Lightning doesn't stuck twice they say but tonight at Madejski Stadium, it damn nearly did! Last Boxing Day, Cardiff were deservedly winning 1-0 at Reading when the home side won a corner 5 minutes into added time. Up came their keeper Federici and promptly swept home a loose ball for agony and embarrassment. Tonight, the exact same scenario occurred, Federici got on the end of a corner 5 minutes into time added on with an overhead kick but this time, City's David Marshall saved it.
So a win takes City up to 4th and the best of the rest inthe Championship chasing last season's Premiership relegated trio of West Brom, Middlesbrough and Newcastle but that doesn't begin to tell the story of a game in which City lost their sponsor, scored a cracker through Chris Burke and had to hang on with 10 men for the final 15 minutes as Steve McPail collected his 5th Bluebirds red card.
So a win takes City up to 4th and the best of the rest inthe Championship chasing last season's Premiership relegated trio of West Brom, Middlesbrough and Newcastle but that doesn't begin to tell the story of a game in which City lost their sponsor, scored a cracker through Chris Burke and had to hang on with 10 men for the final 15 minutes as Steve McPail collected his 5th Bluebirds red card.
***** TEAM NEWS *****
Dave Jones made 3 changes replacing both of Sunday's full back Capaldi and Quinn with Adam Matthews and a fit again Mark Kennedy while he opted for Steve McPhail in midfield rather than Gavin Rae.CARDIFF > Marshall; Matthews-Gerrard-Hudson-Kennedy; Whittingham-Ledley-McPhail-Burke; Bothroyd-Chopra. Subs:Enckleman, Gyepes, Quinn, Taiwo, Rae, Capaldi, Magennis.
The Royals are having a year to forget and their Premiership football of just 16 months in the past must seem like light years away. The team haven't won at home since January, a run of 13 games with just 4 goals scored. They are at the wrong end of the Championship, long term boss Steve Coppell walked so Brendan Rogers has taken over, the club is for sale and the fans are disillusioned. Thankfully, City added to their suffering.
READING > Federici-Cummings-O'Dea-Pearce-Bertrand-Sigurdsson-Karacan-Howard-Hunt-Raziak. Desperate to change their fortunes, O'Dea (from Celtic), Cummings (Chelsea) and Howard (Sheff United) are all new loan men.
+++++ THE MATCH +++++
Cardiff had a pre-game 777 Balls Up as the Gambling Commission banned their new sponsors 777ball.com were not licenced to advertise in Europe. Doubts exist but the sponsors say they will rectify that, however it left City to dig out yellow pre-season kit to play in and keeper David Marshall to wear that horrid luminous pink top.
Over 2,000 Bluebirds piled up the M4 in a crowd of 16,887 and they certainly made all the noise. City had the better of the first half but neither keeper had a serious save to make. City were on top but again lacking that quality cutting edge that deserted them in defeats to Doncaster and Newcastle although Bothroyd and Chops looked a class act up front, Chopra going very close on two occasions. Reading played some neat football but simply don't have goal power. For City, Adam Matthews was injured so Quinn was soon on but struggled most of the night.
The second period saw the home side, attacking towards their own fans, brighten up and City were grateful to Marshall for great saves from Howard and Matejovsky while Hunt blazed wide from a good position.
However the goal, the points and the result were all decided on 57 as Peter Whittingham swept a cross to the far side, CHRIS BURKE brought it down, teed it up and blasted high into the top corner. Delerium in the City end behind that goal and it should have been added to as Burke missed a sitter two minute slater getting a ball trapped under his boot when it looked easier to steer home.
The final half hour saw Reading throw everything at City and Bluebirds hearst sank when Steve McPhail after a central midfield challenge. It looke dharsh, a yellow at best but ref Paul Tyalor has history with Taylor. He was the official who sent off McCormack and Gyepes within half hour in a key game versus Sheffield United last season - we can only pray that we don't see him again for a very long time.
The final minutes were torture, Chopra was sacrificed and Ledley limped away injured. The clock ticked slowly, that Burke goal seemed ages ago and hearts were in mouths for that last gasp corner but the celebrations and relief were even greater for it.
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