By Chris O'Brien
October 15 2004

It’s a must win game at Ninian Park for the Bluebirds. Rotherham United, the only team below City in the table, make the journey south with Lennie Lawrence’s head on the line if Cardiff don’t take three points. Ronnie Moore returns to Ninian Park tomorrow as his struggling Rotherham United face Cardiff City in a crucial six-pointer in the Welsh capital. There are no excuses for the Bluebirds – this is a must win game, and anything other than three points would surely mean the end of Lennie Lawrence’s reign.

City lay in a dismal 23rd position in the Football League Championship, clocking up 9 points from the opening 12 points. Rotherham prop up the table with only five points, and with only one goal scored on their travels this term the Millers are heavily tipped for relegation this term.

However, it is not all doom and gloom at Millmoor. Mike Worthington and the aptly named Darren Millington have become new owners of the Yorkshire outfit, pledging cash to the highly-regarded Moore with a vision of better things to come at the club. Ambitions are all well a good, but nevertheless there is little doubt that it would be a major achievement if Moore could steer his side away from the bottom three come May.

Lawrence could shuffle his pack slightly tomorrow following the international week. Tony Vidmar has been out in Australia playing in two legs of the OCF Cup, netting a goal in the second-leg as the Socceroos cruised to an 11-1 aggregate victory over the lowly Soloman Islands. A gruelling week of travelling for the former Rangers centre-half, struggling with form in the Football League, could see him rested to the substitute’s bench.

After a decent showing for Wales during the 3-2 home reverse against Poland, James Collins could get a chance to impress at the heart of defence against international counterpart Daniel Gabbidon. Rhys Weston is fit, but hopefully Lawrence will continue with the on-loan Darren Williams with Chris Barker likely to continue his surprise comeback at left full-back. With Martyn Margetson in the treatment room, Tony Warner looks set to continue between the sticks.

England under-21 skipper Gary O’Neil, fresh from captaining his country to a 2-0 win over Wales at Ewood Park is likely to inject some attacking minded play into the midfield. Graham Kavanagh should be alongside him with the armband if he is fit after representing Ireland, meaning fellow countryman Willie Boland will have to settle for a place on the bench. Paul Parry and Jobi McAnuff should be on the wings.

Alan Lee returns from suspension and should start against his former club. Peter Thorne should partner the £850,000 striker, with disgraced forward Andy Campbell on the bench due to Stuart Fleetwood’s injury.

Rotherham have a couple of injury problems. Ex-City target Andy Monkhouse and Martin McIntosh have returned to training but will not play. Fans of the club are seeing this game as a big chance to get their season back on track, but Cardiff start has firm favourites despite a woeful campaign so far and Bluebird to the Bone predicts a home win.