Neil Warnock’s Bluebirds Hoping For Biggest Attendance Of Season

Joe Ralls played the full 90 minutes for Cardiff City at Wigan Pic: Getty Images.

Neil Warnock’s Bluebirds Hoping For Biggest Attendance Of Season

Cardiff City are hoping to attract their biggest attendance of the season for Saturday’s Championship clash with Birmingham City.

The club’s £5-per-ticket offer is expected to boost sales to around the 25,000 mark.

That would beat the previous best attendances in 2016-17 of 22,776 against Bristol City in October and the 21,391 crowd for Aston Villa’s visit during January.

Cardiff season ticket holders can buy up to four extra tickets for adults or children at £5.

Club officials confirm that sales have passed the 20,000 mark and manager Neil Warnock’s Bluebirds are assured of a big atmosphere at Cardiff City Stadium.

Warnock is hoping both Matt Connolly and Aron Gunnarsson are ready to return for City, having missed the 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers in midweek.

Connolly withdrew from the squad because of a minor injury, while Gunnarsson was still suffering from the virus which had stopped him training the pervious week.

Icelandic international Gunnarsson was still keep to play, but Warnock accepted the advise of club doctors that he should miss the game.

“Aron should not have played against QPR,” said Warnock. “I had a chat with the doctor (before the Blackburn match) and he said that all the travelling and the fact he still isn’t right could have put him out for weeks if we weren’t careful.

“We decided not to risk him though it did make us look extremely thin because we couldn’t put another player on the bench.”

With those two ruled out less than 24 hours before kick-off, Warnock was only able to name six substitutes at Ewood Park.

Lee Peltier, Rhys Healey and Bruno Manga are all out with long-term injuries, while Rickie Lambert is having daily treatment on his back and may need surgery this summer.

Visitors Birmingham will have under-fire manager Gianfranco Zola in charge for the match at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The Blues are keeping faith with Zola even though they have managed only two wins in 17 games since he took over from Gary Rowett.

Birmingham are 17th in the Championship, four points behind Cardiff.

Bluebirds striker Kenneth Zohore has been selected for Danish under-21 national team for their friendlies against Spain and England.

Zohore, who has scored seven goals in eight Championship matches, is included as an over-age player.

Danish youth international Zohore joins an under-21 squad preparing for their Uefa Championship fixtures in the summer.

The Danes travel to play Spain in Murcia on Thursday, March 23 (7.30pm) and are then at home against England at Bionutria Park, Randers on Monday, March 27 (1pm).

Cardiff City v Birmingham City, possible teams:

Cardiff City: McGregor, Richards, Morrison (capt), Bamba, Bennett,  Halford, K Harris, Whittingham, Ralls, Hoilett, Zohore. Subs from: B Murphy, D John, C Noone, A Pilkington, M Connolly, A Gunnarsson, I Meite, M Harris.

Birmingham City: Kuszczak, Cogley, Shotton, Robinson, Nsue, Davis, Tesche, Kieftenbeld, Keita, Gardner, Adams.

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