This is one of the biggest games of the season for us and it also marks the first of three all ticket matches at the Abbey.

Today we are relying on home support to make sure that everyone knows that this match is being played in Cambridge. The Abbey has become a fortress over the last four mouths and it is a record that we are proud of and hope to maintain.

However, Cardiff haven't conceded many goals away from home this term so they will be a hard team to break down. They will also be eager for revenge after their defeat at Ninian Park earlier this season. Without doubt their manager will have to work too hard to get his players going. Everyone knows how important this game is.

Cardiff are on top at the moment, but our fate is still firmly in our hands. We have got two games in hand over them. A win today would obviously put us at the top of the pile, but nothing is going to be won at this stage of the season.

We were on quite a high after fast week's incredible 7-2 result against Mansfield Town, but in a sense the scoreline did flatter us a bit because Mansfield are a good footballing side. In fact, up until our fourth goal, just after the break, the match still could have gone either way.

It was also very encouraging to get a result like that over a side who are contesting a promotion play-off place. It was, however, the win that counted not the score line because it is the three points that are important to us at the moment.

It was good to bounce back particularly after the disappointments of the defeat against Barnet the previous week. It is always very satisfying to see work on the training ground come off.

It was also a good day for Martin Butler. It was nice for him to claim a hat-trick, the first of his career, and it is a suitable reward for all his hard work this season.

Conceding a goal in stoppage time against Shrewsbury was disappointing, but we always knew that it was never going to be an easy match. Over the 90 minutes of play we didn't really deserve to win the game and, in a sense, scored against the run of play. Nevertheless, our keeper did make some terrific saves.

We have got two new loan signings at the Club now. Neil MacKenzie did well when he came on against Shrewsbury, while Paul Bruce didn't see enough of the ball but showed his potential with the touches he did have.

More Joseph has been on the road to recovery for sometime now and could be back today, while I think Alex Russell should be about ready to get going in a week or two.