Ex-Bluebird Steve Thompson broke Cardiff City hearts on Tuesday night as his late headed goal got Burnley a draw at Ninian Park. City dropped 2 points but remained in 2nd spot.
However what is it about Thommo and this fixture?
Since joining Cardiff in January 2006, Steve Thompson has just 30 league goals in 160 league games for The Bluebirds and The Clarets - an average of 1 goal every 5.2 starts.
So how come he's managed to score 5 goals in 6 Cardiff v Burnley games? (3 for City in 4 games and 2 in 2 for Burnley)
Worryingly, Burnley away is last game of the season ... let's hope he's injured or suspended!
Leeds United appear to be closing in on out of favour Cardiff City forward Ross McCormack who has found himself further down the pecking order at The Bluebirds with Craig Bellamy’s arrival. Thoughts that City may hold onto the player with news that Michael Chopra could be absent for 6 weeks with an injury in Saturday’s win over Doncaster were removed when It was revealed he should be back within a fortnight.
Roscoe’s agent Willie McKay confirmed, “We have been given permission to speak to Leeds as well as two other clubs about Ross”. Other clubs known to be linked to McCormack include other Championship outfits Ipswich, Hull and Burnley but two are rumoured to have floundered due to Ross’ current wages of £7k+ weekly.
Peter Ridsdale not wanting to talk to the media is like an alcoholic saying he doesn't want a drink.
However it seems that our Pete is not a happy bunny just because local rag and the main club reporting organ in the region - The South Wales Echo - had the temerity to break news that the club were in court this week fighting a winding up order over an unpaid tax bill. Apparently, it Ridsdale's words, they are "despicable".
And why? Because they didn't ask him first!Aww, bless.
(Pic - yes the toys are out of the pram!)
Some fans side with the club - and bring out all their long held grudges about the standard of local and investigative reporting and perceived negative reporting - others are 100% behind the media as they experess their displeasure at events at a club where Ridsdale's promised transparency is as clear as Port Talbot in the fog at night.
People get far too emotive and complex at times and overlook the basic facts. The club were in court on Wednesday and won a reprieve of sorts but are left with 70 days to pay off their tax bill or face a winding up order.
Do the Echo have a right to report what is the public domain? Absolutely. Is it a concern? Of course.
Does Peter have a right to respond to breaking news? Yes he does but it doesn't have to be carried at the same time.
That should be the end of the matter but it clearly isn't going to be.
Maybe Peter is upset as he would have preferred the story to be buried or completely manipulated. After all, while being upset he wasn't consulted as the story was published, it was always in his control to tell them before the story inevitably came out, wasn't it?
I do enjoy how he spins it as though it is a positive thing and that's there's no problem at all as if getting to this stage in the first place is just fine and one of those things.
After all, he was on the Cardiff City phone in the Wednesday before last denying there were serious problems after a Burnley website first broke rumours that the club had then just survived a winding up order. Seems that wasn't so wrong or far fetched after all.
If anyone is 100% confident in Peter Ridsdale's assurances that all is well and it's nothing to worry about, they're a better man than me.
It does appear as if the Malaysians are about to ride in to save the day. Publicly and privately, I'm getting that news and exciting times may well be ahead if this is true. Sam Hammam and the faceless Langston Corporation, who have been a barrier for far too long, will have to accept a final deal fast paving the way for change.
As I said in my blog earlier this week, it does seem like an end game is at play. Problem is, it can still all go horribly wrong, this is high stakes.
One thing supporting Cardiff City have taught me is only to believe it when you see it. Right now, with good reason, I'm struggling to see anything at all.
Ex-Cardiff City man Steven Thompson -released by Dave Jones in January as he didn't think he would help our play off challenge yet he took Burnley into the Premiership - has received a "fine" for having a pint during a match.
BURNLEY striker Steven Thompson has revealed how a pre-season prank has cost him a week’s wages.
Unable to curtail his sprint at Portland Timbers PGE Park in the final game of the Clarets’ tour of America, the former Rangers and Cardiff City front man gatecrashed a pitchside beer garden.
Thompson, who scored Burnley’s second goal in a 2-2 draw that night, hurdled a barrier before landing next to the table of a spectator, who was enjoying a pint while watching the game, until the 30-year-old appeared on the scene and helped himself to it.
“I kind of fell over the billboards at the side of the pitch and there was a cafe right on the side,” Thompson explained.
“I landed on this person’s table and I don’t know what happened, I just instinctively grabbed this guy’s pint and had a drink.
“It shows you how bad a game it was that it got the biggest cheer of the night.
"It was just a bit of fun and it went down well, it was a bit of light-hearted banter, and the guy was really decent about it. He was laughing.
“The manager did say I was fined a week’s wages though for being the first player he’s ever seen drinking during a match.
“I think that will be a first and last and one and only!”
Just 3 weeks ago, Cardiff City proudly stood 8 points ahead of Preston who only had 3 games left. City also had a game in hand and a vastly superior (by 18 goals) goal difference and matches to come against 2 sides with only pride to play for the bottom club already relegated.
At that time, some of us (myself included) thought automatic promotion was still possible so there is no excuse to offer and no sympathies to the club as Cardiff City lost 1-0 at Sheffield Wednesday while Preston and Burnley both won their final games to lead-frog City who miss out by goal scored against Preston. If we'd only lost 5-0 to them, we'd have been ok.
It's impossible to understand how a team who lost 4 out of 31 lost 6 of the last 15 and, worse, 3 of the last 4 games but our lot did, looking every inch a relegation side in the process and never looking a team focussed on the job with belief and confidence. They should be ashamed and embarrassed but as too far showed much pride recently, I suspect quite a few don't although I'm sure they're feeling sorry for their own egos.
Dave Jones and Cardiff City - you let us down. What happened is unforgiveable.
From 8 points ahead of Preston with a vastly superior 18 g
Burnley overcome Sheffiled United 1-0 at Turf Moor tonight. On the face of it, that's a result that means both sides are likely to join Cardiff in the Championship end of season play-offs.
The game's sole goal came from The Clarets leadign scorer Martin Paterson on 23 minutes and put a massive dent in Sheffield United's automatic promotion hopes.
It was a result Championship play-off chasers Swansea and Preston didn't want as only miracles will now surely get those sides into the play-off zone.
Cardiff visit bottom of the Championship and already relegated Charlton at The Valley tomorrow seeking the 2 points to confirm the play-off place.
Having viewed video evidence and taken in reports, the F.A. today charged Crystal Palace loan player Claude Davis with violent conduct following his off the ball elbow to the throat of Cardiff Ciy's Roger Johnson last weekend which left the previously ever present Bluebirds centre half struggling to breathe, coughing up blood, hospitalised for 2 days and made to miss City's victory over Burnley on Monday.
The Jamaican has until 6pm tomorrow to appeal ahead of a hearing on Friday which will see him banned for 3 games - effectively, the rest of this season - if upheld.
It is believed that Crystal Palace, the club or its leading officials, have failed to make any enquries about Roger's well-being. Regardless of feelings, the City man did nothing wrong and was a victim so it's a shame that's not been considered.
Tonight, Palace manager Neil Warnock expressed his unhappiness about the charge telling South London Press, “The referee told us after the game that he saw it and thought it was inconclusive so I don’t know what has changed his mind. There are just no comparisons between some of the challenges I’ve seen that haven’t been punished. That’s Claude done for the season now.”
“Three Is The Magic Number” boomed out as CardiffCity fans stood, applauded and cheered their heroes in Blue off the pitch after a stunning and magnificent 3-1 victory over Burnley to record their third successive three point haul.That’s the first time all season they managed to achieve it, to manage it in just 6 days made for an eggs-cellent Easter.As rivals slipped at home, CardiffCity now incredibly stand just 4 points from automatic promotion with 4 games to go and a game in hand.Win those games – a massive ask but possible – and I’ve no doubt we’ll be in the Premiership automatically rather than taking chances in the play-offs.
Yes, the Dream is very much on and completely alive, you’d better believe it.The thrill and anticipation of what may lie ahead is overwhelming, those final minutes had myself and a packed NinianPark singing, bouncing, stranger hugging, screaming and joyously jumping.Fantastic and emotional, what an afternoon.
There was no sign of the goals fest in a tough encounter in which Burnley started very well and played their part in full as, first half, Cardiff looked every inch a side carrying a couple of players with knocks and feeling the effects of playing their 4th game in 9 days.They eventually improved and cranked up pressure but with no City player able to get on the end of a stack of set pieces, corners and balls across goal, it looked set for stalemate until the most dramatic of conclusions unravelled.
Jay Bothroyd opened the scoring with a stunner that had NinianPark rocking until, just 6 minutes remained, when the otherwise excellent stand-in Darren Purse gifted Robbie Blake an equaliser.That hammer-blow would kill most sides but this City side have heart and balls to go with their commitment and quality and enter the outstanding Ross McCormack to put City ahead seconds after the restart and finish it altogether in added time to send City fans into uncontrollable delirium.
Easter weekend has produced glorious weather in South Wales but there was gloom of sorts with Roger Johnson absent after his mugging by CrystalPalace’s Claude Davis on the weekend left him hospitalised in London until today.We can only wish him well recovering, City hope to take him to Preston this weekend but his health must come first at present.Roger Johnson stood in, Michael Chopra and Jay Bothroyd recovered sufficiently from the rough-house treatment that had at Palace but Paul Parry missed out.
Burnley started and finished the day in 6th spot but now stand 4 points behind City and 4 ahead of Swansea who lead the play-off chasers.I’m still waiting for ‘thanks for helping us out’ messages off my Jack friends – they’re an ungrateful lot!
However The Clarets are having a fine season under Owen Coyle and winning lots of friends by narrowly failing to Spars in the Carling Cup semis and reaching the last 16 of the F.A. as well as having an excellent season in the league.They were unbeaten in 7 and collected 17 points making them the most in-form team of the front runners and City’s win all the more noteworthy.
Well backed by more than 1,500 fans in another excellent crowd of 19,379, The Clarets lined up with the following side:
The opening half hour was uncomfortable as, yet again, the visiting side employed a 4-5-1 formation.Cardiff looked tired and spent a lot of the openingperiod on the back-foot with the enormously impressive Chris Eagles and Welsh youngster Rhys Williams doubling up on Mark Kennedy’s side and causing considerable problems.
It was no surprise when Kennedy was booked for bringing down Eagles and he walked a tightrope at times as Eagles ran at him, around him or past him but City’s defence were generally as tight and resolute as ever.Stuart Taylor, now on loan with City for the rest of this season, made one save from Rodrigues and watched efforts from Blake and Carlisle go wide.
City, having to defend and almost play like an away side looking for joy on the breaks, were finding it difficult to respond and when they did, the avenue was usually Ross McCormack living up to the billing a few of us gave him at Palace singing to Kings of Leon, ‘woooh ooooh, McCormack’s on fire’.His trickery was troubling the visitors, his marker was soon booked and he was whipping in crosses with pace and swirl but City couldn’t profit from them, Roger was missed more for his threat up front than his presence at the back today.
There was some friction in the Grange End, seemingly caused by Burnley’s followers making those unjustified, outrageous and now oh so boring chants about Dave Jones, boos rang out, City fans were becoming agitated and the stewards pulled a huge green curtain across the terrace in the ‘no man’s land’ between the fans – I was half expecting them to put on a Bank Holiday Disney film for the Burnley mob.
Having been on the ropes with Eagles in charge out there, Cardiff finally managed to turn things around and finish the stronger side before the interval but still failed to adequately test Jensen as Bothroyd headed weakly at him, McCormack did similar after outstanding build up play and Bothroyd hammered an edge of area free kick equally a few yards high and wide of the Canton Stand goal but City had at least settled and were starting to play some quality football.
Half-time: CITY 0 BURNLEY 0
Former City ‘legends’ Dave Carver and Derek ‘Danny’ Showers were introduced on the pitch at the interval but and that was the most meaningful action we had for a while as the 2nd half opened as cagey as much of the opening period was although we all enjoyed McCormack smashing a volley over the Grange End and into the large tree beyond the ground.Once upon a time, we used to have fans watching for free in there – they would have been taken out by Roscoe’s effort.
With it being the 4th game in 9 days and the second in the space of 48 hours, the bench was always going to come into play and first change saw Whitts replaces Chopra just past the hour to go wide with McCormack pulled alongside Bothroyd.Chopra showed his commitment by playing after a knock too him off at the weekend and gave it everything.
Within moments, Jay Bothroyd had but missed the most glorious chance of the game.A huge punt saw Carlisle miscontrol his header which arced towards goal, the ball dropping invitingly for Jay but in trying to help the ball over Jensen, he succeeded in giving him an effective tame back-pass.
However Cardiff were now well on top and the support were behind them in full as well, willing them on, with them in every kick.Our defence were tighter than a trumpeter’s bum cheeks playing a top note with Purse and McCormack both outstanding and a succession of quality balls were flying across the box but, most unlike Easter, we couldn’t find anyone to get on the end of crosses!
Score updates were flying in – 10 man Birmingham had levelled at home to Brum, Sheffield United couldn’t beat 10 man Nottingham Forest at home, Reading had blown a 2 goal lead at Blackpool while Wolves were having their own drama at Derby while play-off chasers Swansea and Preston were going to win away, fans knew a point would be good but 3 points felt essential.
Then, from absolutely nothing, City crafted the opening goal and it was exceptional.Simple but stunning.A punt down the line, McCormack created an opening with a back-heel flick into the box and JAY BOTHROYD ran onto it and smashed high with venom high onto Jensen’s top corner leaving the keeper helpless and the net struggling to stay on.Pure ecstasy and legal too!The noise was incredible, AC/DC currently on Tour couldn’t match it.
Burnley tried to hit back immediately and almost did as Robbie Blake twisted and turned then hit a shot at goal that took an awkward bounce and struck a crouching Taylor on his forehead … although I thought he was show-boating by saving shots with headers!
Taylor, for such a big keeper with the potential to dominate his box, seems to suffer the same White Line Fever that many do and is loathsome to leave it even when a ball is obviously is but despite some awkward moments again, and needing defence to save him, he is doing a good job.
The game had majorly opened up.While that suited Burnley, it did City no harm either and then came within a whisker of finishing it as a scintillating McCormack run from halfway down the touchline, beyond the final defender, into the box and cut-back saw Whittingham’s effort deflected wide while the resulting corner was met on the full by Gyepes which started a roar of anticipation until Jensen – dubbed the Flying Pig and reminded of his portliness by the Grange End all half – took off across goal to take it.
City fans were cheering, at enormous noise, every tackle and header won with the game in its closing moments and were behind the rock that was Darren Purse today as he won three successive aerial challenges but City couldn’t pounce on the second ball and when it dropped behind him, Purse played the most horrible under-hit back-pass that placed ROBBIE BLAKE clear on goal and levelled the score on 84 minutes.
Darren Purse and defensive mistakes have been too frequent over the last year or two but, deputising a couple of times recently, he has been superb and didn’t deserve that.It’s not too often I feel for Darren Purse but today I did.
A fair number of fans in the Grandstand and elsewhere in the ground took that massive setback at the cue to leave but Cardiff matches have featured goals in the last 10 minutes in all of their last 7 games and this is a side who have proved all season long that they are never beaten and don’t given up.
However, even Spielberg would have rejected the script for what followed as just too outrageous.City kicked-off, the ball was turned back, played forward, Bothroyd flicked on and there was ROSS McCORMACK to burst past defenders and fire home low into the bottom corner surely within less than 10 seconds of the kick-off.When fans tell you how football can be better than sex, it’s moments like these that they are talking about.Incredible euphoria, unbelievable climax, fantastic shooting. Old men danced and hugged, a few had tears in their eyes, the noise was ear-splitting.
This was heart-stopping stuff, City restarting the game with Eddie, Eddie, Eddie replacing Bothroyd and Burnley trying to hit back for a second time but City were in no mood to let it slip again although Joe Ledley showed the nerves out there as he headed a Clark Carlisle header behind for a corner when it was drifting wide anyway.
Eddie delighted the baying home crowd by twice getting on the end of clearances and charging down the pitch into a corner.It was that tense that I don’t think anyone noticed the 4th official add 4 minutes, it wasn’t announced either.
Another Burnley attack, another City clearance cheered as if we’d won the F.A. Cup, Champions League and World Cup in one but, this time, it felt like it too as ROSS McCORMACK get the ball halfway in front of the Bob Bank, yet again showed amazing pace as he left two defenders for dead but instead of going to the corner, he bore down on goal from an angle and slotted past Jensen for another incredible personally made and taken goal – his 23rd of the season and his 2nd double in 3 days.Ninian truly erupted, the place has seen so many outstanding moments but the last few minutes of this encounter is right up there with them all.
There is no praise high enough for the monumental efforts of this team in which everyone played their part.It’s hard to single out anyone but KEVIN McNAUGHTON’s defensive masterclass rightly earned the man of the match plaudits.There’s no time to reflect in this glory either as Preston next up away on Saturday is a game that impacts both on City’s auto-promotion hopes and their play-off ones as well.I got a funny feeling our following at that game will increase significantly.
Dave reflects a fantastic afternoon at Ninian Park today but remains unhappy and angry by the Roger Johnson incident at Selhurst Park and the reaction of Palace supremo Simon Jordan.
Cardiff City's magnificent victory at Crystal Palace has not only lifted the Bluebirds to a season's best place of 4th spot and kept alive outside hopes of automatic promotion but, along with other results, mean City now only require a maxium of 4 points from their final 5 games to guarantee a play-off berth.
Birmingham City grabbed a fortunate draw at bottom but vastly improved club Charlton, The Addicks having a perfectly good goal disallowed. It means Cardiff are now just 6 points from automatic promotion and with a game in hand.
Results of play-off chasers benefitted City as well. Burnley travel to Ninian Park on Monday 2 places and 1 point below Cardiff having seen off QPR at home, Clark Carlisle nodding home a winner while Swansea are the best placed club outside the play-off zone after beating Norwich 2-1 at Liberty Stadium with ex-City striker Alan Lee netting for the Canaries.
However other play-off contenders Preston and Bristol City both suffered disastrous defeats. Preston lost 1-0 at home to local rivals Blackpool while Bristol City somehow conspired to have a man sent off and turn a 2-1 lead into 3-2 defeat at Nottingham Forest inside the final 10 minutes.
Cardiff are now 8 points clear of the play-off chasers and can finish no lower than 9th so it'll be a Championship best for them whatever happens but surely just 1 win more win will be more than enough to secure a play-off berth although the aim will be 5 wins of course!
For what seems like the umpteenth time already in 2009, Cardiff City fans spent the day watching how the rest of the Championship got on with no Saturday game for themselves.Leaders Wolves and 2nd placed Birmingham go head to head on Monday night, Cardiff's faded automatic promotion hopes surely depend on Wolves winning that one as they look uncatchable at the top.
However Reading, in 3rd, were distinctly unimpressive again. A 0-0 bore draw at Coventry in which they only had one chance but never found themselves in too much trouble. It leaves them 3 points behind Birmingham who they face on the last day of the season in what may yet be a winner takes all game but Cardiff are now 6 points behind them with 2 games in hand. Potentially, we could be level with them on Wednesday night. Let's start praying!
Sheffield United are flying and coming through on the rails, a comfortable 2-0 win over Ipswich at Brammall Lane keeps them 4th, also 6 points in front of Cardiff but with 2 more played. Both Reading and The Blades enjoy better goal differences too.
However nobody else had a day to remember.
Burnley, in 5th, were denied by a late late Derby equaliser in a 1-1 at Pride Park while the sides in 7th and 8th immediately outside the play-offs behind City also drew 1-1, Preston pegging back Brizzle Zity at Trashton Gate in an evening game.
Cardiff are currently 1 point ahead of Preston and 3 points ahead of Bristol, crucially with a better goal difference and 3 games in hand. A win tomorrow vs Swansea City and surely it's a case of looking at those in front of us without worrying about those behind. Over to you boys.
That’s a set of result that means Cardiff City’s chances of making automatic promotion are as tough as ever but with Ipswich and Burnley drawing while Swansea lost in London, the likelihood are making the play-offs as a minimum as looking better than ever.
The one bad result, Bluebird-wise, was Reading grabbing a 1-0 victory at Doncaster who give Cardiff no helping hand having also lost at home to Birmingham last weekend.The Royals winner came 8 minutes from time from returning on-loan man Dave Kitson.
It was a very poor encounter in which both sides has seemed resigned to a goalless draw until Kitson gave manager Steve Coppell something to celebrate in his 1,000th game as a manager.
Burnley – after 2 emphatic victories – appeared to be on their way again when Elliott fired them into the lead in another unremarkable game but Dos Santos levelled up with 15 minutes to go retaining Ipswich’s outside hopes getting into the play-offs.
However Swansea followed up Saturday’s crash at home to CrystalPalace with another setback to London opposition, this time falling 1-0 at QPR to Leighterwood’s 30th minute goal.The Jacks had no answer to that.
City go into tomorrow’s encounter with Watford 11 points off an automatic promotion spot but with 3 games in hand on Birmingham while Reading are now 7 points ahead but have played 2 more.
Where it looks really good for City is making the play-offs as a minimum.In 6th tonight, they now enjoy 3 games in hand on the 4 sides below them who are the only likely sides to break into the Top 6 as well as a far superior goal difference and upto 5 points advantage as well.
