Alex Armstrong Crucial For Cardiff City Success

Cardiff City have been gearing up to the FA Cup Final against Portsmouth for some time and are fortunate to go in with few injury problems. McNaughton, McPhail and Parry have all come through problems and all will be fit to start. Robbie Fowler has also recovered quicker than expected after intensive rehabiliation.


One man who has been extremely busy recently is CCFC fitness coach Alex Armstrong, busy preparing the squad for what is sure to be a gruelling game in tough mental and physical conditions.


The Wembley pitch is quite simply massive, much bigger than Cardiff are used to playing on. It was obvious when playing Barnsley there in the semi-final, that both sides were struggling to keep the tempo in the second half. Several players looked jaded and Barnsley simply couldn;t conjure the energy to sustain pressure on us.


There is much more running to be done on this pitch, and Porstmouth will be used to playing 90 minutes at the higher tempo of the Premiership meaning Cardiff will have to be alert and match their opponents for fitness.



Hopefully the squad has been intensifying their usual fitness training in preparation. They have had an extra week to rest ahead of the game but will need to keep running and closing down for the entire game, and possibly through extra-time also.



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