The unjust Wolves ban on Cardiff City which caused them so much scorn last season was widely expected to lifted but doubts have surfaced over the week.
Despite Cardiff playing at West Brom in 3 weeks with no restrictions using the same West Midlands Police, they have been coy about City's Molineux visit in April. It would appear that City's visit will be a "bubble" coach only trip but there is talk of that coming with even greater restrictions or with the ban remaining.
This statement by Wolves eccentric chairman Jez Moxey is as clear as the sea off Barry Island.
http://www.expressandstar.com/2007/12/28/ban-on-cardiff-fans-to-be-lifted/
Friday, December 28, 2007
THE ROBBIE FOWLER WORLD TOUR CONTINUES IN 2008
IT's NOT UNUSUAL TO SEE ROBBIE INJURED ...... BUT IT IS UNUSUAL TO SEE HIM ON THE PITCH
Calamity Robbie makes the news again for the wrong reasons. The superstar signed by Cardiff City to great excitement in the summer who has never attained full fitness, looked bulky and struggled immensely to make an impression is hardly ever available for his £15k (or is it £25k) weekly wages and is off abroad for more treatment.
This time, according to today's Echo, he's heading stateside for an ankle op. This follows last month's reported trip to Germany for hip injections. The player is said to be gutted and determind to prove himself, rumours of retirement have rarely gone away and his career, fitnees and ability appear to be in decline and fans have probably now had enough of the Robbie Fowler Circus. It was always a gamble and I'm afraid it appears to have badly failed but at a significant cost to Cardiff City Football Club.
We can only hope we see more of Fowler in the second half of the season and he shows what a talent he once was. I got a horrible feeling however that we won't get that at all.
Echo Story
A good Fowler at City appraisal by Sleeping Giant website
http://cardiffcity.rivals.net/News/pgArticle.aspx?artid=2483_3009160
McPhail Aims For The Top 8
While I do wish players, manager and club would refrain from making claims or promises - you'd think they'd have learned a lesson this season - is it only me scratching my head over why McPhail has ambitions of a Top 8 placing?
Surely, if he has aims to get that high, he has to talk of a play-off spot which, in my view, is equally silly but hey ho, I'm sure I'll set a silly New Year resolution to get my 1980's figure back which is just as unachieveable!
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city-f c/2007/12/28/early-resolution-from-city-s-mcphail-91466-2029 1774/
Surely, if he has aims to get that high, he has to talk of a play-off spot which, in my view, is equally silly but hey ho, I'm sure I'll set a silly New Year resolution to get my 1980's figure back which is just as unachieveable!
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city-f c/2007/12/28/early-resolution-from-city-s-mcphail-91466-2029 1774/
NEW YEAR BAD MANNERS
Cardiff's annual Calennig has a treat this year.
The Free Family Family to celebrate New Year has a number of events for for the muso's amongst us, the highlights surely are GENO WASHINGTON and HIS RAMJAM band followed by British Ska legends BAD MANNERS featuring, of course, Buster Bloodvessel.
Full details here:
http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=&parent_directory_id=2865&id=5994&Language=
BACK 2 WORK STRETCHING EXERCISES
As most of us head back to work feeling groogy and/or with enlarged bellies from the Festive delge of food and ales, a few strectching exercises to be carried out at your desk to break you back into work.
Try it at your desk tomorrow ... or better still, get one of the girls to demonstrate for you first.
Try it at your desk tomorrow ... or better still, get one of the girls to demonstrate for you first.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Watford vs City media match reports
From SetantaMcAnuff earns late draw for Watford
From IC Wales
Cardiff City denied at the death
Watford Official Website
http://www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10400~38759,00.html
BBC website with manager reaction
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7157296.stm
Championship: WATFORD 2 CARDIFF CITY 2 (we wuz robbed report)
TUESDAY DECEMBER 26th
CHAMPIONSHIP - Game 24/46 - at VICARAGE ROAD
WATFORD (0) 2
De Merit 49, McAnuff 95
CARDIFF CITY (1) 2
Johnson 34, Whittingham 56
CHAMPIONSHIP - Game 24/46 - at VICARAGE ROAD
WATFORD (0) 2
De Merit 49, McAnuff 95
CARDIFF CITY (1) 2
Johnson 34, Whittingham 56
City celebrate going 2-1 ahead
Pic from away end by Mike Morris of http://www.cardiffcity.com/
CARDIFF CITY choked and were sickened - and it wasn't on their turkey - as they allowed Watford to equalise in the final seconds in the firth minute of added time when only three minutes were displayed - when ex-City man Jobi McAnuff an oh so lucky point saver in a game which The Bluebirds fully deserved to win having comprehensively outplayed the league leaders on their own patch but failed to make it sufficiently count.
Players are far too well paid for what they do and part of the job has to be several games over holiday periods when better crowds can attend but spare a thought for them, particularly with families. Cardiff's players had to train Xmas morning, return home for lunch and then travel to Watford late afternoon for an overnight stay before this Boxing Day midday start. Roads would have been quiet but it would still have been a breakfast time start - if not earlier - for the 156 mile trip from Sloper Road to Vicarage Road and another ground that has been a bogey for Cardiff - no win since 1970 but only 8 visits since until today.
Christmas Festivities, family parties and visits plus an early work start tomorrow meant I wasn't one of the 600 travelling Bluebirds in the 17,014 crowd who were heard throughout on Radio Wales commentary but I had a good supply of ale to tuck into and savour a magnificent and memorable City display.
City made one change with Jimmy Floyd-Hasslebaink on the bench, two games in 4 days and unconvincing form playing a part, and Steve MacLean given a chance. Otherwise it was as you were as City sought their 4th win in 5 Championship games - this after 4 wins in the first 18 matches! - with Schmeicel, McNaughton-Johnson-Loovens-Capaldi, Whittingham-Rae-McPhail-Ledley, MacLean-Parry. Subs were Oakes, Blake, Hasselbaink, Purse, Ramsey,
Watford manager Ady Boothroyd and City's Dave Jones are the two longest serving Championship managers but total only 5.5 years service between them. Boothroyd, of course, took Watford to the Premiership last season and aims to get them back there next term. They are top but are stumbling Cardiff City style. Matching Cardiff's blistering start to last season, they headed the Championship by 9 points just 7 weeks ago with a strong squad but they've collapsed with only 8 points from the last 24 to head the table by 2 points only from West Brom and Brizzle Zity. Home form stinks - one point only from 5 home matches ahead of City's visit - so will they be swallowed up as we were?
The Hornets side were Lee, Doyley-DeMerit-Jackson-Stewart, Smith-O'Toole-Francis-McAnuff, King-Ellington. Subs included Matt Poom, Danny Shittu, Darius Henderson (scorer of 2 at Parc Nin) and Lionel Ainsworth on loan from Hereford where he made a big impact.
The opening few minutes were quiet, was Radio Wales' football pundit Malcolm Allen annoyingly talking about City's recent sold player - a Chris GUNTHER (Gunther? Anyone heard of him?) - with the home side pressing but Glenn Loovens and Roger Johnson seemed to be quickly in control of Ellington and King and, with that platform built and Watford looking shaky and far from fluent, Cardiff were able to push on.
Early attacks were easily repelled as City's naive tactics were high crosses and long throws, not the best way to play in Parry and MacLean, whilst corners and free-kicks could not beat the first defender.
Just after the quarter hour, ref Hegley substituted himself, with questions of whether it was injury or illness, but as unusually he hailed from the same county - Hertfordshire - where The Hornets are based, it would have been a short journey home.
City fairly dominated but, as often happens in these situations and one of the failings of the side, is that they have plenty of possession and territory without creating clear openings or shots at goal. Rae could have done better as keeper Richard Lee flapped at a corner then Ledley brought a good stop from the keeper after a clever one-two but from the resulting corner, The Bluebirds deservedly went in front with a goal that had been on the cards for a long while and very simple it was.
34 minutes - Ledley's drilled corner was powered home off the head of ROGER JOHNSON in the centre of goal just 6 yards out. That;'s the sort of goal we usually give away!
The Bluebirds pulverised the home side from the restart - Watford subbing Francis for Williamson - but again showed their lack of killer instinct with Rae, MacLean, Ledley Parry and especially Whittingham when he looked favourite to score all getting shots off in various positions but there were numerous more breaks where Cardiff let themselves down via offside, one poor pass or one pass too much.
The most one-sided imaginable, Kasper - just as last Saturday - didn't have a single save to make which tells City's dominance but only had one goal to show for complete domination and had the home side booed off for a calamitous 45 minutes where they barely put 2 passes together.
Half-Time: WATFORD 0 CITY 1
City paid the price for failing to make or take their opportunities as Watford failed found some determination, pushed Cardiff back and equalised within 4 minutes of the restart. Another simple goal after City scrambled away a couple of early crosses, Stewart hit the ball to the far post, Ellington - for the first time - rose above Loovens and his header evaded everyone allowed Captain DE MERIT to bundle into an unguarded net.
The script should dictate The Hornets would now buzz all over City and provide the Christmas Happy Ending but like an Eastenders wedding video, City had other ideas to spoilt the party as they picked up the pieces and get going again.
McNaughton tried an ambitious long range drive - I do like how City have suddenly got an appetite for shooting after hardly ever trying efforts outside the box for much of the first half of the season - then Whittingham wasted a break trying to adjust feet delaying his effort after Johnson headed him in behind the defence. However it was a temporary reprieve as 56 minutes, Cardiff were back in front.
City again broke in midfield, the ball ran to McPhail running towards the end containing City fans who played in PETER WHITTINGHAM who smashed home arrow-like 25 yards right inside the post. YESSSSS, GET IN THERE! Meantime, Malcolm Allen on Radio Wales produced a few more chuckles as he said McPhail could have switched the ball left foot to right and shot himself. McPhail switch left to right and shoot? How much Christmas booze has he had?
Watford threw on Henderson for King and the game was more end to end but Cardiff still seemed to be having the better of things and had reverted to failing to get the killer third goal. MacLean and Parry had, but didn't take, good opportunities and some farce too as MacLean produced a penalty appeal but the replacement ref must have bottled by awarding a drop ball in the penalty area?
And still the chances came for City. Parry burst away and badly challenged in the box, Allen claiming he should have gone down for the penalty - or another drop ball?? - then MacLean didn't get a shot away. Loovens couldn't quite match Johnson's efforts from a corner than a Parry piledriver brought a superb stop from Lee then the same player fired over on a for versus three break.
Cardiff were continuing to outplay their hosts as Watford had their last throw of the dice with Man Mountain Danny Shittu was thrown on as an extra striker for the final six minutes. From the restart, Shittu nearly scored within seconds, his first touch came back to him right in front of goal but he headed straight at a very grateful Schmeicel for his first save, goal apart. City reacted immediately to that change with Purse put on as an extra defender, MacLean sacrificed.
The final moments were a bombardment on City's goal but they seemed to be riding it but the replacement ref was to play a vital part. Jobi McAnuff was denied be Schmeicel in the 90th minute but just how did two minutes added time in the first half somehow last five minutes and three minutes in the second period take almost seven minutes?
Right at the death, Schmeicel made an outstanding save with his trailing leg but the resulting corner had Cardiff unable to clear, the ball found McANUFF and he lashed home through a crowd. There shouldn't have been enough time for that - Dave Jones apparently going ballistic - but City then attacked and one final chance saw Joe Ledley blocked. A great point, everyone would have been delighted with this result at midday but at 2pm, it felt like defeat and was a sickener. My sympathies go to those who then faced that 155 mile trip home, I bet it's a horrible one after that.
THOMMO HEADING HOME???
With the transfer window about to open, be prepared for speculation and Cardiff City's players to be talked about more than most.
Today's Scottish Daily Record talks of a two way battle between Dndee United and Aberdeen for Steven Thompson.
Normally, I'd dismiss this as pure gossip but I, sadly, think this has real legs. Aapart from City wanting to raise money and reduce the wage bill - no matter what they may say in public - Thommo is out of contract this summer.
Having become the latest of many to fall foul of Dave Jones privately - but the first to publicly speak out against him in Scottish media before Xmas - it almost seemed to be a "come and get me" plea, it's pretty obvious he won't be offered and wouldn't take a new Bluebirds contract.
Therefore, as much as we need Thommo, I bet Peter Ridsdale is quite pleased if he gets a competitive bidding situation for our man.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football-news/football-updates/2007/12/26/football-soccer-shorts-stevie-chase-86908-20265489/
Today's Scottish Daily Record talks of a two way battle between Dndee United and Aberdeen for Steven Thompson.
Normally, I'd dismiss this as pure gossip but I, sadly, think this has real legs. Aapart from City wanting to raise money and reduce the wage bill - no matter what they may say in public - Thommo is out of contract this summer.
Having become the latest of many to fall foul of Dave Jones privately - but the first to publicly speak out against him in Scottish media before Xmas - it almost seemed to be a "come and get me" plea, it's pretty obvious he won't be offered and wouldn't take a new Bluebirds contract.
Therefore, as much as we need Thommo, I bet Peter Ridsdale is quite pleased if he gets a competitive bidding situation for our man.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football-news/football-updates/2007/12/26/football-soccer-shorts-stevie-chase-86908-20265489/
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
Jones - as pragmatic as ever about Gunter's departure
What it's like to be in tune with supporters eh Dave???
From today's Western Mail
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city-fc/2007/12/24/bluebirds-stand-firm-after-gunter-departure-91466-20282400/
From today's Western Mail
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city-fc/2007/12/24/bluebirds-stand-firm-after-gunter-departure-91466-20282400/
"Who needs Gunter?" says McPhail
Well not quite but you have to agree with his sentiments based on Saturday's display but can City keep it going???
From today's Western Mai
Cardiff can cope with Gunter loss, says skipper McPhail
From today's Western Mai
Cardiff can cope with Gunter loss, says skipper McPhail
"Who needs Gunter?" says McPhail
Well not quite but you have to agree with his sentiments based on Saturday's display but can City keep it going???
From today's Western Mai
Cardiff can cope with Gunter loss, says skipper McPhail
From today's Western Mai
Cardiff can cope with Gunter loss, says skipper McPhail
Sunday, December 23, 2007
DAVE JONES HAS DEATH THREATS
A sensationalistic story which appeared in today's News of the Screws as well as BBC Online.
One City fan, Steve Day, is known to have been arrested over the content of messages sent to Peter Ridsdale and it is widely believed that Jones may have had unpleasant messages - which are ridiculous for anyone to do - but certainly without genuine threat or intent.
This from a man who recently told a reporter how he would love to beat him up at a press conference - another threat that nobody took seriously - and other reporters to have shit journeys home.
OK to dish it out, is it Dave?
After all, who in their rught mind would send anyone a death threat by text and leave an indentifable traceable phone number.
Calm it down Jonesy!
http://www.footytube.com/2007/12/23/cardiff-boss-had-death-threats/
One City fan, Steve Day, is known to have been arrested over the content of messages sent to Peter Ridsdale and it is widely believed that Jones may have had unpleasant messages - which are ridiculous for anyone to do - but certainly without genuine threat or intent.
This from a man who recently told a reporter how he would love to beat him up at a press conference - another threat that nobody took seriously - and other reporters to have shit journeys home.
OK to dish it out, is it Dave?
After all, who in their rught mind would send anyone a death threat by text and leave an indentifable traceable phone number.
Calm it down Jonesy!
http://www.footytube.com/2007/12/23/cardiff-boss-had-death-threats/
Saturday, December 22, 2007
CHAMPIONSHIP: CARDIFF CITY 1 SHEFFIELD UNITED 0
SATURDAY DECEMBER 22nd
CHAMPIONSHIP - Game 23/46
CHAMPIONSHIP - Game 23/46
- at NINIAN PARK
CARDIFF CITY (1) 1
Parry 30
SHEFFIELD UNITED (0) 0
CARDIFF CITY (1) 1
Parry 30
SHEFFIELD UNITED (0) 0
THE MIRACLE AT CHRISTMAS -
CITY GET BACK-TO-BACK HOME WINS!
Someone forgot to tell Cardiff City's players the plot or was it that lightning does indeed strike twice?
A(nother) thoroughly awful week of Ninian Park lowlife reintroduced the 2007 Feelbad Factor - another an almighty 3 weeks of relative positivity. The Langston business rumbles on, Sam Hammam sues for not getting paid for his plotting against City, The deluxe new stadium has been cut back for the umpteenth time to a bland 4 stand version only slightly bigger but little better than some lower division new stadia, Warren Feeney's is back and injured with his Jack move in doubt, Robbie Fowler's always injured and is set to extend his lay-off, Thommo's red card appeal was upheld so he's out until New Year with club and player, in public, trying to smooth over the rift heightened by the player's outburst against his manager in Scottish media and Kasper Schmeicel has been told to return to Manchester City after the New Year Day game vs Plymouth which is a massive blow.
Couldn't get much worse? Oh yes it could. Black Friday gets replayed but instead of shipping off Gabbs and Ginge for a relative pittance to West Ham, this time it's Chris Gunter for a fee of upto £4M which quickly reduced to upto £3M and then upto £2M - depending on who you believe - to Spurs. A player with just 20 league starts, who wasn't rated good enough by Dave Jones to play for City until he couldn't be ignored any longer after impressing for Wales and who was on a pittance of a contract despite proving himself one of City's most influential players which the club kindly refused to review, a move that cost them a better fee too.
"It was the player's choice to go" Ridsdale blabbed as if trying to pacify us. Few would turn down a Premiership move anyway, especially to a prestigious club but what player in his right mind would even think of staying at a club where Chairman and Manager both unfairly treated him? Now we're left with Dave Jones claiming nobody else has to be sold and Peter Ridsdale claiming there may be more in a week when you strongly suspect they've been craftily inviting offers from all and sundry. It hurts and summed up so much of what is wrong with this club and why apathy is spreading towards it and its key figures.
And so an improved but still below budget crowd of 12,869. Just like last Black Friday (which was in March 2005) after those sales of Gabbs, Ginge and Kav, expectations were low trudging up Sloper Road feeling bewildered and wondering what's next to hit us. Just as then, our opponents were a strong Sheffield United side but, fantastically just as then, City put in a powerhouse display to dominate the woeful visitors throughout and grab a deserved 1-0 victory.
Last time, local boy Joe Ledley was the goal scoring hero, this time it was local lad Paul Parry, another quality goal too. Bryan Robson's Battered Blades had only the heroics of visiting slimmed down keeper Paddy Kenny making several stunning saves produced a close score line in a game where the combination of Sheffield United's awfulness and City's powerful, dominant defending meant Kasper Schmeicel didn't have a single save to make.
Two changes for City saw Tony Capaldi back in the side (a selection guaranteed not to give anyone Xmas cheer) with Gunter withdrawn from City sides until he officially signs for Spurs on Jan 1 meaning Kevin McNaughton switched back to the right in defence. Up front, Paul Parry was made temporary striker, a kick in the teeth for Steve MacLean, the only fit striker on the books who could have accompanied JFH. To accommodate this, Joe went back to left side midfield from centre, Peter Whittingham was asked to play left footed on the right a la Parry and Gavin Rae was back to reform the axis of evil with Steve McPhail! No wonder that expectations weren't great. So it read Schmeicel, McNaughton-Loovens-Johnson-Capaldi, Whittingham-McPhail-Rae-Ledley, Parry-Hasslebaink. The week's events saw Dave Jones call up Aaron Ramsey and Darcy Blake to the bench, another two kids being given little chance so far, but they were the only two outfield men not to come on in a bench that was Oakes-Blake-MacLean-Purse-Ramsey.
Sheffield United having unluckily but humourously been relegated from the Premiership by losing at home in a head to head shoot out with Wigan on the final day of last season were seen as favourites to return to the Premiership instantly, especially when assisted by the obscene parachute payments giving them a multi-millions start over other Championship clubs. However they scuppered that after getting rid of Neil Warnock by giving the manager's job to Bryan Robson. Great player but as a manager, more than capable of being a Reverse Midas and doing it yet again, his side floundering in mid-table obscurity and now just 1 place and 1 point above us in 14th. There are rumours of The Blades travelling party having an unofficial Xmas drink staying overnight at the Vale hotel. Regardless of whether that is true, the team didn't arrive at Ninian Park until almost 2:15 which is cutting it fine and didn't seem ideal preparation.
Sheffield United's side were Kenny, Bardsley-Kilgallon-Morgan-Naysmith, Carney-Montgomery-Tonge- Gillespie, Sharp-Beattie. A strong bench featured the likes of Chris Lucketti, Rob Hulse, Jon Stead and Lee Hendrie too.
The Blades had the first, and their best chance, in the opening 15 seconds as Capaldi was too easily beaten in the air, the loose ball was played in to James Beattie, the Championship's leading scorer, standing free near the penalty spot but he amazingly hooked his effort to the travelling support. City responded well and played some good football with no clear chances other than Parry firing straight at Kenny when they enjoyed another escape. Capaldi, continuing his nervous start, hooked the ball in the air on the edge of the area forcing McPhail to concede a free-kick. Played in, Billy Sharp had a free header at the far post and put wide but Schmeicel seemed to have it covered anyway. Incredible to note that Sharp, who many City fans would have liked to have seen replace Chopra in the days when we foolishly believed the club would spend some of that brilliant fee has yet to net for the Blades, other than a Carling Cup game vs Morecambe, since his £1M signature from Scunnie. Sharp? He certainly ain't.
After that bright opening, matters soon became turgid as Sheffield United showed themselves to be as poor and unspectacular as any Bryan Robson managed side and Cardiff seemed to be bogged down to that level. There was however more spark in City's side, Peter Whittingham looking the part and enjoying the change (I think the word "inconsistent" was invented just for him), the centre-halves quickly mastering Beattie and Sharp and Kevin McNaughton storming forward when he could. City were giving the Blades problems with their free-flowing front line as Parry, Ledley and Whittingham all roamed and gave us very fluid movement even if little was coming off early on.
The game needed a lift and it duly arrived with a cracker on the half-hour. More tight play in midfield, the ball fell at JFH's feet, he played into ahead where Peter Whittingham had moved into the centre then faced with two defenders and heading left to right towards the area, he played a brilliant reverse pass to set PAUL PARRY free on goal, he drive his finish under Paddy Kenny's body and legs from 12 yards. Just what the players and fans needed, an already good atmosphere lifted even more. It was Parry's 4th of the season, significantly each has proved to be a match winner.
Inspired by that superb piece of play and strike, Cardiff were now rampant and Sheffield had no answers. Straight from the restart, it was almost 2-0 as Hasselbaink broke past two defenders meeting a Rae forward block, his drilled shot sizzled across the face of goal from 18 yards but missed the far post by a foot. That was probably Hasslebaink's best shot, others were token efforts including two edge of area free-kicks which he blasted into the wall, the second one rebounding at fearsome speed into his face giving him a good smack. Deserved too for wasting those opportunities but as Mike Morris said talking to me later, why have free-kicks always got to be touched for him? Defenders have closed him down by the time of his shot, why doesn't he hit the dead ball or, better, why can't we show variation?
Whitts, meantime, was now having a stormer. Twice Kenny denied him by parrying powerful drives on the line, the second one brilliant as he somehow saw the ball come through a crowd and swerve fiercely en route. Paul Parry looped a header which Kenny took under his bar, power would have seen him grab another. The quality of City's football and movement was exciting as we made The Blades look even more ordinary than they were to the extent that even McPhail -who played very well throughout - and Rae - started very well but disappeared once more - were in charge in the middle. The half-time standing ovation was richly deserved.
Half-time: CARDIFF CITY 1 SHEFFIELD UNITED 0
Half-time entertainment, was watching a bloke strip off training kit while balancing a ball on his neck!! I do love how we all let out that ironic "w*nker" cheer when he cocked it up, the same one you do when barmaids drop and smash glasses in pub. How we love incompetency, that must be why we support the City!
The second half may have been more 50/50 in terms of territory and possession but remained 100% in favour of Cardiff for danger and shots on goal. The Blades had nothing to offer, even Capaldi was now settling into one of his best City performances while McNaughton was outstanding on the other side - my man of the match for what it's worth - and Johnson and Loovens when absolutely everything.
By the hour, a now desperate Bryan Robson has played all his cards and had nothing left. Captain Chris Morgan hobbled away to be replaced by Lucketti then, immediately after, Hulse and Hendrie, replaced Craney and Sharp. Hendrie infamously had Steve McPhail sent off when at Stoke last season, City fans reminded him they hadn't forgotten it when he was warming up all game and he came on as a true panto villain to a chorus of boos. The fact that he seemed to make mistakes every time he had the ball made it even better. Hulse and Beattie should be a partnership to be feared but they were completely anonymous, their styles and Blades were perfect for Glenn and Roger.
So we got to enjoy more City efforts at goal but they couldn't find that elusive killer second goal. Hasslebaink was shooting from anywhere and everywhere and that's roughly where his efforts ended up too. His best chance saw a header place him in front of Kenny but he reacted slowly and his shot was blocked over the bar. Whittingham was inches over with another howitzer, Parry was similar after a sizzling run and cutting across goal, Johnson and Parry forced good or great saves by Kenny who was still being taunted mercilessly for being fat by the Grange End even though he isn't anymore.
City's tenacity, flair, determination and guts was way above that of the visitors but it was nervous to enter the closing stages still at 1-0. The ref, Keith Stroud, who I thought has been excellent decided to suddenly make a prize arse off himself making a number of dubious calls and stopping play for chats when he had allowed proceedings to flow perfectly before. His worst moments then came when he booked Roger Johnson for taking a quick free-kick - why??? Then bang on 90 minutes, he gave United a highly contentious free-kick on the edge of the box as one of their men ran into Cardiff players and waited for a challenge to fall. Bardsley hammered it but, thankfully, just wide of the far post when I again suspect Kasper had it covered anyway but a scare it was.
City nearly finished in style as another flashing move down the right with Whittingham looking strong saw the ball tucked inside for Joe Ledley to dig a quality dipping effort which flew just past Kenny and his far post.
Three minutes added time and many of the minutes before saw City cheered home by the highly charged home crowd pleasantly surprised and thoroughly entertained by City's passion and drive.
It's a big win that takes City to 28 points at the season's halfway stage, a tally that looked far beyond us a month ago but 3 wins out of 4 and only 3 defeats in the last 11 has done Dave Jones
and his men the world of good. At the halfway stage, City lie 15th - their best position for a very long while. It's still poor and under-performance overall but at least it's now a 6 points cushion from those relegation berths which were staring us in the face a couple of weeks ago. For those with half-full glasses, it's 7 points off the play-offs but with fears January's transfer window could see us even more decimated,better be entirely realistic. At a time when the club seem to be in a dark tunnel, it's only recent results giving us any Christmas cheer which a few of us made the most of with a few bevvies and curry into the evening. I only hope they can make it continue.COSTS:
Tickets: (2)
£38
Travel:
£5
Prog:
£3
Xmas Prezzies from shop:
£30
Food/drink:
£40
Total:
£116
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