MacKay Values Spurs Changes

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Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay believes the world record sale of Gareth Bale has allowed Tottenham Hotspur to transform themselves in to a Champions League side.

Spurs sold Welshman Bale for £85m to Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The player's ex-club have signed seven players at a total cost of around £105m

"Because of the extra amount of money the Bale deal actually made for the club, their squad looks like a Champions League squad," said Mackay.

Cardiff welcome Spurs to the City Stadium on Sunday looking for another major Premier League scalp after beating Manchester City.

But they could face a Spurs side containing the likes of Paulinho, Nacer Chadli, Roberto Soldado, Etienne Capoue, Vlad Chiriches, Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen who manager Andre Villas-Boas has brought in.

And Tottenham sit third in the Premier League, nine places above the Bluebirds.

"Spurs went out and brought all those players in and then eventually did the [Bale] deal," said Mackay.

"It looks as if it has been very good business.

"The players that they brought in - everyone in football knew in football they were top talents that were on the market and they were going to cost a lot of money

"It was a top-six Premier League squad but they have gone and strengthened in depth and some of the players they have got I really covet.

"Spurs' agenda this year I'm pretty sure is to be a Champions League team.

"They might have a big fixture schedule, but they have got a big squad as well, a squad full of quality."

Mackay says that playing against a Spurs side without Bale would have been a blessing if they had not then spent £100m.

"We are going to be preparing against a team who, number one, who are up for it and, number two, packed full of quality," added Mackay.

"They have bought very well. To have such a match winner in Gareth Bale and the amount of individual goals he scored certainly made Spurs a different team at times.

"That is a huge hole to fill, but they have filled it very, very well.

"Because of the extraordinary size of that fee it's allowed Spurs to go out and bring in seven or eight high quality footballers.

"And it's changed the look of Tottenham Hotspur in terms of where they are as a squad in terms of their strength in depth and the challenge they may provide in the Premier League this year."

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Cardiff City Blues Now the Reds

Cardiff have confirmed the Bluebirds will now play in red after the club's Malaysian owners formally unveiled a new image for the Welsh side.

The switch - which also includes a new club crest and takes effect immediately - comes after the club's hierarchy approved the decision at a board meeting.

The club have unveiled three new strips - a red home shirt, a blue away strip, and a third kit, which is mainly black.

All new kits bear a redesigned badge, incorporating a main image of a dragon, with a small bluebird inserted underneath, and carrying the slogan "Fire and Passion".

In addition to the new kit, the club have announced plans to build a brand-new training ground, pay off the historical Langston debt, provide manager Malky Mackay with a substantial transfer kitty, and explore the possibility of expanding the Cardiff City Stadium.

A statement on Cardiff's official website, said: "Following a comprehensive review of wider supporter feedback via email, letters, media coverage and polls run via the official Supporters Club and Media Wales and as a consequence of the above commitment, Cardiff City Football Club will also reactivate rebranding proposals with a view to exploiting and maximising its brand and commercial revenues in international markets, which it is hoped in turn will bring success to the club locally, whilst also attracting new partners and investors."

Cardiff chief executive Alan Whiteley said: "This is a major and significant financial commitment and we are grateful to our investors for their continued confidence in this football club.

"Concerning the commitment to developing the crest and to switch our primary colour to red, as directors - and as fans in our own right - we recognise that there is a history and commitment that goes with supporting Cardiff City and we are conscious and proud of the loyalty, bond and passion so many share for this club.

"At the same time, we also have to be prepared to be realistic and progressive. Sometimes in difficult economic times and challenging market conditions, in order to attract investment to survive and progress, brave, bold and compelling decisions and sacrifices need to be taken and made. By securing this investment we can safeguard the immediate and long-term future of this club.

"The changes to the home kit and badge introduced as a consequence of the investment package are designed to help the club to develop its brand and to allow it to expand its appeal to as wide an audience as possible, with a view to delivering local success via an international and diverse market.

"As a board, we believe these changes, in the light of the benefits that will be demonstrably delivered, have been or will be accepted by the vast majority of supporters as judged in the light of the numerous emails and letters of support, backed by recent poll results from the Supporters Club and Media Wales.

"We are only too aware that the change of colour is a radical and some would say revolutionary move which will be met with unease and apprehension by a number of supporters, along with being seen as controversial by many. To those I would like to say that this was not a decision that has been taken lightly or without a great deal of thought and debate.

"There is no getting away from the fact that history and traditions are the lifeblood of any club and as such should be jealously guarded and preserved. Both the board and our investors fully understand and respect this and will do their utmost to uphold, protect and promote the values and virtues which the club stands for.

"However, the changes are believed to be vital to enable the club to progress to the next stage in its development and very much in the club's best long term interests.

"Judged in the context of the overall commitment and financial support, we believe it is the right decision for this club and where it currently stands.

"We hope that all supporters will appreciate these sentiments and will embrace the changes in that spirit and continue to support the club in the same loyal and passionate manner as before but hopefully with some greater feeling of security."

Sam Hails His Cardiff Hammers

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce hailed his side's performance after they claimed a 2-0 win over Cardiff City in their Championship play-off semi-final first leg.

The Hammers travelled to South Wales and came away with a huge victory courtesy of two first-half strikes from Jack Collison.

And Allardyce was full of plaudits for his men after their performance against Cardiff.

"We were excellent, we asked the lads to control their emotions on a big night like this, not to cause a problem for ourselves and I thought they handled the pressure excellently and played very well indeed," he told Sky Sports.

"Tactically we did everything right and nullified Cardiff to minimal chances on their own ground and getting forward was outstanding and chances were created, scored and a lot missed.

"It has been a great night for us and it is only 90 minutes of a two-legged affair and anything could still happen, the onus is on us to see it through and there is no pressure on Cardiff and mentally we have to be right for it."

Allardyce felt his players stood up to their task mentally as well as physically, adding: "It is a fantastic night and one where the players have handled the pressure extremely well and performed very well."

The Hammers boss insists that he came into the game full of confidence and expecting a win.

"On the basis of how well we have been playing I would have been disappointed if we had not played like we did tonight and carried on as we have been playing away from home," he said,

"The clean sheet and two goals is everything we have been looking for and it is a great contribution from all the players.

"We knew two-nil down they would put us under some pressure, but we are really pleased and not getting too carried away."

Allardyce insists that West Ham's indifferent home form is not an issue, saying: "Only in terms of draws, we have only lost four and are now in a position if we don't lose we go through but we want to win and get that level of performance again and try and win the game.

"But the bottom line is to make sure we are through into the final after 90 minutes."

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Hansen Sees Premier Mackay

Former Liverpool captain Alan Hansen believes Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay will be targeted by Premier League clubs.

Mackay is in his first season in charge of the Bluebirds and led them to the final of the Carling Cup.

Despite defeat on penalties to Liverpool, manager Mackay will now be in demand according to Hansen.

"I'm sure if a big job comes up Malky will be one of the candidates to get it," Hansen told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

"In the Premier League there are jobs coming up every five minutes.

"I'm not saying for one minute he'll leave Cardiff because he has great affinity with the supporters and the football club.

"History tells you that if a big club comes beckoning, the vast majority of managers will go to that big club. It's human nature [and] that's the way the world works."

“I thought Cardiff City put on one of the great Wembley performances”Alan HansenFormer Liverpool captain

Mackay left his role at Watford to succeed Dave Jones as Cardiff manager last June and has overseen a push for promotion as well as a Carling Cup run.

The former Norwich City defender signed a new three-and-a-half year contract on the eve of the Wembley final against Liverpool.

And Match of the Day pundit Hansen says Cardiff have made a wise move in securing Mackay's future.

"He's proved at Watford and he's proved at Cardiff that he's a top class manager," added the former Scotland international.

"It was a shrewd move by the Cardiff hierarchy to keep him there for three-and-a-half years.

"The main thing for them is to try and push for promotion."

Hansen was left impressed by Cardiff's display at Wembley against his former club, who secured their first trophy in six years.

"I thought Cardiff City put on one of the great Wembley performances," he said.

"Performances like that in a major cup final, or at any time, are few and far between and it was fantastic to watch.

"I think it will go down in the annals of time as one of the great underdog performances.

"I know they didn't win and people still talk about Wimbledon against Liverpool in 1988 [FA Cup final].

"But Wimbledon were in the top 10 of the [old first] division whereas Cardiff are a team in a division below Liverpool.

"I think they won a lot of friends for the simple reason - the way they fought.

"They never capitulated in any way shape or form. They kept on going for the jersey, the supporters, the manager and it was great to see.

"There were a lot of heroes on the day and it was a great game of football."

A Carling Tale of Two Gerrard's

Liverpool's long wait for a trophy came to an end at Wembley as Kenny Dalglish's team defeated Cardiff City on penalties in an incredible Carling Cup final after the decisive involvement of a Gerrard.

After failing to earn a piece of silverware since the shoot-out success in the 2006 FA Cup under former boss Rafa Benitez, it was fitting it was Kop idol Dalglish who guided Liverpool back to glory.

But Liverpool, who were returning to Wembley for the first time since 1996, did not have it all their own way against Malky Mackay's Cardiff side, who performed with heroic bravery.

Martin Skrtel's 60th minute goal had equalised Joe Mason's shock first-half opener to send the match into extra-time.

And Dutch international Dirk Kuyt appeared to have won the game in the 108th minute, but with just two minutes remaining Ben Turner sensationally scrambled an equaliser.

The match then went to penalties and, cruelly for Cardiff, it was the cousin of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, Anthony, who missed the decisive spot-kick in a 3-2 shoot-out.

The 26-year-old, on as a substitute in extra time, shot wide as the Merseysiders' earned a record eighth League Cup.

It was cruel not only on the defender - who was consoled by his cousin at the end - but the rest of his team who had seen their early lead overtaken but remained resilient and found the strength to snatch an equaliser with two minutes of an absorbing final remaining.

Over the last 40 years, the Reds have won a trophy early in the decade and gone on to add to it.

In Dalglish they certainly have someone who knows plenty about accumulating cups of every kind and this victory puts him alongside Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho as the only managers to win all three major domestic competitions.

The Reds also equalled Manchester United's record of 15 domestic cup wins.

Things looked like they would go to plan for Dalglish's side when the Cardiff crossbar was rattled inside two minutes.

Steven Gerrard raced 60 yards on a quick counter-attack but Glen Johnson's shot - which beat goalkeeper Tom Heaton - came back off the crossbar, with Gerrard then blazing over the rebound.

But this was the closest the Reds came to threatening Cardiff's goal in the first half and the Bluebirds created two better chances, crucially converting one.

Having snatched at a shot from Don Cowie's clever movement and backheel, Kenny Miller did not make the same mistake twice.

The former Rangers front man was afforded all the time and space he required in the 19th minute when he picked up the ball just outside the area.

When Daniel Agger eventually closed him down Miller slid a pass into the space behind the centre-back where Mason collected and fired past Jose Reina.

The rest of the half saw Liverpool dominate but rarely trouble Cardiff.

Stewart Downing was their most creative outlet with a succession of crosses from the left but the Bluebirds dealt with them well enough, relying on Liverpool's over-complication and profligacy.

Charlie Adam flashed a low drive narrowly wide of Heaton's left-hand post while late in the half Andy Carroll was denied a clear close-range shooting opportunity when Cardiff captain Mark Hudson's outstretched leg hooked the ball away.

Liverpool fans tried to evoke memories of their second-half comeback in Istanbul in the 2005 UEFA Champions League final with a rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone at the break.

The situation was not quite as dire as that night but certainly Dalglish's side needed to find more composure and their clinical side.

Luis Suarez was starting to have more of an influence and drew the first real save from Heaton with an angled shot and was denied by Kevin McNaughton's perfectly-timed intervention just as he was about to unload from close range.

The appearance of former Cardiff striker and boyhood fan Craig Bellamy for the ineffectual Jordan Henderson brought, probably for the first time in cup final history, a standing ovation from both sets of fans.

Liverpool's salvation, however, was to come from an unexpected source.

Downing's 60th-minute corner was nodded on by Carroll to Suarez whose header came back off the post and Skrtel showed the composure in front of goal unbefitting a centre-back by taking a touch and slamming home the equaliser.

Turner had a chance to be Cardiff's hero with six minutes to go but planted his far-post header into the side-netting.

Miller should have won it for the Bluebirds in normal time when a quickly-taken free-kick caught the defence napping but the Scot, in acres of space in the penalty area, shot over with the goal at his mercy.

Barely a minute into extra time Andrew Taylor cleared Suarez's header from a Bellamy corner off the line before Anthony Gerrard finally got the chance to square-up against his more illustrious cousin when Hudson was forced off with cramp.

Three minutes into the second period of extra time Liverpool took the lead when Kuyt drilled home the rebound from his own cross.

The Dutchman then headed a shot off the line but got himself in a tangle at the resulting corner to allow Turner to force penalties.

In the shoot-out which followed Steven Gerrard and Adam missed for Liverpool, Miller, Rudy Gestede and Anthony Gerrard for Cardiff as the Reds claimed victory.

It's Heaton Glory for Cardiff

Cardiff City keeper Tom Heaton proved the penalty shoot-out hero to inspire the Bluebirds to the Carling Cup final.

Heaton saved Crystal Palace's first two penalties from Jermaine Easter and Sean Scannell to book the home team's fourth trip to Wembley in as many years.

Cardiff trailed 1-0 from the first leg but Palace's Anthony Gardner headed into his own net to level the tie.

The home team then dominated but failed to turn it into goals, even when Eagles captain Patrick McCarthy was sent off.

Palace defended bravely after McCarthy's dismissal for a second yellow card on 78 minutes, holding firm during extra time.

But, having been denied by the woodwork three times, Cardiff held their nerve in the penalty shoot-out to reach their first League Cup final and book a Wembley meeting with either Liverpool or Manchester City on 26 February.

They got off to a bad start in the shoot-out when Cardiff top scorer Kenny Miller blazed his side's first kick over.

But Heaton, Cardiff's second-choice keeper who has been preferred to David Marshall throughout their Carling Cup run, turned the tide back in the home side's favour.

He brilliantly saved from Easter and then read Scannell's effort too, after Craig Conway had slotted Cardiff's second spot-kick.

Rudy Gestede and Peter Whittingham put Cardiff 3-1 ahead, either side of Mile Jedinak firing into Heaton's bottom right corner to get Palace going.

But Jonathan Parr's nerve failed him, as he too missed the target to ensure that a tense all-Championship semi-final between Malky Mackay's third-placed Cardiff and Dougie Freedman's 14th-placed Palace went to form.

Having started with attacking intent, Cardiff levelled the tie after just seven minutes.

Darcy Blake played the ball into the right channel for the onrushing Don Cowie, the Scottish midfielder wrapped his foot around the ball to send in a dangerous cross and Gardner, Palace's goal hero from the first leg, instinctively lunged at the ball but headed into his own net.

Palace keeper Julian Speroni then beat away a fierce shot from Whittingham, before Aron Gunnarsson ballooned a header over and Miller slid just wide before going even closer in time added on at the end of the first half, controlling with his back to goal at the edge of the area before spinning in one fluid movement to crash a left-foot shot against the post.

Palace came out hard after the break but it was the same story, Whittingham again firing wide before bringing the best out of Speroni, who tipped over his free-kick.

McCarthy then came to the Eagles' rescue moments later, clearing off the line when Anthony Gerrard peeled away to head a free-kick past Speroni.

But the Palace skipper was to get his marching orders 12 minutes from the end of normal time when he scythed through the back of Miller, his second yellow card, having already been booked for an earlier foul on the same player.

Cowie had a late chance to win it in normal time before being sacrificed when Mackay opted to take advantage of the extra man.

He brought on another attacker in Gestede, who laid the ball off perfectly in the second period of extra time for Filip Kiss, only for the Slovakian midfielder to clip the top of the bar with his rising shot.

Then came the best chance to avoid going to penalties when Gunnarsson lost his marker but, from four yards out, he somehow contrived to head against the bar with the net gaping.

Heaton had the final word, however, to ensure that Cardiff would not regret all their missed chances, allowing the Welsh side to go through to contest their third major Wembley final in five years.