The Hosts – Cardiff City

Looking down the fixture list a couple of months back, Cardiff City v Birmingham City was a game pinpointed by many fans as a potential play-off decider. However, much like Blues, Russell Slade`s Bluebirds have only pride to play for in the final game of the season.

A 3-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, the team Cardiff had to topple for a place in the top six, put paid to their campaign. So, as it turns out, this game will be classed as a ‘nothing` game by everyone other than supporters of either club.

Gary Rowett`s men will be backed by 2,158 vociferous souls – which marks another sold out away allocation. Try telling them that the game means nothing?

Having witnessed a handful of Cardiff`s displays this season, I was surprised when they were still in play-off contention with three games remaining. While they`re not a bad side, they don`t seem to possess the same level of quality as Derby County or the aforementioned Sheffield Wednesday. Their longevity in the running can be put down to other teams dropping too many points, Blues being one of the guilty parties.

The Cardiff fans still seem split when it comes to their manager, Russell Slade. The former Leyton Orient and Yeovil Town boss has held the reins for a little over a year-and-a-half and has been criticised on occasions for team selections and the style of play. But Slade has undoubtedly made Cardiff a difficult side to play against. But having won only twice in their last eight outings, it doesn`t take a rocket scientist to work out why they fell short of a play-off spot.

Former Aston Villa winger Peter Whittingham carries their main threat, his contribution to the campaign has been six goals and seven assists. Perhaps Cardiff do not carry the potency of the top teams, but they will be thinking the same about Blues.

Despite having fairly similar seasons, the feeling amongst fans of both clubs drastically differs. Blues fans hail Rowett as a hero, not for guiding the team to ninth position, but for overseeing the transformation and steering the club back in the right direction after years of financial turmoil. However, Slade cannot rest on such laurels as the pressure heaped on Cardiff to obtain a top six finish was greater than that of Blues.

Whether Slade remains at Cardiff beyond the summer is unclear. The club hierarchy may feel the job he has done is a credible one and may back him to go one better next term. They may opt for change in the dugout. But unlike Rowett, Slade does not have the full unified backing of the faithful.