Cardiff City Embarrassed By 'Back-Up Option'

Cardiff City had to play the majority of Friday's game and face the prospect of again doing without captain Craig Bellamy as we play Reading tonight. It's never good to be without a player, especially a key one like Bellamy - but City are able to call upon another quality striker as a replacement.

To have a striking partnership of Bothroyd/Chopra as a 'plan B' is certainly an enviable position for a Championship clud. Chopra remains our record signing and is a proven goalscorer at this level.

Admittedly, his season has been hit by several injury problems, and he has failed to find the same level of fitness and sharpness that makes him so dangerous, but Chopra is an excellent finisher and shows an impressive workrate. He is also a big game player for the Bluebirds.

Over the past few seasons we have been pushing consistently for promotion, with scoring goals a strength of the Bluebirds. Until this season, and the recruitment of Bellamy, the Bothroyd / Chopra has been the best partnership we've had in the Championship. Only one-season wonder Ross McCormack could come close to staking a claim. Indeed, the likes of Eddie Johnson, Feeney, Glombard, Byrne, Keogh, Thompson, Hasselbaink and Robbie Fowler have all failed to provide the quality and impact of the Jay/Chops partnership.

If Bellamy does miss out, Dave Jones is incredibly lucky to be able to call on such a quality replacement as Michael Chopra. As should the Cardiff City fans.

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