Football League round-up: Cardiff exit threatens for off-key Ravel Morrison

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Cardiff City will decide later this month whether to give Ravel Morrison another chance to fulfil his potential after a disappointing spell on loan at the Championship club.

Manager Russell Slade has not been impressed with the former Manchester United midfielder’s attempt to kick-start his career since his arrival in September. He had lost his way at West Ham and was told by Sam Allardyce that the move to Cardiff would be his last chance.

Slade will decide this month whether or not to ask Allardyce to extend the England Under-21 player’s loan spell, but unless he starts to see the sort of form that once impressed Sir Alex Ferguson, the Cardiff manager may well let Morrison go.

Slade said: “There’s no doubt that Ravel has got bags of ability. He has been at Manchester United and West Ham under great managers and with quality players all around him. But it has not quite happened for him. He still has not fulfilled the potential he has shown and the ability he has got.”

A knee injury has not helped Morrison, who produced a fine 25-minute cameo on his debut against Sheffield Wednesday in September, but he has started only once in eight games since and hasn’t scored.

Bristol City run ends

Elliott’s early dismissal opens way for Swindon

Bristol City surrendered their unbeaten record in League One when they lost 1-0 in a fiery derby at Swindon Town, who cut their lead at the top to four points.

City’s run of 22 League games without defeat, stretching back to last season, was in jeopardy from the second minute when their midfielder Wade Elliott fouled Jack Stephens and was shown a red card after the dust-up that followed.

City were under pressure from then on but held out until the 78th minute, when Michael Smith scored with a fine curling right-foot shot. Aaron Wilbraham almost salvaged a point and City’s unbeaten run 10 minutes later but his shot was just too high.

Tensions were running high throughout, and there were scuffles involving a number of players in the tunnel after the final whistle.

Preston failed to take advantage and slipped to third place when they lost their 20-game unbeaten home record courtesy of a late goal by Mark Yeates which sealed a 2-1 win for Bradford City. Preston’s Joe Garner had equalised only 60 seconds earlier after Rory McArdle had put City ahead.