By Paul Jones
Cardiff City manager Sabri Lamouchi insists there’s no rest for the wicked – or those still threatened by the terror of relegation.
The Bluebirds boss may have earned back-to-back victories to ease worries of the drop from the Championship, but he has reminded his players they have to keep winning – starting on Saturday, away at Norwich City.
Cardiff are one place and four points above the relegation zone, but Huddersfield – immediately beneath them – also won their last match and have a game in hand.
Lamouchi spelled it out when he said ahead of the trip to face the Canaries, “Right now we have 13 games to play. If we win six of those games we will be in the Championship next season.
“But six wins is big when from the beginning of the season, you win nine.
“We must be ready for a big fight in every game, every place – away and at home – because nobody will give us a gift.”
🗣️ “We’ll be travelling to Norwich knowing that they are a tough team, with very good players, so we’re ready for that."
📺 Watch Sabri's press conference in full on @CardiffCityTV! ⬇️#CityAsOne
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) February 23, 2023
The bad news for Lamouchi – and for Cardiff fans – is that they will be without top scorer Callum Robinson for the next five games because of a hamstring injury.
“This is not good news,” admitted Lamouchi.
“Because he was doing well – scoring, assisting. He is our top scorer. And it’s difficult to score for us this year. So we need to find a solution. But we can’t complain.”
Robinson will miss games against Norwich City, Bristol City, Preston North End, West Brom and Rotherham United.
Swansea City are not in as perilous a position as Cardiff, but after four defeats in five games they must be looking nervously over their shoulder.
The Swans will have to wait until Monday night to try and get their show back on the road when they host strugglers Rotherham, who are just a point above Cardiff.
The Swans’ current form is worse than any club in the division, apart from QPR, who recently changed their manager as a result.
Is Russell Martin still the right man for Swansea City? #SwanseaCity #Swans #SCFC #JackArmy https://t.co/aaVIsvSiVQ
— Swansea City Fans (@SwanseaNewsOnly) February 23, 2023
Swans head coach Russell Martin does not appear to be under any significant pressure at present, with most supporters blaming the current owners for their predicament after a January transfer window which the American owners themselves admitted was a disaster.
Rotherham will definitely fancy their chances of adding to Swansea’s problems as they are coming off the back of a notable 2-1 victory over Sunderland – their first win in six games.
In League Two, Newport County host Sutton United with the Rodney Parade outfit showing recent signs of a revival under boss Graham Coughlan.
Newport County host League Two title contenders Stevenage this evening ⚽
⏰ KO 19:45
Listen to live commentary on @BBCRadioWales 95.9 FM in the Newport area 📻#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/XMC7Iytjdq
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) February 14, 2023
County’s most recent victory at Hartlepool was their third win of an unbeaten five-match run which has pushed them up to 16th place – still 12 points adrift of the play-offs, but stranger things have happened than making up a dozen points from mid-February to May.
In the National League, Wrexham host Dorking Wanderers at the Racecourse Ground, still trying to keep on the tail of league leaders Notts County, who are five points clear at the top.
Phil Parkinson’s side were held at home by Woking a fortnight ago, but it seems a remote possibility they will drop points against lowly Dorking.
The situation at the top of the National League⬇️
Wrexham host Notts County on Easter Monday (10th April). pic.twitter.com/E03b12SJoZ
— Ollie Bayliss (@Ollie_Bayliss) February 23, 2023