St George's Day ... the secondary event of the day

The main anniversary is of course Cardiff City winning the F.A. Cup at Wembley 83 years ago today! Ah ... ... ... I remember it well.

Tonight's CARDIFF CITY phone in show

Reviews Cardiff's excellent performance in the weekend F.A. Cup defeat at Chelsea, looks ahead to tomorrow night's home clash with West Brom and includes an excellent interview with 'the Gaffer', Dave Jones.

http://www.mediafire.com/?nljdmt5z5nc

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Chelsea 4 CARDIFF CITY 1 -- in pictures

F.A. Cup 5: Chelsea 4 Cardiff City 1 - video highlights

What language is this? The commentator loves it when we score!

http://videos.sapo.pt/lWtGHAo1bDeTjfTPtTqi

In Italian

http://videos.sapo.pt/8fhfENF9GDKLDwV3yNNm

Good Morning, we're all off to Chelsea so ...

Last Night's Cardiff City Phone-In

Reviews the fantastic cup win over Leicester City at the weekend and the 5th round draw sending us up the Kings Road to Chelsea, previews tonight's league game at Bristol City and talks about the continued troubles off the pitch. You'll even hear me in the first half hour you lucky things!

http://www.mediafire.com/?ionmvhzmwno

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Cardiff at Chelsea in F.A. Cup Round 5!

Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United are all gone from the F.A. Cup but Cardiff City proudly marched on the last last 16 and were duly rewarded in today's Fifth Round draw when they were drawn away at Premiership leaders Chelsea.

Those those who wonder abo0ut omens Cardiff were F.A. Cup[ runners-up in 1925 before wiinning it in 1927 when they beat Chelsea after a replay in Cardiff en route. Atfer being runners up in 2008, who do we get away in 2010 ... yep Chelsea.

It will be the first F.A. Cup game between the sides since that 1927 match up and Cardiff's first visit to Stamford Brdige since a 2-0 league defeat in 1983 in monsoon conditions (I'm still drying out from that day!). However the sides met in a League Cup tie in 1986 when a shock 2 goal Nicki Platenauer salvo knocked out the West Londoners.

It's a costly satart to the month for City fans, many of us having a weekend in Newcastle to start February. The game is set to be played on Valentine's Day subject to tv screening ... the missus will need good flowers this year.

F.A. Cup 4 - Cardiff City 4 Leicester 2 in pictures

DJ thrilled with Cup win and efforts

** Jones hails fantastic Cardiff **

Cardiff manager Dave Jones described his side's

FA Cup third round replay win over Bristol City as “fantastic”.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/8469229.stm

F.A. Cup Round 3 Replay: Cardiff City 1 Bristol City 0 - match report

It took the funniest of own goals to separate the sides but the Wurzels from over the bridge were a well beaten side by Cardiff City in a Third Round F.A. Cup replay and were second best in both games. This was a surprisingly entertaining encounter in which ever blue shirted player acquitted themselves well.

Bradley Orr is the new hero for Bluebirds fans and he was unable to get out of the way of a Michael Chopra shot rebounding off the post and helplessly sent it into an empty net. The goal, on 74 minutes, was the same time when City scored in the first leg but this time there was no way back for Brizzle. They weren’t good enough and Cardiff weren’t letting them back this time.

Cardiff shaded a quiet first half but dominated after the break and only a combination of great saves, bad luck and bad misses prevented a decisive margin while David Marshall never really had a save on a night when City’s side had a makeshift look and had to be adjusted throughout the game as well. All credit to them.

Any lingering doubts that the F.A. Cup has lost some sparkle would have been dispelled by the sparsest of crowd later announced as 6,731 which included 600 from Bristol. A combo of current mood at the club, the game live on tv (as well as a Manc derby) and having to find £20 at short notice in January knowing we’d have to pay it all over again for Saturday if we win tonight were key reasons for the turn out. Those there, on a chilly evening, thoroughly enjoyed themselves regardless.

Cardiff looked unbalanced at the start with McNaughton out injured (Paul Quinn had to deputise on the left side of defence with Capaldi cup tied and Kennedy recovering from illness), Hudson injured but on the bench (a rare start for Gyepes), 17 yr old Wildig having to battle it out in midfield and Chopra on the bench due to illness (giving McCormack a start with long sleeves and gloves on, the Scottish wuss!). It would have been Joe’s final game of the season had we lost as he goes for his hop op on Monday and Jay Bothroyd was Captain for the night.

CARDIFF: Marshall; Matthews-Gyepes-Gerrard-Quinn; Burke-Wildig-Ledley-Whittingham; Bothroyd-McCormack.

Bristol enjoyed a 4-2 home win over Doncaster at the weekend to follow their last gasp reprieve against City last week but were missing the pacy Danny Haynes up front who took a knock in that game.

BRIZZLE ZITY: Gerken; Fontaine-Carey-Nyatanga-Orr; McAllister-Skuse-Hartley-Sproule; Sno-Maynard.

The first half did not have too many telling moments as Bristol pressed and passed well but never threatened apart from Sproule lobbing over the bar but Cardiff always have that extra touch of quality which you felt would tell eventually. Chances fell for Ross McCormack but he seemed more intent on lobs and chips instead of power, a Whittingham piledriver had Gerken in trouble but he pushed the ball behind while McCormack fired at him when he had the whole goal to aim at. Chops was close as he flicked the ball over the last defender and fired a shot just over which would have been a terrific goal had it gone in.

The pitch looked in a very poor state thanks to the recent weather and, no doubt, the rugby being played on the pitch although it appeared to play pretty well and caused few problems.

The threadbare nature of the side was underlined on the half hour as Cardiff had to adjust half their side as Wildig, again doing the basics very well, was forced off injured which saw Chops come on, McCormack drop back to play wide, Burke switching wings and Whitts put into central midfield. However City appeared to adjust well without threatening again.

The funniest moment of the half was Paul Quinn, struggling to adapt to playing on the left, taking out a Bristol He then claimed the Bristol player dived and he got to the ball … I was closer to it at the back of the stand than he was! player with a tackle as late as a Cardiff Bus and so crude, Phil Dwyer would have approved.

Half-time: Cardiff 0 Carrot Crunchers 0

Bristol were fairly physical in their approach and Adam Matthews was another hurt early in the 2^nd half. He carried on for some time but held his groin throughout as Cardiff continued to take the game to the visitors.

City had attacking quality but Whitts, Chops, Burke, Bothroyd and McCormack all left themselves down with wayward shots, mis-control or just failing to make the final pass. However Cardiff lifted their tempo a notch and so did the crowd.

Bristol responded with a double sub on the hour, Akinde showing scary pace but also crudeness with some of his challenges, he was lucky to get away with one on Marshall.

City had to adjust again with 25 to go as Burke went off, Darcy Blake went into centre mid and Whitts returned wide. City, ironically, benefitted form it as Peter Whittingham was playing some fantastic diagonal and through balls from that position.

Chances came and went, the worst culprit possibly Jay Bothroyd who met a Marshall long kick, held off the last defender, got past the keeper but then over run the ball put of play.

However the breakthrough came with 16 minutes left in hysterical fashion as Whitts again played in Chops – who would have scored at least 3 on another night. He looked certain to score but screwed his shot onto the outside of the post but was clearly playing it for ORR to turn it home for us.

The first inside the stadium problem occurred when it looked like Bristol and Cardiff fans were getting ready to square up but it turned out to be visiting supporters fighting amongst themselves and ejected to a chorus of “sit down and behave yourselves”.

City went for Bristol and should have added at least a couple more to their tally. How they didn’t, I can’t explain. Bristol looked ragged with Chopra having them in disarray but more Gerken saves, more glaring misses, McCormack almost breaking the bar in two with one thunderous effort and other chances, saves and misses kept Bristol in it until the last kick including 4 minutes of added time. There were a couple of anxious moments but surprisingly few.

Cardiff now face Leicester at home this Saturday. They get £73,000 prize money for progressing through Round 3 but they must now be eyeing up further progression and a possible glamour tie in the last 16. They may not be going away but at least it can make us forget off the pitch troubles for a little while. Amen to that!

Jay Bothroyd interview ahead of the Bristol City F.A. Cup replay

Jay talks about all things Cardiff City ... and his recent illness.

** Bothroyd dismisses FA Cup bid **
Cardiff City striker Jay Bothroyd explains to BBC Wales football reporter Rob
Phillips why he feels the league is more important than the FA Cup.

< http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8466605.stm

Tonight's Cardiff City Phone-In

Reviews the weekend draw at Scunthorpe, previews tomorrow's F.A. Cup replay against Bristol City but, most of all, remains very worried about what is happening at the club and with increasing discontent towards Peter Ridsdale.

Listen or Download via this link:

http://www.mediafire.com/?jmintyqtb3j

The Welsh language national broadcaster, S4C, have confirmed that Cardiff City's home F.A. Cup Third Round replay against The Weetabix Wurzles (Bristol City) will be televised live on their channel next Tuesday night. The game will also be streamed on their website.

S4C were delighted to have an audience of almost half a million for the first game in Bristol this week even if the overwhelming majority were English speaking Cardiff and Bristol followers ... using radio for commentary.

While good news, it surely is the kiss of death for hopes of a half decent crowd at the game as Cardiff fans faced the prospect of finding £20 for this game and then another £20 minimum for 4 days later when they play Leicester in Round 4 if they win. It's a safe bet many will now opt to stay at home.

Taiwo U-Turn, he's staying

After revealing last night that Solomon Taiwo was heading to Colchester United on loan, Cardiff City manager Dave Jones changed his mind this morning and put the move on hold.



Taiwo, having failed and been an outcast all season long since moving from Dagenham for £200,000 in August, grabbed a chance and impressed in a 60 minute display against Bristol City last night that had fans singing his praises.

His chance came after Gavin Rae came off injured. It has since transpired he pulled a hamstring and with City having a limited midfield with McPhail recovering from cancer and Scimeca injured, Taiwo is needed for now and may well get more chances.

He will now stay with the first team squad for this weekend's visit to Scunthorpe.

Big S4C audience makes them negotiate for replay

Welsh language channel S4C today confirmed they are in negotations to screen Cardiff City's F.A. Cup replay live on its "Sgorio" programe after last night's audience for the Bristol City F.A. Cup game brought in a 475,000 audience.

The percentage of Welsh language viewers is unknown but there's no doubt the overwhelming viewer spoke English Language only with Cardiff and Bristol supporters tuning. However, the station deemed it unecessary to have an English commentary option so I personally gave up and switched to the F.A. website who also streamed the match.

Only last week, Sgorio was reported as having a "zero" audience (officially, that means less than 2,500 viewers) so no wonder they're chuffed.

With replay prices confirmed as £20 for next Tuesday and fans having to find the same again for the 4th round game 4 days later if City win, I bet most supporters are hoping for another screening too.

Dave Jones' Bristol post-match interview

** Cardiff boss rues late goal blow **

Boss Dave Jones rues Cardiff conceding a late equaliser as Gavin Williams'

92nd-minute goal earns Bristol City a 1-1 draw in a snowy FA Cup third round.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8455688.stm 

F.A. Cup Round 3: Bristol City 1 CARDIFF CITY 1 match report

Thirteen shots each, six on target each but, most of all, one goal each means Cardiff City and Bristol City have to do it all over again in the F.A. Cup Third Round. The replay will be next Tuesday night at the Cardiff City stadium, winners play at home to Leicester City 4 days later for a place in the last 16 but it's Cardiff who will be kicking themselves as yet again, they conceded a last minute goal instead of holding on for victory,thje Wurzles scorer of all people, being a Cardiff City fan!

In poor conditions, blizzard style snow falling throughout and the pitch looking more like a sheet of blank A4 paper with the odd green blotch, Cardiff acquitted themselves well in an undistinguished game but never looked like breaking through in the final third until Michael Chopra (orShopra if the F.A. commentator was to be believed) finished sublimely with 12 minutes left. That appeared to be it until Gavin Williams fired home well in the 3rd of 4 added minutes with City's defence and midfield stopped still. It denied Cardiff their first victory at Trashton Gate in 40 years.

City had another patched up side with Jay Bothroyd still ill (his temperature has gone up from 101 to 102 by all account), Josh Magennis recovering from his broken leg and Chris Burke nursed a bruised (or is it cracked?) rib and Paul Quinn was taken ill with a virus in the afternoon. In came AaronWildig , the 17 year old having a full debut and Adam Matthews (the player subject to more talk of an imminent Premiership move is 18 tomorrow), and back came Michael Chopra who wasmysteriously overlooked on Saturday. City were only able to name 6 subs and one of them was an unknown Academy player. The real shock however was Dave Jones having a rare thought and opting to disband his routine 4-4-2 for 4-3-1-2.

Cardiff: Marshall; Matthews-Gerrard-Hudson-McNaughton; Wildig-Rae-Ledley; Whittingham; McCormack-Chopra. Subs were Enckleman-Taiwo-Gyepes-Meades-Blake-Feeney.

The Wurzels came into the game still talking about making uip for a 3-0 smarting at Cardiff early season, that score flattered them, but were also seeking form and fitness having slipped to12th in the Championship, not playing for a fortnight due to the snow and ice, without a win in 5 and without a home win since mid-October although they have only been beaten once at "Trashton" Gate this season.

The suspended Nyatanga excepted, the Robins were at full strength with Gerken; Orr-Fontaine-Carey-McAllister; Elliott-Hartley-Skuse-Clarkson; Maynard-Haynes. The appropriately named Sno was on the bench.

The crowd was a meagre 7,218 - many opting to watch the game streamed live on the F.A.'s own website or on Welsh language channel S4C - but a commendable 1,800 Bluebirds made the trip. It was a ''bubble trip' and stories have it that a couple of coaches from the valleys got stuck and never made it while others were late.

To be honest, they didn't miss much in the first half. The game was made possible by covers and blowers and the home side seemed determined to reward the effort by pressing Cardiff from the off, City surviving an early escape as Carey's header from a corner cannoned off a post.

Having rode the (snow) storm, Cardiff rallied well and played the better football of the sides albeit there was little to get excited about in a game clearly affected by worsening conditions. For all their passing and movement, City's game was breaking down in the final third but chances came with a lively Chops firing wide and a promisingWildig almost having a debut goal as his chipped 30 yard shot catching Gerken off his line after a botched kick sailed inches over an unguarded net. Gavin Rae, looking off the pace, went off injured after half-hour leaving Dave Jones to turn to SolomonTaiwo but he went on to produce a promising and assured performance, shame that Dave Jones revealed after the game that he is off on loan to Colchester United.

Set pieces were better than usual, McCormack - clearly still to regain full match fitness - put one effort narrowly while while AnthonyGerrard, of all players, was allowed to take one, his thundered effort bouncing off Gerken with Chops almost profiting on the rebound.

The snow got heavier, the pitch was move covered and the ball was less often running true and getting held up. Ice and snow was forming on the ball which had to be bounced before throw-ins and corners. There were doubts that the game would continue but the snow fortunately eased enough to see the game through.

Half-time: Wurzles 0 Cardiff 0

It was farce football, the match ball even bursting at one point. Credit to both teams for battling it out but chances and tellingmoments were few and far between. Bristol cracked a couple of long range efforts, none on target while Cardiff were closer as Gerrard's header on a corner was smothered on the line by Gerken whilst McCormack shot weakly with another goalmouth scramble, a clean connection would have netted.

Warren Feeney replaced Ross for the final 20 and out himself about but two shooting chances produced weak efforts but his persistence paid off with 12 minutes to go as he forlornly chased a Peter Whittingham long ball, Gerken raced out of his box but fluffed his kick. Even so, the finish by MICHAEL CHOPRA was sublime, firing from the touchline over Gerken's head and clean into goal from the tightest of angles. A bizarre incident followed as Chops ran up the touchline to celebrate whereBrizzle boss Gary Johnson purposely put a leg out to trip him, Chops reacted by shoving him in the chest.

It looked game over for Bristol until more last minute agony as a cross was screwed back, City's defenders and midfielders watched on in the box and in came Gavin Williams, sub and Cardiff fan, to drill an effort back across goal that tucked inside Marshall's far post. Unbelievable.

City acquitted themselves well and, on balance, would have deserved their win in a low thrills game dictated by conditions. Every man played their part, only Rae and McCormack were not quite at the races. Good effort boys, hope it produces its reward next week.

Brizzle Cup Game remains in doubt

Cardiff City's re-arranged F.A. Cup Third Round tie at Bristol City tomorrow night remains in the balance with a decision to be made by the host club and even local police tomorrow.

The thaw in the weather combined with the F.A. providing finance allowing pitch covers and heaters for a game to be covered live on S4C and the F.A.'s own website (www.theFA.com) has given the game a chance of going ahead.

However with a heavy snow fall forecast from tomorrow afternoon into the night with blizzard conditions expected, it has been decided to make a final decision tomorrow based on conditions and the very latest forecast.

Rearranged Bristol Cup tie live on tv and t'internet

It has been confirmed that Cardiff City's F.A. Cup Third Round tie at Bristol City, to be be next Tuesday night (Jan 12th) following Saturday;s postponement, will still be streamed on the Football Association's website, www.theFA.com as well as screened on Welsh language channel S4C.

S4C will have an English commentary option on the red button which, I am sure, will prove more popular than the Welsh language option for most Cardiff fans.

The F.A. streaming of the tie will give City a coll £72,000 ... every little helps the taxman!!

City home in F.A. Cup Round 4 ... if they get through Round 3

The F.A. Cup draw took place this evening and paired Cardiff City or Bristol City at home to fellow Championship outfit Leicester City with the gamer due to be p[layed on the weekend of January 23.

Leicester beat fellow Welsh side Swansea City at home yesterday with a last minute 2-1 winner. Cardiff's game at Bristol was postponed due to ice and the sides will try again on January 12. It creates the prospect of 2 Leicester visit to Cardiff in quick time as the sides league game was postponed due to adverse weather just before Christmas and expected to be re-arranged before the end of February.

Full draw:

Southampton v Ipswich

Reading/Liverpool v Burnley

Millwall/Derby v Brentford/Doncaster

Bristol City/Cardiff v Leicester

Stoke v Arsenal

Notts County/Forest Green v Wigan

Scunthorpe v Man City

West Brom v Plymouth/Newcastle

Everton v Nottm Forest/Birmingham

Accrington/Gillingham v Fulham

Bolton v Sheff Utd/QPR

Portsmouth/Coventry v Sunderland

Preston v Chelsea

Aston Villa v Brighton

Wolves v Crystal Palace

Tottenham v Leeds