|
There is nothing but pride to play for as we go into this last game and that's a far cry from our last home game when we took to the field against Portsmouth with an outstanding chance of reaching the play offs.
A draw that day followed by defeat at Leeds last week ended our hopes of a quick return to the Premier League and it's no rebuilding time as new boss Eddie Howe gets his first real chance to start putting his own team together.
Some players will inevitably be leaving the club after today's game and for some it might be an opportunity of one last appearance in the claret and blue shirt.
Depending on the result we can end as high as 7th or as low as 11th but wherever it is this will be only our second top half finish in the last nine years.
This looked as though it was going to be a key game for Cardiff, that is until their night out was followed by going 3-0 down in the first 21 minutes against Middlesbrough last Monday. It appeared all 'Boro had to do was go down the right wing and get the ball into the box and a goal would come.
It ended Cardiff's dream of winning an automatic promotion place and, assuming there are no changes brought about because of the QPR situation, they are playing for no more than South Wales pride with Swansea now the only team that can go above them.
They will finish in either 3rd or 4th place meaning they will go into the play offs and will have the first game away from home.
It's been their best season since winning promotion back to the Championship in 2003, beating last year's points total by 3, and if they hold off Swansea it will be their highest finish.
There was much debate at the start of the season regarding their loan signings, particularly Craig Bellamy from Manchester City. He's cost them just a fraction with City still paying the bulk of his wages but as long as the rules permit it then clubs will continue to take advantage.
Cardiff haven't lost any of their last two visits to Burnley with both drawn, but they have to go back to 1988 for their last win at Burnley and that was played on the same date 7th May. They were already assured promotion on that occasion.
Dave Jones is expected to make changes after the disaster against Middlesbrough and the most likely casualty is Jlloyd Samuel who was hauled off after half an hour. Central defender Mark Hudson is fit again and he's the most likely to come in with Kevin McNaughton moving to left back.
Michael Chopra could get a start whilst midfielders Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Darcy Blake and Jason Koumas are all options for Jones.
Cardiff lined up against Middlesbrough: Tom Heaton, Paul Quinn, Dekel Keinan, Kevin McNaughton, Jlloyd Samuel, Pete Whittingham, Seyi Olofinjana, Stephen McPhail, Chris Burke, Jay Bothroyd, Craig Bellamy. Subs: Stephen Bywater, Mark Hudson, Darcy Blake, Gavin Rae, Jason Koumas, Michael Chopra, Jon Parkin.
Michael Duff came off injured at Leeds with a hamstring problem but he's expected to be fit and there have been no other injuries reported from that game.
Dean Marney remains out and it looks as though Martin Paterson isn't going to make it. He's close, as is Charlie Austin, but neither are likely to feature and nor is Wes Fletcher. The young striker was set to play a part and make his league debut for Burnley but has suffered a knock in training that's ruled him out.
There will have to be one change on the bench with Nathan Delfouneso having gone back to Aston Villa, whilst Eddie Howe has suggested there could be some minor changes to the team that played at Leeds. We might even see Dominic Knowles get a place on the bench.
Burnley will select from: Brian Jensen, Tyrone Mears, Michael Duff, Andre Bikey, Danny Fox, Jack Cork, Chris McCann, Wade Elliott, Chris Eagles, Jay Rodriguez, Chris Iwelumo, Lee Grant, Clarke Carlisle, Graham Alexander, Marvin Bartley, Ross Wallace, Steven Thompson, David Edgar, Brian Easton, Dominic Knowles.
|
We went into the game on the back of three successive wins against Derby and Arsenal at home and Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. Manager Owen Coyle was able to bring back Clarke Carlisle, who had just served his third suspension of the season, and that mean a more familiar looking back four after Wade Elliott had played at right-back at Sheffield United.
The point we got was a fortunate one against a side that, perhaps Reading apart, was as good as any that had been to Burnley that season.
Cardiff started the better but it was us who went in front. Martin Paterson got onto a cross form Graham Alexander, playing at right back, and when his shot was parried there was Robbie Blake to hammer home the rebound.
We had our best spell following the goal but it didn't last long and Cardiff were soon back on top and this time they did score to equalise. It was similar to our goal in that the first shot, from Wayne Routledge, was parried by the goalkeeper (Brian Jensen) with Jay Bothroyd following up.
It was 1-1 at half time but Cardiff went in front almost immediately after the resumption and it was a case of role swapping. This time it was Bothroyd's shot that was parried by Jensen and this time it was Routledge who finished.
Twelve minutes into the second half, Thompson came on for Wade Elliott and in a season of substitutes scoring it happened again. Peter Enckelman saved well from Blake. The ball should have been cleared by Roger Johnson but he kicked the post and that gave Thommo the chance to score his first Turf Moor goal.
The game petered out but such was Cardiff's all round performance that it was us who were the fortunate ones to get a point.
The teams were;
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Graham Alexander, Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell, Stephen Jordan, Wade Elliott (Steven Thompson 57), Joey Gudjonsson, Kevin McDonald (Alan Mahon 71), Chris Eagles, Robbie Blake, Martin Paterson. Subs not used: Diego Penny, Alex MacDonald, Ade Akinbiyi.
Cardiff: Peter Enckelman, Kevin McNaughton, Roger Johnson, Gabor Gyepes, Mark Kennedy, Wayne Routledge, Gavin Rae, Joe Ledley, Paul Parry (Miguel Comminges 90), Michael Chopra, Jay Bothroyd (Eddie Johnson 73). Subs not used: Tom Heaton, Darren Purse, Riccardo Scimeca.
Previous 20 Seasons | |||||
Season | Div | Ven | Result | Att | Scorers |
1990/91 | 4 | h | 2-1 | 6,348 | Deary Francis |
a | 0-3 | 3,591 | |||
1991/92 | 4 | a | 2-0 | 16,030 | Randall Conroy |
h | 3-1 | 12,408 | Painter Farrell Conroy | ||
1993/94 | 1 | h | 2-0 | 11,276 | Philliskirk Francis |
a | 1-2 | 5,469 | Davis | ||
1999/2000 | 2 | h | 2-1 | 9,753 | Armstrong Johnrose |
a | 2-1 | 6,487 | Davis Payton | ||
2003/04 | 1 | h | 1-1 | 10,866 | Chaplow |
a | 0-2 | 13,525 | |||
2004/05 | C | h | 1-0 | 11,200 | Chaplow |
a | 0-2 | 11,562 | |||
2005/06 | C | h | 3-3 | 10,431 | Elliott(2) J O'Connor |
a | 0-3 | 10,872 | |||
2006/07 | C | a | 0-1 | 15,744 | |
h | 2-0 | 11,347 | Jones McVeigh | ||
2007/08 | C | a | 1-2 | 12,914 | Akinbiyi |
h | 3-3 | 10,694 | Alexander Cole Carlisle | ||
2008/09 | C | h | 2-2 | 11,230 | Blake Thompson |
a | 1-3 | 19,379 | Blake | ||
2010/11 | C | a | 1-1 | 21,307 | Thompson |