Cardiff City 2 v Preston 1 > More of This Please

Things must be looking up at City as even the Pop was in attendance for this one, rushing his pre match golfing and pumped up for the game. Forget any chat or bonding though as the Pop was also psyched for some time on his phone checking his Facebook profile. He’s completely cool with not talking for an hour straight before getting into game mode at 2.59PM. 

Fans could be forgiven for being led to think that more points would be wasted here against a non-glam team after a busy week. City are digging deep though and appear to have cranked things up in the last few weeks and Saturday was more evidence of the cranking.

Shout out to the Bluebirds home form which has seen them defeated just once all season (against Hull). We all know there’s been a few lame draws in that run and points urinated away, but it’s this form which has kept City in the mix for the top six hunt. Without it, the season would be over now. 

Preston came to town Saturday for a draw and City were dragged into an ugly match lacking in quality but patience paid off and it was Anthony Pilkington (below licking a lip) who continued his run of smoking the opposition. 

Much has been made of ‘Pilks’ being shoved up front in a gamble a few weeks back after Tony Watt left. He’s had some trash talk but ultimately he’s played lights-out and offered more than any other front man on the clubs books this season. He may have the touch of a camel but Pilks is hungry, positive and playing for the team. He's thriving off the responsibility and linking well with strike partner Lex Immers. After another two goals here (making him club golden boot leader), respect is due to him and his form is priceless to City at this time of year. 

As pressure grows, the games are slipping away now (12 to go) and it’s during this squeaky bum time that we’ll learn whether this team can overcome the inconsistency and get s**t done. 

On the horizon now are two ‘winnable’ games away at Bristol and then at home to Leeds within a few days of each other. Grind out more results there and the play offs are on in a major way. 

FABIO FROM DOWN TOWN!

Cardiff City 4 v Brighton 1 > From Nowhere

With my Pops’ relationship with the club growing as inconsistent as some of the teams performances, he hit a new low this week by opting for golf in the rain over the Bluebirds. The decision came back to haunt him though and shout out to my neighbour Sam Larkins for believing and joining us in row J.  

If Cardiff City’s play-off dream has been hard to believe in this season, then witnessing this total bossing of high-flyers Brighton could be enough to recharge them hope batteries. The trouble is though (and with Russell Slade’s team there always seems be a problem) we’ve been here before.

Way too often this term City have done this to us, raised the spirits, hinted they can mix it with the Championship’s best, before shooting themselves in the foot moving forward. Remember how awesome City were at Wolves and Huddersfield away recently and how lame their follow up performances were? Exactly. 

This game had a different vibe though. Not only was I rid of the Pops’ nay-saying in my ear next me, but, in the swirling rain and in front of live TV cameras, City were rampant putting on their slickest show since Slade himself arrived in October 2014. To think a goal shy rigid team without flair could produce a display of free flowing attacking stuff like this was as refreshing as opening a window in a stuffy room. The ‘shocked’ face emoji was used heavily in the day’s communication to represent this (as above) 

Going into the warm for a half time brew, Cardiff were unlucky to only be 3-0 up with the only criticism being that they hadn’t converted more of the chances. (Usually it’s a time to question why you gave up your Saturday afternoon).

At this point I’m going to big up Peter Whittingham’s performance whose nonchalant opener set the tone and his decisive lashing home of a second-half penalty to complete the scoring was a two-fingers up to the haters (you know who you are… my Pops’, Gavin Johnson, guy who sits behind us).  

Anthony Pilkington too and the excellent Lex Immers (two goals in two starts anyone?) were also on point throughout in a shift that warmed the souls of another low crowd. Tom Lawrence too put in a performance to silence doubters labelling him a lightweight Joe Mason recently. Tom’s pace and desire to dribble twisted Brighton’s blood all day giving City the flair they've craved for over a year.  

The evidence, one hopes, was right here in this match that the ability is there. Whether Slade and the squad can take this result and build on it on Tuesday night in Middlesbrough and then at home to Preston on Saturday remains to be seen though.

If they can then…

Actually, we’ll just wait and see. 

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... 

He Did What He Wanted

The man the fickle fans and haters hate on more than any other laid down a vintage set play swish on the weekend. Shout out to Peter Whittingham - still got them tools. 

In homage of Whitts' weekend exploits, check out this re-post below of some equally vintage fan art from way back in 2014. 

Shout Out to Lex Immers

Shout out to the new fella Lex Immers on his first goal for the Bluebirds on the weekend in the 2-3 win up at Huddersfield.