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CARDIFF CITY midfielder Richard Langley is plotting to repeat Tuesday's goal-scoring exploits against Norwich City at Carrow Road tomorrow.
The midfielder fired only his second goal of the campaign in the midweek 2-2 draw against Preston North End at Ninian Park.
The Jamaica international hopes his first goal in nearly three months has opened the floodgates for a player who netted 10 goals for Queens Park Rangers last season but has struggled to find the net for his new club.
"My two goals for Cardiff this season have been great goals - but I wouldn't mind scoring some tap-ins if it meant boosting my total," smiled the 23-year-old. "Scoring that goal against Preston was a massive relief for me personally because with nearly half the season gone I still hadn't scored at Ninian Park."
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What's wrong with Bluebirds defence
EARLIER this season Cardiff City boasted one of the meanest defences in the First Division.
From September 27, when they thumped Crewe 3-0 at Ninian Park, to November 22, and a 1-0 triumph over Wimbledon, the Bluebirds conceded only five goals in 10 league outings.
During that spell Lennie Lawrence's charges kept an impressive six clean sheets, arguably the best being against an in-form Sunderland side at the Stadium of Light.
But, suddenly, the once-watertight City rearguard is leaking like a sieve, failing to keep out the opposition in the last four games.
In fact, the Bluebirds have conceded a worrying eight goals in those matches - one against West Bromwich Albion, three against Ipswich and two each against Stoke and Preston.
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Earnshaw could be the new Bellamy
VETERAN Norwich City marksman Iwan Roberts today paid tribute to Cardiff City strike sensation Robbie Earnshaw - insisting there was "a little bit of Craig Bellamy" about him.
The 22-year-old Bluebirds star arrives at Carrow Road with a clutch of Premiership clubs chasing his signature after proving an instant hit in Division One with 22 goals to his name already this term.
Coming hard on the heels of his 36-goal tally in Cardiff's Division Two promotion campaign and two goals in his four Welsh international outings, it is little wonder that Earnshaw is reported to have caught the eye of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, as has his Ninian Park team-mate, defender Danny Gabbidon.
If the Gunners' boss is ever in need of a reference, one proud Norfolk-loving Welshman will happily oblige.
"I've seen quite a bit of him, to be fair," said Roberts. "He was involved with the Welsh Under-21 squad from the age of about 17 or 18 and even then, when I first saw him four, five years ago, you knew then that he was going to be a top, top player because of his unbelievable pace.
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Hammam. Hands off Gabbidon and Earnie
SAM HAMMAM last night told Premier League clubs not to bother ringing him with offers for Ninian Park jewels Robert Earnshaw and Danny Gabbidon when the transfer window opens next month.
The Cardiff City owner said there was more chance of him dating supermodels Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss than there was of him selling his two Welsh internationals.
Hammam's "hands off" warning follows Aston Villa boss David O'Leary's revelation that people have been recommending him to buy striker Earnshaw, who has scored a staggering 21 goals in 24 outings for the Bluebirds this term.
The 22-year-old ace has also been linked with Arsenal, Newcastle and Scottish champions Rangers.
As for defender Gabbidon, he has also been linked with Arsenal, Newcastle and Villa.
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Butterworth ready for battle
FORMER Norwich City skipper Ian Butterworth is set to return to Carrow Road for the second time in the space of a month – but this time it's business rather than pleasure.
Less than four weeks ago, Cardiff City's 39-year-old assistant manager was one of the guests of honour at a reunion for the Canaries' UEFA Cup squad of 1993.
There was an added bonus in the chance to do a bit of homework on Nigel Worthington's side ahead of the Bluebirds' visit for Saturday's potentially crucial promotion encounter.
Last night's 2-2 draw at home to Preston – secured by Peter Thorne's last-minute equaliser – took Cardiff into the top six in Division One, just five points behind the third-placed Canaries.
Now Butterworth is hoping they can add City to a list of scalps taken on their travels this season after victories at Nottingham Forest, Coventry, Wimbledon and Stoke - and only three defeats in 11 away games.
"It will be one of our hardest games of the season, no doubt about it," said Butterworth. "It should be an exciting game between two good football sides. I was there for the Watford game, when Norwich lost, but they're going very well.
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Premier could temp Earnie
JOHN Toshack sees parallels between his early career and that of Robert Earnshaw and admits the striker's future could lie away from Ninian Park.
Like Earnshaw, Toshack emerged through the Cardiff City youth ranks and scored on his Bluebirds bow at the age of 16.
Within 193 games he had hit 100 goals for the Bluebirds and, already a Welsh international, was being chased by a host of top level clubs.
He turned down a generous offer from Fulham before he was tempted by Liverpool a year later and moved to Anfield for £110,000.
With Earnshaw now attracting interest from a host of clubs, Cardiff City chairman Sam Hammam is at pains to insist the striker is not for sale.
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