CARDIFF CITY (0) 0 LEICESTER CITY (1) 1 Johansson 10

CARLING CUP ROUND THREE @ Ninian Park


Attendance: 8,727
Foxes support: 250
Weather: Summer feel in the Autumn time
Atmosphere: Good backing from both sides


CARDIFF CITY missed out on the last 16 of the Carling Cup and the chance of a glamour tie in disappointing style following a 1-0 home defeat to Leicester City courtesy.

The Foxes scored early on through Johansson and never had another shot on goal all night but few will doubt they deserved their win as they played the more open and controlled football. As for The Bluebirds, they only had efforts on goals in a frantic final 5 minutes, the 85 beforehand were distinctly average at best and, often, poor.

I've never heard the phrase "After The Lord Mayor's Show" uttered so many times in my life by fans coming to terms with how their side could be so cutting and lethal at the weekend and produce so little tonight. The truth was though that Leicester are a far better side from Crewe and City just never got going until it was far too late with a couple of players off key and a couple given a rare starting opportunity failing to grasp it.

For all the talk of much-changed sides, both Cardiff and Leicester weren't far away from full strength and changes tended to be enforced rather than tactical or resting players. The game had a serious edge to it, both sides realising the potential prize on offer.

Cardiff made three changes, at least two were enforced as Alan Lee replaced the cup-tied Michael Ricketts whilst Martin Margetson started in goals with Neil Alexander apparently ill but he was on the bench. One other swap saw Paul Parry start in place of Kevin Cooper, not sure if there was a reason for that but few would have felt that would weaken City.

The starting eleven were therefore Margetson, Weston-Purse-Loovens-Barker, Koumas-Whitley-Ledley-Parry, Jerome-Lee. Subs were Alexander-Ardley-Cox-Darlington-Ferretti.

As for Craig Levein''s Foxes, they started with Henderson, Maybury-McCarthy-Gerrbrand- Johansson, Gudjonsson-Williams-Hamill-Tiatto. Dublin-Hammond. Subs included leading scorer Mark DeVries (known as Deep Freeze by some Leicester fans for his immobility). Again, changes were largely enforced ones and they came to Ninian in good heart following a home win over Coventry at the weekend taking them to 12th spot, 4 points behind Cardiff.

There were price promotions of £12/(£6 for kids/oaps) in the Grandstand, £10/£5 elsewhere and just £1 for kids in the Family Stand. The Bob Bank terrace was shut but the crowd was much better than expected with 8,727 including 250 or so from the Midlands watching on a balmy evening that felt more like summer than almost November.

Cut to the game and the first half was poor from a City viewpoint. In all honesty. they didn't put a single move of substance together and even though there were two sides, at times they didn't even seem to be second best going for the ball.

Cardiff usually start well, nearly always score first this term and often get an early goal. Tonight, it was their turn to be behind after just 10 minutes. It came from a sharp move and a ball was played just outside the area to Elvis Hammond who, for the first of several times, found it embarrassingly easy to turn Rhys Weston on his outside and get past him. His snapshot was denied a goal only by smart reactions of Martin Margetson who got down quickly to fingertip it wide. However it meant little as the resulting corner saw NILS-ERIC JOHANNSON rise above everyone almost unchallenged to get the slightest tough but enough to divert it home right in front of the gleeful visiting fans.

City got forward straight from the restart and a buzz went up as Jerome won a free-kick on the edge of the box and Jason Koumas marched up. It was a sure sign it wasn't our night as he pout it straight into the wall and before the interval, he did it again. Other than that, City looked lethargic and Leicester were keener.

Crucially, we just weren't contesting midfield well enough, Danny Tiatto was stamping his presence there. The Foxes defence found life surprisingly comfortable whilst. at the other end, Glen Loovens was learning a great lesson about the physical side of the game with Dion Dublin using his presence and physique to muscle him and win touches and flicks everywhere. One telling moment to me was when Paul Parry signalled to Jeff Whitley to knock a ball over the Leicester defence, Whitley did it perfectly but Parry did the exact opposite, checked out and ran back instead. The crowd booed Whitley for that one.

Exit to the bar to listen to every City fan there mutter something about "After the Lord Mayor's Show", "I hope he (Dave Jones) gives out the same half-time rollicking", and the timeless classic, "mine's a bitter please"".

Half-time: CARDIFF 0 LEICESTER 1

Dave Jones obviously did administer another rollicking as City really should have equalised within the first 10 seconds of the restart. Leicester kicked-off but Jerome flew into them, won the ball and found Alan Lee. Lee, despite being tugged, shot down the channel and squared the ball slightly behind Jerome 10 yards out. It looked for all the world that Jerome would turn it home but the ball stuck under his boot and the chance went begging.

To their credit, City were now applying some pressure, condensing play and winning corners but, tonight, there was just no end product to it. There were less than 25 minutes remaining before City had their first real effort at goal and until the final flurry, that was their sum total for 85 minutes. Paul Parry got into a good position, his low goalbound effort was tipped away for another fruitless corner by Aussie stopper Henderson.

For the final 15 minutes, Dave Jones changed personnel and formations. Rhys Weston was replaced by Neil Ardley and City went 3-4-3 and Ferretti was last throw of the dice coming on for Paul Parry inside the last 10 minutes.

Then came the final barrage of attacks all inside the last 5 minutes plus three minutes of added time. All the chances came from excellent Neil Ardley crosses as Leicester were 'doing a Cardiff' by falling back and trying to hold onto their lead, City taking up the invitation to flood men forward. Unfortunately, the keeper Henderson denied extra-time and, possibly, City winning in normal time with some excellent stops.

Two of the saves were quite brilliant. Alan Lee's far post downward header meeting an Ardley ball looked a goal all the way but Henderson got down to push it away. Bang on 90 minutes and Jason Koumas' vision and skill picked out Ferretti behind Leicester's back line, his first time left footed volley was superb skill but Henderson was again its equal by getting down to turn it wide. Then Lee was denied by a shot whilst a Jerome header in the final action went straight into Henderson's arms, maybe the keeper deserved that luck and, tonight, City didn't deserve it.

It was disappointing to go out at this stage and with a below par performance. A few players were off key. A big draw could have given the club a real buzz but, as it is, the weekend game at Sheffield United is more important to our season. Maybe, with hindsight, it's not a bad thing that we didn't take it to extra-time with that game coming within little more 60 hours afterwards. The hope is nobody got injured but a couple of players, the excellent Darren Purse in particular, appear to walk off with knocks.

At the back, I've avoided being critical of Rhys Weston but if the club are to sustain any play-off challenge, you get the feeling he is the first player who has to be replaced. One City fan was sitting next to Harry Bassett (Sheff United's assistant in the Grandstand) who was writing copious notes.. "I bet most of them say just attack Rhys Weston, don't they Harry", he said. Bassett smiled and winked back.

We lost the central midfield battle again overall, the need to reinforce that area simply has to be high on Dave Jones' agenda as well. Whitley and Ledley always give everything but, as a combo, they're not the long term answer. I was particularly disappointed however that Paul Parry did not take his chance at all. He blows hot and cold in recent appearances, far too often it's cold. He can't complain if Kevin Cooper resumes action in front of him this weekend.

Likewise up front, Cameron Jerome possibly had his quietest appearance ever in a City shirt but, even so, Alan Lee didn't really stake his claim for a start either, it made you appreciate what Michael Ricketts offers the side. Lee has worked hard to get fit, runs the channels but is all over the place and doesn't hold the line or play like Ricketts can. Lee remains very much an impact player coming off the bench based on this display.

It was one of those nights but I think it's now fairly well established that unless Cardiff find a good tempo and intensity to their game, they can look an ordinary side. Tonight happened to be one of those occasions when it just wasn't there.

The Cost of Being A City fan:
2 x Tickets: £24
Programme: £ 2.50
Food/drink: £20
Badges: £ 6 (nephew's birthday prezzies!)
Total £52.50

Total for season: £1,132