Norwich City vs Cardiff City (and full Championship prgramme) preview

Cardiff City flew out to Norwich yesterday afternoon and, if rumours are to be believed, they took off without Jay Bothroyd, Mark Kennedy and SuperKev (McNaughton).

If true, this means a likely two changes from the side that comprehensively rolled over Doncaster at the weekend with Darcy Blake continuing to deputise at right back, it’s a choice between Comminges or maybe Tony Capaldi at left back and, up front after his fine recent showings, Eddie Johnson looks as if he will get the chance to play along Chopra who will be starting.

Norwich are in deperarate trouble. In 23^rd, having played 3 games more than anyone around them, the relegation trap door is wide open and nothing less than a win will do for them tonight. That should be good news for City as they will push on us and it will suit Cardiff’s style but, mindful of what happened at Southampton 10 days ago, Dave Jones is rightly wary.

Talking to local media, Jones commented, “Nothing is guaranteed in this division, if you don't do things right" but wanting to dismiss any fear caused by the Soutmapton reverse adding, “You have to put things into perspective. We have lost one league game since November. It's like everything - because you are getting to the finishing line and you lose a game, everyone gets out the doom clouds and sticks them over their heads and starts panicking. Every time we lose there is a negativity and we have to shut that out."

City tossed two points away at Ninian Park to the Canaries early season allowing the visitors to snatch two late goals and being outplayed all game. Let's hope they make amends for that tonight.

There’s a full Championship programme tonight and most of City’s rivals have, on paper(!), fixtures where they are expected to get good results. The games affecting City are;

Reading v Charlton

Reading arrested their slide with 4 points on the road last week and now return to Madejski facing the Championship’s bottom who are, being frank, without a hope of survival 10 points adrift with 10 games to go.

It’s a shock to see Charlton drop from Premiership to League One in two years and it would seem they will throw in a couple of youngsters tonight so Cardiff can’t rely on ahelping hand there.

Barnsley v Birmingham City
Barnsley, one place outside the bottom three, needa good result and I fancy them to shock Birmingham who look fragile and catchable. Come on The Tykes!!

Bristol City v Coventry City
Bristol late late at Derby on the weekend and face City on Sunday in a live Sky game next. It’s a must win for them against mid-table Coventry who will be licking their wounds after being played off the park in a F.A. Cup quarter-final defeat to Chelsea last weekend.

Doncaster Rovers v QPR
QPR – and Wayne Routledge (bless him!!!) – have collapsed and theor play-off bid is all bar over. There’s paper talk of replacing their manager for the 3^rd of 4^th time this season. The rest of the Championship snigger. They must win, they won’t.

Preston NE v Sheffield Wednesday
I don’t know how or why Preston are in the play-off frame but they are. However their results are wildly inconsistent so who knows how this one will go.

Sheffield United v Blackpool
The Blades are the closest of the play-off pack to City and Blackpool can surprise and disappoint equally. Come on Blackpool tonight!!

Swansea City v Plymouth Argyle
Poor old Swansea. They continually fluff their chances to get into the play-off frame and are back drawing again. It’s now 3 on the bounce and it’s an incredible 18 out of 36 in the Championship. Plymouth, rediscovering form, may make it another.

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Ipswich Town
Wolves looked on the edge of collapse but bounced back with two away wins last week to keep them at the top. So close to the Premiership but still so vulnerable it seems. Ipswich, meantime, have lost ground and need a big result to maintain a fading play-off challenge. Could be interesting.

Burnley v Crystal Palace

After Burnley getting demolished in the F.A. Cup at Arsenal, just like Cardiff, this game is put back to tomorrow. They lie 7^th and I think they will take the final play-off place but they must win this one.