Tuesday, January 12, 2010

F.A. Cup Round 3: Bristol City 1 CARDIFF CITY 1 match report

Thirteen shots each, six on target each but, most of all, one goal each means Cardiff City and Bristol City have to do it all over again in the F.A. Cup Third Round. The replay will be next Tuesday night at the Cardiff City stadium, winners play at home to Leicester City 4 days later for a place in the last 16 but it's Cardiff who will be kicking themselves as yet again, they conceded a last minute goal instead of holding on for victory,thje Wurzles scorer of all people, being a Cardiff City fan!


In poor conditions, blizzard style snow falling throughout and the pitch looking more like a sheet of blank A4 paper with the odd green blotch, Cardiff acquitted themselves well in an undistinguished game but never looked like breaking through in the final third until Michael Chopra (orShopra if the F.A. commentator was to be believed) finished sublimely with 12 minutes left. That appeared to be it until Gavin Williams fired home well in the 3rd of 4 added minutes with City's defence and midfield stopped still. It denied Cardiff their first victory at Trashton Gate in 40 years.


City had another patched up side with Jay Bothroyd still ill (his temperature has gone up from 101 to 102 by all account), Josh Magennis recovering from his broken leg and Chris Burke nursed a bruised (or is it cracked?) rib and Paul Quinn was taken ill with a virus in the afternoon. In came AaronWildig , the 17 year old having a full debut and Adam Matthews (the player subject to more talk of an imminent Premiership move is 18 tomorrow), and back came Michael Chopra who wasmysteriously overlooked on Saturday. City were only able to name 6 subs and one of them was an unknown Academy player. The real shock however was Dave Jones having a rare thought and opting to disband his routine 4-4-2 for 4-3-1-2.


Cardiff: Marshall; Matthews-Gerrard-Hudson-McNaughton; Wildig-Rae-Ledley; Whittingham; McCormack-Chopra. Subs were Enckleman-Taiwo-Gyepes-Meades-Blake-Feeney.


The Wurzels came into the game still talking about making uip for a 3-0 smarting at Cardiff early season, that score flattered them, but were also seeking form and fitness having slipped to12th in the Championship, not playing for a fortnight due to the snow and ice, without a win in 5 and without a home win since mid-October although they have only been beaten once at "Trashton" Gate this season.


The suspended Nyatanga excepted, the Robins were at full strength with Gerken; Orr-Fontaine-Carey-McAllister; Elliott-Hartley-Skuse-Clarkson; Maynard-Haynes. The appropriately named Sno was on the bench.


The crowd was a meagre 7,218 - many opting to watch the game streamed live on the F.A.'s own website or on Welsh language channel S4C - but a commendable 1,800 Bluebirds made the trip. It was a ''bubble trip' and stories have it that a couple of coaches from the valleys got stuck and never made it while others were late.


To be honest, they didn't miss much in the first half. The game was made possible by covers and blowers and the home side seemed determined to reward the effort by pressing Cardiff from the off, City surviving an early escape as Carey's header from a corner cannoned off a post.


Having rode the (snow) storm, Cardiff rallied well and played the better football of the sides albeit there was little to get excited about in a game clearly affected by worsening conditions. For all their passing and movement, City's game was breaking down in the final third but chances came with a lively Chops firing wide and a promisingWildig almost having a debut goal as his chipped 30 yard shot catching Gerken off his line after a botched kick sailed inches over an unguarded net. Gavin Rae, looking off the pace, went off injured after half-hour leaving Dave Jones to turn to SolomonTaiwo but he went on to produce a promising and assured performance, shame that Dave Jones revealed after the game that he is off on loan to Colchester United.


Set pieces were better than usual, McCormack - clearly still to regain full match fitness - put one effort narrowly while while AnthonyGerrard, of all players, was allowed to take one, his thundered effort bouncing off Gerken with Chops almost profiting on the rebound.


The snow got heavier, the pitch was move covered and the ball was less often running true and getting held up. Ice and snow was forming on the ball which had to be bounced before throw-ins and corners. There were doubts that the game would continue but the snow fortunately eased enough to see the game through.


Half-time: Wurzles 0 Cardiff 0


It was farce football, the match ball even bursting at one point. Credit to both teams for battling it out but chances and tellingmoments were few and far between. Bristol cracked a couple of long range efforts, none on target while Cardiff were closer as Gerrard's header on a corner was smothered on the line by Gerken whilst McCormack shot weakly with another goalmouth scramble, a clean connection would have netted.


Warren Feeney replaced Ross for the final 20 and out himself about but two shooting chances produced weak efforts but his persistence paid off with 12 minutes to go as he forlornly chased a Peter Whittingham long ball, Gerken raced out of his box but fluffed his kick. Even so, the finish by MICHAEL CHOPRA was sublime, firing from the touchline over Gerken's head and clean into goal from the tightest of angles. A bizarre incident followed as Chops ran up the touchline to celebrate whereBrizzle boss Gary Johnson purposely put a leg out to trip him, Chops reacted by shoving him in the chest.


It looked game over for Bristol until more last minute agony as a cross was screwed back, City's defenders and midfielders watched on in the box and in came Gavin Williams, sub and Cardiff fan, to drill an effort back across goal that tucked inside Marshall's far post. Unbelievable.


City acquitted themselves well and, on balance, would have deserved their win in a low thrills game dictated by conditions. Every man played their part, only Rae and McCormack were not quite at the races. Good effort boys, hope it produces its reward next week.

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