Cardiff City v. Sunderland - Match Preview
Back from Suspension
By Chris O'Brien
February 21 2004
Sunderland visit Ninian Park on Saturday and are expected to bring 2,000 supporters with them for the First Division clash. Lennie Lawrence is expected to make changes to the City line-up, with Gary Croft back from suspension and some players suffering from fatigue after the mid-week internationals.
| Cardiff City v. Sunderland - Match Preview |
| Cardiff City face promotion hopefuls
Sunderland at Ninian Park on Saturday, as the Bluebirds look to get their
First Division campaign back on track after taking only two points from the
last three First Division matches.
After the international matches mid-week, Lennie Lawrence is likely to make a couple of changes to the Bluebirds line-up. Richard Langley represented Jamaica on Thursday morning in their 2-0 victory over Uruguay, and Tony Vidmar was in Venezuela for Australia score draw so Lawrence may look to rest his two long distance travellers. Gary Croft returns from suspension for City and looks set to return to the defence, whilst veteran John Robinson is back from injury but may have to settle for a place on the substitutes bench. As for the visitors, former Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy is hoping to have Scotsman Kevin Kyle fit for the visit to mid-table Cardiff. The international was not in action for his country's 4-0 drubbing at the Millennium Stadium during mid-week, but is hoping to shake off an injury in time to play on Saturday. Recent acquisition from Rotherham United, Darren Byfield is also a doubt for McCarthy. Some familiar names in the Sunderland line-up include Eire international Jason McAteer, Estonian and former Derby County 'keeper Mart Poom and record signing Marcus Stewart who is expected to lead the forward line for the Black Cats against the Bluebirds. It is believed that Sunderland, who have always had a cracking away following, have sold out their 1,900 allocation for the trip to South Wales which would set up a fantastic atmosphere and a crowd of over 17,000. Home atmospheres have been disappointing at Ninian Park so far this season, so hopefully the bloated away following will help with the crowd noise for the First Division clash. After a shaky start to the season, Sunderland sit 7th in the First Division and manager Mick McCarty still hasn't ruled out automatic promotion. However, a play-off spot looks most likely for the Tyne & Wear club who are level on points with West Ham United who occupy the last play-off spot. Sunderland are still in the F.A Cup, and might have on eye on a mid-week replay against Birmingham City at St.Andrews', with the winners facing Sheffield United in the semi-finals. City's last home game against the Black Cats was back in May 1980 where the two teams drew 1-1. It was a goalless stalemate in this reverse fixture at the Stadium of Light earlier in the season, with the City defence clinging on to earn a valuable away point. Victory for City could take Lennie Lawrence's side as high as 9th in the First Division table, but obviously this would depend on other results. Three points for the hosts would keep any faint play-off hopes alive, but a Sunderland victory would drop the Bluebirds into the bottom-half of the First Division table and could see Sunderland rise to 4th depending on the performances of the other clubs in the play-off mix-up. The other fixtures from the First Division on Saturday are as follows: Bradford City v. Crewe Bluebird to the Bone Prediction - Cardiff City 2-1
Sunderland |