Written by billythekid
After two wins and a draw in recent games in the Championship under Jonathan Woodgate, he suffered his first defeat on Saturday losing away in London against QPR. Depending on your point of view, but this game should not have been a defeat IMO, but an individual error and not taking a chance in the first half cost us.
But we now have to put that result behind us and look to get back to winning at Dean Court on Wednesday night when we meet another team who are in form, Cardiff City. Jonathan Woodgate has now been appointed head coach until the end of the season, which will give stability going into our last 15 games.
They have a new manager since our first meeting earlier in the season which ended honours even 1-1, when old Millwall favourite Neil Harris was the Bluebirds manager. Neil Harris lost his job in January after losing 5 games in a row in the league. An old head has taken over, experienced manager Mick McCarthy has so far in his first seven games in charge, his Cardiff City team have had two draws and five straight wins. This will be a very hard game and our team will need to be at their best to halt their ‘ride’. Cardiff City are top-of-the-form table in the Championship going into this game.
So we go into this game with two people temporarily in charge of their clubs who are in 6th and 7th place separated by three points and a two-goal difference. Both are from the North of the country, both are former defenders and have played international football, Woodgate for England and McCarthy for Republic of Ireland.
They both have managed North East clubs, Woodgate at Middlesbrough and McCarthy at Sunderland. Jonathan Woodgate has only one season as a full-time manager under his belt, whereas Mick McCarthy is a very experienced manager and also managed the Republic of Ireland.
With Neil Harris in charge and since our last meeting at the Cardiff City Stadium back in October, Cardiff City have W 6, D 3, L 9. Out of that nine, five were in his last games in charge, of which two were on their travels. Since Mick McCarthy took over his first two games were draws, 2-2 away at Barnsley and 1-1 at home against Millwall. The first two games of the five wins were away from home, first 0-2 against Bristol City and then 1-2 at Rotherham. McCarthy’s first win at home the opponents were Coventry City which finished 3-1. Next was a trip to Kenilworth Road to play Luton Town, 0-2 was the result.
In their most recent game and fifth win in a row, was at home and McCarthy’s biggest result to date, 4-0 against Preston. It also saw Dillon Phillips the Cardiff City goalkeeper save two penalties within minutes. First was after a foul by a Cardiff City player in the box and Gallagher of Preston took the penalty but Phillips saved and the ball spilled out and it looked like Gallagher was going to follow up and put the ball into the net, only to be fouled. This led to another penalty, this time Evans took the penalty, but another save from Phillipskept Preston off the scoresheet.
The last time the Cherries met Cardiff City at Dean Court was in the 2018-19 season in the Premier League, AFCB won 2-0, with a goal in each half, first from Fraser, in the second halffrom C Wilson in the first minute of injury time. This was the season the Bluebirds were relegated in 18th place with 34 points, a season later AFCB finished in exactly the same position and with the same points.
All our home games in the league against Cardiff City, AFCB have W 11, D 3, L 3.
In all competitions, AFCB have W 18, D 12, L 14.
AFCB v Cardiff
AFCB Win
Draw
Cardiff Win
AFCB Team News
Dominic Solanke and Steve Cook will miss this game and David Brooks who missed the QPR game with an ankle injury could also be missing.
AFCB Player To Watch
No player has stood out recently, Jefferson Lerma has looked better in recent games, hope to see Junior Stanislas in a more attacking role for our home game.
Cardiff City Team News
On the injury front, Joe Ralls was out with an ankle problem, Junior Hoilett with a calf injury, no news on any new injuries from the weekend.
Cardiff City Player To Watch
Kieffer Moore their £2 million signing has scored 14 goals this season and 6 of those have come in his last 7 games. Harry Wilson has had 4 assists in his last 6 games and eight assists so far this season.
Your say…
AFCBLawsie wrote…
The big question will be what formation will Woodgate play in his first match in permanent charge of the boys.
I reckon he’s going to put Long and Sudge up top together as he mentioned their link-up play for the goal in a post-match interview. He also claimed that Phil Bill was his MoM.
Assuming he sticks with a 3/5 at the back, I can see him playing a 3-5-2 (aka 5-3-2) with two central midfielders and a No.10 to play off the strikers.
Here’s my usual matchday prediction (I’m quite proud of my record so far – I’m sure Woody’s a Vital member!)
Begovic
Mepham CCV Kelly
Smith Pearson Lerma Stanislas
Billing
Long Surridge
Bench: Travers, Rico, Zemura, Cook, Wilshere, Kilkenny, Danjuma, Riquelme, Anthony – Join the conversation, click here.
