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46 South Wales Echo Wednesday, 27 April, 2011 Wednesday, 27 April, 2011 South Wales Echo 47
THE CHAMPIONSHIP Race for the Premier league reaches fever pitch CLICK ON
CRANKING UP THE PRESSURE
Lambert puts NEWS
heart and soul

Wales
into Premier bid
Chris Wathan
This is what it feels like Riccy returns
NORWICH CITY boss Paul Lambert has to cheer on
admitted his heart is struggling to stand the
tension of the promotion race. every week in the Premier Bluebirds
But, after Monday’s dramatic late 3-2 vic-
Toulon say Au
tory over Derby County that kept them above
top-two rivals Cardiff City, Lambert says his
men now know ex-
League, warns Samuel ■ RICCY Scimeca, the
Bluebirds midfield player revoir to Gav
actly what they have forced to retire by injury, is Get all the news, views
to do to deliver TOUGH-tackling defender Jlloyd hoping to cheer the Bluebirds and reaction following
Gareth Rogers on in their final home match Toulon’s decision to
Premier League Samuel has warned his Cardiff City
football to East team-mates to learn from their of the season, writes Terry part company with
Anglia. stressful promotion push because Phillips. Gavin at
Norwich will the heat is on every week in the Samuel, who is on emergency Scimeca was part of the WalesOnline.co.uk/rugby
render Bluebird ef- Premier League. loan from Bolton Wanderers, said: squad recruited by manager
forts hopeless if they
gain maximum
The West Indian full-back, who
found himself in hot water with
“We’ve just got to keep the pres-
sure on and that’s all that we can
Dave Jones until injuries
ended his career prematurely GALLERIES
last summer.
points from their re-
maining two fix-
Preston boss Phil Brown after the
Bluebirds’ Easter Monday win, when
do.
“The pressure is on Norwich be- “I popped down for the
Derby County match and
Putting you in
tures, a trip to Ports-
mouth on Monday followed by the final-day
a 50-50 tackle ended in star man Ian
Hume hobbling off for the hosts,
cause obviously it’s in their hands
now. Cardiff won 4-1,” said the picture
visit of Coventry City to Carrow Road. said: “This pressure is a good thing. “We had the control, but un- Scimeca. “That was my first Look out for our
But, after a season where the Canaries It’s what you want as a player. fortunately we weren’t able to win time in a while because I Magners League
have picked up a string of wins in the final “If you go up to the Premier against QPR. needed a little break from it. picture galleries at
few minutes of games, Lambert (pictured) League, it’s pressure every week. “But we went to Preston knowing “It was wonderful to be WalesOnline.co.uk/
said: “Your heart couldn’t stand that – I “There are a lot of good players in what we had to do and we’ve done back, everybody made me multimedia
couldn’t go through that every week. this league. I wouldn’t say it’s a it. welcome and it was a terrific And take a look at our
“There have been a few like that and huge gap to the Premier, but I’m “Now it’s up to us to keep winning result. galleries from the
they’re exciting if you win them. still trying to get my fitness back. our games and hopefully Norwich “I keep in touch with Easter weekend
“I think you sense the relief when that “I’ve just enjoyed the games I’ve will slip up.” “ players, particularly Macca football matches and
actually happens, but the lads, I can’t de- played for Cardiff and I’m con- Looking ahead to next Monday’s (Stephen McPhail). look forward to the
scribe what they have given me. fident if we can keep winning we’ll vital final home game against “I follow Cardiff City’s next crucial weekend
“I know how important that game was. It is finish in the top two. Middlesbrough, the twice-capped results avidly and it would be of Championship
a massive win for ourselves. “Everyone could see at the end of Soca Warrior said: “It’s going to go fantastic to see this team action at
“And, once again, the players have been the Preston match how much it down to the wire as long as we keep promoted. Everything at the WalesOnline.co.uk/
extraordinary. I just can’t praise them meant to the players and how much winning. football club is geared to football
enough. it means to Cardiff City.” “Playing before Norwich on Premier League football and
“They are a proper team, that’s for sure, this, surely, is their season.
and have been absolutely brilliant for me.
After Peter Whittingham’s early
goal from an incisive Craig Bellamy
Monday will be a help because if
we get the win we can put the “The staff, the players have
worked so hard. They have
CRICKET
“To be fair, Derby came here and had a go, breakaway was the difference pressure right back on them.
just as they did against QPR recently. They
are a good side and made it difficult for us.
between the two sides at opposite
ends of the table in Lancashire,
“We are not aware of what is
going on in other games while we
come through so many ups
and downs.” Live coverage
“At the end I just felt I had to go for the win
– we have got a lot of creative players in the
Trinidad international Samuel paid
tribute to the Bluebirds’ attacking
are on the pitch, but having them
playing after us means we can keep
Scimeca is hoping to join a
sell-out 26,000-plus of Glamorgan
side and when that’s the case you have always attendance for the home Follow Glamorgan live
prowess, saying: “As a defence, it’s an eye on them.
got a chance. match against Middlesbrough from Essex with our
nice because we know we’re very “Middlesbrough haven’t done as
“Now we know that if we win our last two next Monday (5.15pm man Gareth Griffiths’
good on the counter-attack. well as they might have thought,
games we are up – but obviously that is a lot kick-off), while the Bluebirds regular tweets at
“We’ve got some very quick play- but in this league anyone can beat
easier said than done.” finish their league fixtures at WalesOnline.co.uk/
ers and some intelligent players. anyone and we won’t be taking
Norwich’s late victory – secured when Burnley. cricket
“To be honest, we’re always con- anything for granted. ■ Cardiff’s JLloyd Samuel in animated converstaion with Chris Burke, left, and Peter Whittingham at Preston on Monday PICTURE: Press Association
striker Simeon Jackson completed his fident that we’re going to score.” “It’s all about mental toughness Scimeca, now aged 35,
hat-trick in the sixth minute of added time at But he also took time to praise his from here on in, for us and Nor- spent four years playing for
WIN TICKETS TO
Carrow Road – deflated the mood of fans defensive partners who have kept wich. As the season draws to a
close and Cardiff are
Holiday Monday clash
against Boro at The
closes at midnight
tonight, any entries
the Bluebirds, making the
move from West Bromwich
TWITTER
across the country with travelling Cardiff three shut-outs this month, saying: “We’ve just come off the back of
fans denied celebrating a return to the “Our clean sheet at Preston was two games in three days and we all trying to secure Cardiff City Stadium and received after midnight Albion in 2006. For instant
second automatic promotion place as they promotion you and a also a signed City shirt tonight will not be The former Nottingham sports news,
very good for the team. think a good rest is due. But there’s
WATCH THE BIG
friend could be at The for one lucky winner. entered into the draw. Forest, Aston Villa and follow us at
witnessed the Bluebirds’ impressive 1-0 win “We made hard work of it and obviously only a couple of games Cardiff City Stadium to To be in with a chance of
at Preston. Tickets are for home Leicester City player battled Twitter.com
they put us under a lot of pressure, left now and we know we have to cheer them on. winning all you need to supporters only. The
And the goal also cut short the party on the especially in the second half. win them. against injuries before being /walesonline
The South Wales Echo do is call the South Wales competition is not open forced into retirement last
Loftus Road pitch as champions-elect “But we did what we had to do. “We’re just going to have to be has teamed up with the Echo Hotline on: to anyone who is subject
CARDIFF CITY v
Queens Park Rangers were denied the math- “We stayed switched on as a unit ready for Middlesbrough and Burn- summer and says: “I’ve had
Texaco brand, Official to a football banning another groin operation since
ematical certainty of promotion after their and we held them out. ley.” Motor Fuel Partner of The
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But Jackson’s efforts did spark ecstatic
“They’re a team who were fight-
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And, after impressing in Cardiff
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Football League
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BORO CLASH
scenes in Norfolk and Lambert said the the other end.” Samuel is keen to keep his options Cardiff City fans the “I can run in straight lines,
following question along You must be over 18 to Teach Your Kids Proper
Norwich support deserve their chance of The Bluebirds, who welcomed open for next season, saying: “I’m chance to watch the but I don’t do any of the
with your name, address enter and make sure you Footy this season, join
twisting and turning. Follow the
enjoying a top-flight return – just 12 months former captain Mark Hudson back not looking at where I’ll be playing clash between City and and daytime phone have permission from their debate on latest Cardiff
after they earned promotion from League onto the field after Kevin next season yet, I’m taking it one Middlesbrough. anti-diving shin pads and “It was the right decision to
number. whoever pays the phone City stories on
One. McNaughton left the field injured, game at a time and hoping I can The Texaco brand are coloured boots at stop. I am gaining experience
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“I’m delighted for the players and also for were forced to weather a late storm win promotion with Cardiff. Bey- offering six pairs of Usual competition rules www.facebook.com/ in coaching, working with
Q. Who is Boro’s
the fans. They have been brilliant,” he said. from a Preston side intent on avoid- ond that, we’ll have to wait and tickets to see the Bank manager? apply. Competition properfooty primary schools and kids Get WalesOnline
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