grafikhaus
Kraft durch Freude
Our next three opponents – Cardiff City, Barnsley and Middlesbrough – were teams we played early in this season, before I’d started to do the ‘Memries of…’ posts. More work for me, more fun for you… (believe it or not, ‘Barnsley’ will be a good ‘un).
It’s very difficult to get YouTube footage for past games v. Cardiff but, as ever, any stuff you can add is most welcome.
Easter Monday, April 2nd sees the return fixture with the Bluebirds. Cardiff are unbeaten in 12 league games and have won their last eight league games ‘on the bounce’. This will be the 70th league meeting between the teams. If Cardiff win on Monday, it will equal a club record of nine straight wins, set in the 1946-47 season in Division 3 South (Third Tier) – two years before Warnock was born. Beat The Blades and win their next game (admittedly away to Wolves next Friday 6th April) and Cardiff will have set their all-time winning run of ten games.
On 15th August, 2017 – in the third match of this season – Cardiff triumphed in a 2-0 win at The Cardiff City Stadium. The manager for the opposition will be Neil Warnock…
‘Best bunch of lads’, ‘best fans’ etc. etc.
On 20th September 2003, we played Cardiff at Bramall Lane in the second tier with Neil Warnock in charge for the Blades. I was in New York for this one and – around the hour mark – I asked a barman I had befriended in a local bar if he knew the score. He rang a mate up and shouted down the bar ‘3-2 to Cardiff with around 12 minutes to go!’ I fucked off for a mooch around the ‘hood and, on going back in the same bar later that evening, I asked the guy if he could find out the final score. At best, I hoped for a draw. ‘5 – 3 to Sheffield!’ The barman got a few drinks that night! Teams that day:
Match report
In 2010, Vincent Tan, a Malaysian businessman, bought Cardiff City. As is often the case, in return for his investment, he wanted to change the culture and ethos of the club (see Hull and Wednesday). He changed the home colours from the traditional blue to red to much protest from the Cardiff fans. However, Tan’s large investment paid off. In 2011, they reached the final of the League Cup and, in 2012-13 were promoted to the Premier League where they only lasted for one season.
‘In April 2013, following Cardiff's promotion to the Premier League, Tan promised to spend £25 million to help Cardiff establish themselves in the top flight.’ And there’s me thinking these foreign owners only wanted the PL cash…But then, in a move redolent of our friends at S6…
In October 2013, Tan created more controversy after suspending Iain Moody, the club's head of recruitment, who had apparently overspent by £15 million during the summer transfer window. Moody was initially added to the backroom staff by then manager Malky Mackay, and helped Cardiff sign several players ahead of their inaugural Premier League campaign. He was replaced by Alisher Apsalyamovby, a 23-year-old Kazakh who was previously on work experience with the club and is a friend of Tan's son.
As I write, it seems highly likely that City will be in the Premier League for the 2018-19 season.
On 14th April 2006 – and with the Blades closing in on promotion to the Premier League – a single goal by Danny Webber in a 1-0 win at Cardiff meant Warnock had achieved promotion yet again. There were only three games left, United were in second position and third-placed Watford would finish nine points behind us.
On 3rd December 1977, United were in the third tier and played away at Ninian Park. 3-0 up at half-time, the Blades would win 6-1 with goals from Cliff Calvert, Campbell (2), Tony Kenworthy, ‘Chico’ Hamilton and Alan Woodward in front of a pitiful crowd of 6,395. Cec Coldwell was our acting manager for this game.
But possibly our best match v. Cardiff came on a Tuesday evening, 27nd April 1971. This was the penultimate game in a season that would see the Blades promoted to the top flight. 42,963 packed the Lane, United were in second spot, Cardiff were in third and something had to give. The Blades led 2-1 at half-time until further goals ended in a memorable 5-1 win for United. Goals: Dearden (2), Flynn, Currie, Reece.
United team that night: 1. John Hope, 2. Len Badger 3. Ted Hemsley 4. John Flynn 5. Eddie Colquhoun 6. Trevor Hockey 7. Alan Woodward 8. Geoff Salmons 9. Bill Dearden 10. Tony Currie 11. Gil Reece. Without doubt, the best Blades team I’ve ever seen.
Home: P: 34 W: 18 D: 7 L: 9 F: 71 A: 41
Away: P: 35 W: 7 D: 12 L: 16 F: 34 A: 51
As recently (!) as April 25th 1925 The Blades won their last major honour – The FA Cup:
In 1927, Cardiff won the FA Cup, the only non-English team to win the Cup, beating Arsenal 1-0.
Recent-ish results:
Full Sheffield United v Cardiff City results
Form Guide:
With maximum points in their last eight league games, it’s no surprise that Cardiff top the current form table.
Championship table:
There’s still time for a ‘blip’ to allow Fulham to overtake Cardiff for the second automatic promotion spot, but a fading Aston Villa seem destined for the play-offs.
Men to watch:
Incredibly, despite scoring 61 goals in The Championship this season, Cardiff have yet to see any of their players reach double figures in the league.
