THE MATCH

FRIDAY 8TH MARCH KO 8:00PM

v

LAST MATCH



We made it 4 wins in a row as we saw off fellow relegation threatened Plymouth. We started the better and Ugbo forced Hazard into a save. Poveda then put the ball in the bet only to be ruled offside, it was a tight decision. Phillips headed wide for Argyle soon after while Beadle parried a Miller shot. Onto the 2nd half and we took the lead on the hour mark, Ugbo got into the box and fed Gassama, whose shot went in despite Hazard getting a hand to it. Beadle made a save from Whittaker and despite having a couple of chances late on we held on for another vital win

DEJPHON CHANSIRI, GET OUT OF OUR CLUB    

THE MATCH



Next up and a big Yorkshire derby as we entertain Leeds. Leeds are having a very good season and are in a 4 way battle to get one of the automatic spots with Leicester, Southampton and Ipswich. They are on an excellent run, undefeated in the league so far in 2024, there last defeat coming against WBA in December. The way they are playing they should have a very good chance of claiming one of the 2 auto slots. They are managed by Daniel Farke, who got Norwich promoted to the PL several years ago. There leading scorer is Summerville with 16 goals & 9 assists, with James & Piroe on 11 goals each.

DEJPHON CHANSIRI, GET OUT OF OUR CLUB    

ALL TIME H2H

OWLS 34
LEEDS 39
DRAWS 27

CURRENT FORM

OWLS              -                                                                                                

LEEDS             -                                                        

EFL STOOGES

DOES IT MATTER THERE ALL CORRUPT  

SAM ALLISON
Matthew Smith and Blake Antrobus
Fourth Official: Gavin Ward

THE TEAM

Beadle
Palmer Ihiekwe Bernard Johnson
Musaba M Diaby Vaulks Bannan Gassama
Ugbo

SCORE & SCORER (HOME TEAM SCORE FIRST)

1-1 Ugbo

WEDNESDAYS FIRT GOAL TIME

26

ATTENDANCE

29854

BML LEAGUE

Imre 23
Washington 17
Maddix 15
Owlkev 13
SCO 9

BMPL

Wereham 8
Stateside 6
Pei -2
Southey -12

OTHER GAMES OF MILD INTEREST

Wolves v Fulham
Millwall v Birmingham
Exeter v Bolton
Morecombe v Wrexham
FC Halifax v Boreham Wood

HHAAD

THE MUPPETT LEAGUE

PEIOWL




KATE BECKINSALE TRIBUTE PIC

Sunday sees Sevco come to Easter Road for their Scottish Cup quarter final. After a tough test in Portugal this Thursday this is probably a fixture they could do without.

Should be an interesting game with Hibs well rested after their win last weekend v Ross. There are signs down Easter Road that Montgomery
has a settled starting 11 with a number of the January signings proving themselves.

Ticket sales for the game apparently have not been the best but things are not helped by the 5.30 kick off and it being Mothering Sunday. This will be Hibs last chance of trips to Hampden and silverware for the 23 / 24 season so they need to show how much it means and be in the sevco players faces from the first whistle.

I'll be in Hereford for 2 important games ( Sat and Tuesday) in our play off bid but will keep updated with the score from Edinburgh as the action unfolds........penalty to Rangers anyone?!

I've just finished reading "Born To Be A Baggie" which my mate gave me (2nd hand).
It's great reading where the Author Dean Walton tells of his Albion following over 50 years, all around the Globe year-by-year. It brings back great memories, is well-written, and I really recommend it, if you can get your hands on it. (Published 2015, I think).

(Also recommended is Ian Richards' "Brummie Road" - fiction, with great Albion nostalgia.)

Any more Albion-based books worth telling about?

After the battle of the John Smith's, Andre Breitenreiter leads his men to Glamorgan to face up against the bluebirds of Cardiff with the fire of the red dragon in the bellies.

The terriers will be recovering from the wounds of the fiercely contested derby, it was an admirable performance considering the fact that we played with 10 men for a fair portion of the game, in truth it was a good point against a team aiming for promotion and a tenth straight win, but results around us went against, with QPR beating Leicester, Millwall winning once again and Sheffield Wednesday beating a Rotherham side who look destined for league one. The bottom of the league is so tight now, with anyone from bottom up to teams in midtable all being at risk of the drop. Luckily for town, our form is fairly healthy, whilst QPR are rumoured to have a points deduction hanging over them, Sheffield Wednesday are prone to burst bubbles, Millwall are having a new manager bounce which if Neil harris' record is owt to go by, could end with a mighty drop, then Blackburn and Stoke appear to be well out of form, to the extent stoke are considering reappointing tony pullis as manager. His last job was steering Sheffield Wednesday towards league one.

A few of the teams that are in the battle with us play a day before we do, with Rotherham travelling to Coventry, Stoke marching together to Leeds, Blackburn and Millwall facing each other, as do Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday, whilst Hull hopefully maul Birmingham. Wednesdays fixtures see QPR host West Brom, whilst once promotion hopefuls Middlesborough host Norwich, knowing that on current form, they aren't anywhere near safe either.

Cardiff sit in 11th place and they too cannot claim to be safe yet, despite being on 47 points, they do however come into the game on the back of two wins, the most recent being a 1-0 derby win over Bristol City. Despite hitting Town for four earlier in the season, goals don't appear to be the goalden commodity for the Bluebirds, with defender Perry Ng and Kion Etete leading the way with 6 goals apiece, former Town forward Karlan Grant has only 5 goals this season, but you wouldn't put it past him to bag tomorrow night. He did sit out the game against Bristol after picking up an injury against Stoke, Etete's opener in that game was the first home goal that Cardiff have registered in 2024, so it could be fair to say that they have struggled a bit, and it should be something that Town look to work on. Elsewhere in the side, midfielder Siopsis has just returned from injury, whilst Welsh international Aaron Ramsay is still expected to be missing, whilst Irish forward Callum Robinson is also expected to miss out. Callum O'Dowda continues his return from injury, getting ten minutes last time out.



January saw the Welsh side make the most of the transfer window, with the club signing David Turnbull from Celtic after a few injury ravaged seasons in Glasgow, Nat Phillips joined on loan from Liverpool, whilst Josh Wilson-Esbrand joined on loan from Man City. Goalkeeper Ethan Horvath came in to take the number one jersey, joining from Nottingham Forest after they signed a shed load of goalkeepers for no apparent reason. The club also signed former Bristol City striker Famara Diedhiou on loan from Spanish side Granada, he's been struggling for goals since the 21/22, having managed to score only once since that campaign, and that was last season in the Copa Del Rey. In terms of outgoings, the Bluebirds weren't really active, with the most notable departures being Ebou Adams who joined Derby on loan and Andy Rinhomota who joined Rotherham.



In terms of line up, i cant see there being much change for the blue birds, with Perry Ng being a key man down the right flank, he also gives freedom to another key player in Josh Bowler as he doesn't have to offer as much defensively. Down the left highly rated Ruben Colwill stepped in for Grant and it would see like he will keep his place if Grant doesn't return for the game.

As for Town, we know that Hogg will be out following his red card at the weekend, whilst Nakayama was in a brace after being on the receiving end of a rash challenge from Hogg. Helik made his comeback and should be fit enough to start, Spencer was subbed off after being ill but should be fine for wednesday. Headley continued his comeback, as did Danny Ward, Balker could be involved from the bench, but Sunday seems the most likely for his return. Rhys Healey is back on an idividual training program and should be seen in the next few weeks. Otherwise it seems as if it will be as you were for town.





Cardiff is the capital and largest city of Wales. Cardiff had a population of 362,310 in 2021 and forms a principal area officially known as the City and County of Cardiff. The city is the eleventh largest in the United Kingdom. A small town until the early 19th century, its prominence as a port for coal when mining began in the region helped its expansion. In 1905, it was ranked as a city and in 1955 proclaimed capital of Wales. Cardiff Built-up Area covers a larger area outside the county boundary, including the towns of Dinas Powys and Penarth. Cardiff is a major centre for television and film production (such as the 2005 revival of Doctor Who, Torchwood and Sherlock) and is the Welsh base for the main national broadcasters. Caerdydd (the Welsh name of the city) derives from the Middle Welsh Caerdyf. The change from -dyf to -dydd shows the colloquial alteration of Welsh f [v] and dd [ð] and was perhaps also driven by folk etymology. This sound change probably first occurred in the Middle Ages; both forms were current in the Tudor period. Caerdyf has its origins in post-Roman Brythonic words meaning "the fort of the Taff". The fort probably refers to that established by the Romans. Caer is Welsh for fort and -dyf is in effect a form of Taf (Taff), the river which flows by Cardiff Castle, with the ⟨t⟩ showing consonant mutation to ⟨d⟩ and the vowel showing affection as a result of a (lost) genitive case ending.



Here's a nice link if you want a trip down memory lane of our past meetings

As for getting there, don't bother, its on the red button, but if you insist, Access to Cardiff City Stadium from the M4 is easy. Leave the M4 at junction 33 and take the A4232 towards Cardiff/Barry. Exit the A4232 onto the B4267 turnoff, signposted towards Cardiff City Stadium.

Home supporters should take the first exit onto Leckwith Road (B4267) before turning right onto Ffordd Fred Keenor at the second set of traffic lights.

Away supporters should take the second exit onto Hadfield Road and then the third left in to Bessemer Road. Travel to the end of Bessemer Road and turn left at the traffic lights onto Sloper Road. Travel along Sloper Road and turn left up Clos Parc Morgannwg towards the away supporters dedicated car park. Electronic vehicle management signage and brown football signage to help guide you to Cardiff City Stadium will be in place from the M4.

If following a Sat Nav, it may take you through the City Centre which will add at least 30 minutes to your journey.

A dedicated drop off point is located at the Fred Keenor Statue at the main roundabout.

Car Parking


Cardiff City Stadium has 78 accessible parking bays available to home supporters. All bays are allocated/sold on a seasonal basis. To be added on a waiting list please email Ben Jones or contact the ticket office on 033 33 11 1920.

If you hold a blue badge stewards will do their best to allocate you a space on the end of a row and as close to your gate entrance as possible. Please do not park in the accessible bays as they are all allocated/sold.

There are 20 accessible parking bays within the away supporter car park. These permits will be issued to the visiting club with their ticket allocation so they can allocate to their supporters. Permits cost £10.

The parking surface is flat and is tarmacked. There are no ramps to negotiate.

The stadium car park will close 30 minutes prior to the advertised kick off time and up to 30 minutes after the full-time whistle.

Sloper Road from the junction with Virgil Street to Leckwith Road will be closed post-match for up to an hour and from Leckwith Road to Atlas Road/Wellington Street.



Some anagrams of Cardiff for you, the answers to Saturdays will appear soon.

1) Vacant gin days
2) Napkin Rain
3) Sorer Mansion
4) cant invent
5) winner cloak
6) knightly pan notion

Gamball:
Liverpool - Man City

Others:
Wolves - Fulham
Blackburn- Plymouth
Hull - Leicester
Millwall- Birmingham
QPR - Middlesbrough
Watford - Coventry
Villa - Spurs
Huddersfield - WBA
Bristol City - Swansea

As a reminder for everyone, here is the scoring:

Gamball
Correct Score : 8 points
Correct Result : 4 points
Incorrect result : -1 points

Bonus
CS : 6 points
CR : 3 points
IR : -3 points

Scoreball
Both teams score : 1 point
Only one team scores : 0 points
Used on 0-0 draw : -1 point

Non-Ball Games
CS : 4 points
CR : 2 points
IR : 0 points

2 points for correct result
4 points for correct score
2 points for each correct scorer
Correct joker doubles your score   (correct score on a joker would give you 8 points)
Wrong joker result gives you minus 2
Correct Random Badger gives you 2 points

The random badger is used for any random prediction used once in each matchday sequence. For instance, a scorer at a particular match, the number of red cards in the matches or yellow cards or own goals or owt you want really within reason, I do need to be able to check whether it's correct or not. Please don't put stuff like....."Commentator says...."  
The joker   is played for one match in each sequence and if correct you get double points. So if you've predicted 1-0 and it finishes 2-0, you get 4 pts, but if you've predicted 2-0, that's 8 pts. But if you get it wrong, it's minus 2.
Jokers and badgers are optional. You don't have to play one if you don't want.

The prize for winning the league is one rep point.

Cup games: In the event of a draw, it's half the points if you've predicted a draw when it gets to 90 mins and the full points if it's still a draw after extra time. Half the points will be awarded for correctly predicting the winner of the match if it goes to penalties. Similarly with the badger, if your random prediction is affected by this, it'll be half the points.

Random score generator: I will be using the random score generator again for those who miss predicting, so we shouldn't get some people too far behind that after missing a couple of weeks they lose all interest, because I know it's not easy getting on here every week.
To be fair to everybody, this is going to be like, say if three people in one week miss their predictions, the first one in the table will be given all 0-0, the second one down the line will get 1-0 and the third will get 0-1 and so on, like if there's four missing the 4th will get 1-1, then 5th 2-1, 6th 1-2. and if there are so many missing, might as well pack in.
And if you miss two weeks on the trot, I'll stop until you come back on again. Not doing it for half a season like I did t'other year.  

End of season Play Offs: The one who finishes top of the league will still be champion, but after the season finishes there will be Play Offs between the top 4, with 1st v 4th and 2nd v 3rd. This will take in stuff like the EFL Play Offs, FA Cup Final, final day of Prima Donna League, European Finals etc. It will be one matchday for the semis and one for the Final. It will be the individual scores for each matchday against the allotted opponent, with some kind of tie breaker for a drawn match.

The prize for winning will be enormous. Another rep point.

1. St Charles Owl = 222 pts
   
2. Lord Snooty = 213 pts
   
3. ritchiebaby = 200 pts
   
4. jjamez = 194 pts
   
5. Baggiebob(BBB) = 190 pts
   
6. themaclad = 184 pts
   

Friday 8th March:
Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United

Saturday 9th March:
Preston North End v Stoke City
Southampton v Sunderland
Watford v Coventry City

Sunday 10th March:
Town v West Brom (12:00)
Town scorers:
West Brom scorers:

Bristol City v Swansea City (12:30)

Tuesday 12th March:
Birmingham City v Middlesbrough

Bonus matches:
Scottish Cup quarter finals:
Saturday:
Aberdeen v Kilmarnock (12:15)

Sunday:
Hibernian v Rangers (17:30)

Premier League:
Sunday:
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur (13:00)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Nottingham Forest (14:00)

Tuesday:
Champions League round of 16 (2nd leg):
Barcelona v Napoli (Agg 1-1)

*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***

1. theo_luddite = 199 pts
   
2. neonfoxinthebox = 192 pts
   
3. SHEP_HTAFC = 191 pts
   
4. Devongone = 189 pts
   
5. Amelia Chaffinch = 139 pts
   
6. WakeyTerrier = 136 pts
   

Saturday 9th March:
Cardiff City v Ipswich Town (12:30)
Blackburn Rovers v Plymouth Argyle
Hull City v Leicester City
Millwall v Birmingham City
Norwich City v Rotherham United
Queens Park Rangers v Middlesbrough

Sunday 10th March:
Town v West Brom (12:00)
Town scorers:
West Brom scorers:

Bonus matches:
Scottish Cup quarter finals:
Sunday:
Celtic v Livingston (14:30)

Monday:
Greenock Morton v Heart of Midlothian

Premier League:
Sunday:
Liverpool v Manchester City (15:45)

Monday:
Chelsea v Newcastle United

Tuesday:
Champions League round of 16 (2nd leg):
Arsenal v FC Porto (Agg 0-1)


*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***

Garry Monk was today appointed the new Head Coach of Cambridge United on a two-year deal until the summer of 2026…

The 44-year-old is best known for his time at Swansea City, where he played for over 10 years before becoming Manager, helping initially stave off relegation as interim player-manager, before recording an 8th place Premier League finish in his only full season in charge.

Jobs at Leeds United, Middlesbrough, Birmingham City and Sheffield Wednesday followed, prior to taking a break from the game in November 2020.

He now joins Cambridge United following a detailed recruitment process after the departure of Neil Harris to Millwall last month.

Paul Barry, Majority Owner, said, “We are very pleased to welcome Garry as our next Head Coach. This follows a thorough process and three separate interviews with owners, board and senior staff from across the Club last week where Garry emerged as our unanimous choice.



“He is a coach of high pedigree, has managed at the top level and impressed us all with his leadership skills, clarity of thinking and his analysis of Cambridge United - both the squad and the Club. Although he has had opportunities to get back into the game over recent times, he has been waiting for the right one. Like us, he sees this as a project and we are pleased he has decided to join us on the journey ahead.

“We do, of course, all recognise that there is the immediate challenge of securing our League One future after what has been a difficult period for everyone at the Club, following Neil Harris’ unexpected and sudden departure.

“In many ways the season starts now. We have eleven games to go. We know what we need to do and we know that it will require a collective team effort with everyone playing their part in helping us get over the line - players, staff and fans. So let’s attack these next two months, get behind Garry and the team and get the Abbey rocking on Saturday.

“Finally, a big thank you to Barry and all the coaching staff. It’s undoubtedly been a tough two weeks that no one could have anticipated or planned for, but they have been a credit to the Club in the way they have conducted themselves and lead the team with both professionalism and integrity.”

Garry will speak to the media this afternoon (Monday 4 March) ahead of his first day with the squad.

Accrington Stanley first-team coach John Doolan has been appointed as the club's interim manager following the departure of John Coleman on Sunday.

Coleman's second spell at Stanley ended after their 4-0 defeat at Wrexham, which left them 16th in League Two.

The 61-year-old had been in charge since September 2014 while Doolan, 55, has been in post since June 2017.

"I have been asked to take over the reigns and I will do the best job I can," Doolan told the club website.

"My main focus is now on Bradford City on Saturday, and I ask all the fans to get behind the team as they always do."

The club did not specify the length of time which Doolan will take over for in an interim capacity.

In his role as first-team coach, Doolan was part of the management team that led Stanley to the League Two title in 2018 and also previously played for the club.

Prior to joining Stanley as a coach, Doolan worked with both Liverpool's and Everton's academies and also coached at Wigan during their time in the Premier League.

He then moved to Hibernian in 2014 where he was part of the backroom team as they won the Scottish Cup in 2016.

Prior to leading the first team for Saturday's visit of Bradford City, Doolan will be in charge for Stanley's Lancashire FA Senior Cup semi-final against Burnley on Tuesday.