Champinship Game 17 - CARDIFF CITY 1 CRYSTAL PALACE 0 match report

Cardiff City got back to winning ways with a 2-1 Ninian Park victory over Crystal Palace but remained in 6th spot. It was a deserved victory and three points although tinged in some controversy as Michael Chopra, on his homecoming, scored the opener with a penalty that, perhaps, never was. A comedy of errors saw Palace equalise but Joe Ledley, proved the ultimate hero scoring a sweet left volley, literally seconds after returning to the action from two broken fingers.

Ross McCormack was unable to return to the fray with a new tweak on his hamstring so the only alteration from the side defeated, in more controversial style, at QPR was fir again Mark Kennedy returning to face his previous club, timely as Miguel Comminges served a 1 match ban.

There was a poor following from Sarf London in the 17,478 crowd which didn't include myself for only the 2nd time this Millennium (family wedding - bah!) and they saw City dominate the first half in fairly dour style not really creating a great deal. Once again, Rae and McPhail didn't fire, once again too many long or high balls and, once again, decent passing and build up play but a struggle to create in the final third.

The breakthrough came just before the half-hour as Chopra accelerated into the area, beat a defender, had the slightest of touches but lost momentum and fell. Penalty was the award - we would have been furious to have conceded it but there doesn't seem to be a City match at the mo that a ref doesn't influence. CHOPRA kept cool, sent Flahavan the wrong way and 1-0 it was.

It should have been comfortable but a City set piece saw Flahavan take and boot downfield for a two on tow. Even then, City were in control but Heaton and McNaughton got in a tangle, the ball ran loose and SCANNEL said thanks very much as he had the simplest of tasks placing the ball in an empty goal.

Cardiff started the 2nd period brightly and the big breakthrough came on 52. Joe Ledley fell awkwardly and what were feared to be 2 broken fingers were dislocations and he returned after treatment with them banded together. As he did, the fast emerging Eddie Johnson flicked on and LEDLEY reacted superbly yo get there first and stab a superb half volley wide of Flahavan.

City never convinced to the end but were the only side that looked like scoring all afternoon until Scannel hit at Heaton 2 minutes into added time. However, from that, City got downfield, Johnson was tagged and Palace conceded another penalty which also saw last defender Lawrence get an instant red card.

Many wanted Johnson to take it but it was Chops again but this time, he hit poorly for Flahavan to stop with his boot with final whistle moments later.

Next week is Plymouth away, live on Sky but City need to stop conceding silly goals and find some more midfield creativity although, increasingly, it looks like new personnel will be needed for that although, hallejuah, at least Dave Jones finally gave Darcy Blake 10 minutes ... and not before time too.