We head to the last quarter of the season with the threat of relegation still present. Two consecutive wins gave us hope, but 3 subsequent poor performances have once again put us into he bottom 3. The odds remain against us, but we aren't the only team worried and there must be similar concern from one or two other teams near us in the table. Despite the run of defeats, we are only one win away from getting out of the relegation places, so lets try not to get too despondent yet.
RESULTS SINCE LAST BLOG:
NEWCASTLE 3 CARDIFF 0
ARSENAL 2 CARDIFF 1
CARDIFF 2 BOURNEMOUTH 0
SOUTHAMPTON 1 CARDIFF 2
CARDIFF 1 WATFORD 5
CARDIFF 0 EVERTON 3
WOLVES 2 CARDIFF 0
The early part of this run of fixtures was interrupted by the Emiliano Sala tragedy mentioned in my post of 28/01/2019. However, in the weekend before the incident took place, we visited St James Park to face Newcastle United. this seems to have been one of the worst performances of the season (at that point) where we easily capitulated to a Newcastle team not much higher in the table than ourselves.
There was then a 10 day gap until our next fixture at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal. The Sala tragedy was still fresh in our minds at the time, and reports of a much improved Cardiff performance was largely ignored. Although a 2-1 win for Arsenal, a notable incident late in the game saw a stoppage time goal from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing. NML is one of only 2 active Premier League players to have scored in all 4 top levels of the EFL/Premier League in the last 4 seasons ( the other is Alfie Mawson of Fulham).
The form continued into the next fixture at home to Bournemouth. An early penalty was put away by Bobby Decordova-Reid and Cardiff kept the game well under control until half time. Then, immediately after halftime Reid was put away again and calmly rolled the ball into the net for a 2-0. A large section of the crowd, myself included, were pretty sure that he had been offside when he received the ball. But subsequent replays on Match of the Day that night confirmed that he was fractionally ON side and the goal was correctly awarded. This ended up being a comfortable win against an infuriating Bournemouth team who look top 6 material one week and a bottom 6 a week later!
Next was a trip to Southampton where we achieved one of only 2 away wins on our last trip to the Premier League. The points seemed to have been won when Sol Bamba gave the Bluebirds the lead in the 69th minute. A late onslaught from the Saints aw then break Cardiff hearts after a minute of stoppage time with a late equaliser. Except there was still more time left, and in the 93rd minute of play, Kenneth Zohore scored his first goal of the season and sent the Cardiff fans home extremely happy, having achieved our first "double" of the season.
It was after this game that things started to go wrong. A disastrous home defeat to a decent Watford team by 5-1. We were still in the game just after halftime despite being a goal behind, when a classy break by Delofeu of Watford put them 2 ahead. Then, for the first time at home this season, the team folded badly.
What was more worrying was the 3-0 home defeat to Everton 4 days later, where we very much returned to our early season form of poor defending and no creative ability in midfield.
Then followed a 2-0 defeat at Wolves which could have been a lot worse, although at least there was some spirit shown despite going 2 behind after only 18 minutes. The more worrying factor from this game was a serious injury to Sol Bamba - subsequently found to be a routed ACL - which will keep him out for the rest of the season. Let's hope he can be the spiritual leader of the team from the sidelines!
SO. Do we want to stay up?
Although it looks almost impossible, there are still 9 games left where we can possibly ensure our Premier League survival. But then what? Do we find ourselves in the same position as Huddersfield have been this season? Hopelessly outclassed and badly lacking in quality players? Or would we be better off returning to the Championship to regroup and get ourselves back up again, perhaps having learned a few lessons. After all, a number of teams - Watford and Crystal Palace notably - spent a number of years bouncing between the Premier League and the Championship before establishing themselves. West Brom, too, were a yo-yo team who stabilised for a while before their relegation last season.
My opinion, for what it's worth, is to hope for Premier League survival. But (gasp!) we will need a new manager and substantial team investment if we are not to become another Huddersfield.
RESULTS SINCE LAST BLOG:
NEWCASTLE 3 CARDIFF 0
ARSENAL 2 CARDIFF 1
CARDIFF 2 BOURNEMOUTH 0
SOUTHAMPTON 1 CARDIFF 2
CARDIFF 1 WATFORD 5
CARDIFF 0 EVERTON 3
WOLVES 2 CARDIFF 0
The early part of this run of fixtures was interrupted by the Emiliano Sala tragedy mentioned in my post of 28/01/2019. However, in the weekend before the incident took place, we visited St James Park to face Newcastle United. this seems to have been one of the worst performances of the season (at that point) where we easily capitulated to a Newcastle team not much higher in the table than ourselves.
There was then a 10 day gap until our next fixture at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal. The Sala tragedy was still fresh in our minds at the time, and reports of a much improved Cardiff performance was largely ignored. Although a 2-1 win for Arsenal, a notable incident late in the game saw a stoppage time goal from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing. NML is one of only 2 active Premier League players to have scored in all 4 top levels of the EFL/Premier League in the last 4 seasons ( the other is Alfie Mawson of Fulham).
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing
The form continued into the next fixture at home to Bournemouth. An early penalty was put away by Bobby Decordova-Reid and Cardiff kept the game well under control until half time. Then, immediately after halftime Reid was put away again and calmly rolled the ball into the net for a 2-0. A large section of the crowd, myself included, were pretty sure that he had been offside when he received the ball. But subsequent replays on Match of the Day that night confirmed that he was fractionally ON side and the goal was correctly awarded. This ended up being a comfortable win against an infuriating Bournemouth team who look top 6 material one week and a bottom 6 a week later!
Bobby Decordova-Reid scores the penalty against Bournemouth.
Next was a trip to Southampton where we achieved one of only 2 away wins on our last trip to the Premier League. The points seemed to have been won when Sol Bamba gave the Bluebirds the lead in the 69th minute. A late onslaught from the Saints aw then break Cardiff hearts after a minute of stoppage time with a late equaliser. Except there was still more time left, and in the 93rd minute of play, Kenneth Zohore scored his first goal of the season and sent the Cardiff fans home extremely happy, having achieved our first "double" of the season.
Kenneth Zohore celebrates the winner at Southampton
It was after this game that things started to go wrong. A disastrous home defeat to a decent Watford team by 5-1. We were still in the game just after halftime despite being a goal behind, when a classy break by Delofeu of Watford put them 2 ahead. Then, for the first time at home this season, the team folded badly.
What was more worrying was the 3-0 home defeat to Everton 4 days later, where we very much returned to our early season form of poor defending and no creative ability in midfield.
Then followed a 2-0 defeat at Wolves which could have been a lot worse, although at least there was some spirit shown despite going 2 behind after only 18 minutes. The more worrying factor from this game was a serious injury to Sol Bamba - subsequently found to be a routed ACL - which will keep him out for the rest of the season. Let's hope he can be the spiritual leader of the team from the sidelines!
Sol Bamba - serious injury at Molineux.
SO. Do we want to stay up?
Although it looks almost impossible, there are still 9 games left where we can possibly ensure our Premier League survival. But then what? Do we find ourselves in the same position as Huddersfield have been this season? Hopelessly outclassed and badly lacking in quality players? Or would we be better off returning to the Championship to regroup and get ourselves back up again, perhaps having learned a few lessons. After all, a number of teams - Watford and Crystal Palace notably - spent a number of years bouncing between the Premier League and the Championship before establishing themselves. West Brom, too, were a yo-yo team who stabilised for a while before their relegation last season.
My opinion, for what it's worth, is to hope for Premier League survival. But (gasp!) we will need a new manager and substantial team investment if we are not to become another Huddersfield.
