at least 6 or 7 decent saves from the keeper.

In fact such was the Clarets dominance the half only lasted 25 minutes, or at least that how it felt. So the 1/2 time Cheese and biscuits tasted pretty good, even better when the EPL 1/2 time scores came up and the b4st4rds were already 2 - 0 down at 'mighty' Wigham.

Then came the 2nd half. I already had a bet on at 30/1 with a mate that we would win 4 - 1 so my concern was that 4 wasn't a big enough prediction. And when Saints came out and stunned everyone, includig their brave band of followers, by scoring, my mate was looking worried. But that was the catayst to spark some life into Soton, and thay pressed and pressed. As for the Clarets, well they had obviously decided that 3 - 0 was enough and took a short knap. Southamptons 2nd goal gave Burnley the wake up call they needed but by this time all the momentum was with Southampton. Both sides swapped it around, with substitutes, looking to find the edge but Burnley had enough in the tank to literally 'hold on' until the final whistle.

Funniest moments today, apart from the look on my mates face when Burnley were 3 - 1 up, was little Wade Elliots inpromptu strip on the touch line after suffering a bloody nose and bleeding all ovver his kit. (I think he must have borrowed a spare pair of Jensen the Beast's shorts ), and poor Bradley Wright-Phillips. Remember him, he was one of the Saints players who was caught stealing valuables from the Burnley dressing room during the Clarets away game at Soton. Every touch was met with geers of Thief, Thief. Funny and sad at the same time.

Finally, my head dropped when I read that Phil Dowd was the match official for todays game. Same old, same old was my first reaction, another EPL reject who will want to be the star of the show, but to be fair to Phil, he had a pretty decent game. Shame we didn't have him here on Tuesday when we needed a ref with some bottle.

So that's it from turf moor until Boxing Day, the club can roll out the giant condom to cover the pitch and my mate can rest easy until the next episode of guess the score.

[johntheclaret]

Sat 13th Dec

Results

Wolves 2 Barnsley 0
Preston 1 Birmingham 0
Reading 2 Norwich 0
Burnley 3 Southampton 2
Swansea 1 Sheff Utd 1
Ipswich 1 Cardiff 2
C Palace 2 Doncaster 1
Plymouth 1 QPR 1
Sheff Wed 0 Bristol C 0
Watford 2 Coventry 1
Nottm Forest 0 Blackpool 0

Round Up

Wolves stretched their lead at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship to six points with a 2-0 home victory over Barnsley.
It took an own-goal from Barnsley's Bobby Hassell to give Wolves the lead when a cross from Kevin Foley hit him on chest and the ball rolled over the line.
Foley netted the second with four minutes to go to wrap up the three points.

Two late goals for Reading at home to Norwich meant the Royals closed to within a point of Birmingham, who lost to a late goal at Preston.
Reading broke the deadlock with a Stephen Hunt penalty after 84 minutes, given for handball by Mark Fotheringham, which David Marshall got a hand to but the ball went in off the post.
Shane Long made it 2-0 when he headed in James Henry's cross to seal a hard-earned win for the Royals.
Kevin Phillips had Birmingham's best chance before substitute Jon Parkin scored from close range from Ross Wallace's cross to seal a 1-0 win and three points for Preston.

Burnley survived a fightback from Southampton to keep their play-off hopes on course with a 3-2 victory.
Burnley were well in control by half-time as a Chris Perry own-goal and two goals from Joey Gudjonsson kept strugglers Southampton under the cosh.
Rudi Skacel pulled a goal back four minutes into the second half and Andrew Surman added a second just after the hour but the Saints failed to find the equaliser.

Struggling Doncaster finished the game with 10 men and on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline at Crystal Palace after taking the lead.
A Paul Heffernan header had put the visitors ahead before Matt Mills was sent off for bringing down Shefki Kuqi, who converted the subsequent penalty.
Alan Lee then netted the winner a minute before time.

Ipswich also finished with 10 men and lost by the same score at home to Cardiff.
Jay Bothroyd scored from a Wayne Routledge cross before Gabor Gyepes doubled the visitors' lead.
Jon Stead pulled a goal back just before half-time but the home side had Ben Thatcher sent off for a second bookable offence.

Steven MacLean earned Plymouth a point in a 1-1 draw at home to QPRafter Heidar Helguson had given the visitors the lead while a late goal from Chris Morgan earned 10-man Sheffield United a 1-1 draw at Swansea.
Darius Henderson was sent off for a challenge on Angel Rangel before Jason Scotland opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Gary Naysmith had brought down Darren Pratley.
Morgan drew the visitors level with three minutes remaining to ensure the points were shared.

Watford's John-Joe O'Toole secured three valuable points at home to Coventry with his second-half winner earning a 2-1 victory.
Tommy Smith scored from the penalty spot after Tamas Priskin had been brought down by Elliott Ward to put the home side ahead.
Clinton Morrison levelled things up after 67 minutes but O'Toole pounced to give Watford the win.

Nottingham Forest's battle for survival was boosted with a point from a 0-0 draw at home to Blackpool while the game between Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City also ended goalless.

Table

Teams P GD PTS
1 Wolves 23 22 53
2 Birmingham 22 13 47
------------------------
3 Reading 23 25 44
4 Burnley 23 7 40
5 Cardiff 23 8 37
6 SheffUtd 23 10 36
------------------------
7 QPR 23 -1 35
8 CPalace 23 8 34
9 Preston 22 2 34
10 SheffWed 23 -8 33
11 Swansea 23 3 32
12 Ipswich 23 7 31
13 Plymouth 23 -2 29
14 Coventry 23 -3 29
15 Bristol C 23 -4 28
16 Blackpool 23 -7 28
17 Barnsley 23 -6 25
18 Derby 22 -7 25
19 Watford 23 -4 24
20 Norwich 23 -6 24
21 Southampton 23 -15 22
---------------------------
22 Doncaster 23 -15 19
23 Nott'm Forest 23 -13 18
24 Charlton 22 -14 17

[RoosterMarty]

Fantastic win for Cardiff away, good to hold on to a lead for once and take the 3 points.

[johntheclaret]

Mon 15th Dec

Charlton 2 - 2 Deby Co

Nathan Ellington struck deep into stoppage-time as Derby drew 2-2 with Charlton, who are now without a win in 13 games.

The striker grabbed his second of the match in the 95th minute as Paul Jewell's Derby ended their goal drought on the road in dramatic fashion.

Andy Gray had put the hosts ahead in the first half, but Ellington hauled Derby level from the penalty spot.

On-loan Sunderland teenager Martyn Waghorn thought he had earned the Addicks an elusive victory with his first career goal.

But the hosts could not hang on and Ellington's late goal left caretaker boss Phil Parkinson still looking for his first win in charge.

Jewell admitted after the match that his side were not at their best. "I'm still very annoyed, the performance wasn't up to scratch and we are low on confidence but we've deserved a bit of luck all season. We were supposed to leave our hotel at 20 to six but the police were half an hour late so we had to get the ferry over. But that's no excuse. We are low on confidence and we are the only people who can put that right - and a goal in the last minute will help us."

Parkinson was frustrated after Charlton were forced to settle for a draw. "As kicks in the teeth go it's about as big as you are going to get. We thought time was up, and where the referee got four minutes from I don't know. But we had to defend the long throw and we didn't. It was a superb performance and the players are very low. Everything we asked of them they did and I feel so sorry for them - they deserved three points."


Watched this game tonight Jabber. Deby actually swcored the equaliser on 94mins 38secs. there was 4 minutes of added time so they couldn't have left in much later.

Andy Gray was sold to Charlton last Jan from the Clarets fopr £1,5m. He is a shitehawk who did the deal with the Addicks and then told the Clarets he didn't want to play for them any more and if we didn't sell him he wouldn't play anyway. Charlton offered him a pay rise to leave Turf Moor as he was, at the time, the Leagues tops scorer. Git

Still there he is scoring for the BOTTOM side and where are we

[devilsadvocate]

Can Burnley do anything but win at the moment? Better stop at the Lane in a couple of weeks .

Came from 1-0 down against Bristol Titty to win 2-1, with Martin Patterson netting AGAIN.

With Brum going down to Reading 3-1 at home, and Cardiff also taking the three points from Sheff Wed. Sheff U are currently 1-0 up against Palace and cannot afford a slip up if they're to stay in touch with the promotion race.

It's tight from 7-12, so whoever holds strong in Jan is in with a shot of making the playoff race.

[devilsadvocate]

Nicky Carle scored for Palace to earn a point against the Blades.
Well done son.

[Dirko]

Watched this game tonight Jabber. Derby actually scored the equaliser on 94mins 38secs. there was 4 minutes of added time so they couldn't have left in much later.

Not a good result though JTC. At least we won overnight to get our season half way back on track.....

Can't see us making the playoff spots

[McAlmanac]

Watched this game tonight Jabber. Derby actually scored the equaliser on 94mins 38secs. there was 4 minutes of added time so they couldn't have left in much later.

Not a good result though JTC. At least we won overnight to get our season half way back on track.....

Can't see us making the playoff spots

After last season and the horrid start to this one, I reckon mid table and a Carling Cup run is good solidification.

Cutting Savage loose would free up some wages for a bit of extra quality.

[RoosterMarty]

Another win to Cardiff, Johnson and a Chopra penalty was enough to take the 3 points. Good to see the boys are still fighting hard for a playoff spot.

[mighty_tiger_79]

IM SO BLOODY ANNOYED, FRUSTRATED etc etc all the other words **** *******************

BIRMINGHAM - FFS - time to get your shite together, start playing 90 minutes would be a nice bloody start

against Wolves a few weeks back was the best theyve played in probably over a year, any chance they can just show us a glimpse of that form for a substantial amount of time!!!!!!!!!

[johntheclaret]

To be honest MT, Brum haven't looked that good this year. I know there standing in the table will contradict me, but I watched them at Turf Moor and we battered them, big time. they got a break away lucky strike to make it one all and they have won a few games by the odd goal or 1 - 0.

I think there is a lot of work still to do there and Reading has defintely looked the best side to come to Turf Moor this season, by a country mile.

Reading are on fire as are Wolves so Brum might have to punch it out in the play off's, and right now I would fancy our chances against them any day.

[johntheclaret]

Another win to Cardiff, Johnson and a Chopra penalty was enough to take the 3 points. Good to see the boys are still fighting hard for a playoff spot.

Chopra has done ok since he came back, but how long his is loan spell for RM ? also been a bit of talk about Ledley being sold in the Jan Window.

Thommo did an article in the local rag yesterday about his time at Cardiff last season. The storry was about The Clarets form etc, but he went on to say that when he was at the Bluebirds last year, they were top by about 7 points and they all thought that theyh had done enough, only for them to collapse and end in the bottom half.

If Ledley does go and Chopra returns to the Cats when the new manager comes in, Cardiff might struggle to keep up with the rest.