Cardiff v Bolton

About time we had a dedicated thread seeing as there's been so much speculation about this game on other threads as to whether this is a "must-win" game or not.
With Leicester playing on Friday night we'll know half the story by the time we kick off, but for me the only relevant fact is that both Forest and Leicester are fired up and capable of taking 6 more points although they both can't do it.
I expect Forest to beat Millwall who have been poor recently, so their GD could be close to ours going into the final game and they could be a point ahead of us. Leicester have a tough one v Watford but if they get anything out of it, even a draw, a final day win will see them take the spot if we lose at Cardiff.
There are lots of permutations but as it stands, for me, a draw is the minimum we need at Cardiff and if we are to be sure, a win.
The chances of us getting into the playoffs if we lose at Cardiff are slim.
So will Cardiff be hungover and happy with what they've achieved, or will they want to put on a show for their fans? And will Dougie finally sort out the dodgy away form that has dogged us all season?
For me, we need to go for the win, but I can't see Dougie setting us up for it - I suspect he'll go for "containment" again and that's a worry.
I think we'll scrape a draw and be dependent on other results on the final day.

I think Cardiff will already be on their holidays and we'll take one more step towards the Premier League.

Cardiff 0 - 2 Bolton - Eagles (2)

Cardiff will be up for this one.

Full house, trophy being presented at the end of the game, and probably most importantly, playing for a place in Mackay's Premier League squad.

I expect to get thumped.

I would love us to piss on Cardiff's parade but they have been the most consistent team in the Championship so I think it will be a home win for them.

With other results, I can still see it going to the final week of the season to establish who makes the play offs.

Natasha Whittam wrote:Cardiff will be up for this one.

Full house, trophy being presented at the end of the game, and probably most importantly, playing for a place in Mackay's Premier League squad.

I expect to get thumped.

Snap.

you also have to bear in mind that Cardiff will want to give the fans a 'good show' and they will be playing with NO pressure whatsoever...

They are a decent side anyway, take away the pressure from the equation and they sound pretty dangerous - we will be under pressure and have a habit of crumbling under it.

We'll have a weakened midfield with no Spearing- I expect that we'll battle bravely but get steam rollered into something like a 3-0 defeat.
If they score early then they'll want to put on a show and they'll swamp us

Having something to play for tends to work in a teams favour, not against them. Malky Makay can try an motivate all he wants but psychologically their players know its job done and there's not the same urgency.

We tend to play better against the big teams, if we can nick anything it's a good result.

looking at the upcoming fixtures for our play-off rivals - we could do with 6 points from last 2 games.

I can see Leicester pipping us to it if im honest.

I think Watford will beat Leicester, but I can see Leicester beating Forest.

So we'd only need to beat Blackpool at home in order to cement our play-off place unless I have miscalculated.

The BBC sportspage ( the football one) has got a Results predictor on there where you can look at all the games between now and the nd of the season. Its quite good fun too. I had a go last night and predicted we would end up 6th beating Forest on goal difference of 3.
Blackburn would stay up by 1 point

Jamster26 wrote:I think Watford will beat Leicester, but I can see Leicester beating Forest.

So we'd only need to beat Blackpool at home in order to cement our play-off place unless I have miscalculated.

Too many variables in there to take any sort of chance with the Cardiff game - and everybody is already assuming that if we're still in with a chance on the final day, beating Blackpool will be little more than a formality.
If we lose at Cardiff:
Leicester will only need 4 points to pass us.
Forest will need 6.
Either team could do that so we have to go for a win againsat Cardiff.
And whatever happens we'll need to beat Blackpool who would love to hold us on the final day to stop us progressing.

0-2 to us cos we need it more. dawson x 2

You negative sods!

You're all bigging Cardiff up to be world beaters when in reality they have been made to look good in this league. They've gone up as champions without doing it in style, in their last three results they've drawn two at home to Barnsley/Charlton and took just a point from a poor burnley side!

We seem to up our game against teams above us and I expect us to take the game to Cardiff and come away with the points, Dougie and the players won't want to mess this up now after coming so far.

1-3

I expect us to be celebrating our gaurenteed play off place with Leicester and forest both losing.

wanderlust wrote:

Jamster26 wrote:I think Watford will beat Leicester, but I can see Leicester beating Forest.

So we'd only need to beat Blackpool at home in order to cement our play-off place unless I have miscalculated.

Too many variables in there to take any sort of chance with the Cardiff game - and everybody is already assuming that if we're still in with a chance on the final day, beating Blackpool will be little more than a formality.
If we lose at Cardiff:
Leicester will only need 4 points to pass us.
Forest will need 6.
Either team could do that so we have to go for a win againsat Cardiff.
And whatever happens we'll need to beat Blackpool who would love to hold us on the final day to stop us progressing.

Leicester play Watford this Friday? I think that helps us allot. If they lose there then all we need is three points from Cardiff or Blackpool, then it should see us over.

However can't rule Forest out hence why if we do get something at Cardiff (and I think we will), then it will make it allot easier heding into the final game!

I'm of the thinking that Cardiff players are already thinking about the beach. Therefore, I think we'll get the result we need.

However, it's looking like we'll end up with Watford in the play-offs and probably Brighton in the Wembley final should we get past Watford.

An interesting month and half to come for us me thinks! We don't do things the easy way, that's for sure!

Boggersbelief wrote:You negative sods!

You're all bigging Cardiff up to be world beaters when in reality they have been made to look good in this league. They've gone up as champions without doing it in style, in their last three results they've drawn two at home to Barnsley/Charlton and took just a point from a poor burnley side!

We seem to up our game against teams above us and I expect us to take the game to Cardiff and come away with the points, Dougie and the players won't want to mess this up now after coming so far.

1-3

I expect us to be celebrating our gaurenteed play off place with Leicester and forest both losing.

That's the spirit! I am feeling very optimistic at this point.

Boggersbelief wrote:You negative sods!

You're all bigging Cardiff up to be world beaters when in reality they have been made to look good in this league. They've gone up as champions without doing it in style, in their last three results they've drawn two at home to Barnsley/Charlton and took just a point from a poor burnley side!

We seem to up our game against teams above us and I expect us to take the game to Cardiff and come away with the points, Dougie and the players won't want to mess this up now after coming so far.

1-3

I expect us to be celebrating our gaurenteed play off place with Leicester and forest both losing.

Bolton don't win big games. When was the last big game we won?

Middlesborough was a big game, we won it.

Natasha Whittam wrote:

Boggersbelief wrote:You negative sods!

You're all bigging Cardiff up to be world beaters when in reality they have been made to look good in this league. They've gone up as champions without doing it in style, in their last three results they've drawn two at home to Barnsley/Charlton and took just a point from a poor burnley side!

We seem to up our game against teams above us and I expect us to take the game to Cardiff and come away with the points, Dougie and the players won't want to mess this up now after coming so far.

1-3

I expect us to be celebrating our gaurenteed play off place with Leicester and forest both losing.

Bolton don't win big games. When was the last big game we won?

I think we will put on a performance ov our own a draw will do us but I think we will win 1-0 sordell or eagles to score we have played so well in the past few months and I think the lads will be up for it COYWM