It is any two from five

‘ It is any two from five ‘

By Carl Curtis

http://www.cardiffcityforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=170621

Looking at the Championship table I believe there are five teams looking to claim the last two spaces in the play offs, Hull who are currently in fourth position are just ahead of Derby County by two points but do have a game in hand.

Cardiff City’s next match is against Derby and the Rams are one of the sides City are trying to chase down, there is a five point gap between the teams at the moment so with just eight games to go this fixture is going to be pivotal in the play off race, if City win the home match on Saturday they will close the gap to just two points but defeat, I believe, will make it virtually impossible to catch Derby County.

City have to play four of the teams who are either above them in the league or teams who are chasing a play off spot.

On paper Derby’s run in is probably the most difficult in that they play five teams from eight games against sides either above them or challenging them for the play offs.
I have listed below each of the five teams I believe are challenging for the final two play offs spaces, with their opponents highlighted in red if they are currently above them or challenging for a play off spot.

Saturday’s fixture at home to Derby is massive and the importance cannot be understated, Derby will want to avoid defeat at all costs but City know with games running out, at this stage of the season they must win their home games no matter who the opponents are.

There are some really interesting fixtures amongst the ones listed below and shows City can claim lost ground over their play off rivals with wins in the right games.

DERBY COUNTY : Pos 5th, Pld 38, Pts 64

Cardiff City v Derby County
Derby County v Hull City
Derby County v Bolton
Charlton v Derby County
Bristol City v Derby County
Derby County v Sheffield Wednesday
Brighton v Derby County
Derby County v Ipswich Town

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY : Pos 6th, Pld 38, Pts 62

Huddersfield v Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday v Blackburn
Bristol City v Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday v Ipswich Town
Sheffield Wednesday v MK Dons
Derby County v Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday v Cardiff City
Wolves v Sheffield Wednesday

CARDIFF CITY : Pos 7th, Pld 38, Pts 59

Cardiff City v Derby County
Burnley v Cardiff City
Fulham v Cardiff City
Cardiff City v Queens Park Rangers
Brentford v Cardiff City
Cardiff City v Bolton Wanderers
Sheffield Wednesday v Cardiff City
Cardiff City v Birmingham City

IPSWICH TOWN : Pos 8th, Pld 38, Pts 58

Wolves v Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town v Charlton
Ipswich Town v Brentford
Sheffield Wednesday v Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town v Fulham
Middlesbrough v Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town v MK Dons
Derby County v Ipswich Town

BIRMINGHAM CITY : Pos 9th, Pld 37, Pts 56

Charlton v Birmingham City
Birmingham City v Brighton
Reading v Birmingham City
Birmingham City v Leeds United
Birmingham City v Burnley
Birmingham City v Preston
Huddersfield v Birmingham City
Birmingham City v Middlesbrough
Cardiff City v Birmingham City