Coakleys Corner

Crystal Palace 1 Leeds 2

Crystal Palace erratic second half to the season continued with a loss against Leeds who have now won there last two games while looking to consolidate a play/off place.   Nile Ranger opened the scoring early on for Palace with a solo effort which resulted in claiming an assist and a goal.  It was an even game with Leeds playing the better football however chances were minimal for both clubs.

Coakleys Corner thoughts

Palace are running with a small squad having loaned out a number of players but they seem to have enough points to keep second place anyway.  I would think Leeds will be in the mix come the end of the season and then the play/offs will be down to which manager can hold their nerve

Blackburn 1 West Brom 0

Despite a difficult start to the season Blackburn Rovers now find themselves just one pound away from the play/offs having won 2 of the last 3 games.   It was a deserved win for Blackburn but it took until 80mins for striker Matt Derbyshire to finishing a flowing move with a cheeky chip assisted by his striking partner Cisse. 

Coakley Corner thoughts

Its been a tough few years for Blackburn and having looked at the squad pre-season I could only see them struggling.   Chris (Bishop) has done well to turn the team around and if they can get a run together they can do very well.  They are an outside tip for the play/offs for sure.    As for West Brom its hard to see them staying up, they have little quality and are a far cry for the team of a few years ago. 

Leicester 2 Man City 2

Leicester took a  2-0 lead at the Walkers Stadium thanks to goals from left back Mattock and a great striker from Maniero.  However it is Manchester Citys young star Guidettis  two fine strikes that will make the deadlines and meant a point each for the relegation battling clubs.   It was an end to end game with Manchester City playing some of their best football of the season with some need crisp passing.

Coakleys Corner thoughts  

It was a very good game but both managers will be looking at this as two points dropped and it really could have gone either way.   With Newcastle drawing 3-3 with  Arsenal a win would have took either club out of the relegation zone for the first time in a while.    Although they will be disappointed they couldnt nick a win they will be delighted they didnt lose the match.

 Coakleys Cardiff Corner

Cardiff 1 Middesboro 0

We knew they would come here and look to defend, they did it very well in the reverse fixture and against a lot of the big clubs this season so this was no surprise.   They play to their strengthens so we had to make sure we did the same, we were patient and used the ball well but in all honestly the result was disappointing.  We should have scored more but in the end its three points and no two wins on the trot and that was very important after a sticky patch of form.

Corner extra Cadiz Chairman comments

Firstly we are delighted to confirm our manager Iain has signed on as manager for next season which is great news for me, the club and the fans.    I made the decision to change managers last summer and by no means was that an easy choice with JD being a fans favourite who had done wonders help the club sort out the historic debt. 

Once it was made I had to look for the right manager and I brought in Iain who has been nothing short of excellent.  His only objective was to build the club and to finish as high up the league as possible.   It was a tough start for him as he had to bring in his own players and try to convince the fans he was the right man.   He has done it with style and grace and its clear the fans are now fully behind him with us selling out every week this season.

To find ourselves third and undefeated in eight games is astonishing but this league is very tight.  We are one point off second but only three points ahead of the team outside the play/offs.   We totally back the manager and players with the promotion push but in no way add any further pressure.

Post Palermo manager reaction
Cardiff 6 Palermo 2

UEFA CUP

Luke an important night for the club and it couldnt have gone any better?
"Well a clean sheet would have been nice but the way we set up to attack it was always going to be tough. We went for the win and my players were exceptional, we rarely gave the ball away, passing was top draw and finishing was good. On the night we could have had a few more but I am very happy to be in the next round and we have no injuries for the weekend. We had a sticky patch around mid season but the fans stuck by us and we have now won our last three games and go into the game against a good Leicester team in good spirits." 

Man of the match again Aricidiacono, got his hat trick and set one up, he has really been exceptional this season?
"Yes but he was the same last season and the season before, infact he hasnt stopped scoring since I joined Cardiff. He fits in perfectly with how we play and the likes of Danny, Watson and the other lads behind him continue to set up the chances and he finishes them off. Insua also got two goals today and thats makes it 7 goals for the season, remarkable for a left back but shows what we are all about at Cardiff."

A European cup semi final, will this take priority over the league now?
"Well its vital we remain in Europe for next season so we cannot take our foot off the gas in the league. We will have to mix and match players for games now but that would have been the case anyway. The likes of Diaz, Battaglia, Riera and Maynard we will be looking to use a lot more in the run into freshen things up but this was always going to be the case, they are all good players." 

Your semi final is against a team currently struggling in the premiership, Manchester City, so a game you will look at as very winnable?
"In the cup you have to look at every game as winnable otherwise there is no point in entering. We have played Man City a few times and done ok but they drew with us last game and are certainly no mugs. There priority has to be staying in the league but they will have half an eye on this game. Any team with players like Vidic, Mexes, Kaka, Semshov, Mido and Kezman will be a challenge, if they can keep them fit. It will be a balancing act for both clubs and will be an interesting game."

Can we expect any transfers for Cardiff before the transfer window closes?
We have had talks on a few players but nothing that looks like it will come off, we will see but if anyone comes in it will mean someone going out as well.