THEY say when you’re at the bottom the only way is up, though that old adage is just a small crumb of comfort to Ebbw Vale supporters right now.

The Steelmen and fellow strugglers Bargoed were propping up the Principality Premiership East table on 13 points going into last weekend’s league fixtures.

And while Bargoed got a losing bonus point against Bedwas on the Saturday, Ebbw suffered another hammer blow when losing 42-12 to Newport 24 hours later.

Those results now mean that Ebbw, the 2015-16 champions, welcome Cardiff to Eugene Cross Park tomorrow (kick-off noon) in last place.

However, with Cardiff’s injury crisis deepening following their 35-27 defeat by Cross Keys, the Steelmen’s hopes of a much-needed win could well have been boosted.

Blue and Blacks club captain Joe Tomlinson has been ruled out for the season after damaging his knee during last month’s game against Pontypridd.

Dan Crimmins is also a long-term absentee with his injury coming in the same game that saw Gareth Thompson crocked for four-to-six weeks.

Miles Normandale and Tom Daley both took blows to the ankle in the Keys reverse and will be out for up to eight weeks each.

While James Greenfield had concussion against Newport and Dan Fish’s elbow injury means he won’t play again this season.

Another ray of hope for the Steelmen is that they won the first clash between the teams earlier in the campaign.

A 30-25 triumph in the Welsh capital seemed as though it might kick-start Ebbw’s season but the success didn’t have the desired effect.

Head coach Lee Davies’ charges have limped along since then, though they can take heart from the fact that finishing down the eastern conference won’t hurt them too much going into the second part of the term in late December.

Elsewhere, Bargoed go to Pontypridd tomorrow.