Need to Buck Up Their Ideas
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Cardiff
Report Card: Dave Jones may argue that expectations on his side are unfair this season as many have been tipping them to gain automatic promotion. The route Cardiff took to the FA Cup final however demonstrates the quality in their side. Except for the departure of Aaron Ramsey, who was basically a bit-part player and the releasing of veterans Jimmy and Robbie, City have basically the same team who earned them two trips to Wembley and almost got them into a top six finish during the last campaign. Cardiff made a decent start to the season courtesy of a last minute winner against Southampton but then stuttered to draws with both Doncaster and Norwich. The former was probably more creditable as it was Rovers first home match of the season but after being 2-0 up against Norwich, they would not expected to have thrown two points away quite so easily.
Plus Points?
Chucking points away against Norwich has probably been their only sign of inconsistency this season and although they currently sit in 12th, there is still plenty of time left for them to make a move into the top six positions where they will be hoping to end the season. The Bluebirds started their season with a moral boosting last minute win and they also picked up points late on at Doncaster showing that they have the spirit to keep doing until full-time.
The point away at Doncaster may not seem like much at the moment but combined with the point they took from the away game at Sheffield United, they have made a solid base for themselves away from home.
Where they need to improve?
Were it not for two late goals in their first two matches then four points would have become one and like many other sides in the Championship they will be hoping to save up any last minuite heroics they have for late on in the season when they are likely to be needed much more. City were unconvincing against both Cardiff and Southampton and it is their home form which is likely to help them claim promotion, meaning this needs to be improved upon rapidly. Although they have also achieved draws from their first two away games, one point gained at this moment in time may look like two points lost if City are to make the playoff charge their supporters will be hoping for.
Targets for the next term...
- Score more goals
- Don't rely on last minute strikes to get them out of trouble.
- Be more consistent at home.
Barnsley
Report Card: Along with Cardiff, the Tykes outstripped expectation last year by reaching the all-Championship semi-final at Wembley with the Welsh side and this has now but an unexpected burden on their team. Barnsley escaped relegation during the final few weeks of their season, ironically by reversing a string of bad for their FA Cup campaign had caused, when they were eliminated. This season they will be hoping to avoid any such troubles, though as demotion has dogged the Yorkshire side for the last couple of seasons, their supporters may fear that sometime their luck had to run out.
Plus Points?
A win in their last game before the International break will have been of great relief to their manager Simon Davey and having beaten a Derby team who are struggling at the bottom of the team, a 2-0 win at Oakwell may just be what they needed to get their season started. One positive Barnsley can look at is that despite holding just three points, most teams in their position would have achieved exactly the same results against teams who on paper seem much stronger than them. Birmingham and QPR away are fixtures that most sides would be lucky to come away with anything from and whilst Derby may not be having things their way at the moment they are still one of the favourites to be promoted. Their other defeat was against Coventry who are much improved this term and were perched at the top of the Championship when they visited Oakwell.
Where they need to improve?
Unfortunately for Barnsley it may be that the International break has come at the wrong time for them as the Yorkshire side will hope not to lose momentum because of the two week hiatus from the League programme. Although they have played some of the strong sides in the Championship, the difference between staying in the division and being relegated be their ability to pick up points where they are least fancied. They proved in the FA Cup last season that they can defy the odds and it may be in the bigger games where they put in their best performances. As is standard with most teams, away form will be key to sustaining their place in the division and having played two games and lost them both it doesnt look too promising.
Targets for the next term...
- Pick up more points in crucial away games
- Score more goals
- Beat the teams around them