Cardiff City 0 v MK Dons 0 > Unreliable Bluebirds

Gracing us with his fresh-faced game day attendance this week was my Pop (above), ending his brief Cardiff City sabbatical and returning to duty supporting the team instead of opting to play golf (or whatever it is he calls that guff). 

You will never meet a more fickle and cantankerous supporter than my Pop, oh no. When things are going well on the pitch (rare) he’ll be pumped up spending cash in the club shop, re-watching highlights and sending me links to club news online. He’ll be amped for the games and as animated as a child in the stadium. 

If the team drops points though (like they have of late and did again on Saturday) he despises the whole club vociferously for wasting his time. He’ll drive home after defeats really cross and take out his shitty moods on my poor mum and his dog Rob. He’ll even forfeit games these days to play golf on the grounds that Russell Slade is a knob (his words). This week though, with half time chocolate snacks in hand, he was back and the entertainment on offer was certain not to effect his demeanour in a negative way. Or was it? (It was). 

In one of those testing ‘home banker’ games (which often results in points dropped in this stadium under the current Coach) it was City who came out the blocks nippiest against MK Dons with lots of huff and puff but no real substance.

There were some flashes of entertainment from Tom Lawrence who looks a positive young man with high energy but overall the bluebirds again lacked the things they’ve lacked for most games this season, imagination, a clinical edge and desire. We all know it was raining and there was water on the pitch but if you’re turning to that as an excuse you know you’re struggling. Shout out to Peter Whittingham for making lemonade from lemons last week but this week Cardiff were lifeless against an average side in MK. 

If the season does end with City outside of the play-offs, they will look back at games like this and kick themselves. This was never a classic, but in the second-half Cardiff did more than enough to win it but couldn't find the quality to put the ball in the net when it mattered*

* = In basketball this is called 'Clutch' - City need some clutch players.  

To stand any chance now of getting near the season target of a top six spot, the Bluebirds desperately need a run of wins on the bounce. I’m talking three or four – something they haven’t done all season. Can they do it? ‘No f^^king chance’ says Pop, but don’t listen to him.

Moving forward, most City fans are now looking further into the future for their optimism as the closer we get to the end of this frustrating season, the closer we are to getting rid of Russell Slade as his contract runs out. Then, we can all draw a line under this period of ‘transition’ as Slade himself calls it. Or as Pop calls it ‘F^^king rubbish’. 

(At least he wont be back for a while) 

Imagine that feeling when Slade finally does leave. So refreshing...