Cardiff City 0 Nottingham Forest 2 - match report

CARDIFF CUT DOWN TO SIZE BY FOREST

Cardiff City lost their second successive home game in abject style – this time by 2-0 to Nottingham Forest – and in doing so, immediately surrendered their hard earned top spot in the division.

Cardiff did not play well and Forest were predictably tough, organised and uncompromising closing down City and not allowing them to play in exactly the same way as Swansea did a fortnight earlier in the last home outing.

However this time it was all about poor player performances rather than manager Dave Jones’ tactics and selections even if they could still be questioned in part. Cardiff’s passing was atrocious, Forest really won the ball, we just kept giving it to them. Forest’s goals, both well taken, were still both borne from pitiful defending.

Clear cut chances were inexplicably wasted and Cardiff were completely disjointed all afternoon as just about every player playing poorly and it is time to ask serious questions about one or two of them.

Pre-game, the mood was confident with City top of the table and deservedly so, Jay Bothroyd incredibly getting a midweek start for England and although everyone expected a tough afternoon – the sides shared two draws last season - City have still enjoyed the upper hand in recent times and Forest, despite fast improving, had only had 1 away win in 21 attempts.

However a headache came with the loss of Chris Burke who failed to recover from a thigh strain in Scunthorpe last week. Cardiff should be able to deal with it but, plainly, they weren’t and that is worrying. Without him, we lacked width, pace, energy and work-rate going forward while nobody was running at Forest’s defence and apart from Bellamy once, nobody got behind them either. City were also missing Lee Naylor to injury but few seemed too concerned about that, he has all too often looked the weakest link of Cardiff’s defence.

Dave Jones dealt with it by calling up Jason Koumas, reverting to Gyepes and Hudson in central mid, moving SuperKev from right to left back and slotting Darcy Blake into the right back role. Cardiff: Heaton; Blake-Gyepes-Hudson-McNaughton; Koumas-Olifinjana-Whittingham-Bellamy; Chopra-Bothroyd. Jones was suffering from laryngitis and so was so to stand on the touchline with arms folded having nothing to say … as usual!

Pantomime season is due to start shortly but it’s been running at Forest off the pitch all season. Manager Billy Davies has been a frequent and outspoken critic of his board with matters coming to a head as they failed to back in the summer transfer window. A so-called Transfer Policy Committee captured only one summer target and there was spats with both Cardiff and Swansea at their conduct after they appeared to be tapping up Whittingham and Pratley. Now Davies is at loggerheads with Forest’s club owner having missed a couple of matches citing family illness and accused of returning home to Scotland after weekend games and not being seen back in Nottingham until 48 hours before their next weekend match.

However Forest has been a slow burner on the pitch and are slowly but surely coming into contention. They’ve now lost fewer games than Cardiff but have been a draw specialist yet it’s 14 points in 7 outings as they’ve risen to 6^th and in the play-off picture.

Pre-game, Alarm front man and rocker Mike Peters sang The Bells of Rhymney on the pitch, it was soon followed by The Balls Up of Cardiff but they started well enough. Bellamy firing over early on, Bothroyd wide and Whittingham grazing the top of the crossbar from an edge of area set piece after Olifinjana won a free-kick.

A key moment arrived however when Bellamy picked out Jay with a peach of a pass, Jay looks favourite to score, he managed to get past keeper Lee Camp but then rolled the ball into the side-netting from an angle. “England, you’re ‘aving a laugh” Forest fans chanted at him.

However it was an even battle and Forest gave as good as they got before taking the lead with a super goal on 25 as their man of the moment Lewis McGugan struck home from 25 yards with a dipping volley but how and why was he given so much time to take the ball, control it and shoot unopposed? Was Tom Heaton also caught off his line as the shot only appeared to be halfway up the goal yet cleared him?

Unfortunately, City had no response to that and looked like a disorganised mess, a problem they just did not resolve.

It’s hard to know where to start when criticising players but here we go with some key lowlights;

Michael Chopra – What was wrong with his fitness? Was his trip to Dubai too enjoyable? He had no pace or movement whatsoever and was getting beaten in sprints by big and burly Forest centre-halves. Many fans have observed Chops seems to be carrying a few more pounds than usual, is it catching up with him? He was taken off at half-time and rightly so.

Craig Bellamy – Is it time to ask what exactly he’s offering to us at present? There’s a good argument that he may be getting picked by name and not on merit. Surely he’s going to come into his own and offer us more soon but he’s really been very average in recent games.

Jason Koumas – Will he ever come good? Once again anonymous and the problem is that he’s not just lost all pace – which often saw him check out and send the ball backwards when given it wide or advanced – but he also seems to have lost his passing quality too. If we’re honest, Koumas and Keogh were two key signings, both are proving to be poor captures.

Darcy Blake – Nowhere near as good this season as he was last season. Did his passes only find red shirts all afternoon? However it couldn’t have been easy with Koumas in front of him.

Olifinjana – Personally, I don’t think he’s played that well for the past 3-4 games. Today, he tried to be City’s playmaker and that’s just not his game.

Peter Whittingham – I love watching Whitts and he’s pure class but an entire afternoon observing him trying to pick out killer or long passes is not what he’s about or should be doing.

I could go on but that’s enough. Collectively, City were a mess. The lack of movement on the pitch was shocking, City’s tactics largely revolving around hoof-ball punts, sometimes aimlessly, to the front was dull. Teams may be gradually getting to grips with City. When we’re allowed to play, there is nobody better in this division but we have to earn that right (today we never eve n tried to) and must have a Plan B and, on the evidence of the Swansea and Forest home displays, we just don’t have that in the locker.

Half-Time: City 0 Forest 1

Cardiff came back with Drinkwater replacing the ineffective/bloody useless (choose your adjective) Chopra and Bellamy moved alongside Jay. Danny D finally added some zest, energy and bite into central midfield and Cardiff slowly but surely, got some momentum going which became a steady steam of pressure.

However when the chances came, they were wasted. None more so than a delightful move which saw Whittingham play a great pass behind Forest, Bellamy get onto it like a F1 driver and send over the perfect ball for Jay to head in from of goal. Inexplicably, he sent it straight at Camp. Likewise, a corner kick saw the ball met by Olifinjana close range and centre of goal but he nodded it a good 4 yards wide.

Forest were in no mood to surrender what they had earned and the free-kick count ended up 23 to 9 in Cardiff’s favour, Forest also getting 3 second half yellow cards but City were unable to do anything with them.

Just like the Swansea defeat, as poorly as Cardiff played, no side at any level can afford to waste chances like those presented today. A side aiming for automatic promotion must be more clinical, no excuses. City sent over a huge number of crosses and balls forward but just 1 effort on target in 90 minutes tells its own story, that was Jay’s wasted header.

Adam Matthews replaced a poor Darcy Blake for the final 10 minutes but it was Forest who benefitted as they advanced way too easily down Cardiff’s right, Matthews being well beaten, McGugan found sub Dexter Blackstock and he had all the time and space to place a shot wide of Tom Heaton inside the area.

Forest’s 1,500 fans were naturally going crazy, 5,000 or more of Cardiff’s in the crowd of 23,526 walked out.

Those who stayed were held back for even longer as the game ended on a sour note when Seyi Olifinjana caught Blackstock on his leg with his studs. It looked an instant red card to me but both ref and lino either missed it or didn’t agree. Blackstock, after lengthy treatment, was stretchered away with news that it’s likely to be cruciate ligaments rather than a broken leg but that would end his season anyway.

6 minutes of added time saw more huff’n’puff from City but nil quality.

Cardiff fall to 2^nd and still in a position that 22 of the Championship’s other sides will envy but they clearly have some sorting out to do. Assistant Manager Terry Burton tried to play it down as a “bad day at the office”. In some respects he’s right, it was a tight game in which Forest took their limited chances and Cardiff failed to do so. However there is a bigger underlying problem than that. What we’ve witnessed in the last two home games is unacceptable. Burton, Jones and the players know that too.

Nottingham Forest Chief Exec defends persual of Whitingham

Nottingham Forest, so close to Premier League promotion, last season are a club under fire from within for failing to build on that this term.

A poor start with 3 points from 4 games, a failure to do any transfer business in the window and a manager apparently at loggerheads with the Board has produced a lot of anger from their fans.

It is, however, their public chasing of Cardiff City's Peter Whittingham and Swansea City's Darren Pratley that has caused them most trouble with Forest Chief Exec going onto BBC Radio claiming both men wanted to join his club but were being prevented from doing so.

Both South Wales clubs declined all offers and claim both players would prefer with their current clubs making formal complaints and expressing their anger over an approach that many felt tantamount to "tapping up".

Mark Arthur was forced to make a full and unreserved apology and, now, for the first time has talked about it as the criticism from his own fans refuses to go away. Rather lamely, he says both clubs decided to keep the players despite them being in the final year of their contracts and he has to respect that, the same as they held onto players in a similar situation.

The full interview with the deluded fool can be seen here:

http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10308~2146874,00.html

TRANSFER WINDOW SHUTS - The Stars Stay but Gerrard Goes

Cardiff City fans spent the day on tenterhooks, monitoring online news and messageboards hoping for the best and their wishes were fulfilled as the club held onto all its key personnel.


It is believed, despite all the rumours, that no Premier side made late moves for Bothroyd or Burke, Nottingham Forest never made one final increased offer for Peter Whittingham.

It means City can crack on with the Championship assault and will keep their personnel intact until January at least.

However in the final hour, before the window shut at 6pm, one player did depart as centre half ANTHONY GERRARD left for a season's loan with fellow Championship outfit Hull City.

Gerrard has been injured, out of form and out of favour with stories mingling of bust ups with the City hierarchy. As the club ponder moves for Chris Riggott, Danny Gabbidon and Calum Davenport, it was obvious that Gerrard was falling down the pecking order.

One consequence of the move is that Gerrard can play against Cardiff as Hull reciprocated allowing City star man Seyi Olifinjana to play against Hull. The side ironically meet in their next Championship fixture at CCS when action resumes after the international break on September 13th.

Transfer Window D-Day

The Summer Transfer Window shuts firmly at 6pm this evening so 12 hours to go on what may, or may not, be an active day but will there be inward or outward moves at Cardiff City?

Having already brought in 7 men, mostly loans, Dave Jones has conducted most of his business already but is still hoping to add "one or two more". It is a fair bet those players will be centre-halves but those deals may not take place today.

Chris Rigott, already training with the club, and Calum Davenport, also linked, are free agents so do not need to be signed today. Both have injury histories and represent gambles, City are understood to be arranging a friendly tomorrow to run the rule over Riggott and maybe Davenport too.

Unlike at is seems, one shock move could see out of favour Anthony Gerrard heading to Premier League West Ham United in some sort of swap move with a homecoming for Bluebirds star, and another injury prone centre half, Danny Gabbidon. Gabbs has just pulled out of Wales' squad for their Euro 2012 opener in Montenegro on Friday but has played in the last two games for the beleagured Hammers ... who, erm, got hammered.

However most concern will be on whether any star men leave with the likes of Peter Whittingham, Jay Bothroyd and Chris Burke all in new contract talks but out of deals next summer making it vital to9 tie them down fast or risk, a la Joe Ledley, losing them for nothing. Whitts, in particular, has been linked to Nottingham Forest who are rumoured to be weighing up one final fling for him. City really do not want to lose any of these men and fans will be counting down the minutes until 6pm.

Others who may go could be Gavin Rae (Leeds or Derby showing interest), Steve McPhail (Ipswich may move for him) and other squad members like Taiwo and co but, again, these players may leave on loan at some time after today rather than find a permanent move now.

Eyes down then and let's hope for the best.

Whitts move to Forest back on?

Today's Daily Mail is reporting that PETER WHITTINGHAM has held talks with Nottingham Forest over a proposed £1.8M move.

Out of contract next summer, City need Whititngham to pen a new deal now or sell. They can't really afford a repeat of the Joe Ledley walk away for free that happened this summer.

Middlesbrough are also reported to be interested but Forest appear to be in pole position if he goes.

Personally, I truly hope he stays and takes a new deal with Cardiff, he's a key player and a class act who, in truth, is too good for the Championship and should be performing at a higher level. If he leaves, it should only be for Premier Leage and not a rival. I also value him at more than £1.8M.

I'm thoroughly enjoying watching Whitts play lately, he's a class above. Not scored yet this season but helped set up Burke's winner at Derby and Jay's equaliser at home to Sheff U.

Hope he takes a new deal with City instead.

Forest apologise to Cardiff and Swansea

Nottingham Forest Chief Executive has said sorry to key figures at Cardiff City and Swansea City after giving a media interview that incensed both clubs after claiming that he knew Swans midfielder Darren Pratley and Bluebirds star Peter Whittingham wanted to join his club.

Both players denied this and the club were calling for a Football League investigation on tapping up players, Cardiff’s Dave Jones calling it a blatant attempt to unsettle his staff while CEO Gethin Jenkins told Arthurs to concentrate on his own club, not other.

Forest made two bids for Whittingham, neither anywhere near City’s valuation and it is believed the player will be happy to discuss a new Cardiff contract now that City are resolving their summer cash woes and strengthening the squad.

However there was a late twist in the tale as Pratley and Swansea announced that they had failed to agree contract terms and do not have plans to discuss again soon. This may yet open the door to Forest.

Forest told to Foxtrot Oscar with latest Whitts bid

Cardiff City are believed to have declined Nottingham Forest's perceived "trying it on" offer for Bluebirds creator and scorer Peter Whittingham.

Whitts incredibly bagged 25 last term and was in Championship team of the season in a year in which he fianlly lived up to his undoubted talent.

The player, in all honesty, should be worth circa £3M but out of contract in 12 months and with City dealing with cash problems, Nottingham Forest launched a formal bid of £1M. Cheeky would be an understatement.

While I got a sneakly feeling City may consider any serious offer, it's no surprise that one was batted away.

Championship: NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0 CARDIFF CITY 3 match report

A game that probably sent Bank Holiday viewers into an armchair early evening snooze was irrelevant as Cardiff City took another step to scuring their place in the play-offs for the Premiership as they held Nottingham Forest to a goalless draw at the City Ground in a match televised live on the BBC - a result that confirmed Newcastle United's return to the Premiership at the first attempt.

The result was fair, both sides had strong spells, both had chances, both looked happy enough with the draw and both understandably eventually looked tired - in Cardiff's case, iheir small and depleted squad were playing their 10th match in 31 days and 4th in 10 days .

City needed the point with all 5 sides who can still overhauling managaing afternoon wins ahead of Cardiff's 5:20pm, kick-off but this result keep them in 4th, 4 points ahead of Swansea in the next spot and, more importantly, 6 points in front of Blackpool, the side in 7th with just 4 games remaining.

Once again, Cardiff had to send out a patched up side with minimal options on the bench. Along with Burke, Hudson, Gyepes and McNaughton, Peter Whittingham was absent with injury today as well but Joe Ledley was starting for the first dual since his January dual hip op. McCormack and Etuhu were asked to be the widemen.

CARDIFF CITY: Marshall; Matthews-Blake-Gerrard-Kennedy; McCormack-Ledley-McPhail-Etuhu; Chopra-Bothroyd.

Nottingham Forest had equalled a club record with 12 successive home wins and City's point prevented them breaking it but at the same time, they narrowly avoided 7 successive away defeats at the weekend. That away form left them looking for promotion via the play-offs, like City, but it could have been more. They have done well in their first season up from League One under Billy Davies but certainly have spent to be where they are too.

FOREST: Camp, Chambers, Morgan, Wilson, Gunter, Tyson, Cohen, Moussi, Majewski, Earnshaw, Blackstock.

Despite the travel, late kick-off and live tv, 1,300 Bluebirds travelled to Nottingham and were heard clearly throughout amongst the 22,185 crowd.

City made a superb start and controlled the game for the first half hour, looking for more organised, composed and creative their their hosts. A barrage of corners, crosses and efforts on goals, Camp forcing a Ledley shot and then a Blake down header over the bar while McCormack's inswinging free kick had to be scrambled off the line.

Forest struggled but had the best two chances of the half, both resulting from Cardiff mistakes. Darcy Blake missed a header on halfway allowing forever City legend Rob Earnshaw away on goal but Earnie's effort was blocked by Marshall. Earnie, never forgetting his roots, ayatollahed a couple of times for City fans. Then a McPhail free-kick error sent Forest away on the break with Cohen somehow playing an air shot to miss the ball sent to the far post.

The second half was more undistinguished than the opening period but Cardiff rarely threatened and Forest had their moments. However the main talking point was an amazing late bust up between City keeper Dave Marshall and defencer Anthony Gerrard who argued over a cross, squared up, pushed and handed off each other - arguments rain over whether that was plain stupid and awful or showed how they care for the cause. A couple of minutes later, the two tangled again for a cross but Marshall punched away and gave opposiing Dexter lackstock a bust nose too - good enough!

In between, Marsahll made a couple of smart stops and one excellent save denying Blackstock clear on goal after another Blake mistake. There were some niggly moments and bookings for both sides.

This was Cardiff's first 0-0 of the season but, today, everybody was happy enough with it.

Mixed Good Friday Play-Off Results for City

Although their destiny is entirely in their hands, Cardiff City fans (and manager and players if they're honest) will take an interest in other results.

Two Championship games were played today with contrasting fortunes from a Bluebirds perspective.

In a lunchtime game, Blackpool scored 3 late goals to win 4-2 at Scunthorpe and continue their recent impressive run as that was their third successive win. By way of total contrast, Leicester City suffered their fourth successive defeat to go from play-off certainties to the most vulnerable Top 6 side. Those results leave The Foxes just 1 point ahead of Blackpool with 5 games each to go.

Cardiff's lead over Blackpool has reverted to 5 points as their depleted side go into a massive Easter programme at home to 5th placed Swansea and away to 3rd place Nottingham Forest tomorrow evening and Monday evening with both games live on tv (Sky and BBC respectively).

C'Mon City!

	Team	P	GD	PTS
1	Newcastle	39	46	83
2	West Brom	41	38	82
3	Nottm Forest	40	21	70
4	Cardiff	40	18	65
5	Swansea	40	2	62
6	Leicester	41	5	61
7	Blackpool	41	14	60
8	Doncaster	40	4	55
9	Middlesbrough	40	9	54
10	Sheff Utd	40	2	54
11	Reading	38	-2	52

Cardiff now 7th after their non-playing Saturday

With City preparing for the visit of Ipswich to South Wales tomorrow - the game moved back a day so it didn't clash with Wales egg chasers getting booed and outclassed at home to the Aussies, bless'em - fans were left to wonder how destructive Saturday results would be. The answer is, they weren't bad at all.

On the downside, Cardiff now find themelves outside the play-off spots as QPR and Nottingham Forest overtook Cardiff in the table while Newcastle and West Brom in the automatic spots are currently threatening to run away with those places.

However it could have been much worse. A draw tomorrow will return City to 5th (and back above Swansea albeit on goal difference, a win will bring up 30 points and see Cardiff in 4th spot).

Leaders Newcastle made mince meat of The Swans beating them 3-0 with all the goals coming in the opening 25 minutes before they declared. West Brom in 2nd went goal crazy winning 4-0 at Sheffield Wednesday (Current on loan Bluebird Warren Feeney was a non-playing sub for The Owls while skipper and former City man Darren Purse is out of their squad). Leicester who started and finished the day in third will have been disappointed to have been held 1-1 at Scunthrope, the home equaklising in added time.

Although QPR leap-frogged Cardiff, they won't have been plased to have been held 2-2 at home by Coventry but Nottingham Forest, now 4th, pummelled Doncaster 4-1 at home.

DJ nominated for Manager of the Month

Cardiff City Dave Jones boss is in the running for Manger of the Month and so is his Swansea counterpart Paolo Sousa with the winner announced before they go head-to-head on Saturday.

City collected 11 points out of 15 scoring 12 goals in October. That points tally was equalled by the other three nominees - Leicester, Nottingham Forest and Swansea - so it's not an easy decision. Maybe Jones and City will be hoping someone else wins it however as DJ won the awaerd early season and it porved to be a posioned challice with City having an awful following month.




Football League: October Manager of The Month Nominations:
- The nominations have been announced for the Coca-Cola Manager of the Month award for October:
- Championship
Nigel Pearson - Leicester City - Billy Davies - Nottingham Forest
Paulo Sousa - Swansea City - Dave Jones - Cardiff City
- League 1 Kenny Jackett - Millwall Alan Pardew - Southampton Paul Lambert - Norwich City - Paul Ince - Milton Keynes Dons
- League 2 John Sheridan - Chesterfield - Keith Hill - Rochdale - Paul Peschisolido - Burton Albion - Micky Adams - Port Vale

- Winners will be announced on Saturday during Sky Sports Soccer Saturday from midday.

Video Highlights - Cardiff City 1 Nottingham Forest 1 plus manager reaction

Click link to view:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8338206.stm

Bobyblow - McPhail Out for 6 to 8 weeks

CARDIFF CITY's Hero to Zero to Re-Born Hero Steve McPhail had bad news today after a scan on the thigh injury that forced him off in yesterday's entertaining and tough draw with Nottingham Forest revealed that he has a torn muscle.


McPhail has been instrumental in City's current run getting in the side in the 6-1 dismantling of Derby County, playing superbly and playing killer passes helping the free scoring run. It was a dramatic turnaround with Dave Jones commenting how he has won back fan support.


Hopefully his absence will be shorter than expected and City can continue to fly.

Michael Chopra regrets

A strange location for an interview – a Texaco garage where Chops was helping promote a new green fuel – but City’s striking hero looks back on yesterday game and expresses his disappointment at missing out on Swansea this weekend.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/videos-and-pics/videos/showbiz-lifestyle-video/2009/11/02/michael-chopra-s-derby-day-disappointment-91466-25074107/

Latest Championship Table

Two games last night saw Newcastle held at home by the live contenders that are QPR whilst Nottingham Forest celebrated their second successive win beating Scunthorpe 1-0.


The midweek programme saw Cardiff City jump from 9th to 5th but they are one of several clubs on 16 points but thewir goaql difference has them leading the pile.

	Team	P	GD	PTS
1	Newcastle	10	13	23
2	West Brom	10	10	20
3	Preston	10	6	18
4	Middlesbrough	10	4	17
5	Cardiff	10	8	16
6	Sheff Utd	10	4	16
7	Blackpool	10	4	16
8	Leicester	10	2	16
9	Bristol City	10	1	16
10	Coventry	10	0	15
11	QPR	9	5	14
12	Watford	10	1	14
13	Sheff Wed	10	4	13
14	Nottm Forest	10	0	13
15	Crystal Palace	9	-3	12
16	Swansea	10	-4	11
17	Scunthorpe	10	-6	11
18	Doncaster	10	-2	10
19	Reading	10	-4	10
20	Derby	10	-7	10
21	Barnsley	10	-9	8
22	Peterborough	10	-6	7
23	Plymouth	10	-10	5
24	Ipswich	10	-11	5

Goodbye Paul Parry as he agrees personal terms with Preston North End

After taking a full week to mull things over, PAUL PARRY this morning agreed to join Preston North End and will complete a £300,000 transfer with a 3 year contract over the weekend to join the Lillywhites.


Parry, 29 next month, has been with The Bluebirds for five and a half years and has been the club's longest serving player. He has proved a bargain costing just £75,000 from Hereford United at a time they were in non-league football.


His City debut was stunning as Cardiff were two down inside the opening 10 minutes at home to Rotherham in January 2004 but they couldn't handle his flying runs and he set up goals for City to storm ahead 3-2 by the interval and win that game with Parry declared man of the match.




In all, he played 191 league games for Cardiff, and 23 in Cup games and scored 27 times. He also won 11 Welsh caps while with the club. His goals were often stunning, his best probably coming with a dazzling first time finish to beat Nottingham Forest at Ninian Park earlier this year.




At his best, he's been stunning to watch and hugely entertaining but he has blown in his time culminating in last season being his worst by some margin with personal problems off the pitch, walking out on Wales and then retiring and a never ending run of non-influential games for Cardiff where he seemed to have lost some pace and his ability to get past defenders. Parry admits it was his worst season in football.


Although he wanted to see out his final year with Cardiff, few doubt leaving for Preston in in the best interests of player and club. The change will probably do both good.




Good Luck Paul and thanks for your efforts. Meantime, City fans will wonder who will replace him as the club have indicated they already have a new face lined up.

Gunter - A Bluebird in the Forest

Former CARDIFF CITY rising star and Wales international Chris Gunter has ended his brief time in the Premiership by completing a move from Spurs to Nottingham Forest today.

Gunts seems to have been around a while so it's hard to realise he is still just 19 years old but he was plucked by Spurs for £2M after starting just 20 games for Cardiff City in January 2008.

What may have seemed a dream move proved it's not all fun getting to the top level as Chris started only 3 Premiership games and soon found himself falling further down the pecking order as the North London club added extra personnel.

Against that background, Gunter want to loan to Forest last season helping them to Championship survival and indicated he would like to stay permanently. He will now face Cardiff City this coming season ... wonder if he'll ayatollah???

Cardiff v The Toon Live on Sky

Sky Sports announced their first list of Championship games to be televised this coming season and one of the first was the Cardiff City vs Newcastle United clash in September which has been pushed back 24 hours.

The game will now be played on Sunday September 13th at the new Cardiff City Stadium with a 2:05pm kick-off. It is the 2nd live game to be announced featuring City as BBC will be showing a November home match against Nottingham Forest on tv and online.

Incredibly, 9 of City's 46 Championship games have now been altered to different days and/or times for varying reasons and it is likely a couple more will follow.

Gunter doesn't rule out Forest stayover

Gunter - can't see the wood for the
trees at Nottingham Forest

Having seen Nottingham Forest survive an immediate retrun to League One during his loan time from Spurs, ex-Cardiff City player and City fan Chris Gunter has spoken of his relief and that he may return.


Gunts told the Forest website today, "There's a lot of ifs and buts but if I went back and, for example, Tottenham said 'you're still 19 and need to go out and play more games' and if Forest wanted me, I'd genuinely feel there wouldn't be too many better places to go than here. It is definitely something to look at, it's been brilliant."


Not too many better places? He hasn't been looking hard, has he?

Bluebirds Fly to 4th - Championship Round-Up

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!

		P	GD	PTS
1	Wolverhampton	42	25	80
2	Birmingham	42	16	76
3	Sheff Utd	42	25	75
4	CARDIFF CITY	41	20	70
5	Reading	41	29	69
6	Burnley	42	9	69
7	Swansea	42	12	62
8	Preston	42	2	62
9	Bristol City	42	5	59
10	QPR	42	-1	57
11	Ipswich	42	4	56
12	Sheff Wed	42	-9	54
13	Crystal Palace	42	-1	53
14	Watford	42	-4	52
15	Coventry	41	-8	52
16	Doncaster	42	-13	52
17	Derby	41	-7	51
18	Blackpool	42	-12	50
19	Plymouth	42	-9	49
20	Barnsley	41	-12	46
21	Nottm Forest	42	-18	45
22	Norwich	42	-10	43
23	Southampton	42	-20	41
24	Charlton	41	-23	33