***match day thread*** Leeds United v Cardiff City

[maisie'sdadVice Captain]

Leeds United v Cardiff City preview: Two bitter rivals prepare for the battle of the Championship's 'sleeping giants'

07:00, 10 April 2015  
By Steve Tucker
 
Cardiff City head to Elland Road on Saturday for a match that means little on paper but there are bragging rights to be won

Two clubs, two bitter rivals, but yet some kind of bond, some almost spiritual connection that binds them together – that is the real story of Cardiff City and Leeds United.

The pair face off for the 52nd time at Elland Road in a Championship encounter that, when one looks back at the incredible roll call of classics the two sides have fought out down the years, seems a match with very little riding on it.

Currently both sides sit next to each other virtually in the middle of the Championship table, both on 52 points, with the Bluebirds one place ahead of their hosts in 13th by virtue of having conceded three fewer goals so far.

For neither will there be an upward or, come to that, downward momentum this term.

That, of course, the upward bit anyway, will be a disappointment for both clubs of naturally.

Both have delusions of grandeur right now, both are suffused with an incredible history, a burning passion with supporters fervid enough down the years to match.

It is the Yorkshire club who really fit the bill as ‘sleeping giants’ now. The history is incredible, the indomitability of the Revie years, the controversy of Clough’s short reign and those players too, the Bremners, the Lorimars, that Tony Yeboah super-strike all mark Leeds as one of the major players in British football down the years.

And it is Cardiff who can probably stake a claim to have been the side to precipitated the fall from grace at Elland Road in recent times.

When the Bluebirds faced Leeds in the FA Cup third-round at Ninian Park back in January 2002, the Yorkshire-outfit were sitting top of the Premier League, the footballing world laid at their feet ,whilst Cardiff were still a third-tier outfit.

That Cardiff win has gone down in legend, but it also marked a tipping point for Leeds, the start of a decline although they would not have even recognized it at the time, but financial woes and ultimately relegation were to follow on from that mad-cap day at Ninian Park and Leeds now see themselves mired in the Championship along with the Bluebirds.

Cardiff though, within their own little world, fancy themselves a major player too. A recent, disappointing flirtation with the Premier League has given them a taste for the big time, but despite being favourites to bounce straight back this season now seems a watershed one in the Welsh capital.

Cardiff now appear to have seen their ambitions curtailed as owner Vincent Tan has forced boss Russell Slade to indulge in cost-cutting measures that look likely to make the top-flight dream for Cardiff as distant as it had been for most of the previous five decades.

But Leeds now share something else with the Bluebirds and that is not just life in the same division. The excesses of Tan during his time in charge of Cardiff have, of course, been well chronicled.

The Malaysian businessman may have pumped millions of his fortune into the club to basically keep it afloat, but his time too has been mired in acrimony and criticism. Most famous was the re-branding of the Bluebirds home shirts to red, seemingly just to bring good luck. It was a decision that Tan reversed this season. But many Bluebirds’ supporters believe they have perhaps the most unpredictable owner in the British game.

Leeds fans though would perhaps disagree there. In December Massimo Cellino, the owner at Leeds, actually disqualified by the Football League and asked to resign.

It was the latest moment of controversy from a man who apparently has a fear of the colour purple, the actual colour by the way not the film, and is so paranoid about the number 17 he had that shirt number retired at Eland Road.

Cardiff supporters will of course be nodding their heads in understanding at this point.

As the Bluebirds head to Yorkshire this weekend things have become even more strained at Leeds with manager Neil Redfearn, who took over in November after so often being the bridesmaid at the club, seeing his assistant Steve Thompson suspended last week putting both men’s futures at the club under in serious doubt.

Following all that, Leeds sporting director Nicola Salerno then apparently resigned. It is a level of controversy in danger of making the Cardiff look like a relaxed and relatively well run club.

Redfearn himself has come out fighting after the latest controversy insisting he is the man to steady the ship and perhaps even recapture the golden days at Leeds United.

“I’m tough enough to deal with being in charge of Leeds United. I think that’s important and I think people are perhaps seeing that,” said Redfearn as he prepared to face Cardiff.

“I also know that it’s a great club that is just starting to get to its feet and I think perhaps the football world are realising that.

“For the first time in a long time, this club is together on the pitch and in the stands.

“For me, you want to be about it because you want to be involved with something that’s going to be successful and I honestly believe that this football club in the next couple of seasons can be really successful.”

So Cardiff and Leeds maybe two teams divided down the years by acrimony, hate and even at times violence, but they do have a lot more in common than maybe they would ever care to admit. Unfortunately, too often in recent years that has not proved good news for two proud, but somehow flawed clubs.

in my opinion a man who gave his all to both clubs



Leeds defender Giuseppe Bellusci missed Monday's defeat at Wolves with a calf strain and will be monitored.

Strikers Billy Sharp and Steve Morison are pushing for recalls while midfielder Lewis Cook (ankle) remains doubtful.

Cardiff look set to be without Alex Revell and Federico Macheda after both strikers picked up back injuries.

Defender Ben Turner could return to the squad while striker Conor McAleny's leg will be assessed.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-Head

• Cardiff won the earlier meeting this season 3-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium in November.

• The Bluebirds are unbeaten in the last 16 meetings in all competitions, winning 11. Leeds' last win was 1-0 at Cardiff in the old Division Two in February 1984.

• City are unbeaten in the last seven meetings at Elland Road, winning four. Leeds' last win at home was 1-0 in the old Division Two in September 1983.

Leeds

• Leeds have not won any of their last three games, losing the last two. Their last win was 3-0 at Fulham on 18 March.

• United have won only one of their last four home games. Their only win at Elland Road since mid-February was 2-1 against Ipswich on 4 March.

Cardiff

• Cardiff lost 3-0 against Bolton at home on Monday - their first defeat in five games.

• The Bluebirds are unbeaten in their last six away games, winning three. Their last defeat on the road was 2-1 at Middlesbrough on 20 January.

[*** G L O V E S ***National Legend]

Going to be a strange one with no away supporters there (officially speaking, at least). Ironically, I think that gives this fixture an edge that it wouldn't otherwise have had.

For the first time in months I am genuinely interested in our result tomorrow. That has more to do with our opponents than anything else. 1-2.

[Arkay DubyaGlobal Superstar]

Sadly, I think our long held hoodoo over Leeds will come to an end. It's a new era after all...

[maisie'sdadVice Captain]

thanks gloves. a bit nervous about this one

[maisie'sdadVice Captain]

Sadly, I think our long held hoodoo over Leeds will come to an end. It's a new era after all...

arkay you just put more doubt in my mind

[glasgowronnieCaptain of Country]

2-2

[TDAGlobal Superstar]

Leeds certainly have never had a better opportunity to beat City.

Leeds 2, Cardiff 0

[Tyrion TannisterGlobal Superstar]

TEAM NEWS - #CardiffCity: Marshall, Peltier, Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Malone, Ralls, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Noone, McAleny, Mason.

TEAM NEWS - #CardiffCity subs: Moore, Fabio, Adeyemi, O'Keefe, Harris, Kennedy, Doyle.

Another baffling team choice if im honest. Why not put McAleny on the wing and play Doyle up front? Ralls is no winger, his future is in the middle.

[TDAGlobal Superstar]

I think that Slade sees Ralls & Mason as the future and is looking to give them game time. I don't think the result is important to him.

It will be interesting to see how Mason & McAleny get on together. Please don't just punt the ball up to them!

[TDAGlobal Superstar]

Ah, well......sounded a promising partnership until McAleny's hamstring went....

[RhysGlobal Superstar]

Wassup chaps.

Good performance so far it appears

[TDAGlobal Superstar]

Joe Mason just gone off, but it sounded like he had a very good game.

[TDAGlobal Superstar]

Our full backs seem to be having nightmares defensively.........

[RhysGlobal Superstar]

Peltier seems to have done well.

Another impressive away performance, especially when considering they had no fan support.


Well done Cardiff

[TDAGlobal Superstar]

Sounded a very comfortable win today.

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