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Wales Online

Sport

Ryan Jewell

New Championship relegation picture as Cardiff City edge closer to safety with Reading and QPR in big trouble

Cardiff City Cardiff QPR Reading Bluebirds Sabri Lamouchi Sory Kaba Blackpool Stoke Watford

Cardiff City’s 3-1 win over Watford has given the Bluebirds an almighty boost as the Championship relegation scrap reaches its climax

The Bluebirds have given themselves a very real chance of survival following their unlikely victory at Vicarage Road on Wednesday.

First half goals from Kion Etete, Cedric Kipre, and current fan favourite Sory Kaba were enough to secure the vital three points against a Watford side whose play-off dreams are almost certainly over.

Going into game, the Bluebirds found themselves in 21st place, hovering just above the dreaded relegation zone following their 4-1 loss away to Sheffield United on Saturday.

And it had appeared as though Cardiff were due for another defeat when Ismaila Sarr opened the scoring for the Hornets in the 11th minute. But after a swift and frankly remarkable comeback, any fears of slipping even further down the table were put to bed, for now.

The win now means Sabri Lamouchi’s men find themselves in 19th, which has slightly increased the gap between them and a spell in League One next season.

The fight for survival is by no means over for the Welsh side and Sabri Lamouchi will be looking to build on this performance when his side host Stoke on the weekend.

Let’s take a look at the current standings after the midweek matches and what it means for Cardiff.

The results

Blackpool 0-2 West Brom

Sunderland 1-1 Huddersfield

Stoke City 0-1 Wigan Athletic

Rotherham 2-2 Burnley

QPR 1-1 Norwich

Watford 1-3 Cardiff City

Reading 1-1 Luton

Defeat at home to the Baggies has almost certainly put the Seasiders out to sea, with Tuesday’s 0-2 defeat leaving Blackpool now six points adrift of safety. Interim coach Stephen Dobbie’s men will now need to get as much as possible out of their three remaining games in order to avoid the drop, whilst also relying on other teams dropping points above them.

Huddersfield were able to rescue what could be a valuable point against Sunderland in their 1-1 draw, with Neil Warnock’s men coming from behind to keep themselves clear of relegation but only by a single point.

Wigan’s win against Stoke offers them a tiny glimmer of hope but nothing more The Latics are seven points adrift from safety and will need major implosion from those around them in order to perform a memorable miracle.

Rotherham’s draw against an already promoted Burnley side has set up a tantalising clash against Cardiff next Thursday. Matt Taylor’s men are only one point clear of the Bluebirds in 18th place and a win for either side in their rearranged fixture could potentially confirm Championship football for the victor’s next season.

QPR will be kicking themselves for dropping points against Norwich on Wednesday. A draw against a play-off chasing side may look like a good result on paper but Adam Idah’s equaliser for the Canaries now makes it seven games without a win for Gareth Ainsworth’s men. Not exactly an ideal run of form for any side let alone one fighting a relegation battle.

Reading’s draw against highflyers Luton would have looked like a good result for the Royals if not for Cardiff’s emphatic win. The Berkshire side now find themselves in the relegation zone and will now be missing their joint top goal scorer Andy Carroll for their clash away to Coventry after the 34-year-old picked up a second yellow for a deliberate handball.