Cardiff v Preston. Match preview
Last updated : 05 December 2009 By Michael Morris
Three defeats inc a surrender against Swansea is not acceptable and while they should know themselves they have been poor the noise from the supporters should have told them as well.
Peter Ridsdale met with fans last Monday. He was told in no uncertain terms that the peformances on the pitch were dreadful and the Chairman himself agreed and assured the fans that he had vented his frustrations to Dave Jones after the shockers against Ipswich last week.
So how will they react today? Dave Jones has threatened to make changes. Riccy Scimeca's name has been mentioned as a possible starter and Kevin McNaughton is fit against after pulling up at Barnsley.
Gabor Gyepes is struggling so we are likely to have a Hudson / Gerrard partnership in central defence.
City can't afford to leave out Bothroyd, Whittingham or Burke. Maybe McCormack could start ahead of Chopra, but is it his fault he's failed to get the service required to score goals? Ledley and Rae were destructive in midfield a year ago, now they are anonymous.
Dave Jones gives his thoughts on the past week and on today's game against the side that beat City 6 - 0 at Deepdale at the end of last season.
"We had a big meeting and went through all the things we were doing and aren't doing now," said Jones to the Echo.
"It was a normal clear-the-air meeting. That was on Monday and since then we have trained at a high tempo.
"We are back into the mode of doing the right things. Every club goes through a rough patch.
"There are things we must tighten up on. We've worked hard all week.
"There have been times when we have had to pull them back a little.
"There has been real aggression there and we want to show that against Preston.
"There have been suggestions the players don't care, that they're not trying.
"That's simply not true, they care deeply and are committed to this football club.
"When things aren't going well people say the manager has no passion. I have plenty of passion. I care. Everybody cares. Deeply.
"But sometimes nerves get to the players and performances can be affected. Now we need to go out and be ourselves."
Long-term injury victim Stephen McPhail is again ruled out today, while Miguel Comminges (twisted knee) and Gabor Gyepes (knee) are doubtful.
"Gabor has had the same problem before and it's flared up again," said Jones, who confirmed Kevin McNaughton is available again.
Jones has said he will make changes to his team today and added: "No player is safe.
"I don't have favourites. I pick a team I believe will get me the result I need.
"For 45 minutes against Ipswich we looked likely winners and the same set of players went out for the second half. What went wrong?
"We want to get back to winning and having nice things said about us. We live and thrive on that.
"We all like to be praised when we're winning and when things don't go well we expect to be criticised.
"Yes, it hurts. But we can't worry about it.
"Our job is to get up for the next game and that's what we have done this week.
"Training this week has been superb, but that's no good unless the players take it out onto the pitch."
Good words from Dave Jones. He's talked the talk.
At 3pm this after we want to see them purt all this into action and come away with three points.
