Chopra back tonight?

Cardiff City's list of missing big hitters may finally see a reduction as the players start to return to fitness and full training.

Alhtough rumours have been about the return of Seyi Olinfinjana for some time, he may miss out again this evening and return for the visit to Barnsley on Saturday. Oli has been out since a foot injury sustained in the Hull home win on September 11th.

However there is speculation that Michael Chopra may be on the bench for tonight's hom,e clash with Crystal Palace. Chops was the victim of an unpunished appalling challenge in the home demolition of Doncaster on August 21st. At the time, he was reported as likely to be out for 2 to 3 months but he has responded very well to treatment and is back in full training. If not in the squad tonight, Chops is almost certain to be in the Barnsley squad on Saturday.

Of the others, Craig Bellamy is unlikelyto be risked in this week's games as he is still not back in full, impact training although there is a small chance he could feature at Barnsley. If he misses out altogether, that may rule him out for Wales Euro'2012 double header with Switzerland and Bulgaria next week. City fans - and management - would be concerned to see him in those games having not played for City since August 28 and having played no football this month other than Wales defeat in Montenegro at the startb of the month, a game which appears to have accelerated his problems. Cardiff have a heavy October fixture list and will need Bellamy for that so 2 Wales games in 5 days before it is a real worry given his problems.

The other key players - Chris Riggott and Danny Drinkwater - remain on schedule to be considered for Cardiff's first game after the international break which is Bristol City at CCS on October 16th.

Thankfully, City have no new problems after the weekend win over MillwaIl and will be strong favourites to complete a South London double with tonight's visit from Crystal Palace.

If Cardiff think they have problems, they can think again. Palace will have 8 key players absent and have lost all 4 away trips this season failing to score and conceding 12. Home banker then ... it had better be!

Video Highlights: CARDIFF CITY 2 Millwall 1

BBC Sport - Football - Highlights - Cardiff 2-1 Millwall
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/9034933.stm

Andy Keogh's last-minute header seals all three points for Cardiff City against 10-man Millwall (UK users only).

Championship match report: CARDIFF CITY 2 Millwall 1

CARDIFF CITY still misfiring and still missing their big hitters still recorded a late, late 2-1 win over Millwall and climb back to 2^nd spot in a Championship. The winner came from an otherwise poor (and he wasn’t the only one) Andy Keogh flicking home an 88th header finally taking advantage of playing 10 men for 50 minutes.

An action packed 1^st half saw the visitors early lead swiftly cancelled out by Jay Bothroyd who went on to miss chances that should have got him a hat-trick while Trotter was sent off FOR The Lions and Whittingham had a penalty saved for City. The second half, though, was tedious as a shockingly poor Cardiff never made the extra man count and had run out of ideas until Keogh popped up.

It is admirable that South Wales Police and the club are working hard to reduce restrictions for travelling fans. A compulsory “bubble” coach only fixture for many years, Millwall fans were allowed to travel independently and collect their match tickets at a rendezvous in Cardiff West Services. To still encourage coach travel, Millwall nobly charged £10, enough to entice far more fans that would otherwise have visited, nearly 1,200 supporters came down when they normally bring just a couple of hundred.

However the negative aspect of this arrangement was that kick-off time was brought forward to midday and it will be the same again when home to Bristol City in 3 weeks. While the change should be applauded, it is an annoyance to see 22,000 Cardiff fans inconvenienced to benefit easier arrangements for away fans. Fortunately, my boy’s Saturday match was brought forward 2 hours to a 9am kick-off (other sides could not change their times) but it meant I couldn’t catch up with pals for a pre-match drink and chat.

Cardiff’s injury problems are now into their second month. It has been possible to name a sick note X1 but it’s the absence of pivotal players which are hurting. Danny Drinkwater and Michael Chopra are rumoured to return in another 3 weeks, Craig Bellamy maybe sooner although it was a shock to learn this week that he still had not trained with the side since returning from Wales duty, new centre half signing Chris Riggott is some way off fitness levels required, Kevin McNaughton must have his own cubicle reserve at A&E and Jason Koumas strives for match fitness. The big shock, though, was Seyi Olifinjana who was strongly fancied to be back in the fold, not making the 16 again and another shock came as Tom Heaton replaced Marshall in goals. Four games since these problems brought two very average performance home wins and two poor away performances and defeats.

With limited options, Dave Jones named the same ten outfield men who lost out at Ipswich. City: Heaton; McNaughton-Hudson-Gyepes-Naylor; Burke-Rae-McPhail-Whittingham; Bothroyd-Keogh.

Mee-Waw from Sarf Larndarn are back in the Championship after 5 years thanks to achieving what Cardiff couldn’t last May, winning a Wembley play-off final. They have started well until home judders in the past week – a 6-1 pasting at the New Den by Watford and midweek Carling Cup loss to Ipswich - sent them into this clash looking to restore confidence but they were only 2 points behind City in 9^th spot at kick-off. Their away form has been mixed, a stunning 3-0 opening day win at the Wurzels but followed it with defeat at Leeds and a draw at Nottingham Forest.

After ex-Jacks Manager Paolo Sousa saw off City at Leicester and ex-Jack Jason Scotland killed any chance of a result last week at Ipswich, it was the return of another former Swans boss, Kenny Jackett, to try and achieve a hat-trick of sorts over us. More connected interest came in the form of London’s Welsh striker Steve Morison while ex-City (and ex-Barry Town) keeper David Forde, a hapless figure in his time at Ninian Park, was making his 100^th consecutive start for The Lions. No City fans would have predicted he’d be back in the Championship achieving that feat when he departed South Wales and, on the evidence of his erratic display in this game, I’m still wondering how he achieved it.

Cardiff started brightly and had Millwall on the back foot penned in their own half but their first break out on 10 minutes saw them score and, again, ask plenty of questions about City’s defending which was just not good enough. The impressive new Welsh international Steve Morison who troubled City’s defence all afternoon burst past Gabor Gyepes and was denied by a last gasp Mark Hudson challenge but failing to shape up, the ball ran loose for Kevin Lisbie to skin Naylor with far too much ease and square for SCOTT BARRON to turn home centre of goal completely unchallenged.

Millwall fans celebrated and were vocal but the kids in the Family Stand were giving it to them and getting it back. Quite surreal.

For a while after the goal, Cardiff struggled and second best anywhere you looked in midfield and showed few signs of getting into the game.

However drama was to follow starting with Jay Bothroyd’s equaliser on 25, Tony Naylor’s long throw causing havoc (perhaps his only positive moment of the game) as it was allowed to bounce in the box, Whitts nearly got a shot away but the ball ran loose for JAY BOTHROYD to place past Forde from close range. It was Jay’s 7^th of the season, already more than halfway to beating last year’s total.

City finally brightened up and Jay should have had a first half hat-trick as two shots fizzed wide, a superb Whittingham run and cross set him up for a perfect far post header but he placed it to close to Forde and then a dazzling move and another fantastic Whittingham urge saw him teed up on the edge of the box with an inviting goal but he steered wide.

A significant moment came just past the half hour as Trotter who was playing really well caught Darcy studs out on the ankle, a careless rather than malicious challenge for which he had an instant red card. Darcy recovered from what initially looked a serious injury after almost 5 minutes of treatment.

That added time brought it own drama as Peter Whittingham was bundled down cutting inside the last defender – easy penalty I thought, not so thought others – only to be denied his spot kick by Forde, more of a good save than a bad miss. It leaves Whitts still looking for his 1^st goal this term having netted 26 last season.

Half-time: City 1 Millwall 1

The 2^nd half promised much and delivered next to nothing. Millwall dropped deeper but still carried a threat partly thanks to Morison but Cardiff’s defence, shorn of the protection offered by Oilfinjana and with two slow centre-halves, are shaky enough to give any side hope. Worst culprit, again, was Tony Naylor and there should be a debate on the merits of him getting starts on current form. Beaten with ease several times, shocking distribution, struggling to stop crosses, Millwall saw him as a weakness and attacked mostly on his side.

Up front however, City offered next to nothing and never showed they had an extra man out there. Stuck between boredom and frustration, it was hard work just watching it.

Jason Koumas replaced Steve McPhail (McPhail’s name being announced as he walked off the pitch was the only time all afternoon that I realised he was on it in the first place) and I thought he would find the time and space to make a telling pass or run, he didn’t.

Keogh shot narrowly wide falling, Koumas saw a shot blocked on the line and, as I recall it, that was the sum extent of telling City moments in the half until, 2 minutes left, Bothroyd took the ball on the touchline, drifted in, sent a ball in the box and ANDY KEOGH’s deft flicked header found the far corner of goal perfectly. His first goal for 13 months which he celebrated in shirt off run to the corner routine as City fans went ballistic and Millwall’s stopped all their celebratory gloating thinking they’d achieved a result. Now they had to put up with “One nil and you ***ed it up”.

There were plenty of players to be concerned about – Naylor, the Gyepes-Hudson partnership, Keogh – and only Jay, Blake and McNaughton who played reasonably well as well as Gavin Rae who once more looked useful from the bench. Will City go up or even stay in contention playing like this? Not a chance. The sooner the big hitters are back, the better as we look very ordinary without them.

Bellamy still out as City heasd to Ipswich but Oli and Jay back

It is believed that Cardiff City flew to Ipswich yesterday without Craig Bellamy, despite media hints of his return, but that Seyi Olifinjana and Jay Bothroyd were with the side.

If true and they play, it can only be good news for City as both are pivotal players in the side.

Bellamy is expected to be back for the Milwall home clash next weekend but Danny Drinkwater is set to be absent for another 3 weeks and Michael Chopra a week longer.

Although unconfirmed at this stage, the match is set to be streamed live on the Bet 365 and William Hill websites so worth check it later.

Championship 2010/2011 - a throwback to yesteryear?

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.

Premiership midfielders linked to Cardiff

Cardiff City are being strongly linked with loan moves for Stephen Reid of Blackburn Rovers and/or Ben Watson of Wigan, ironically players who have had less than successful loan spells recently with fellow Championship side Queens Park Rangers.

Reid, a 28 year old Eire international with 22 caps, was signed by Blackburn from Millwall for £2.5M in 2003 and has started 90 Premiership games scoring 6 goals, he is noted for powerful shooting. However ihe has not played in the Premiership since Sept'2008 and had only 3 Carling Cup appearences for the Ewood Park club this term and injuries have seen him drop down the pecking order. At QPR, Reid started once and was used a sub once in late November.

Ben Watson, dubbed the Beckham of Peckham for his set piece flair, is seen as surplus by Roberto Martinez at Wigan after arriving there last January from Crystal Palace for £2M. He joined QPR, ahead of Cardiff, and has started 16 Championship games scoring twice, his tally would have been greater hadhe not earned 2 successive red cards. His loan spell has just ended with mixed reviews and it is believed Dave Jones has made enquiries already.

Player links to Cardiff City hot up

With Roger Johnson gone, more players set to go and 7 new faces promised, paper talk is hotting up. Here's a quick round up of the latest mutterings for what it's worth since newspaper gossip very rarely equals reality.


OUTGOING
Rumours are circulating that left back Tony Capaldi with link with his ex-Plymouth boss Ian Holloway at Blackpool if they can find the package to match his handsome City package. Holloway briefly tried to take him for Leciester City when he was their manager too.

Premiership suitors are playing a waiting game for Joe Ledley, obviously hoping to get him for a last minute cut price deal after City declined £6M bids for him in January and now find they have a player who can leave for nothing out of contract next season. Arsenal, who have watched him many times, are being linked to him but there's a queue including Spurs, Everton, Stoke, West Ham who have expressed interest but have done nothing to date.

Dave Jones is also willing to offload Paul Parry, Miguel Comminges, Warren Feeney (forgot we still had him after his 2 seasons in Scotland but Norwich are rumoured to be in for him) and maybe Peter Whittingham too while they are willing to listen t offersd for Ross McCormack to raise more funds even though he is set to sign an extended deal.

THOSE LINKED TO CITY
An ever lengthening list includes defenders Paul Quinn (Motherwell), Damien Delaney of QPR who we are rumoured to be competing with Ipswich at around £1M package deal (a price that would seem to rule out any move by City) and another QPR man in Latvian defender Kaspar Gorkss. Another paper link is Millwall defender Zak Whitbread.


With two centre halves required, the names mentioned in dispatches to date are ex-City man James Collins (I don't see him dropping out of the Premiership), a loan move for Manchester United's promising Craig Cathcart who spent time last season at Plymouth and Birmingham City's Liam Ridgewell whose place there is in jeorpardy with the arrival of three new centre halves including Roger Johnson of course.


Cardiff City's midfield engine room has misfired and lack goals for a couple of years and, to me, seem an important area of the side to get right. Links so far are uninspriring. Misfit Liam Miller, a player of talent but who throws it away with poor attitude, is linked but if he wasn't afraid of Roy Keane at Sunderland (who threw him out of the club after continally being late), what chance has Dave Jones got with the 27 year old? Others have been mentioned in dispatches, all with unremarkable goal contributions to the cause. Mayeb it's just me but I thought Charlton's Nicky Bailey or Chinese midfielder could do tremendous jobs for us.


Up front, it's hard to remember Michael Chopra becomes a permanent signing next week for £4M from Sunderland. Fans hold their breath he can rediscover his form, fitness and goals which were all missing in his end of last season loan with us. Eddie Johnson has returned, Ross McCormack appears set to stay but another forward is needed regardless yet the only name linked to date, Motherwell's Dave Clarkson, appears to be on his way Bristol City with Cardiff reportedly declining to follow up initial interest as his price tag has increased to circa £750,000.


More of this silliness over the next few days but, hopefully, we will finally see activity in Cardiff's Arrivals Lounge.

Arsenal Off, On, Off & On Again but with new dates

What a day of messing about and bother.

Tomorrow's F.A. Cup 4th Round replay against Arsenal at The Emirates Stadium due to be televised on Setanta tv was postponed this morning due to the significant snowfalls in the London area. While the pitch would be snow free and the ground cleared too, concerns about 9,000 travelling City fans forced the decision ... athough whether that was a convenient excuse with Leeds, Millwall, Swansea and others in London tomorrow (and whose games still appear to be on) is another matter!

The game was swiftly rearranged for Saturday week, Valentine's Day, enough to motivate me to a lunchtime dash to Ninian Park to snap up some of the few remaining tickets as I was able to make the new date.

No sooner were they secured than it was announced the game was rescheduled again for Monday February 16th to be televised on Setanta, a decision that sees City in the quarter-final draw that takes place first even though they may not get through 2 rounds earlier!

More worryingly, the QPR home game for Sunday Feb 15th has been postponed due to this new date and will put City 3 games behind others in the Championship league programme. That's far from ideal, I really hope it doesn't cost them.


Nige - with spare Arsenal tickets!

FORDE MOTORS INTO THE 'WALL

Cardiff City goalkeeper David Forde has today signed a two year contract for League One side Millwall.

Signed by The Bluebirds 18 minths ago, he never fitted in at City and never really suggested he was competent enough to be a leading Championship keeper as required to replace Neil Alexander.

Completely out of the reckoning at Ninian Park this season, Forde found his level and did very well in two loan spells at Luton and Bournemouth which brought him to the attention of Millwall and even Scottish Premier side Aberdeen but Sarf London it is for Fode and good luck to him.

FEENEY TO HIT THE 'WALL

Not many sightings of Feeney in a City shirt

so here he is as a Jack

Warren Feeney's tortured time at Cardiff City appears to be nearing an end if you believe the rumours.

Feeney is the sort of player from whom the terms "hapless" and "your face don't fit son" were invented for in order to describe his term at Ninian Park.

In January 2007, Luton Town were heading for inevitable Championship relegation and Feeney wasn't good enough to get in their side. He was out of contract at the end of that season and available on a Bosman.

With City aiming for the Premiership and play-ofs at least, it defied belief that we turned to him to help our striking options. Unbelievably, City also handed him a 3.5 year contract and allegedly paid Luton £75,000 after initial loan. Feeney had links to Peter Ridsdale as both were at Leeds United and many suspected this appeared to be the guiding factor in the move.

His experience at City has been miserable - 6 starts, 6 sub outings and no goals - things got so bad, fans booed when he came on a sub.

Credit to Feeney, he always played with a smile and didn't just sit on his wages doing nothing. He opted to join The Jacks on loan - with City fans begging them to buy him! - and became a hero with 6 goals in 8 starts and 4 sub outings before collecting a red card and horrendous injury which curtailed his loan and season. He also played and scored for Northern Ireland whilst a Bluebird.

Few doubt Feeney is a trier but opinion is fixed that he is a lower league striker who never showed enough ability with City but was more comfortable in League One. Joining Millwall would therefore appear to be good business for player and club.

City fans will surely be praying it goes through!