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Cardiff have struggled this season and enter the festive period only three points above the relegation zone.

They have only won six of their 22 Championship games this season, only three teams in the division have conceded more goals than their total of 36, while they have also had three managers in the calendar year.

In the close season, our old friend Russell Slade was moved from manager to a head of football role and was replaced in the dugout by Paul Trollope, who was sacked in early October with the Bluebirds second bottom of the table with only two wins from 11 games.

Neil Warnock took over and Cardiff beat Bristol City 2-1 in his first match in charge – since then they have won three, drawn three and lost four, including last Saturday’s 4-3 defeat by Barnsley.

Their two away wins so far have come at Rotherham and Nottingham Forest (both 2-1).

It is a far cry from last season when they flirted with the play-offs before finally finishing eighth, six points behind the top six.

City are currently in their 13th season out of the past 14 at this level, after being promoted from Division Two (now League One) in 2003.

They spent one season in the Premier League – 2013/14 – finishing bottom of the pile but only six points adrift of the play-offs.

WHO’S IN CHARGE

As already mentioned, Neil Warnock took charge in October – making Cardiff the 15th club he has managed.

Warnock saved Rotherham from relegation last season after taking charge in February when they were six points away from safety.

Highlights of his managerial career include taking Scarborough into the Football League, winning four promotions in the play-offs with Notts County (twice), Huddersfield and Plymouth and taking both Sheffield United and QPR into the Premier League.

He has also been in charge of Gainsborough, Burton, Torquay, Oldham, Bury, Crystal Palace and Leeds.

WE’VE MET BEFORE

Brentford’s pre-Christmas midweek trip last season was to Cardiff – notable only for Jake Bidwell’s first goal for us on his 186th appearance in a 3-2 defeat to end a five-match unbeaten run.

Tony Watt and Kenwyne Jones put them 2-0 up at the break but Bidwell and John Swift looked to have earned us a point before Jones struck again in injury-time.

We gained revenge on another Tuesday night in April as substitute Scott Hogan scored two goals in three minutes to seal a 2-1 win and make it 13 points from 15. Hogan struck in the 83rd and 86th minutes before City substitute Kenneth Zohore replied.

 

WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT US

BBC Wales Football Correspondent Rob Phillips gives us the lowdown on Cardiff’s season so far, the impact of Neil Warnock and why City fans will remember one match they played at Griffin Park which didn’t involve the Bees.

Q How would you say Cardiff’s season has gone so far?

A Eventful to say the least and in keeping with the other three leading Welsh clubs – they changed their manager early on.

Newport were the first to blink on the manager but Swansea, Cardiff and Wrexham had all axed their bosses by the middle of October!

At Cardiff, the likeable Paul Trollope’s ”project” lasted just 12 games and included just one win. He is now gainfully employed at promotion-chasing Brighton – so has not exactly suffered too much. To placate increasingly disgruntled fans, the club knew they had to get the appointment correct.

Neil Warnock was installed quickly. And rarely among supporters these days, there was almost universal approval. They realised he was a man who knew his way around the Championship and just as importantly ‘gets’ Cardiff City and their supporters in a way few previous managers have done.

There has been a distinct improvement, though the flaws are there for all to see and Cardiff found it tough to escape the clutches of the relegation zone. It’s happening slowly but surely, though they would need a spectacularly successful January window to finish anywhere but a respectable mid-table position this season and build for next term.

Q What impact has Neil Warnock had since his arrival?

A There was a definite ‘Warnock Wave’ when he first arrived. A victory over Bristol City in his first game, before holding a talented Sheffield Wednesday and then a victory on the road at Nottingham Forest.

The line has flattened a little since, but four wins and three draws in 11 games reflects well compared to the Trollope record of two wins and two draws from Cardiff’s first dozen matches.

Warnock also arrived with a clutch of free agents, including Sol Bamba – suspended for this game after losing it at Ipswich – and Junior Hoilett, who have both impressed since their arrival. Keiron Richardson has yet to make a huge impact and little has been seen of Marouane Chamakh.

But overall Warnock has brought back a feelgood factor and a real drive during matches, which contrasts with the more passive approach of Trollope.

As I said earlier, he appreciates the character of the club and the supporters. Whisper it, but he looks a perfect fit for the club.

Q What memories do you have of previous visits to Griffin Park?

A Many Cardiff fans will remember a shock FA Cup defeat at Griffin Park – though it did not involve Brentford.

It was a first round replay in 1990 and one of the Bluebirds’ least glorious nights in the best cup competition of them all.

Non-league side Hayes had forced a goalless draw at Ninian Park on the Saturday – and, not content with that, dumped Cardiff out of the cup the following Wednesday. The magic of the cup, eh!

In contrast, few who were there from the Welsh capital will forget the Championship game towards the end of the 2015 season.

Brentford led 1-0 through Andre Gray before second half goals from Federico Macheda and Alex Revell – a ridiculous chip and a rare goal from him in a Cardiff shirt – gave the Bluebirds an advantage.

Typically they decided to make it a lot more interesting by having Macheda and Kadeem Harris sent off while leading 2-1. Somehow they held on.

Q Have you had any amusing or unusual incident covering Brentford-Cardiff games?

A Well this does not involve Cardiff – but it was bizarre.

Thirty-odd years ago, I used to cover my hometown team Newport County for the local newspaper.

Suddenly a larger than life American character Jerry Sherman appeared on the scene and declared he wanted to take over County. I received numerous phone calls from the United States in the middle of the night ….”Hi Robert, Jerry here . . .” was the usual opening line when my phone went off at 2am (as if I had not guessed).

But one of the few times I did meet him, it was before a game at Brentford in one of the pubs which are around the ground at Griffin Park.

Needless to say he promised millions (frankly, the earth) but County fans are still waiting. The club, as you know, eventually went out of business. . . . and still he made promises, until he went quiet – at one stage unavoidably detained in a United States facility!!

My memory is fading, but I would not be surprised if I paid for the drinks, too!

Q Who will you and Cardiff be watching for in the Bees side?

A Well, I won’t be there. I’ll be watching Swansea City, with the prospect of a trip to Brighton to end the Championship year with Cardiff on Friday.

But I have no doubt Scott Hogan will be attracting plenty of attention. Sorry to be boring, but you have to respect a striker who has 13 goals this season. And, of course, he scored a brace of goals to sting the Bluebirds at Griffin Park in April. Honestly, it would be daft not to pay special attention to him!

Q Who should Brentford fans be wary of in the Cardiff side?

A That’s easy – Peter Whittingham. He will have been a Bluebird for 10 years in January and has experienced so many ups and downs. But his quality remains constant. A deft midfield player, he possesses a left foot which is a wand. He is not blessed with great pace, but his passing can be breathtaking and his strongest asset is his set-piece ability.

Cardiff rely much on set-pieces for their goals. He is THE key element – whether it is his delivery from corner kicks or even better his quality at free-kicks.

I maintain there have been no better set-piece exponents than Whittingham in the Championship during his time at Cardiff. Neither did he look out of place in the Premier League.

A true Cardiff City legend.

SQUAD NEWS

Cardiff defender Sol Bamba is still suspended after his sending-off at Ipswich following a tackle from ex-Bee Jonathan Douglas – after which he clashed with Warnock on the sidelines, while former Fulham full-back Jazz Richards is still sidelined by injury.

Warnock has said he will make changes to his side at Griffin Park and newspaper reports suggest that one may be former Swansea goalkeeper Brian Murphy taking over from Ben Amos.

Against Barnsley they played a 4-4-2 line-up.

The back four featured Matthew Connolly and Lee Peltier as the full-backs with Sean Morrison, this season’s highest apperance maker having played in 20 out of 22 league games, and Bruno Manga in the centre.

Craig Noone was on the right of midfield with Junior Hoilett on the opposite wing shielding Peter Whittingham and Iceland international Aron Gunnarsson, who captained them against England in Euro 2016.

Up front Anthony Pilkington partnered Kenneth Zokore while Rickie Lambert was among the substitutes with former Bees loan winger Kadeem Harris, who scored two goals for us in 11 league and cup appearances during 2013/14.

IAN WESTBROOK

@ianwestbrook

PUBS IN BRENTFORD

For Cardiff fans coming down, you are probably aware there plenty of pub options pre-match and all are most welcoming.

There are now only three pubs around the ground, following the closure of the Royal Oak.

The Griffin is closest to the away end (like 30 secs walk) and is very popular with away fans – but also very, very busy. The New Inn is on the other side and is also popular with away fans. The Princess Royal is the other option.

Other pubs slightly further afield for the more creative amongst you include (and this is by no means a definitive list) …. The Globe (Windmill Rd) is the Beesotted pre-match pub. This boozer & The Lord Nelson (Enfield Rd) are both incredibly friendly and cosy away-friendly pubs and about 1 min walk from each other .. frequented by ‘away fans in the know’.

The Plough (Northfields Ave) in Northfields is a decent stop-off if you are coming by tube to Northfields (it’s a much better pub crawl route getting off at Northfields than South Ealing) before making your way down to the ground (normally stopping off at The Globe and Lord Nelson en route).

There is also a pub right by Brentford station always referred to as … the Pub by Brentford station.

For ale head to the Magpie and Crown pub on Brentford High Street. The Royal Horseguardsman can probably hold 15 of you at a push. The Brewery Tap is a cosy boozer by the river. And if you are super adventurous, get off at Kew Bridge and visit the brand new boozer One Over the Ait right on the river – beside the bridge. There are loads more too.

A quick Google search and you’ll find them all. There are many many more too if you have a look around.

Parking is pretty easy away from the ground going up towards and over the A4 Great West Rd (ie. North) via Ealing Road or Windmill Road.

You can check out Transport for London’s guide to travel on Boxing Day on the tube and Overground.