Saints hopes of beating the drop have been boosted by an injury to a key player for one of their rivals in the relegation battle.

After the devastating death of new signing Emiliano Sala recently Cardiff City have been dealt another huge blow in their efforts to stay up after it has been confirmed that defender Sol Bamba wil now miss the rest of the season after scans showed he had ruptured his ACL for which he will have surgery this week and will not play again this season.

The defender had been one of the Bluebirds better players this season having started 28 of their 29 Premier League games before being stretchered off against Wolves at the weekend.

He was also their joint top scorer with 4 goals including the first in Cardiff's 2-1 win at St Mary's.

This is a big blow for Neil Warnock's side in their battle to beat the drop, they still have to face Chelsea & Liverpool at home as well as travel to both Manchester City and United, defeats in the games since their win at St Mary's have left them little leeway aside from these fixtures if they are to beat the drop.

Photo: Action Images

underweststand added 15:23 - Mar 5 Not nice to lose key players, but we would be in better shape if Danny Ings were totally fit and if Lemina was in the squad to choose from. In the long run - results are usually down to mistakes from those who do play, rather than missing the presence of those who don't.
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Nidger added 15:46 - Mar 5 Does anyone know what is wrong with Lemina? Could do with him back fit and well.
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saintbasil added 15:50 - Mar 5 Agree with comments above. Always wary of relying on possible problems for other teams. Saints fate is in their own hands now, so we should be focusing on that, rather than our fellow strugglers.
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schatfield added 17:15 - Mar 5 I didnt realise Cardiff had such a horrendous run-in for the remainder of games. Surely that is them done for then and they seem to be doing a Swansea from last season with the easier of games too....
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DPeps added 18:39 - Mar 5 Nidger - Lemina had an operation on his abdomen a few weeks ago. Suggests that the injury he's been carrying has been causing him quite a lot of discomfort. Injuries to your core are pretty unpleasant, so fingers crossed he returns and can live up to his potential
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A1079 added 20:47 - Mar 5 Hmmm! Not really comfortable with writing off an opponent unless they are mathematically out of sight. I hope Neil Warnock or no Cardiff player is reading this piece as I might be inclined to put it up in the changing room as a source of motivation.
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legod7 added 22:15 - Mar 5 When Cardiff were in the Championship last season Warnock said he was the best centre back in English football. Better even than Van Dick.
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SanMarco added 23:16 - Mar 5 Says lots of things does Warnock - many of them no more accurate than that legod
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beynali73 added 08:41 - Mar 6 A1079 - good point. Like Bill Shankly I'd rather concentrate on our team than any opposition (lets put aside the fact he hated Saints as we often cut his liverpoo down to size - before my time btw). Nick, I can see why you posted this article but it's bad karma.
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saint66 added 09:24 - Mar 6 So we are now relying on other Premiership teams misfortunes for the survival of Saints are we. We should be careful what we hope for Nick. Perhaps you should have more faith in certain team members as apposed to some of your criticism.
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KriSaint added 14:58 - Mar 6 Most of us feel sorry for Cardiff. With or without Bamba. They have had more than enough to battle with this season. Let´s not get carried away. Saints have been hit by injuries too - to the advantage of Cardiff. I wish Bamba a good recovery.
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