Lawrence Gets Tough

Lennie Lawrence, following the 3-2 defeat at the hands of Reading at Ninian Park, has told the players that their futures are now on the line. Lawrence was left fuming after the desperately poor defending which led to the Reading goals. With only 10 games left this season the Bluebirds manager issued a clear warning that a clear up or clear out session is on the way if standards do not improve. Seven players will be out of contract and Lennie has said that changes will be made for the 2004/2005 season.

"Players had a golden opportunity out there last night" admitted Lawrence. "And yet Lee Bullock, who has only played division three football, looked as accomplished as anybody."

"Our final 10 matches in the 1^st division will mean an awful lot to the players, no matter whether they are in or out of contract this summer. We have conceded too many goals and our home form is not good enough. Those factors will be addressed"

Lawrence is clearly annoyed with the manner of the defeat, and the high hopes the City boss had for us earlier in the season seem to have suffered the blow that will smash some reality into him.

"A draw would have been fair, Reading mugged us, but we totally incapable of defending in the air. The second goal was a joke from a defensive point of view.’

City 'keeper Martyn Margetson, who has just had a call up to play for the Wales match versus Hungary in Budapest , was dismayed at the way he and the defenders played and proclaimed "We need to shape up".
 

Lawrence has now decided that the play-off chase is now effectively over, adding: "It has been really over since we lost those 4 successive league matches around the new year period."

Contact the Author