Cardiff City don't have long to dwell on the disappointing Boxing Day defeat to Plymouth, as we head to floodlit Peterborough United on Monday to take on the Championship's bottom club (again). Simon Glanville previews the match.
Cardiff team news: Cardiff will be hoping that a number of players with injury concerns can play two games in the space of three days. Joe Ledley, Peter Whittingham and Kevin McNaughton all managed ninety minutes against Plymouth, but may be hard pressed to do the same against Peterborough. Kelvin Etuhu also managed an appearance from the bench after overcoming an ankle problem, and he will be hoping to be included from the start on Monday. Regardless of fitness however, 'City boss Jones has indicated that starting eleven changes will come after the disappointment on Boxing Day against Plymouth Argyle.
Peterborough team news: Striker Aaron MacLean could make his last appearance for Peterborough after handing in a transfer request at London Road. With the transfer window opening in less than a week, it may be the last time Posh fans see him at London Road, at least in a Peterborough shirt anyway. Gabriel Zakauni should be fit to leave boss Mark Cooper with a fully fit squad to choose from.
Peterborough's season so far: After successive promotions in the last two years, Peterborough have found life a bit more realistic since coming up to the Championship. Darren Ferguson led the Posh from League Two to the English second tier, but then lost his job after what was, at board level at least, considered a disappointing start to the season.
The departure of Ferguson was an odd one after the success he had brought, even if the Posh were languishing at the bottom of the table. Rather than go for a 'big name', Mark Cooper was appointed as Ferguson's replacement, after he was convinced to leave non-league Kettering. And although he so far only has the one win to his name, Peterborough still have a lot to play for. They may be bottom of the table, but are actually just four points adrift of safety, meaning they could be out of immediate danger by early 2010.
Last meeting: You have to go back to the 2002/2003 season for the last time Cardiff met the Posh. But it's not a happy memory for Cardiff after Peterborough ran out comfortable winners at London Road. Matt Gill and Leon McKenzie were the scorers as the Bluebirds travelled back to South Wales empty handed.
Teams from last meeting at London Road on 16th April 2003:
Peterborough: Tyler, Rea, Burton (Farrell 71), Arber, Hendon (Scully 78), Gill, Shields, Boucaud, Jelleyman, Clarke (Fotiadis 81), McKenzie. Subs not used: Scott, Fenn.
Bluebirds: Margetson, Weston, Barker, Gabbidon, Croft (Legg 74), Ainsworth (Gordon 66), Boland, Kavanagh, Mahon, Thorne, Earnshaw. Subs not used: Collins, Bonner, Alexander.
Attendance: 4,984.
Peterborough last time out: The Posh failed to pull off a shock on Boxing Day after falling to defeat to high-flying West Brom. Luke Moore opened the scoring with half an hour to go and Ryan Bennett then put through his own net to secure a comfortable 2-0 win for the Baggies.
Peterborough: Lewis, Zakuani (Rowe 75), Griffiths, Bennett, Geohaghan, Frecklington, Whelpdale (Morgan 62), Coutts (Batt 70), McLean, Mackail-Smith, Boyd. Subs not used: McKeown, Lee, Green, Simpson.
Hopes: It's over three hours to midlands based London Road, and with Cardiff already notching losses against the other three teams of the bottom four, the squad will be under self imposed pressure to prevent making it a quadruple to close out the year. From a Cardiff perspective it will wholeheartedly be a case of playing to strengths, with confidence and self belief key to any chances of victory.
The Posh are also under pressure to get back to winning ways themselves, if only to improve their survival chances after swapping the basement spot with Plymouth Argyle. They'll be hoping that the Bluebirds continue their festive giving, while looking to impressive home form, especially of late where credible results have come against Watford, Swansea and Middlesbrough.
The 'City prediction: A 2-0 away win for the Bluebirds. The Pilgrims loss on Boxing Day was as much to do with missed chances and a lack of self confidence, but with changes expected and the hopes of our strikers finding their shooting boots again, 'City should have the strength to see the match to a positive return to form. We'll find out . . .
