Keogh is a Bluebird

Last night's speculation turned to today's confirmation as Cardiff City announced this evening that Wolves' Eire striker ANDY KEOGH has signed for the club. However it is a season long loan rathert than a permanent purchase making Keogh the 8th signing of 5th loan signing of this season.

Still 24, Keogh was signed by Wolves from Scunthorpe in 2007 and had 79 starts plus 37 sub outings in the league with the Molineux club, netting 24 times. He played a half in Wolves opening Premier League win over Stoke 12 days ago.

There is speculation over where he could play and how he will fit into this City side which is packed with attacking talent ... and speculation over whether his arrival may mean the departure of a name player but we'll soon know I guess.

Keogh move to Cardiff confirmed by Wolves

Following their Carling Cup victory over Southend United last night, Mick McCarthy has revealed striker Andy Keogh was not in the squad as "It's a racing certainty that (he) is to join Cardiff City.

McCarthy left the Republic of Ireland international out of his side's Carling Cup win over Southend on Tuesday, ensuring the player is not cup-tied.

A permanent transfer, Keogh would become Cardiff's 8th signing of the summer following Craig Bellamy, Seyi Olofinjana, Danny Drinkwater, Jason Koumas, Lee Naylor and Tom Heaton in south Wales.

Keogh has scored 49 goals in 180 competitive appearances for Leeds, Scunthorpe, Bury and Premier League Wolves since 2004.

McCarthy told Wolves' website: "Andy has been fabulous here both for me and this football club. It's a good move for him to go to Cardiff and good luck to him. It was my decision to let him go but he goes with our best wishes and warmest regards"

McCormack's move to Leeds expected to go through today

CARDIFF CITY forward Ross M,cCormack will be meeting Leeds United boss Simon Grayson today with a view to finalising his permanent move to the Elland Road club.

A deal has been agreed between the clubs for an undisclosed fee (believed to be up to £750k) while personal terms are understood to be agreed in principle already too. If it proceeds, McCormack would debut for Leeds at Watford on Saturday.

There is also paper talk that a double deal may take place with Gavin Rae also moving to United.


Meantime, City's latest striker target is understood to be Wolves Andy Keogh who has been on Dave Jones' radar for a while. A cut price transfer is supposed to be close to being confirmed.

Naylor becomes new signing number 7

CARDIFF CITY have reportedly completed the signing of free agent left back Lee Naylor.



Naylor, a former player of City boss Dave Jones at Wolves, has just completed 4 seasons at Celtic playing 100 SPL games and signing off with a goal as The Bhoys beat deadly rivals Rangers 2-1 in the final game of last season.


The player has been trainign with Cardiff for some time and the club have always wanted him to put pen to paper but he delayed a decision hoping to attract a Premier League outift. Now however he has chosen the Bluebirds but may face stiff competition as Kevin McNaughton has been outstanding in that position and the club last week signed Canadian English-born prospect Martin John.

Olofinjana leaves Tigerish Hull for Bluebird Heaven

Dave Jones today suceeded in landing a key transfer target as Seyi Olofinjana joined Cardiff City on a season-long loan from fellow Championship outfit Hull City. He becomes City’s third loan signing after Danny Drinkwater and Jason Koumas and further strengthens what had been a threadbare midfield and must place question marks over the futures of players such as Gavin Rae, Aaron Wildig and Solomon Taiwo.

Chasing Torres but warming up for City!

Cardiff fans have been craving a midfield enforcer, Olofinjana, with 51 international caps, fits the bill. As mentioned on the blog last night, he featured in half of Hull’s doomed Premier League campaign last season and has moved between Wolves (where he was once managed by Dave Jones of course), Stoke and Hull for fees totalling almost £8M in the past 5 years.

The Tigers need to drastically reduce their wage bill and playing squad being in severe financial difficulties themselves. On £20k per week, it is believed Hull will still pay the majority of Olofinjana’s weekly wage but they realised they had little or no chance of selling their contracted player and this was the best option … all of which helped Jones make the deal.

The player, an unused Hull sub in their win over Swansea at the weekend, is drafted straight into the squad for tomorrow’s Carling Cup home round 1 tie with Burton Albion.

Credit Crunch Transfer Window sees no change at Cardiff City

There may have been some anticipation, there may have been some fear but, as Peter Ridsdale suspected, the current transfer window closed today with no deals involving Cardiff City and very few in general. None of the big clubs made any move and the biggest transfer was ex-City man James Collins moving from West Ham to Aston Villa for £5M.


Of course, there were rumours during the day - the biggest reported by newspapers and websites was that Wolves were offering £5.5M plus Sam Vokes on loan for Joe Ledley but that turned out to be nonsense. It would appear there were no enquiries for any Cardiff City main player although rumours would have it that Riccy Scimeca declined a loan move to League One Brentford.


One deal did affect City. Polish goalkeeper Erwin Sak left the club by agreement and promptly signed for Conference fellow Welsh side Wrexham. Sak, at 19, had been with the club for 3 years but never got close to a breakthrough leaving cynics to suggest we don't need Poles as stadium construction is complete!


So City will face Newcastle next game with the same squad but have been buoyed by the news that Jay Bothroyd is likely to be available after his injury scare.

Etuhu The New Blue

After a day or two of rumours, Cardiff City have this morning confirmed the capture of Manchester City's Nigerian forward Kelvin Etuhu on loan for the rest of the season. He joins the squad today and is available for selection in tomorrow's Severnside derby against Bristol City.

There's no point lying down son ...
you're still off to Cardiff

Etuhu has been with the Eastlands club for the past 3 seasons and had 10 Premiership appearences, the last a home start against Fulham last April, as well as previous loan spells with Rochdale and Leicester. He was on the sub's bench for the Mancs in a midweek friendly against Barcelona too.

However with their influx of strikers, he's got no chance of appearences this term which made his loan or sale a formality. Cardiff are believed to have secured his swervices despite interest from Premiership outfits Wolves and Portsmouth.

Welcome to Soutb Wales Bluebird Kev!

Cardiff linked with Quashie-modo (his name rings a bell)

According to speculation in a couple of national newspapers, West Ham's Scottish international midfielder Nigel Quashie is due to join Cardiff City shortly ... or may be choosing between Sheffield United and ourselves ... or it may just be complete gibberish, who knows?


Quashie fits the bill that Dave Jones has with some signings. Injury problems, ageing with his best days behind him, a midfielder with an unimpressive scoring record and a player at last chance saloon.


The player, who will be 31 before the season starts, was loaned out to Wolves and Birmingham last season having managed just 7 starts in 2.5 years with West Ham United. At those Championship clubs, he had 11 outings but neither wanted to take him for this term as they start life in the Premiership.


I honestly didn't know he was still around and I guess you can tell that I'm distinctly unimpressed by him being linked to City but if he does come, here's hoping he flies.

Leading Bluebirds linked to Prem clubs, little inbound links to date

It's the silly season and newspapers are falling over themselves with transfer speculation - it'd just be too much hassle to reproduce them but here's a key summary.

JOE LEDLEY - seems to be linked with half the Premiership. At last count, it was Everton, Spurs, West Ham, Snderland, Stoke and Wolves. I may well have missed someone. However contract talks are dead with Joe so, with a year to go on his existing deal, it's only a matter of time before he ends up elsewhere. The figures being banded are all in the £5M-£6M range.

ROGER JOHNSON - Roger has a couple of years left on his City deal but having declined Premiership bids for him in January, it would be tough to do so again when the player believes it is time for him to make his move to that level. Strongest link so far is Portsmouth but Sunderland, Middlesbrough (if they survive which looks unlikely) and Wolves are mentioned in despatches too. Figures of £3M have been mentioned but surely he is worth more than that?

ROSS McCORMACK - Ross has commented that he wishes to stay in public but, in private, with his faincee believed to be unsettled in the area and Premiership clubs showing reported interest in him while he is also being mishandled by Dave Jones who has shifted him wide or out of the side to accomodate a disappointing (to date) Michael Chopra, it may be a different story. West Ham and Wigan are linked with the player. Figures of upt £5M would be outstanding business for a player who cost City only £200K last summer.



The one name being linked to the club is former centre-half JAMES COLLINS. No news of whether it is loan or permanent, whether it would be part of a deal with a City star moving the other way or whether a player who has previously declined a return and may still feel he belongs to the Premiership would be interested if it is a possibility. He's clearly seen as a replacement for Roger Johnson if/when RJ leaves but he also stuggles with fitness and injuries - can City's perennial small squad afford the gamble?

Joe Set To Be A Toffee??

The silly season starts right here, right now and while Cardiff City are not being linked with any arrivals yet, the departure door is having WD40 applied to assist exits right now.
City have long accepted skipper Joe Ledley would make the Premiership next season if they didn't and with only a year of his contract remaining, interest is hot.


Cardiff will hope to have a bidding war with Everton, Wolves, Birmingham and Stoke all showing interest of sorts but Everton have shown the biggest interest - boss David Moyes making a couple of personal checks last season - and irt's being reported they are indeed favourites to get him with a deal maybe only a matter of days away.


It would be a great move for Joe - joining a higher ranking club with European football next season - and after his service for City, who could possibly begrudge him the chance? The fee will be interesting,


Cardiff turned down £6M from Stoke in January and City will surely look for that at least but does his contract ticking down have an impact. Another issue is that City may look for Everton players coming on - on loan or permanently - as deal makeweights. Striker Voctor Anichebe is being mentioned in dispatches as a possible loan.

Ledley In Demand if City Don't Go Up

The difference between success and failue as Cardiff City potentially enter thei biggest month of football history for almost 50 years could not be more stark.


So close to the Premiership which would see the world's biggest clubs visit the new stadium and big names players sign for the clun, it's mouth-watering.


Yet miss out and Dave Jones would surely have another major rebuilding job with names like Joe Ledley, Roger Johnson and maybe Kevin McNuaghton, Jay Bothroyd and Ross McCormack in demand after magnificent seasons.


Talk has already started and it's rumoured Wolves would look to buy Joe for £7M if, as expected, they make the Premiership. Stoke and Fulham have watched all season too and a bidding war may unfold for a player who has 1 year remaining on his contract.

Let's hope Joe stays ... as that could only mean we've gone up!!

Not So Good Friday for Cardiff City

The Bluebirds tough automatic promotion prospects just got even tougher after neither of today's two big Championship games produced the desired outcome from a City fan's perspective.


It's long been accepted by most that long time leaders Wolves will get promoted but currently shorn of their attacking force of Ebanks-Blake, Iwelumo and Kightley and poor in the extreme losing to 10 man Birmingham earlier in the week, there were hopes they may suffer a late collapse.


However that proved a hiccup as they beat relegation bets Southampton 3-0 at Molinez in a no context today. Amaturish Saints defending gifted Vockes a free header on 36 seconds, it was 2-0 after jusy 5 minutes then then Dave Jones ((no, not our one) made it three from the penalty spot before 20 minutes and game over, thanks very much.


Another huge game followed early evening with Reading facing Sheffield United at Madejski Stadium. A draw would have been ideal but Reading continued their freefall and The Blades their charfe to the summit as Brian Howard grabbed a scrappy only goal of the game on the hour, seconds after Dave Kitson had headed against the bar for the home side.


In truth, Sheffield deserved their result by keeping it tight while Reading self-imploded and were simply dreadful. The Blades are now in 2nd spot and genuine auto-promotion contenders while Reading have lost all confidence and appear to have given up - their was not just their 5th successive home defeat to Sheffield United but, more crucially, their 6th successive home game without victory after being the Championship's best home side of all at Christmas.


Table After Today's Games

		P	GD	PTS
1	Wolverhampton	42	25	80
2	Sheff Utd	42	25	75
3	Birmingham	41	16	75
4	Reading	41	29	69
5	Cardiff	40	18	67
6	Burnley	41	8	66
7	Preston	41	3	62
8	Swansea	41	11	59
9	Bristol City	41	6	59

City auto-promotion hopes, they think it's all over ... it is now

Cardiff City's fading hopes of clinching a Top 2 spot have all bar disappeared over the horizon as 2nd place Birmingham City beat leaders Wolves 2-0 in a Monday night game despite playing almost an hour with 10 men when it was 0-0.

The whole Championship chasing pack wanted a Wolves win and hopes were boosted as the Brummies were down to 10 men following an horrific Lee Carsley two footed studs out challenge on Chris Iwelumo but that seemed to galvanise the 10 men and affect Wolves who were lost their striker having started the night with Ebanks-Blake and Kightley.

A crucial goal came on half-time from ex-Bluebird Cameron Jerome but equally attributable to terrible, weak goalkeeping by Welshman Wayne Hennessy and in a poor 2nd period where Wolves made no chances against the lesser men, Garry O'Connor profited from another defensive gaffe.

It's a result that leaves Cardiff City 11 points away from automoatic promotion - as far awa as we have been fior a long time - and those 2 games in hand would only half the gap even if they were won. Looks too tall an order with just 7 games to go.

Cardiff face Derby on Wednesday hoping for 3 points to close the gap but, more pertinently, to help seal their position in the play-offs.

	Team	P	GD	PTS
1	Wolverhampton	41	22	77
2	Birmingham	41	16	75
3	Reading	40	30	69
4	Sheff Utd	40	23	69
5	Burnley	41	8	66
6	Cardiff	39	15	64
7	Preston	41	3	62
8	Swansea	41	11	59
9	Bristol City	41	6	59

Bluebirds Play-Off Hopes Boosted By Not Playing

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.

		P	GD	PTS
1	Wolverhampton	40	24	77
2	Birmingham	40	14	72
3	Reading	40	30	69
4	Sheff Utd	40	23	69
5	Burnley	41	8	66
6	Cardiff	38	15	63
7	Preston	41	3	62
8	Bristol City	41	6	59
9	Swansea	40	11	58

City go 6th but automatic promotion in back in their hands

For the 7th time in 10 club football Saturdays, Cardiff City fans had to wait and watch other results and they won't be feeling too bad at how they worked out.


At the top, Wolves grabbed another 3 points, this time a late Michael Kightley goal grabbing them victory at Nottingham Forest in a tight, dull affair but it's the time of season where only results matter. The Fat Lady isn't quite singing yet but it looks as certain as can be that they will grab oone of the automatic spots and prbably be Champions as they're 5 points clear of 2nd and 9 points ahead of 3rd with just 6 games to go.


The Molineux Men extended their lead as Birmingham slipped at home in the afternoon while Reading failed to take advantage of that in an evening game.


Birmingham have been playing awful for some time but grabbed a couple of recent results and must have been confident going into a home encounter with relegation-threatened Norwich. They found themselves outplayed first half but took the lead through ex-Bluebird Cameron Jerome after The Canaries keeper dropped a cross. However even then, they couldn't hold on as Clingon smashed home an early 2nd half free-kick ... much to my delight!


Reading had a 5:20pm kick-off at Crystal Palace for Setanta tv but produced a timid 0-0. They were annoyed not to be awarded a first half penalty after loan man Dave Kitson appeared to be fouled but, in the end, were grateful for their draw after losing a couple of men to injury and then playing the final 20 minutes with 10 men after Liam Rosenior was dismissed for a second yellow card.

Burnley leap-frogged City with a 2-1 victory at lowly Plymouth, Robbie Blake grabbing a late winner as the sides swapped goals in the opening 20 minutes. The Clarets are the form side of the front runners having now taken 13 of the last 15 points on offer to them.

However, those of the Bluebird faith, will be pleased seeing that none of the sides tring to get into the play-offs won today. 7th placed Preston could only draw 0-0 at bottom club Charlton, Swansea rose to 8th with a timid 0-0 at Sheffield Wednesday meaning they've only won 1 of their last 7 while I'm thrilled to see The Wurzles go down again, this time by 2-1 at QPR.

It would need a disaster for Cardiff to miss making the play-offs now but beat Sheffield United tomorrow and we may yet be chasing down an automatic spot. Game On!

		P	GD	PTS
1	Wolverhampton	40	24	77
2	Birmingham	40	14	72
3	Reading	39	30	68
4	Burnley	40	8	65
5	Sheff Utd	38	18	63
6	CARDIFF CITY	37	18	63
7	Preston	40	3	61
8	Swansea	40	11	58
9	Bristol City	40	6	58
10	Ipswich	40	8	56
11	QPR	40	0	56
12	Crystal Palace	39	1	51
13	Sheff Wed	40	-9	51
14	Coventry	38	-4	50
15	Doncaster	40	-14	49
16	Watford	39	-5	47
17	Derby	38	-5	47
18	Blackpool	40	-12	47
19	Barnsley	38	-11	44
20	Norwich	40	-8	43
21	Plymouth	40	-14	43
22	Nottm Forest	40	-19	41
23	Southampton	39	-16	40
24	Charlton	39	-24	29

CARDIFF DOWN TO 7th ON DAY OFF AS RIVALS TAKE ADVANTAGE

It’s a shocking statistic that for those who believe football is a game played at 3pm on Saturday afternoon to realise that, of the last 9 Saturdays, Cardiff City players have gone shopping or twiddled their thumbs at home for 6 of them. So watching how others do on a Saturday afternoon has become a regular pastime. It can’t be worse than this if we somehow make the Premership!

		P	GD	PTS
1	Wolverhampton	39	23	74
2	Birmingham	39	14	71
3	Reading	37	29	64
4	Sheff Utd	38	18	63
5	Burnley	38	7	61
6	Preston	39	3	60
7	Cardiff	35	17	59
8	Swansea	38	12	57
9	Bristol City	38	7	57
10	Ipswich	38	8	54
11	Crystal Palace	37	3	50

The Top Two, both rediscovering form – in terms of results rather than performances – won and pulled themselves away from a pack which are not so much chasing but stumbling about like a drunken man heading home.

Wolves faced bottom club Charlton at Molineux and the relegation certainties almost matched their heroic 2-2 draw at Reading in midweek. This time, they fell 2-1 as a nervy Wolves side just about got the 3 points with a late-ish winner although they could also afford Ebanks-Blake to miss another penalty.

Birmingham, meanwhile, visited in-form Doncaster for an evening game and returned home with a 2-0 win. Once more, their football was nothing to be excited about but it was effective with two first half goals, their opener by ex-City man Cameron Jerome.

That pair of results have put the Midlands duo 7 points ahead of the rest and 12 in front of City although Cardiff are clinging onto 4 games in hand but winning them is another matter altogether.

The reason they stretched the gap was Reading having another disaster day. The Royals have imploded with no home win in 5 games and now have just 1 win and 7 points in their last 8 games. This time, they lost 1-0 at Madejski at Ipswich, Jon Stead scoring a spectacular overhead goal just after half-time. By all accounts, Reading were lucky just to lose by that margin too.

City dropped out of the play-offs as Sheffield United, Burnley and Preston all won. The Blades had an excellent 4-2 win over Derby. Burnley – who were 7 minutes away from losing at home in midweek – followed their dramatic 4-2 win over Crystal Palace in that game with a 5-0 demolition of a hapless Nottingham Forest side who featured ex-Bluebird Chris Gunter making a debut in defence. Preston, who just don’t strike me as good enough for the play-offs, continue to make a fist of it though with a stirring fightback to beat Coventry 2-1 at Deepdale after falling behind in the 2^nd half.

And so, on a day, when the leading contenders sharpened their claws, one side who fell short were the so-called ‘best footballing side in the Championship’ a.k.a. Swansea City who were well beaten 2-0 by Crystal Palace at The Liberty. Having got into the play-offs for 24 hours in midweek, The Swans now find themselves 3 points away.

Cardiff head to Bristol tomorrow needing a point to break back into the top 6 but knowing that, to reignite dwindling auto-promotion hopes, it really has to be 3. Blitz those carrot crunchers boys!!!

Midweek Championship Round-Up after tonight's game

Swansea City celebrated making the play-off positions last night while laughing at their ex-loan man Dimi a major cock up for Cardiff City. Fast forward 24 hours and they’re back out of the frame after Burnley hit back from trailing 2-0 at home to Crystal Palace in the night’s only Championship game to win 4-2. Their last 3 gopals came in the final 7 minutes as they were facing defeat, their 88^th minute clincher coming from ex-Cardiff City man Steven Thompson. Who’s laughing now then?

Thommo earned some infamy for his lack of goals at Cardiff – his tally was 17 in 106 appearances, most of those coming against Burnley, Southampton and Plymouth. Since joining Burnley in August, he’s now scored 10 for them in 37 games.

The rest of the Championship, of course, were in action last night. Cardiff fell badly at Norwich making them the only losers in the Top 10 during midweek but, amazingly, the damage was limited as the Top 3 all failed to win.

Leaders Wolves pressed at home but could not find a way past Ipswich, the game ending 0-0. Birmingham were on their way to defeat at lowly Barnsley as a Taylor defensive gaffe gifted The Tykes their score but he atoned with a late equaliser. Reading messed up at home to bottom club Charlton – they turned around a 0-1 deficit in the 2^nd half but allowed The South Londoners who are absolute certainties for the drop to level 2-2 at the death.

Cardiff dropped to 5^th but even then, Sheffield United failed to capitalise more having to settle for another 2-2, this one at home to lowly Blackpool while Preston became the 5^th side of last night’s Top 6 to draw, theirs in a home 1-1 with Sheffield Wednesday.

The winners came from below with Bristol City – Cardiff’s next opponents at Ashton Gate in a live Sky tv game this Sunday – having few difficulties brushing aside Coventry (2-0) and Swansea City requiring a dubious penalty to beat Plymouth 1-0 at The Liberty.

Ipswich clung on to forlorn hopes of making the play-offs with that 0-0 at Wolves but QPR must be hoisting the white flag – they were comfortably beaten 2-0 at Doncaster and have now taken just 4 points out of 24. Altogether, let’s all laugh at Routledge, let’s all laugh at Routledge, la la la la.

The Table after Tonight’s Games

	Team	P	GD	PTS
1	Wolverhampton	38	22	71
2	Birmingham	38	12	68
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3	Reading	36	30	64
4	Sheff Utd	37	16	60
5	Cardiff	35	17	59
6	Burnley	37	2	58
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7	Swansea	37	14	57
8	Bristol City	38	7	57
9	Preston	38	2	57
10	Ipswich	37	7	51
11	QPR	37	-2	49

Championship Weekend Round Up as City drop to 7th

CARDIFF CITY may have been shocked, hurt and angry by yesterday’s defeat at Southampton but just about fans of every rival club will feel the same, some of them suffering even bigger shocks.

Somehow, the Top 4 all conspired to loss – many of them with easy games on paper.

Long time leaders Wolves now have just 1 win in 12 games and had their biggest upset yet, a 1-0 home defeat to free-falling Plymouth, Paul Gallagher netting after just 39 seconds ro give the Pilgrims their first win in 9.

Birmingham yet again missed their chance with a 2-1 defeat at Sheffield United, both blades goals being controversial as their opener had 2 men offside and their clincher was the most dubious of penalties.

Reading in third, like Wolves, had a shock home defeat. They lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest who had had no recent form at all.

City’s loss meant the Top 4 going into the weekend all lost.

However even the chasing pack had a poor weekend with Bristol City having a home draw with Blackpool and Swansea having to settle for a 1-1 Liberty Stadium draw with bottom club Charlton while Burney had a crazy 4-2 home loss against Sheffield Wednesday.

Apart from Sheffield United, the only other winners in the Top 11 were Preston who beat play-off chasers Ipswich while another team aiming to break-in, QPR, fell 2-1 at Barnsley.

Cardiff fell to 7^th when it could have been so much worse and while they will rue a missed opportunity to catch the Top 3, they also strangely did themselves no major damage.

TOP HALF OF TABLE

Championship at 01/03/2009
		P	GD	PTS
1	Wolverhampton	35	20	64
2	Birmingham	35	10	61
================================
3	Reading	33	29	59
4	Preston	35	4	56
5	Sheff Utd	34	15	55
6	Bristol City	35	7	54
================================
7	Cardiff	32	14	53
8	Swansea	34	13	52
9	Burnley	35	-1	52
10	Ipswich	35	10	50
11	QPR	34	1	48
12	Sheff Wed	35	-7	48

City's Dilemma facing QPR

Cardiff City fans are checking out Google Maps tonight to find their way back to Ninian Park as City play only their second home Championship game in eight and a hlaf week tomorrow against QPR.

QPR are one of only 4 sides to have defeated Cardiff this season (City avoided Wolves, Birmingham and Plymouth recording a double) but their recent rise towards the play-offs has stuttered with 2 points in their last 3 games including a poor display as they crashed 3-1 to Ipswich in front of tv cameras last Saturday evening. They have good individuals but don't seem to be blending as a team, they made a few changes last Saturday and are expected to repeat that at Ninian Park. Has squad rotation worked well for any club?

Cardiff are a settled unit by anyone's standards but Jay Bothroyd is ruled out tomorrow, the result of a calf injury which also caused him to limp off after 30 minutes at Wolves on Sunday. Paul Parry was pressed alongside Chops but it is rumoured that loan man Quincy will be unleashed.

He has pace and skills galore as this video shows. The prospect of Chops and himself fed by Parry, Burke and co is mouth-watering. It may even distract us from abusing Wayne Routledge for a short time! :>)

The aim has to be 3 points but City boss Dave Jones will take any result declaring it as not a "must win" game by saying, " "Tomorrow doesn't decide anything because there's so many points still up for grabs. In one month's time, at the end of March, we will have a clearer picture of where everybody is."

Game On!

QUINCY IN ACTION

Excellent Wolves v Cardiff City photoset

Courtesy of the Wolverhampton Star newspaper website - includes a superb pic of Roger Johnson heading City into a 2-1 lead and Ebanks-Blake trying, but failing miserably, to intimidate him.

http://www.expressandstar.com/2009/02/23/wolves-2-cardiff-2-in-pictures/