Pan-Tan-Mime season in full flow at the Cardiff City Stadium

The off the field drama at Cardiff this week has added further spice to their late kick off against bottom of the table Sunderland (5.30pm, SKY).

It’s been pantomime season at Cardiff recently. Mackay’s going….. oh no he’s not…… oh yes he is.

Leading player in the panto has been Cardiff’s owner, Malaysian businessman Vincent Tan, who finally got his way last Friday when Mackay was sent packing.

It looks a classic ‘six pointer’ tonight with Cardiff hovering over the relegation slugfight and Sunderland scoring just one goal in their last seven away fixtures.

Over the years it’s pretty much honours even between these two:

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Max last 10 only)
Mar 2007 Championship Cardiff 0-1 Sunderland
Oct 2006 Championship Sunderland 1-2 Cardiff
Feb 2005 Championship Sunderland 2-1 Cardiff
Dec 2004 Championship Cardiff 0-2 Sunderland
Feb 2004 League Div 1 Cardiff 4-0 Sunderland
Oct 2003 League Div 1 Sunderland 0-0 Cardiff
May 1980 Div 2 (old) Cardiff 1-1 Sunderland
Dec 1979 Div 2 (old) Sunderland 2-1 Cardiff
Apr 1979 Div 2 (old) Sunderland 1-2 Cardiff
Dec 1978 Div 2 (old) Cardiff 1-1 Sunderland

Tan has promised the new manager plenty of spending power which oddly was one of the prime reasons for Malky Mackay’s departure.

They might well need to spend some coin too. Cardiff have a nightmare looking start to 2014 with three of the next four matches away to Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United. Happy New Year

It’s all about the mood today. Mood of the Cardiff players, mood of the Cardiff fans and whether Sunderland are in the mood to take advantage.

Personally, I think the off the field panto has been far more entertaining than the theatre on the pitch. Just need the players to throw chocolate bars into the stands at half-time and the panto experience is complete.

As for a bet – a low scoring outcome looks pretty nailed on.

Oh yes it does.

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SELL TOTAL GOALS at around 2.3

• Any spread prices quoted are indicative and as always prices are subject to fluctuation.
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