Cardiff and Reading played out a goalless draw in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final at the Madejski Stadium and they will conclude the tie at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday night. The Berkshire stalemate means that it is now winner-takes-all in Wales, so who might come through to reach the Wembley final?
Cardiff look to have everything in place to become a Premier League side but sometimes getting out of the Championship is harder than staying in the top-flight, as the Bluebirds know only too well having have flirted with promotion in recent times (Cardiff 4/6 to qualify for final).
They blew the chance of automatic promotion by taking just one point from their final two games of the regular season and now must lift themselves or face the prospect of another season in the second tier of English football.
There was a tense atmosphere in the first leg but, despite the attacking talent on show for both sides, chances were at a premium and they both came up blank.
Craig Bellamy’s hamstring injury deprived the Welsh outfit of their best player and it is touch-and-go as to whether he will be available for the second leg, with boss Dave Jones set to make a late decision on the former Liverpool man.
There is not doubt that the Cardiff fans will make it an intimidating atmosphere for the Royals in the Welsh capital, but Brian McDermott’s side have been flying of late and they ended the season as the strongest side in the division with an incredible run of victories in April and May.
But they looked a little tense in the home leg and playing away from the Madejski might help them relax and display the free-flowing football that has brought them rewards of late.
Reading won eight and drew 10 games on their travels this term and so they will not be overawed by the prospect of playing Cardiff on their own patch, in what is likely to be another tight affair (Reading 19/10 to beat Cardiff).
One goal might settle it and, as ever, the first goal will be key, with McDermott’s men more than capable of hanging on to a lead if they can manage to find the back of the net before the Bluebirds.
An early goal will doubtless enliven proceedings and force both sets of players to venture further forward and it would be the best thing for the neutral to see two talented teams going at each other, rather than the cagey affair last Friday.
Cardiff lost out to Blackpool in the play-off final 12 months ago and Jones has already made it clear that the failure to beat Ian Holloway’s men still keeps him awake at night.
His desire to reach the promised land is as great as ever but he will need to inspire his charges for one final push as they have looked lacklustre in the past couple of weeks.
The game could be a classic with an early goal but if it gets to 0-0 at half-time then we could be in for a long evening, with the prospect of penalties a distinct possibility with so much at stake.
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