Into The Hornets Nest

It’s the weekend again and that means yet another important game for the Bluebirds, this time the lads have the difficult task of going to Watford and coming back with all three points.

The play offs are still a very realistic target but only if wins can be picked up where you should only really hope for a draw. Watford is one of them places with them sitting third in the league, they will be wanting maximum points from here on in just in case Sheffield United start to slip up in second place.

Vital Quotes:

Dave Jones:

‘ I won’t be satisfied with a draw, we want all three points.

‘When we played them at the start of this season we were at the start of organising ourselves.

‘We have made a lot of progress since then and we go to Watford with confidence.

‘We must not relax. We cannot relax. We must keep pushing and striving to close the gap on clubs in the play-off positions.’

Adrian Boothroyd
‘For me it’s fantastic. This is what you want. Every game has it’s own pressure and as we start getting down into single figures it will be even more pressurised, but I enjoy it. That’s what I’m in it for. I want to have the pressure of going for promotion and playing the big teams and the big games coming up and other teams not having as much pressure as us.

‘That’s what I want. I want to test myself. I want the players to test themselves and what a great position to be in. To have 11 games to go, be third in the table on 64 points – more than we’ve got in the last two years – and pushing to get into the seventies, eighties and, who knows, even the nineties.’

Watford Team News:

Ben Foster looks set to return to the team after missing last week’s game with Brighton because of a ban.

But manager Boothroyd will be without midfielder Al Bangura, he picked up his fifth booking of the season against Leeds and misses one game.

Also banned is Darius Henderson, he serves the second of a three-game ban.

Midfielder Dominic Blizzard is still building his match fitness after a debilitating virus.

Player to watch: Ashley Young:

Squad Number: 15
Position: Midfield
Place of Birth: Stevenage, England
Date Of Birth: 09/ 07/ 1985
Height: 5’11
Weight: 10st 3lbs

This Season
Appearances: 28(1)
Goals: 13
Yellow Cards: 3
Red Cards: 1
Minutes on Pitch: 2500

Cardiff Team News:

Cardiff striker Guylain N’Dumbu-N’Sungu could earn a recall to the side if Cammeron Jerome fails to make the side because of his groin injury.

If Jerome is ruled out, Congo-born N’Dumbu-N’Sungu will partner Steven Thompson for the first time since signing from Darlington in January.

Player to watch: Steven Thompson

Match Facts & Stats

When the two clubs met at Ninian Park in August, Watford came out 3-1 winners with two goals from Marlon King and another from Darius Henderson.

Watford’s home record this season has seen them play 17 games, win 9, draw four and lose four. 32 goals have been scored while 17 have been conceded giving the Hornets a home points total of 31 and a goals per game ratio of 1.82.

Cardiff’s away form has seen them play 17 games; they have won 5, drawn 4 and lost 8. They have scored 20 on their travels and conceded 24, giving them a points haul of 19 and a goal to game ratio of 1.11.

Ref Watch:

Clive Penton.

Stroud has been in charge of 30 games this season, in that time he has dished out an amazing 99 yellow cards and eight red.

Match Prediction:

We have to keep the faith 1-0 win

Next Fixtures:

League Championship Cardiff vs Sheff Wed 04-03-2006
League Championship Wolves vs Cardiff 11-03-2006