The Sarf Lan-danners of Millwall won today's League One play-off final at Wembley beating Swindon 1-0, recovering for their play-off final defeat 12 months ago, to become the 24th team in next season's Championship.
It has a distinctly nostalgic feel about it - not necessarily in a good way -with Cardiff City, Leeds United, Millwall, Portsmouth, Swansea City and Bristol City all in the same division.
The 'look' last time all these clubs were on equal terms
A real throwback to the 1970's and, no doubt, media will be quick to pick on on the potential for problems. In fact. I've already heard 1 national radio station discussing exactly that.
Looks like Cardiff City fan can laugh at him again, what a charmer he seems to be!
A Bristol City fan has been jailed for 16 weeks for throwing a football programme at an opposition player as he prepared to take a corner.
As well as losing his temper during the match, lifelong Robins fan Kevin Crehan lost his cool at Bristol Magistrates' Court this week when he realised his rash action during the 6-0 home defeat to Cardiff City had reactivated a suspended sentence.
Magistrates were half way through reading their sentence when it dawned on Crehan that he faced jail.
Waving his hand dismissively at the bench, he said: "Push off,
I've had enough of you".
He then took his coat off, stood at the end of the dock behind glass doors, and squared up to court security guards, saying: "Come on then."
As two guards moved towards him he violently kicked one of the fixed chairs out of the ground and began wrestling with the two men.
It took seven security guards to subdue him and carry him kicking from the court to the cells below.
The incident occurred after Crehan, 28, of Springleaze, Knowle, pleaded guilty to throwing a programme on to the pitch from the Wedlock Stand at Ashton Gate on January 26, during a Championship match in which Bristol City were thrashed by their rivals from South Wales.
The court heard that during the second half, Crehan ran down towards the corner of the pitch to throw his programme at Cardiff striker Michael Chopra as he prepared to take a corner.
The programme narrowly missed Chopra's head, and Crehan was immediately arrested by police.
In interview, Crehan told officers that as the player came over to Bristol City fans, he was making gestures and waving his fingers to signal the 5-0 scoreline at the time.
Defending, Selena Hunt invited magistrates not to impose a custodial sentence, saying normally they wouldn't consider custody for throwing a programme onto the pitch.
She said: "Prior to this there was an event that caused lots of people to throw their programmes onto the pitch.
"What my client did is respond to that by singularly throwing his programme on to the pitch. It didn't hit him."
She added Crehan had suffered huge embarrassment after the incident, that the Cardiff fans were laughing at him and making fun of him when he was arrested.
In a verdict interrupted by Crehan's violence, presiding magistrate Patricia Lee said: "This has been suggested to us as being minor, but we view it seriously.
"It was preceded by a positive action to run down the stands to the playing area, and you threw a rolled-up programme at a player."
Magistrates said the incident would activate a suspended sentence handed to Crehan on December 9 for assault, meaning he would serve 16 weeks behind bars. No separate penalty was given for the charge of throwing the programme at the pitch.
Crehan had arrived at Bristol Magistrates' Court just after 10am. His case was heard at about 4.45pm, and he had been angry that people who had arrived after him had their cases heard before him.
Ms Hunt said he was a vulnerable adult who suffered brain damage after an accident.
Adam Baker, spokesman for Bristol City Football Club, said: "It is an offence to throw anything onto the pitch and we don't condone it in any way, whether it is bottles, coins or, in this instance, a programme."
When David Marshall superbly saved and turned a Nicky Maynard howitzer of a free-kick onto the post, I just knew Cardiff City were going to win… especially as that was the only save he had to make all night and Cardiff were incredibly 6-0 ahead!
Apart from the predictable but always enjoyable “ooh aah, it’s a massacre”, it’s no wonder City fans were singing, “can we play you every week?” as this was the third successive Tuesday night the clubs played each other and Cardiff were the dominant side each time following the F.A. Cup replay win with this double league thrashing as it followed a one-sided slaying of the Wurzels in a live Sky game earlier this season.
What a contrast to Brizzle Zity being a bogey side for Cardiff throughout my life as emphasised by this being Cardiff’s first win at Trashton Gate in 42 years and 20 attempts!
Since the cup game last Tuesday, Cardiff have that fantastic 4th round win over Leicester while Bristol had the weekend off but signed 2 new players in the lightning fast and tricky Jamal Campbell-Ryce from Barnsley and striker Patrick Agyemang from QPR to give new buoyancy .. it didn’t work!As if it wasn’t entertaining enough, it also made Campbell-Ryce’s pre-match brag that “We’ll give CardiffCity a good beating” worthy of a comedy award.
Dave Jones had to send out his threadbare patched-up squad but was boosted by the return of Adam Matthews and Gavin Rae from injury.Captain Mark Hudson, like Campbell-Ryce, may regret his pre-match quote.He said he was fed up of playing BristolCity.He got his wish, he was on the bench!Joe Ledley, in his last game before his hip operations, was Captain for the night.
It was another bubble trip which limited the travelling support so all credit to the 700 who went … thousands of us who did not are now very envious of them.
The home side, watched by a crowd of 13,825, made a strong start and won a handful of corners but never tested Marshall although Maynard wasn’t far off with one drive but it’s Bristol’s defence that seems to crumble when Cardiff pressure them and yet again, they turned out to be a complete shambles.Even so, for Cardiff to score 3 times in 4 minutes as they did midway through the half, was just incredible.
The first was a real cock up as Chops chased a ball over the top, keeper Gerken and one of his hapless defenders banged into each other fearing Chops and the ball ran loose for PETER WHITTINGHAM to net his 18th of the season, amazingly just about half of his career total which now stands at 37.
That was on 19 minutes and just 3 minutes later, the lead was doubled as Whittingham played a ball over the defence, Gavin Rae burst beyond them and hit a terrible screwed shot from outside the box but it ran into the path of ROSS McCORMACK to bang home at the far post.
60 seconds later and it was football heaven as City made it 3-0, McCormack smashing a 60 yard pass that was perfection itself to find MICHAEL CHOPRA who drilled across Gerken and into the opposite side of goal.
City threatened and goals were in the air every time we attacked and they added a fourth by the interval as FONTAINE, with no Cardiff player near him, miscued a ball across the box past his own keeper.It was the third Bristol own goal of the season for Cardiff – thanks Wurzels!! Another fantastic stat was that it was the 7thCardiff had scored 4 or more in a league game, that is some achievement. time this season,
The home ends of the ground emptied as some went home, others went in disbelief for a pint while City fans sang their hearts out but, even so, they were still drowned by the half-time boos from home fans who were still watching on.
H/T: Wurzels 0 Cardiff 4 (FOUR)
Of course, all the talk was Peterborough away a month when Cardiff had the same interval away lead but messed up, almost unforgivably, to draw. Any thoughts lightning could strike twice were abolished when City scored yet again in the opening minute of the second half.
This time, Bothroyd’s skill to turn, hold up play and then play a pass to put Chops clear was too good again for the home defence, CHOPRA fired home his 15th of the season beating Gerken on his inside from 15 yards.
By 55 minutes, it was 6 (SIX) as a short corner saw McCormack run the ball on and then drill the hardest and lowest of shots from outside the box to comprehensively beat the home keeper.
It could have been more after that as a Chops effort was cleared off the line, others were blocked, saved or wide but the job was done and Cardiff declared and eased their way home with Feeney and Burke given late run outs.
The Bristol fans still around were left to face total humiliation with Cardiff fans taunting them mercilessly or to throw their free match programmes and other objects onto the pitch.
The result took Cardiff upto 4th and, just as importantly, back above Swansea.
Next up, Doncaster visit the stadium on Saturday and after they were hammered at home themselves tonight, should we be hopeful or fearful in this topsy turvy Championship?For now, brilliant night Cardiff and thank you for making me 10 foot tall.
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!
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.
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.
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 BristolHe 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 2nd 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Boss Dave Jones rues Cardiff conceding a late equaliser as Gavin Williams'
92nd-minute goal earns BristolCity a 1-1 draw in a snowy FA Cup third round.
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.
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.
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!!
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.
As hinted on this blog yesterday, the postponed F.A. Cup Third Round tie at Bristol City has now been confirmed to be played on Tuesday January 12th at Ashton Gate with a 7:45pm kick-off.
Itt's not yet known whether the game will be televised on S4C or streamed via theFA.com which would have happened yesterday.
Despite the hosts claiming to have 3 sets of pitch covers on the pitch, a Friday overnight temperature apparently dropping to -7 degrees in Brizzle combined with the early (12:30 kick off) put paid to the game yesterday.
Should a replay be necessary, it will be at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday January 19th.
CARDIFF CITY's 3rd Round F.A. Cup game against Bristol City at Ashton Gate has fallen foul of sub-zero overnight temperatures with the game failing a 10am inspection due to a frozen pitch.
1,500 Bluebirds were assembled at Cardiff City Stadium awaiting to set off on a coach only "bubble" trip when the news filtered through.
The game had been brought forward to a 12:30pm kick-off partly due to police and also as the F.A. wanted it to be the first ever F.A. Cup Tie streamed live online via their website. Making supporters last has cost the game as a thaw is starting and there's little doubt the pitch will be playable with a 3pm kick-off.
The tie is now expected to take place on Tuesday January 12th.
We may not yet be out of the woods with a recession, far from it, but Cardiff City fans continue to back the club in magnificent numbers.
Despite the game being a "bubble" coach only, police escorted trip, with a lunchtime kick-off and the contest being screened live on S4C Wales and www.theFA.com, 1,500 Bluebirds are heading to Bristol City for the F.A. Cup Third Round so called Severnside derby tomorrow.
Rumour has it that the home side have only sold 8,000 tickets so, as usual, expect Cardiff fans to be making all the noise. Let's hope the team delivers for them.
If not enough, a manic late rush saw the season ticket drive for 2010/11 reach almost 10,500 by close of play yesterday. City fans were offered incentives including 4 months interest free payments, a 5 year price freeze and a full refund if Premiership football is acheived this season but it's still a superb commitment by supporters. The offer has been extended for a few more days with the club hoping to surpass 11,000.
Monies rasied via this initiative have been promised to Dave Jones for team strengthening and it is believed more than £3M has been raised so we shall watch with interest if the club do invest in the side.
