Vital Posh looks at previous matches between Cardiff and Peterborough United.
Peterborough United travel to Wales to face promotion chasing Cardiff looking to build on their impressive performance at Burnley.
Since Posh beat Cardiff mid-October, Cardiff have gone on an incredible run which has seen them lose just 3 out of 18 League games. However, they have lost two on the bounce and will be looking to kick-start their promotion charge again with a win over Posh.
The Bluebirds and Posh have played each other on 21 occasions in the League with Posh having by far the better record having won 11 of these matches compared to Cardiff`s 4 wins!
Looking at results at Ninian Park and Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff have won on three occasions compared to four wins for Posh. There have been three draws so overall it is close between these two sides in the Welsh capital.
Two years after playing out an amazing 4-4 draw which saw Posh come from 4-0 down at half-time to grab a draw against Cardiff at London Road, nobody could envisage a similar scoreline when these two teams last met in mid-October when they played out another high scoring entertaining match. Posh ran out 4-3 winners on that occasion thanks to a 93rd minute winner from Paul Taylor.
That result saw Posh leapfrog Cardiff in the table as they moved up 4 places to 7th place. Cardiff dropped down from 9th place to 12th.
Past League Results
1975/76 27-Dec Cardiff City 5 – 2 Peterborough Third Division
1975/76 19-Apr Peterborough 0 – 0 Cardiff City Third Division
1986/87 01-Oct Peterborough 1 – 2 Cardiff City Fourth Division
1986/87 28-Feb Cardiff City 0 – 1 Peterborough Fourth Division
1987/88 17-Oct Peterborough 4 – 3 Cardiff City Fourth Division
1987/88 04-Mar Cardiff City 0 – 0 Peterborough Fourth Division
1990/91 27-Oct Cardiff City 1 – 1 Peterborough Fourth Division
1990/91 04-May Peterborough 3 – 0 Cardiff City Fourth Division
1994/95 01-Oct Cardiff City 1 – 2 Peterborough Lge Div Two
1994/95 25-Feb Peterborough 2 – 1 Cardiff City Lge Div Two
1997/98 13-Dec Cardiff City 0 – 0 Peterborough Lge Div Three
1997/98 13-Apr Peterborough 2 – 0 Cardiff City Lge Div Three
1998/99 15-Aug Cardiff City 1 – 3 Peterborough Lge Div Three
1998/99 16-Jan Peterborough 2 – 1 Cardiff City Lge Div Three
2001/02 18-Aug Peterborough 1 – 1 Cardiff City Lge Div Two
2001/02 12-Jan Cardiff City 0 – 2 Peterborough Lge Div Two
2002/03 02-Nov Cardiff City 3 – 0 Peterborough Lge Div Two
2002/03 16-Apr Peterborough 2 – 0 Cardiff City Lge Div Two
2009/10 28-Dec Peterborough 4 – 4 Cardiff City Championship
2009/10 09-Feb Cardiff City 2 – 0 Peterborough Championship
2011/12 18-Oct Peterborough 4 – 3 Cardiff City Championship
Last Time Out at Cardiff City Stadium
The last time Posh travelled to the Welsh capital was two seasons ago when the team were in turmoil. They were bottom of the npower Championship and were on their third manager of the season having disposed of Darren Ferguson`s services before a disastrous few months under the leadership of Mark Cooper. They had resigned themselves to the fact they would be relegated but stand-in manager Jim Gannon was determined to make Posh harder to beat and make everyone proud of their performances.
Going into this match, Cardiff were in fourth place with 45 points from 28 games and were looking set to make the play-offs. Posh were rooted to the bottom with just 21 points from 29 games and were 9 points from safety.
Posh actually made the better start and created the first chance of the game for George Boyd who let fly from distance but Bluebirds keeper David Marshall had no problems dealing with the effort.
Cardiff immediately came straight back at Posh and went very close as Jay Bothroyd`s curling effort hit the post. Some neat play between Peter Whittingham and Michael Chopra created an opening for Chopra but his effort went wide of the post.
Cardiff were creating plenty of chances with Whittingham next to try his luck from 25-yards but the ball sailed well over the bar. Whittingham came closer moments later as his free-kick forced Joe Lewis into a fine fingertip save.
When Posh did get on the ball, and they did have the greater amount of possession, they played some decent stuff but just like we`ve seen in recent matches this season, they couldn`t find the final ball or the finishing touch.
Aaron MacLean did see a snap-shot go just wide while Chopra saw a similar effort go past the Posh post again.
With neither team really dominating this match, it was slightly against the run of play that Cardiff poked their noses in front when a deep cross from the left was nodded back across the goal from Bothroyd to find Chris BURKE close to goal to volley the ball past Lewis.
Cardiff were lifted by the goal as they were slowly getting the better of midfield. Whittingham again took a shot from distance but yet again, it didn`t trouble Lewis.
Burke could`ve scored his second of the game when he easily rose above Tommy Rowe but he could only direct his header over the bar.
The final chance of the half fell to Chopra who had been neatly played in by Burke after a poor touch by Lee Frecklington gave the ball away.
Half-time: Cardiff City 1 – 0 Peterborough United
Craig Mackail-Smith, a player seemingly not liked by Gannon, was withdrawn at half time with loanee Kerrea Gilbert coming on in his place as Gannon tried to combat the widemen of Cardiff.
The change seemed to catch Cardiff out as Posh dominated the early proceedings as they forced a number of corners in quick succession.
Chris Whelpdale was quick to intercept a poor back but Marshall was quick out of his goal to smother the ball.
Bothroyd almost capitalised at the other end when he lofted the ball over Lewis following a mix-up in the Posh defence but he saw the ball go over the bar as well.
The Bluebirds were still creating many chances but most efforts were going wide of the target or over the bar. Whittingham did force Lewis into a good save though before Burke saw his effort hit the side netting.
Posh did create a couple of chances late on as some good work from Whelpdale found Boyd, but he shot straight at Marshall when he really should`ve put Posh level. Within 60 seconds though, Cardiff had doubled their advantage when a free-kick from Whittingham found Anthony GERRARD who bundled the ball over the line.
With Posh still pressing, Cardiff kept counter attacking with Chopra again guilty of squandering another effort as he saw another shot hit the post.
The final effort of the game fell to Posh, but just like the majority of efforts in this match, the ball went wide of the goal from a Frecklington shot.
Final Score: Cardiff City 2 – 0 Peterborough United
Cardiff: Marshall, McNaughton, Kennedy, Gyepes, Whittingham, Chopra, Bothroyd (sub Feeney 90min), McPhail (sub Taiwo 77min), Burke, Gerrard, Blake (sub Wildig 23min).
Unused subs: Enckelman, Quinn, Matthews, McCormack.
Posh: Lewis, Williams (sub Simpson 81min), Morgan, Bennett, Rowe, Whelpdale, Frecklington, Livermore, Boyd, Mclean, Mackail-Smith (sub Gilbert 46min).
Unused subs: McKeown, Lee, Griffiths, Geohaghon, Reid.
Referee: A. Penn
Attendance: 17,686
The defeat saw Posh stay in last place (shock!) but they were now 12 points from safety. Cardiff stayed in fourth place but increased the gap to 7th place to six points.
UP THE POSH Follow me on Twitter: @mwl1967
Photos courtesy of www.theposhpics.com
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