Cardiff City face a crucial weekend in their bid to avoid the drop and consolidate their Championship place for next season.
The Bluebirds make the tough trip to Bramall Lane on Saturday as they take on a Sheffield United side in second place. The Blades are in desperate need of a win as they edge closer to Premier League promotion.
As it stands, Sabri Lamouchi’s men find themselves in 21st place, one point above the relegation zone but with a game in hand over the bottom three. This weekend’s results could go a long way in deciding which league Cardiff will be playing in next term.
It’s tight at the bottom, with 18th-placed Rotherham and the 22nd-placed Royals separated by just four points. There are currently seven clubs in the relegation battle, meaning it’s certain to be a stressful few weeks for Cardiff fans.
Cardiff have six games left and face the league’s two most formidable outfits in Sheffield United and Burnley during that time, while also facing relegation rivals Rotherham and Huddersfield. The battle is set to go down to the wire and Cardiff will undoubtedly need some favours along the way.
Fierce rivals Swansea City could do the Bluebirds a massive favour on Saturday as they welcome the Terriers to the Swansea.com Stadium. The Yorkshire side, managed by former City boss Neil Warnock, have picked up 11 points from their last five games, helping to transform them from a team almost certain to be relegated into an outfit who now find themselves a point above the Bluebirds.
It’s certain that one of Cardiff’s relegation rivals will drop points this weekend as 23rd-placed Blackpool host 24th-placed Wigan Athletic at Bloomfield Road. The Seasiders are seven points off Cardiff, while the Latics are eight points adrift. Bluebirds’ fans will be hoping for a draw, which would effectively put the pair out of contention for survival, meaning there’s just one place in the relegation zone left.
Cardiff’s survival hopes have been handed a boost in recent weeks due to Reading’s points deduction. The Royals looked safe at one stage, but a shocking run of form, which hasn't seen them win since February, coupled with a six-point penalty has left them in 22nd and in deep trouble, taking up the final spot in the relegation zone.
The Royals are in crisis and sacked manager Paul Ince after their loss to Preston on Easter Monday. They’ve appointed Noel Hunt as interim boss and he couldn’t have asked for a tougher first game with the league leaders coming to town. Cardiff need Burnley to win, and to win well to ensure Reading’s goal difference, which currently stands at -19, continues to worsen.
Cardiff have also been helped by QPR’s free fall. The team from west London have won just once since December and if it wasn’t for such a good start to the season they would have already been relegated. The R’s were top of the table on October 22 but have won just twice since; they find themselves one point ahead of Cardiff having played a game more. QPR’s goal difference is -24, eleven goals worse off than Cardiff, and this will be crucial if the clubs finish level on points.
QPR welcome Coventry to Loftus Road on Saturday, and Cardiff will be hoping that the play-off-chasing Sky Blues can do them a favour and add to QPR’s misery.
Another one of Cardiff’s relegation rivals face a promotion-chasing team on Saturday as Rotherham United welcome Luton Town to the New York Stadium. The Millers are 18th, three points ahead of Cardiff, having played the same number of games.
Cardiff have to travel to Rotherham later this month to replay the fixture against the Millers which was abandoned in March due to a waterlogged pitch.
The Millers have a five-goal advantage over the Bluebirds when it comes to goal difference, so Cardiff fans need a Luton win and to score a few goals in doing so.
A crucial 24 hours await.
The important fixtures this weekend and the ideal results for Cardiff
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City - Cardiff City win
Swansea City vs Huddersfield Town - Swansea City win
Blackpool vs Wigan Athletic - Draw
Reading vs Burnley - Burnley win
QPR vs Coventry - Coventry win
Rotherham United vs Luton Town - Luton win
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