FT: CARDIFF CITY 3 - 1 MILLWALL.

[Michael Morris]

Saturday August 21st, ko 3:00pm

Match Officials:

Referee: JAMES LININGTON
Assistants: Nik Barnard and George Byrne
Fourth Official : Andy Woolmer

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[Michael Morris]

Re: CARDIFF CITY v MILLWALL. Match thread

Injury Update:

Cardiff City boss Mick McCarthy admits he's delighted to see Isaac Vassell take such a significant step towards first team contention this week, and admits he's faced something of a "counselling job".

Vassell emerged unscathed for the under-23s against Wigan Athletic, playing a full 90 minutes for the second time in a week, having previously not managed a full game in around two years.

Saturday's clash with Millwall will be too soon for the striker, but it seems only a matter of time before he's knocking on the door, much to the delight of the Bluebirds boss.

"The more 90 minutes Isaac can get, the better it is for him and for us," he said on Friday.

"I’m delighted for him because I’ve seen lads before who’ve had long-term injuries and it’s been two years since he had a full 90 minutes. That’s just dreadful for a footballer that just wants to play and wants to be fit.

"So it’s great for him. I’m delighted. And for us, he’s quite clearly a very good player."

Vassell's nightmare stint in south Wales has clearly taken its toll, with McCarthy admitting he's had to do his best to keep the 27-year-old focused on the task at hand, adding that he still believes the forward can play an important role in his plans for the upcoming season.

"The management of players is very important," McCarthy said.

"Recognising the ones that do need it, it’s like a counselling job at times. I’ve been saying to him, we know he can play. There’s no doubt about his ability. He’s just got to get fit and get minutes and stay on the pitch. The more he does that, the longer he does that, the better it is for him.

"If you’re coming back and you’re not fully fit, your touch is not there, your finish is not there, and you can’t run as hard, or as fast. You get annoyed with yourself that you’re not playing to your ability.

"I’ve been at pains to say to him that it happens to everyone, every pre-season when they come back. So, if you can imagine missing two years, you just get your fitness back, get your strength back, get back to where you were and if you manage to do that, we’ve got a really good player."

McCarthy has no fresh concerns heading into Saturday's clash with Millwall, but Lee Tomlin and Isaak Davies are still seemingly some way away from first team contention.

"Tommo was poorly earlier on in the week so I’ve not seen him. I’m not sure if he’s in this morning [Friday]. I’ve not seen him.

"Isaak is just doing rehab and will hopefully be back soon."

Meanwhile, the likes of Kieffer Moore and Rubin Colwill could soon be in contention to start after previously being restricted to appearances off the bench so far this season.

Both players were introduced during the 2-2 draw at Peterborough United on Tuesday night, but McCarthy says both are now in contention to be involved from the off.

"I would say so now. They've not had required minutes in terms of on the pitch but they've been training now. They're in a much better position to be able to start."

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-injury-bulletin-mick-21358467

[Michael Morris]

Re: CARDIFF CITY v MILLWALL. Match thread

Mick press conference:

Team news - any fresh concerns?
"No fresh concerns. Everyone’s okay, thankfully."

Moore etc ready to start yet?
I would say so, yeah. They've not had required minutes in terms of on the pitch but they've been training well.

They're in a much better position now to be able to start.

Selection headaches after the way you came back on Tuesday?
Absolutely. The lads have done well. The lads that went on did well, but it’s not headaches when you send subs on and they do well. It’s a nice problem to have. If you put subs on and they don’t do anything that’s a different matter altogether. We had 25 minutes in the second half, I don’t know where the first five minutes came from that’s for sure. And then we were all out of kilter. They were on the front foot, we were struggling, but the reaction in the last 20 minutes was excellent.

Resolve has been a big part of your reign?
Absolutely. We were 2-0 down at Barnsley in my first game and they responded similarly on that occasion. It’s a lovely quality to have, certainly in the Championship. If you haven’t got those qualities and you got 2-0 down you start getting spanked. It’s not a nice place to be. Knowing they’ve got that resilience and that willingness to fight for each other is a real benefit, particularly in this league because it’s a tough old league.

Need a bit more than that to succeed?
Without a doubt. And we’ve shown it in both. We showed far more quality at Blackpool. The performance there was very good. The first half against Peterborough, I was quite confident we’d go on and clear that game in the second half.

It was always going to be a tough game at Peterborough, but if you can’t play well, show all those other qualities and then don’t get beat.

More to come?
I’d like to think there’s a lot more to come. If the start’s anything to go by, then we’ve done okay. We’ll get better and better as we continue to train and play together.

On a good run - three defeats out of 26
They’re nice stats to have to back it up. I certainly don’t like losing games. Three out of 26 defeats is pretty good. The lads have been terrific. We won seven on the bounce at one stage last season. Nobody’s won all their games in the league this season. It’s going to be a tough old league. I see West Brom, Bournemouth, Fulham, anyone who finishes above them will probably win the league. Lots of the other teams might be a much of a muchness I don’t know. So that resilience and doggedness is going to help us.

Millwall - a scrap tomorrow?
They’ll be looking to get some points. At the start of the season, if you don’t start it well it becomes tougher and tougher, looking for your first win. They had a pretty good season last year. But I can’t remember going into a Championship game and it not being a scrap. It will be a hard game. No doubt about it.

Millwall where you management career started
All the clubs I’ve played for or managed, all have a place in my heart, but I play against them, I want to slap them.

We’re professionals. I loved my time there and I’ll always be grateful for them giving me my chance to become a coach. I love going down there. When I go down there to watch games it’s great. I live in the area, but there will be no favours given.

Reactions to taking the knee - Millwall booed
I have an input on every decision I do. If I didn’t think it was worth respecting I wouldn't do it. Quite clearly I do, and so do the players. I remember at Bournemouth and they didn't do it, so I checked with my team and they still wanted to do it, as long as they want to do it we’ll continue to do it.

More on Millwall
It’s a great club. I still see Millwall fans and get on great with them. I wouldn't want it to change. Our club has a certain spirit and there’s too.

Fire and brimstone is every week in the Championship. It’s not just because Millwall are coming here. They’ll be coming here for a scrap. If you don’t want to scrap in the Championship, you’ve got to be prepared to win the fight.

[City123]

Re: CARDIFF CITY v MILLWALL. Match thread

I get the impression that Mick really rates Isaak Davies, always mentions him

[Rjk]

Re: CARDIFF CITY v MILLWALL. Match thread

tough game this, thinking we will lose this one

[Former Labour leader]

Re: CARDIFF CITY v MILLWALL. Match thread

Tomlin's absence is dragging on. Am beginning to wonder if we'll see him again in a City shirt.

[Former Labour leader]

Re: CARDIFF CITY v MILLWALL. Match thread

McCarthy is a Marxist.
👍

[jon1959]

Re: CARDIFF CITY v MILLWALL. Match thread

Tomlin's absence is dragging on. Am beginning to wonder if we'll see him again in a City shirt.

Mick said today (in the pre-Millwall press conference) that Tomlin had been ill earlier in the week and he hadn't seen him. But Tomlin was clearly shown on the pre-Millwall training clip of the club website yesterday - jogging about by himself and 'looking on'.

I expect to see a few cameos during the season - but I can't see him as a regular starter.

[jon1959]

Re: CARDIFF CITY v MILLWALL. Match thread

McCarthy is a Marxist.
��

Comrade Mick is taking absolutely the right stance with the knee.

Shame Gary Rowett won't do the same - or even comment on Millwall fans booing it. His response midweek was pathetic!

[City123]

Re: CARDIFF CITY v MILLWALL. Match thread

McCarthy is a Marxist.
��

A brilliant time to be reminded how Mick McCarthy reacted when asked to meet Margaret Thatcher with the rest of the Celtic squad in 1988. pic.twitter.com/Pa0pHwZaZF

— MUNDIAL (@MundialMag) January 22, 2021

[198bore]

Re: CARDIFF CITY v MILLWALL. Match thread

Surely Moore will start tomorrow. Possibly Colwill 'n all.

It'll be 1-1 anyway. Always is against them lot.

[198bore]

Re: CARDIFF CITY v MILLWALL. Match thread

Last 7....

18 Apr 2015 Cardiff City v Millwall D 0-0 League Championship
28 Oct 2017 Cardiff City v Millwall D 0-0 League Championship
09 Feb 2018 Millwall v Cardiff City D 1-1 League Championship
22 Oct 2019 Millwall v Cardiff City D 2-2 League Championship
26 Dec 2019 Cardiff City v Millwall D 1-1 League Championship
21 Nov 2020 Millwall v Cardiff City D 1-1 League Championship
30 Jan 2021 Cardiff City v Millwall D 1-1 League Championship

[Former Labour leader]

Re: CARDIFF CITY v MILLWALL. Match thread

Comrade Mick is taking absolutely the right stance with the knee.

Shame Gary Rowett won't do the same - or even comment on Millwall fans booing it. His response midweek was pathetic!

MM seems to be a decent, honest guy, which is more can be said for our former manager.

[Former Labour leader]

Re: CARDIFF CITY v MILLWALL. Match thread

Surely Moore will start tomorrow. Possibly Colwill 'n all.

It'll be 1-1 anyway. Always is against them lot.

Yes, Moore will start, but perhaps one or two more changes, Sang for Ng and either Harris or Colwill for Bacuna.

[Rock_Flock_of_Five]

Re: CARDIFF CITY v MILLWALL. Match thread

Yes, Moore will start, but perhaps one or two more changes, Sang for Ng and either Harris or Colwill for Bacuna.

Bacuna is a 'shoe - in' to start - not sure why, but he is.