Article: Chris Nokes
On Saturday, Cardiff City travel to Deepdale to face Preston North End in the Coca-Cola Championship knowing three points for either side could be key in securing a place in the play-offs or even automatic promotion.
Bluebirds boss Dave Jones spoke to the press ahead of the clash in an interview that can be seen in full on Cardiff City World.
Preston, managed by Alan Irvine, currently sit in 8th place in the Coca-Cola Championship, four points off Burnley in 6th and knowing only a win will do if they are to catch up on their Lancashire rivals. Dave agreed with this sentiment and also spoke of how the pressure of a packed Deepdale will work in the Bluebirds favour.
"They probably have to win," he admitted. "But you say they have nothing to lose because they're outside the play-off places, they have got something to lose, a play-off place! We know it's going to be a full house with a lot of noise, but we have to compete with that and the players should thrive on it."
Cardiff are also playing their own game of catch up, however, and just as the Lilywhites need the Clarets to slip up, the Bluebirds need Birmingham and Sheffield United to do the same.
"Everyone keeps talking about wobbles" Dave said. "I hope that they do both have a wobble and we capitalise on that, but it wasn't that long ago that we were said to be having a wobble. I'd rather be in Birmingham's position, but we've been chasing probably since Christmas and slowly we've been clawing the points difference back."
Since the supposed "wobble" that Cardiff are said to have had, the Bluebirds have had a fantastic Easter period, gaining ten points out of a possible twelve and closing in on those two automatic positions. Dave spoke of the tremendous buzz around the players and the importance of the brand new facilities in achieving that.
"There's a fantastic atmosphere around the place, there always has been," he continued. "Since the day we moved into the facilities, the camaraderie has been excellent. That's why building this was so important, because this is where the culture and ethos of you club grows."
Ahead of the game with Preston on Saturday, Dave will assess the squad and decide his team accordingly, however, in the mix for the game could be Roger Johnson who was forced to miss the Easter Monday win over Burnley after spending the Easter weekend in hospital.
"He's training this morning, we're going to see how he is," said Jones. "There's a narrowness of the airway due to the swelling and he's just been told to see how it goes. He's desperate to play but he knows what's at stake if he's not 100%."
Watch the whole interview on Cardiff City World and hear what Dave had to say on Darren Purse, playing catch up and playing through the pain barrier.
