FT: CARDIFF CITY 1 - 0 BRISTOL CITY. Match thread

[Cardiff City Mad]

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Cardiff skipper Sean Morrison is in a race against time to make Sunday's Severnside derby with Bristol City.

Morrison was forced off during the first half of Wednesday's 1-0 win at Ipswich, but a scan has revealed no serious damage, and Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock believes the centre-half has an outside chance of playing. Callum Paterson (ankle) will also be assessed ahead of the Sky Bet Championship clash.

Cardiff are short of full-backs with Armand Traore (thigh) joining Lee Peltier and Jazz Richards on the sidelines, so Joe Bennett's possible return after illness would be more than welcome.

Bristol City will hand a late fitness test to defender Hordur Magnusson. The Iceland international came off with a knock to his hamstring in Wednesday's 1-1 home draw with Fulham, and Joe Bryan stands by to replace him after dropping down to the bench in midweek.

Marlon Pack completes a two-game ban, but Milan Djuric (groin) and Eros Pisano (hamstring) have resumed full training and could be added to the squad. But Matty Taylor (hernia), Callum O'Dowda (ankle), Jens Hegeler (knee) and Gary O'Neil (knee) remain absent.

Opta stats

Cardiff have won eight of their last 10 home matches against the Robins in all competitions, drawing the other two.

Bristol City haven't completed a league double over the Bluebirds since the 2002/03 season.

Since losing four successive league games during the festive period, Cardiff have picked up 17 points of a possible 21 (W5 D2).

Bristol City have won just one of their last nine league games (D4 L4), although they've managed to remain in the play-off places during this period.

Cardiff defender Sean Morrison has found the net in three of his last five league appearances including each of his last two outings at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Bobby Reid has found the net in each of his last two league games; he hasn't scored in three successive appearances since netting four in the first three league games of the season.

Match officials

Refere: PAUL TIERNEY
Assistants: Scott Ledger and Andy Garratt
Fourth Official: Andrew Madley

[Michael Morris]

Feeney and Madine start

[Michael Morris]

Grujic and Zohore on the bench

[Michael Morris]

5 changes in total

TEAM NEWS: #CardiffCity vs. @bcfctweets!

5️⃣ changes to the starting XI - Madine, Feeney, @Callump7, @JoeBennett27 & @GregHalford15 come into the side!#CityAsOne ��⚽️��⚽️ pic.twitter.com/4Q1MLsQOgT

— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) February 25, 2018

[jon1959]

Team News - Cardiff City

Cardiff City XI: Etheridge, Manga, Bamba, Connolly, Bennett, Halford, Ralls, Paterson, Feeney, Hoilett, Madine

Subs: Murphy, Grujic, Damour, Bryson, Pilkington, K. Harris, Zohore


Feeney and Halford in the starting 11 - hopefully an inspired selection by Warnock.

[SuisseBluebird]

Shame to see players the likes of Grujic and Damour on the bench in favour of Halford for a home game. Hopefully Halford's performance merits his position in the starting line up.

As for Feeney, not surprised to see him come in. NML performances in recent months have not been up to par and I found him increasingly frustrating to watch in the Ipswich game. Constantly favouring to come inside and forcing players like Zohore or Madine to drift out wide and occupy the positions he should be taking up. Feeney is a more traditional wide man, so I expect him to stay out there and put balls in the box for Madine to go and attack.

One thing is for certain Cardiff have options from the bench and notably none of them are defenders so Warnock possibly looking for Cardiff to be resolute and strong and look to bring on some fresh legs like Harris and Zohore in the second half.

[Michael Morris]

Bennett, Halford, Paterson, Feeney and Madine replace Morrison, Grujic, Damour, Mendez-Laing and Zohore

[Jursset_BrisCity]

Zohore out and Madine in.
Warnock realises his route 1 to Zohore will win him **** all with Flint and Baker who stand at 6 foot 5.

And Mendez Laing is dogshit. Ever since he posted that wind up tweet to us he’s done nothing.

This looks a “rough and tumble” not pretty Cardiff.
As we all expected...

[Wales-Bales]

Zohore out and Madine in.
Warnock realises his route 1 to Zohore will win him **** all with Flint and Baker who stand at 6 foot 5.

Exactly, poor Ken would get dominated.

[Cleve van Leef]

Zohore out and Madine in.
Warnock realises his route 1 to Zohore will win him **** all with Flint and Baker who stand at 6 foot 5.

And Mendez Laing is dogshit. Ever since he posted that wind up tweet to us he’s done nothing.

This looks a “rough and tumble” not pretty Cardiff.
As we all expected...

Christ, there are some imbeciles around, but you take the biscuit

Go back to your nursery.

[joecity]

Zohore out and Madine in.
Warnock realises his route 1 to Zohore will win him **** all with Flint and Baker who stand at 6 foot 5.

And Mendez Laing is dogshit. Ever since he posted that wind up tweet to us he’s done nothing.

This looks a “rough and tumble” not pretty Cardiff.
As we all expected...

[jeepster]

Zohore out and Madine in.
Warnock realises his route 1 to Zohore will win him **** all with Flint and Baker who stand at 6 foot 5.

And Mendez Laing is dogshit. Ever since he posted that wind up tweet to us he’s done nothing.

This looks a “rough and tumble” not pretty Cardiff.
As we all expected...

Whats the score nob jockey.

[mazadona10]

Team looks pretty weak just shows what an incredible job Warnock has done. Hopefully give ourselves a chance and get some of the impact players on 2nd half

[jamieccfc]

The bench is better than the first team

[valleys caveman]

Anything happening, lads? Who are the better team?

[tomm]

Anything happening, lads? Who are the better team?

Bristol didn't have a shot in the first half. We had a couple of half chances. The ball hasn't touched the ground too much. Bristol seem to have come for a wrestling match.

[NYCBlue]

Anything happening, lads? Who are the better team?

We are marginally the better team. Not much of a game though. Bristol City playing a VERY physical game.

[thehumblegringo]

Not one for the purist! One thing I will say is that I never want to hear anything about Bristols wonderful football ever again. This game has Sunday league aĺl over it and we have played the slightly better football!

[Eric Cartman]

Not one for the purist! One thing I will say is that I never want to hear anything about Bristols wonderful football ever again. This game has Sunday league aĺl over it and we have played the slightly better football!

Listening to it on talksport 2 and on the half time whistle they said 'Unfortunately Bristol City haven't been able to get it down and impose their passing game on Cardiff'

[Wales-Bales]

Zohore knocks the ball past two 5' 5" Bristol City defenders to secure a victory for Cardiff City

[Charlie]

Zohore knocks the ball past two 5' 5" Bristol City defenders to secure a victory for Cardiff City

Great pic.

[G rangetown Blue]

Zohore knocks the ball past two 5' 5" Bristol City defenders to secure a victory for Cardiff City

Nice to see Bamba in that shot. He won the ball, and sprayed the pass out wide to Kads.

[jon1959]

BBC Match Stats Half Time

Possession: Home 49% Away 51%

Shots: Home 7 Away 0

Shots on Target: Home 2 Away 0

Corners: Home 3 Away 0

Fouls: Home 8 Away 11

[Lawnmower]

Is it OK to punch an opponent in the face these days ?

[MacAdder]

Ken on for Madine.