CARDIFF CITY's grip on a play-off sport gets weaker by the weak as they slumped to their 5th successive away defeat (4 in the league) and it was their 4th defeat in 5 Championship games that had yielded just 4 points out of the last 18. This defeat came at 5th placed Leicester City but the teams below again failed to take advantage with Blackpool losing away while Sheffield United, Coventry and Middlesbrough all dropped home points with draws.
A drab game in which neither side proved their credentials with Cardiff looking very short of confidence, it made me relieved about my late decision not to attend. Football, sadly, is secondary to the very future of the club at present and 4 months of going though agonies is making me lose heart. However I'll be at Cov on Tuesday.
It incredibly leaves City in the final play-off beth with the meagre tally of 50 points in 36 games and 13 defeats. Cardiff also have a game in hand and goal difference advantage over all sides below them too as it's starting to look likely 58 or 69 points should secure 6th spot, last year City missed out on that position despite getting 74 points by comparison.
The limited City squad - in numbers again cost the club - as Michael Chopra started a 2 game ban while Gabor Gyepes was out injured leaving Kev McNuaghton to fill in. However others returned, Peter Whittingham and Steve McPhail were back in the fold giving boss Dave Jones some reason for optimism otherwise known as clutching at straws.
For the record, it was a contest to forget and I bet many who watched it already have. Cardiff matches seem to be decided entirely on the first goal at present so when Leicester nabbed it on the half-hour, it felt like the game was up and so it proved.
The goal was far too simple and underlined recent problems in Cardiff's defence. A ball over, Welshman Andy King nodded across goal unchallnged where Anthony Gerreard lost Sunderland loan man Matrin Waghorn who squeezed home from close range.
City withstood some pressure - Kennedyblocking a goalbound effort and clearing another off the line while Marshall made a couple of fines saves.
The second half was even more subdued that than first and while Cardiff got forward a few times, they never seriously threatened to level and never tested Weale the home keeper. Whitts (twice), Bothroyd and McCormack was all close though.
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