Leeds game is one game that we can’t afford to lose – Sol
SOL Bamba has branded Cardiff City’s huge clash with Leeds United a ‘must-not-lose’ if the Bluebirds are to build up a head of steam for their play-off charge.
The Championship has been given the green light to resume and the Bluebirds’ first game back is against Marcelo Bielsa’s table-topping Leeds United on Sunday, June 21.
Neil Harris’ side sit just two points off the play-off spots at present, having fought tooth and nail over the last few months to work their way into a position whereby the top six is a now a very attainable goal.
Bamba, who was an everpresent in City’s last promotion-winning campaign two years ago, believes that the experience of promotion within the squad will help them to no end during this nine-game run-in, but concedes the packed schedule will be tricky to navigate.
However, there is no bigger game than the first one back for Bamba and Co, when Leeds come to town and the veteran defender is relishing the prospect of coming up against his former club.
The Yorkshire club were in scintillating form before the break, having won each of their last five matches.
But City seem to have the wood over Leeds, given that dramatic comeback up at Elland Road before Christmas, when they were three goals down and reduced to 10 men, and the Bluebirds’ very favourable record against them in recent years.
There is no denying, however, that Leeds will represent arguably the toughest test of Cardiff ’s nine remaining matches and Bamba has said that it is a game they simply cannot lose if they are to inject a spark into any prospective assault on the play-off spots.
“As a team, we’ve been there before,” Bamba told Sky Sports News.
“We know what it takes to get promoted, so I think we are going to have a good chance going into the last couple of games.
“It’s going to be massive [to play Leeds when the Championship resumes]. We’re all looking forward to it.
“They’ve got themselves in a great position – they are fighting to win the league – and for us, we couldn’t ask for a better game.
“We want to play in big games, important games and that is definitely one of them, and hopefully we can have a good start.
“For myself, it’s always nice to play against Leeds, my former club, now I am with Cardiff and I want to make sure we win the game. But that’s a massive game and it’s good to be part of it.
“In these games, you have to make sure you don’t lose it. Obviously we are going to try and win, and we are playing at home, but if you can’t win it you have to make sure you don’t lose it.
“It’s going to be one of them, because we have nine games to go and a point gained is better than nothing.”
For Bamba, however, it is uncertain how much involvement he will actually have in the game.
The Ivorian is yet to truly regain full fitness following that horrendous ACL tear against Watford in the Premier League last March and has played a bit-part for Neil Harris since the manager took over in November.
In truth, Sean Morrison and Curtis Nelson have nailed down those two starting spots at the heart of defence, while Aden Flint and Bamba are seemingly battling it out for the third spot. New rules are set to be implemented when the season gets back up and running, however, and Cardiff will be able to name nine players on the bench and make as many as five substitutions during matches, meaning there is a greater chance Bamba could enjoy some involvement in these final nine fixtures.
But Bamba, 35, knows his role within this squad now. He understands he has an important role to