Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Friday March 3.
Pearson promises 'aggressive' Robins
Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson has promised an aggressive display from his side when they travel to Cardiff on Saturday. The Robins come into the game off the back of a midweek FA Cup defeat to Premier League champions Manchester City, with that loss ending their 12-match unbeaten run.
But Pearson is hoping to bounce back in style and has called on his players to come out guns blazing for the derby at the Cardiff City Stadium. However, speaking to the media ahead of this weekend's clash, the manager also said he was wary of the changes that have gone on in the Welsh capital since the two sides last faced each other back in August.
"It's a game in which there is always pressure on, a local derby," he said. "We need to make sure that our performance is right first and foremost. I want us to play with the same sorts of energy levels that we have done and be as aggressive as we can while staying within the rules.
"When you play local derbies it's about being able to control the emotions and just making sure the performance is right, that's the big thing.
"We know that they're at home, they'll want to start quickly against us. They've had another change of manager and of course when you have changes sometimes you get a response, when people go in they try and get their ideas over quickly. So we've got to be prepared for it being a different game to the one we played at our place."
Mutch joins League Two strugglers
Former City midfielder Jordon Mutch has joined League Two side Crawley Town.
The 31-year-old, who made 57 appearances for Cardiff between 2012 and 2014, was a free agent after leaving Australian A-League side Macarthur FC in May last year, but has been snapped up by struggling Crawley until the end of the season as they battle to stay in the Football League.
Mutch has 78 Premier League appearances to his name having also turned out for Birmingham, QPR and Crystal Palace in the top flight, while he also played 92 Championship appearances for Watford and Doncaster Rovers.
His career has taken an interesting turn since leaving South Wales, with failed stints at QPR and Palace followed by campaigns in South Korea, Norway and then Australia, where he also played for the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Speaking on his latest move, Mutch said: “I am very happy to join Crawley until the end of the season and play under the boss. I can’t wait to start playing, and hopefully, me and the team can have some positive results from now until the end of the year, and we are very focused on the task ahead.”
Bellamy 'crucial' to Championship title charge
Bluebirds legend Craig Bellamy has been lauded for the "crucial" role he has played in Burnley's Championship title charge.
The Lancashire club look set to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking as they find themselves top of the table, 12 points clear of second-placed Sheffield United.
Bellamy has been assistant manager at Turf Moor since last summer, working under manager and former Manchester City team-mate Vincent Kompany. While much of his role is behind-the-scenes, his efforts have not gone unnoticed, with another former colleague, Micah Richards, describing him as an "outstanding right-hand man" to Kompany.
And the Welshman has received further plaudits in the Daily Mail, who said his commitment and drive have been integral to Burnley's success during this campaign.
"At their old club, they once called Kompany the professor. They never called Bellamy that. But few who have worked with the Welshman would deny the obsessive and occasionally manic commitment he brought to his own career. It is this that Bellamy brings, among other things, to his coaching work and those under his charge would be well advised to listen.
"There are few shades of grey with Bellamy. You are either in or you are out. This may make him more suited to coaching than management. He may lack the diplomacy for the top role, just as Roy Keane did.
"But Bellamy’s understanding of the game, coupled with a feel for what it takes to succeed, are what makes him essential listening whenever he decides to talk."
Severnside derby to be shown on Sky
Saturday's derby clash is a must-watch and fans unable to make it to the stadium can tune in on Sky.
The game will be streamed on the Sky Sports Red Button Service, available to subscribers of the channel. It is not the main game being shown on the channel, however, with Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield United the chosen fixture instead.
Red button coverage starts at 12.25pm, with the game kicking off just five minutes later.
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