Cardiff City's play off hopes took a knock this afternoon after a disappointing home defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Instead of being pumped up after a win over Swansea, a two week break (for some) and in the glorious Bank Holiday sunshine Cardiff turned up a team unable to capitalise against a Forest side without a win in their previous six games.
With Bournemouth winning and before Barnsley face Reading this evening the table looks like this
5th Barnsley 64 pts P38
6th Bournemouth 62pts P38
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7th Reading 62 pts P38
8th Cardiff 58pts P39
9th M'Boro 56pts P39
Cardiff are last to play on Monday with all the other play off chasers in action earlier in the day. Results like today bring out the pessemist and worse case scenario could see Cardiff nine points off 6th place before kicking off at Hillsborough (providing Reading beat Barnsley this evening and both Reading and Barnsley win on Monday). But as it stands Middlesbrough are all but out of contention, we are one more bad result away from calling the challenge a day.
That's the impact of blowing a great chance against a struggling side.
The only goal came from James Garner with a shot Jim Rockford would be proud of, making no mistake from 12 yards as he latched on to a Cyrus Christie cross.
Aden Flint headed over late on with the goal gaping but it's Forest who go home happy having just about removed any threat of getting dragged into a relegation battle.