I don’t know why but I can’t see Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock being overly worried if Cardiff crash out of the FA Cup later today I really don’t. He told the press last season that he “struggled to get out of bed" for a cup tie. It sums up how many managers feel these days about Cup games using such games to rest first team players. Although only yesterday he was saying how much he was looking forward to today’s game.
As a fan of the FA Cup I have my fingers cross Cardiff will be in the fourth round draw Monday live on the BBC 7pm. In the next round, Cardiff home to Manchester City would be nice.
Visitors to the Cardiff City Stadium for this Third Round fixture are Mansfield Town not the most glamorous of teams but after losing four league games in a row could this season be put back on track with a win here. It’s been awhile since the two teams have come face to face that was in the league in 2003 the old Ninian Park and out of interest a game Cardiff won 1-0 the goal scored by Rob Earnshaw.
On current form, the visitors who are sixth in the League Two table have the better stats, over five games but you cannot predict the outcome due to what manager’s priorities are. In today’s climate league football and position is the more important than cup games. I come from a time fans loved a cup run and looked forward to the FA Cup.
From the draw that Monday on BBC radio hoping someone would have a radio in school or it was a long wait to find out. These one off Cup games gave you the kind of memories you can’t not forget, as with me it’s the game between Cardiff and Tottenham in 1977 and that Peter Sayer goal.
With the mounting injury problems at Cardiff and now, a flu bug has descended on the squad on the injury front, both Lee Peltier and Matthew Connolly ruled out for about a month. Add Aron Gunnarsson (ankle), Sean Morrison (groin), Danny Ward (knee) and Kadeem Harris (groin) to the list and you can see boss Neil Warnock needs to work is magic in the transfer market.
Some good news that Welsh defender Jazz Richards is fully recovered from an ankle problem, which has prevented him playing since September, and will play his part against Mansfield today.
And Warnock is determined to ease the pressure on Joe Ralls and Loic Damour by bringing in a central midfielder this month.
"We’re still talking about my No.1 target and I’d love to sign the lad," said Warnock today. There are plenty of rumours about possible targets. I hope to have something to report before next Saturday’s post before the Sunderland game.
Has readers no I have been on a journey following a chain of teams to this round and on to the final. Presently I have landed on AFC Wimbledon who pulled a top Premiership team Tottenham Hotspur for a Sunday kick-off, and you can guarantee the Premier League team will rest players, which will be of no surprise to anyone including the AFC Wimbledon fans. It will be a risk for Tottenham putting a weaken team while their opponents are likely to field their strongest possible team.
The Wales watch and along with Cardiff, there are two other Welsh teams in this round with Swansea facing a tough trip to runaway leaders of the Championship Wolves. Newport County are home to Leeds United another tough encounter.
The road so far (My route in Bold)
Third Round - Tottenham Hotspur v AFC Wimbledon Att
Second Round - AFC Wimbledon 3-1 Charlton Att 3,270
First Round – Charlton 3-1 Truro City Att 4,494
Fourth Round Qualifying – Hampton & Richmond 0-2 Truro City Att 784
Third Round Qualifying - Truro City 4 – 1 AFC Sudbury Att 359
Second Qualifying Round - AFC Sudbury 3-0 Chipstead Att - 169
First Qualifying Round (Reply) - Chipstead 4-0 Littlehampton Town Att 129
First Qualifying Round - Littlehampton Town 2-2 Chipstead Att 229
Preliminary Round – Littlehampton Town 3-2 Eastbourne Att 177
Extra Preliminary Round - Little Common 1-3 Eastbourne Att – 200 Played at The Oval, Eastbourne
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