No more Cup worries it is all about league football now and promotion and at least a top six league finish at the end of the season. Many Cardiff fans will be happy we are out of the FA Cup so everyone can concentrate on the League. I would prefer Cardiff were in one of the automatic promotion spots, as I am no fan of the play-offs.
Cardiff have hit the road and later today face a tough fixture against Leeds United who are just outside the Play-offs and the form over the last five games isn’t the best so will be chasing the three points on offer just as well as Cardiff. While Cardiff have been on FA Cup duty, they have dropped to fourth level on points with Aston Villa.
Cardiff boss Neil Warnock did a bit of shopping before the January transfer closed snapping up Bolton striker Gary Madine for an undisclosed fee but being reported to be around 6million. Bolton have been struggling for most of the season but even so, he has the ability to score with 10 from 29 games this season. Back in September, Cardiff cruised to 3-1 win at the Cardiff City Stadium with goals by Zohore (2) and Hoilett. Cardiff are seven points ahead of Championship rivals Leeds making a win all-important to make a buffer between the top six spots in the league table.
Also, joining Madine Lee is Nottingham Forest striker Jamie Ward after a swap deal seeing Lee Tomlin going the other way, which came, has a bit of a surprise but Warnock was reported as saying he couldn’t see how to use Tomlin. Armand Traore moved after the deadline had passed because, having had his contract terminated at Forest, the left-back was able to join Cardiff as a free agent.
Two Cardiff players left the club on loan. Striker Omar Bogle join Peterborough on loan and goalkeeper Lee Camp sign for Sunderland on loan for the rest of the season.
Joe Bennett will not be available for the Leeds game has he serves a one-match ban for his red card in the FA Cup defeat by Manchester City on Sunday. Also not in contention are Lee Peltier, Craig Bryson, and Matthew Connolly who are still out injured but are slowly recovering and could feature in Warnock’s plan soon.
Will the news-signings feature at Leeds. Well striker Gary Madine should start his last game for Bolton was 20 January in a 1-1 draw where he scored. Jamie Ward could find himself on the bench while Traore is still subject to official confirmation after his release from Nottingham Forest, and the full-back now looks unlikely to be involved for the trip to Leeds United.
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