Hi scorers-
I'm back with you for the remainder of what has been a rollercoaster season. This is the business end of it, and it's all about the result.
Rickie Lambert has been named player of the year for the Championship, but he will be worried that a win for Reading on Tuesday night would see them draw them level on points with Southampton. They though, will be playing a Doncaster side hoping to move to within a point of safety in what would a big battle for 3pts at the Keepmoat. With Cardiff's memories of Wembley fading from view, Malky Mackay's side will need to adjust their focus to the league as they're without a win in 4 Championship games. They will have home advantage against a Hull team without a win in 5, a win for them, however, would put them level on points with the Welsh side. Also, just about in the promotion picture, is Birmingham City. As a bluenose, I'm going to the Walkers stadium to see us do battle with Leicester. Us droping points at home to Nottingham Forest and Derby, combined with just a point with the game at the Ricoh on Saturday has seen us drop out of the play-offs. Chris Hughton has said that the hope of automatic promotion is all but over. With Leicester midtable, the push- even for the play-offs looks to be over for them. Nigel Pearson will be hoping for better things next season. To round this off, we have the Derby derby, where Nottingham Forest and the Rams have just local pride at stake.
Here are my predictions...
Cardiff vs. Hull
In the reverse fixture back in October at the KC stadium, a late winner from Nicky Barmby cancelled out a well struck goal by Bluebird Joe Ralls. Cardiff dropped to ninth, Hull City moved up to sixth, and extended their unbeaten run to six games. With positions swapped, Cardiff have are now sixth, Hull are ninth, but Cardiff's recent trip to Wembley has seen them lose a bit of sight on their league form- they need a win to keep the likes of Birmingham City and indeed, Hull, from snapping at their heels. A big game for Malky Mackay's side.
Verdict- 2-2
Leicester vs. Birmingham
Whilst I'm looking forward to this one tommorrow night, I'm concerned that we're losing our consistency. When we beat them back in October, it was to mark a good run for the team, as we drew 4pts away from the play-offs with two games in hand. What hasn't changed is that Leicester are still midtable, they need a bit of time to gel as well as the cash provided by the chairman. I think they'll begin to do that within the next few years. Back to this game, I think it's important we get that winning feeling back, my mate who supports Leicester has been saying they've played poorly recently. Having lost their last two, my head still says a draw, but I'm going to go with my heart and predict a narrow Blues win. Positive thinking.
Verdict- 0-1
Doncaster vs. Reading
A game of significance at both ends of the table. A win for Doncaster: they go to a point of safety, putting Bristol City in trouble, with Donny Rover's having two games in hand on them. A win for Reading: they leapfrog West Ham, at least for the time being to go into the automatic promotion spot and draw level on points with league leaders, Southampton. A draw: Reading just sneak into the automatics, but West Ham would have the chance to overtake them with their game in hand at Peterborough. Doncaster would still be 3pts adrift. A point not good enough for either side!
Verdict- 0-2
Cheers,
Gabriel
