Hereford vs Cardiff (Match Preview)

Cardiff City travel to Edgar Street on Sunday to face the Bulls of Hereford United in the FA Cup 4th round.


Back in the Football League for two seasons now, Hereford are performing impressively in league 2 and sit in 4th position. They have also dispatched 3 teams from league 1 en route to the fourth round, beating Leeds United, Hartlepool United and Tranmere Rovers.


The Bulls warmed up for the clash with a disappointing 4-0 defeat at Chesterfield, perhaps with one eye on the upcoming cup match. However, their general form is good and before that game, they had lost just once in 16 league games and storming up the division into the automatic promotion places.



Theo Robinson, currently on loan from Watford, is the Bulls top scorer with 10 league goals, ably supported by journeyman Trevor Benjamin (is he really only 28?) who has 9 goals.


Graham Turner is the manager of Hereford United while former Cardiff City goalkeeper Pat Mountain is a coach at the club.





Cardiff City came from a goal behind to beat non-league Chasetown in the previous round, and have been in fine form in the league recently.


Of course, form counts for little in the FA Cup but the players are confident and scoring goals. Ex-Hereford United man Paul Parry is in good form, with a brace in his previous match - an exhilarating 3-3 draw at league leaders West Brom.


Dave Jones is not expected to make any changes to his starting line-up, Kevin McNaughton should be fit after being forced off with concussion last weekend. He would be replaced by Darcy Blake, while Aaron Ramsey, Steve Thompson and Darren Purse may all be hoping to get a start to increase fitness and stake a claim for a starting position when the Bluebirds line-up in the league against QPR (next Tuesday).



If cardiff play to their strnegths, then the game should be fairly comfortable. Of course, that will be difficult and Hereford have a good squad, are difficult to beat and will be up for the game. They are certainly capable of scoring goals and Cardiff's defence must stay tight and strong. VitalCardiff predicts a 2-1 win for Cardiff, hoepfully no upset here!!