Nathan Blake: Next Month Will Define Citys Season

CARDIFF CITY legend Nathan Blake believes the next run of away games will virtually define the Bluebirds’ season.

Malky Mackay and his men face back-to-back trips to Barnsley on the weekend then Derby next Tuesday as they look to consolidate their move back into the Championship automatic promotion places.

Through December and into January Cardiff then have very tough away days at Blackburn, Leicester and then Birmingham which the former Cardiff frontman insists will go a long way to indicating City’s fortunes this campaign.

They may have a perfect record in the Welsh capital, but away from home Mackay and his men have been in incredibly shaky form.

Unlike last season when they lost just four times on the road in total, this term already the Bluebirds have suffered five reverses.

Most recently too they have thrown away leads to come away empty handed.

Firstly at Bolton and then an incredible 5-4 reverse at Charlton despite the fact they were 2-0 ahead within half an hour.

Now, speaking in the Media Wales’ brilliant online show Blakey’s Bootroom, the Bluebirds’ favourite insist their away form is where Mackay and his men will make or break their season.

And Blake believes they may have to take six points from their next two fixtures if they are to keep their place in the top two.

“Cardiff really need an away win now just to give them a confidence boost,” said Blake.

“Barnsley and Derby are the kind of places they should be going and just brushing the opposition aside to be honest.

“I think they are quite capable of getting six points out of the next two games, but I believe they need at least four at a minimum really.

“They’ve got a very tough run on the road coming up after that. That’s why I think six points s against Barnsley and Derby might be in order.

“Look at December and early January and it really is the defining moment of the Bluebirds’ season. We are going to know a lot more.

“December and early January, when it comes to champions, promoted or play-offs is when it is all going to be decided for me.”

Many, including Mackay and his players, have wracked their brains to explain the disparity between results at home and on the road.

The Bluebirds’ boss himself has blamed a catalogue of individual errors and a lack of correct decision making to explain away results.

Various changes of formation have been used, but none has yet unlocked the danger and threat City possess in front of their own supporters.

For Blake it is not down to personnel or formations, but more down to issues with temperament.

“At Charlton they started well, got the two goals, but then looked like they didn’t like it when Charlton got one back and then they got into areal spin,” said Blake.

“But when the pressure was off, when the game was gone at 5-2, then they started attacking again. To me it suggests it’s a mental thing.

“The Bluebirds have to get that mentality going where you think, ‘OK, you score one, but we are going to score two. We are just going to keep coming and coming at you.’

“But right now there is a mental issue away from home with the players and it needs to change very quickly.”

But Blake has also warned there will be no quick fix when it comes to Cardiff’s away day blues.

This weekend Mackay’s side travel to Oakwell facing something of a defensive crisis.

Ben Turner and Andrew Taylor, who both limped off in the victory over Middlesbrough at home on Saturday which thrust City back into second spot, will miss the clash with the Tykes.

And with Kevin McNaughton also set to be absent with injury Mackay has confirmed he is hoping to bring in some players on loan before Saturday’s clash.

But if they can return to winning ways Blake has warned it must not be followed up by any form of complacency from the Bluebirds.

“If Cardiff do get the win at Barnsley the one thing they must not do though is think that they’ve turned the corner,” added Blake.

“If they do that they will reach the end of the season with just a few away wins at best. It is a building process.

“You cannot think, right, that is the hoodoo done we are now just going to turn up. That’s what got them into the situation in the first place. Thinking that they are so good at home that they are going to arrive somewhere and most teams are going to fold.

“It’s a very competitive league and teams are just not going to fold. Most teams at home are going to give you a game. Don’t think for one minute think that if you beat Barnsley you are going to walk into Derby and get a result because it is just not going to happen.

“It is a very dangerous way to start thinking.”
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The majority of the time i agree with blakey... but for me i dont agree... for me personally i think if we strengthen in 2013 and are injury free and no suspensions etc, we will be fine, but of course we need to do well in december and every mon th after it, but its ages to go yet for blakey to say that if we do s**t in december thats it (well in a nutshell) - if u look at hull they became good iun march and went up...

Clearly the team is switching off away from home. I've seen that Malky has tried to bring in two Prem defenders and wants a loan striker, if we managed to get those players in they would have a fresh mindset and may help avoid the negative away from home mentality the players have and help get us some wins.

He's right, for a team that want to win the league we're facing two away trips we should be able to win with ease. A winning team look for wins against most of the league away from home, maybe settling for draws when facing the other top teams. We're not doing that at the moment, for us a result would be a draw based on our current performances and that's not a promotion ethic.

I'm hoping Bellamy's return will make a big difference to our away from. He is a player who never stops or takes ten minutes off. If he can lead from the front and Hudson from the back, we'll be ok.

Last season we were playing amazingly right up to early Jan and then our form disappeared for the best part of three months, quick knackered it for us. Our promotion this season relies on:

1) Consistently good performances right up until the end of the season. No 'one good month' will do it for me.

2) Depends on how we strengthen in January. It always seems like the team who spend well in Januray do well.