‘I think your fans would have every right to be disappointed with how the season has gone.’ - Cardiff Preview
Brady Frost, Feature Writer
Twitter: @brady0894
Source for image above: HTAFC
Can Huddersfield follow up on Saturday’s result with another win, or will Cardiff continue their unbeaten streak? We spoke to Tom Coleman, Sports Writer at Wales Online to find out more.
Huddersfield and Cardiff City last met just four games into the season when caretaker boss Mark Hudson saw The Terriers slip to a 2-1 defeat, as substitute Junior Hoilett struck a late winner for the home side.
Both top-flight sides last season, the clubs have had contrasting returns to the Championship. The Welsh club, who replaced manager Neil Warnock with former Millwall boss Neil Harris, are currently just four points outside the playoff places in eighth place, with Huddersfield hovering outside the relegation zone in 19th.
Huddersfield play hosts this Wednesday to an in-form Cardiff City, who are unbeaten in their last five matches. With the home side on a high after a great win against QPR, can they follow up on Saturday’s result with another three points?
Ahead of the game, And He Takes That Chance spoke to Tom Coleman, Sports Writer at Wales Online about The Bluebirds’ form and why he thinks Huddersfield fans have every right to be disappointed with this season.
Tom Coleman believes Cardiff have become increasingly reliant on Lee Tomlin. Photo source: Cardiff City
How would you rate Cardiff’s season so far?
Honestly? It's been very underwhelming. Adjusting to life in the Championship is tough for any side that comes down from the Premier League (as Huddersfield will no doubt vouch for themselves). However, I think many will have expected far more from Cardiff this season.
Barring the odd horror show (the 6-1 drubbing at QPR comes to mind), Cardiff have looked pretty solid, and are largely a difficult side to beat.
However, there's a concerning lack of quality in the final third, with the team's attacking efforts becoming increasingly reliant on Lee Tomlin.
What did you think of Huddersfield in their previous encounter with Cardiff this season?
It's difficult to say too much given they were technically still without a manager when they came to South Wales, but there were certainly some decent performances.
Trevoh Chalobah was probably the standout for me and scored a cracking goal that day. However, I was a little surprised at how they failed to match Cardiff's intensity.
Then again, from a Bluebirds point of view, it was probably one of their better performances this season.
What’s your prediction for the rest of Cardiff’s season?
I still think they've got a good chance of the top six. Yes, performances have been largely underwhelming, but they are building a bit of momentum under Neil Harris.
The win at Luton has brought them to within four points of the play-offs and I think if they're not there or thereabouts at the end of the season, there will be some searching questions asked in the summer.
Linked with Huddersfield Town, Albert Adomah joined Cardiff City on loan for the rest of the season. Photo source: Cardiff City
What’s been the reaction from Cardiff fans to their January transfer business?
Again. Pretty underwhelming. The signing of Brad Smith took everyone by surprise but does largely make sense as does the decision to get the likes of Gary Madine, Omar Bogle and Joe Day off the books.
However, the departure of Lee Peltier, who was a big fans' favourite has left many down here a little baffled.
I was in the press box on deadline day when news filtered through that young Wolves full-back Dion Sanderson was on his way, and you would have been hard-pressed to find a journalist capable of telling you too much about him.
Albert Adomah is the most experienced of the new boys and enjoyed an encouraging debut at Luton, but on the whole, fans will feel a little disappointed with how January has gone.
Which players have performed well but gone under the radar to other clubs in the league?
Lee Tomlin is unquestionably the talisman to this team, but every team in the Championship will likely be aware of his capabilities.
Callum Paterson, who was initially signed as a right-back, has shone on his own up front, netting three goals in his last five games.
Joe Ralls has previously played the role of unsung hero in this team given his ability to mop up and pull the strings in the centre of the park, but injury means he's not yet had a decent run.
Former Town boss Neil Warnock left the club earlier in the season and was replaced by Neil Harris. Photo source: Cardiff City
Are Cardiff fans pleased with Neil Harris since taking over from Neil Warnock? Was it the right time for Warnock to go?
It's pretty safe to say that the reaction to Harris' appointment was lukewarm from the fans. Many supporters saw him as a cheap option, incapable of taking this club back to the big time.
I sympathise to an extent as he isn't exactly a big name, but on the whole, my personal view is that a lot of the criticism that's been levelled at him over the last few weeks has been a tad unfair.
Cardiff looked directionless towards the end of the Warnock era and, in my opinion, the tragic events around Emiliano Sala's death took a massive toll on his enthusiasm for the job.
I also got the feeling that he may have lost some corners of the dressing room and, after their abysmal performance in the South Wales derby defeat to Swansea, it really did feel like the writing was on the wall - a big shame given that Warnock will be forever remembered as one of City's greatest ever managers.
The job he did in taking what was an unfashionable club in complete disarray all the way to the Premier League was nothing short of extraordinary.
So, for Harris to fill those boots was always going to be hard, particularly given that this is a squad largely set up to play Warnock's famous brand of no-nonsense, direct football.
But I actually think when all is said and done, he's done a good job so far.
Is there anything Huddersfield need to be on the lookout for in this game?
Cardiff are still very dangerous at set-pieces.
Captain Sean Morrison can cause all sorts of problems with his height and physicality, while Will Vaulks has a long throw on him up there with anyone in this division.
Harris certainly wants his side to play a more attractive brand of football, and you can never rule out star man Tomlin pulling out a piece of magic from nothing.
But there's no denying that Cardiff remain a big threat when they're at their most direct.
Christopher Schindler leading the team out in the previous game against Cardiff. Photo source: HTAFC
What do you think of Huddersfield so far this season?
I must confess, I've not seen a massive amount of them this season, but I think fans there would have every right to be disappointed with how the season has gone.
A horrific start as proved costly, but with two wins out of their last three there are clearly signs of a revival.
I don't think they'll go down, but I doubt this will be seen as an acceptable season.
What’s the fan consensus about this game? Is it seen as a winnable fixture?
Most certainly.
The win over Luton wasn't pretty, but there does feel like there's a little bit of momentum behind City at the moment, although I don't think Cardiff fans will be expecting an easy time of things.
The big flaw in Cardiff's season is that they simply don't win often enough, but then again, they don't lose many either, hence their tally of 13 draws this season - the highest in the division.
No one will be turning up expecting to win, but having brought themselves back to within touching distance of the playoffs, this will be seen as an opportunity.
What’s your score prediction for the game?
I'll stick my neck out here. 1-0 Cardiff.
How do you think Huddersfield will get on against Cardiff? Let us know in the comments!
