CCFC + CCFC = DULL, DULL, DULL


CARDIFF CITY 0
COVENTRY CITY 0

Attendance: 11.424
Cov support: 300
Weather: Wet, wet, wet in the morning but sunny and mild in the afternoon
Atmosphere: Like student housing ... flat


The battle of the CCFC's produced the stalest of stalemates, a 0-0 scoreline, a dire affair. Had they played until midweek, it would still have been 0-0. City had the possession and territory but produce one, maybe two, notable efforts on goal, Coventry didn't produce any at all. Coventry showed why they're fighting relegation but Cardiff sank to that level. Dreadful and forgettable, the only consolation is that bad for City these days is a 0-0 draw, not a defeat. There's a lot to be said for that.

It's happened for a few years but I can't quite get use to Sunday afternoon games. It's all too civil, it doesn't feel right. Sunday dinners, no Soccer AM or Soccer Saturday doesn't give you the same feeling at home or down the pub. In fact, I didn't even get to the pub. I had to watch City sober, it wasn't good.

The Sunday game, of course. was arranged to allow us bitter South Wales football fans the opportunity to watch the Welsh egg chasers' bubble exploded with the grandest 41-3 slamming by the All Blacks the day before. Those of us going to Ninian Park from the Vale of Glamorgan may have spotted the All Blacks on a coach heading to the airport, some City fans tooted and waved to them for services rendered.

A Sunday 3pm kick-off probably wasn't the wisest choice with the alternative home or pub attraction of ailing Man United v Chelsea on telly but 11,424 made it to Ninian Park, Coventry fans laughed at their figure but where were they? An easy 2 hour trip but less than 300 of them, bothered, that's more of a joke.

One advantage City enjoyed was knowing what a win would do for them, the incentive couldn't have been greater. Back in 12th after Saturday results, a win would put them in the play-off positions - quite incredible - what more incentive could there be? Amazingly, it didn't seem to motivate them.

Pre-game rumours concerned almost half the team suffering virus or injury but just Michael Ricketts was absent, failing a late fitness test, making Dave Jones change his eleven for just the second time in 11 Championship games. It was Alexander, Weston-Purse-Loovens-Barker, Cooper-Ledley-Whitley-Koumas, Lee-Jerome. With Lee starting, Ferretti was added to the subs with Margetson-Ardley-Cox-Parry.

Coventry are struggling big time. A proud history in the top tier suddenly seems long ago. They were surprising relegation candidates last term but only to outsiders. Amongst Sky Blues fans, Peter Reid was as popular with his decisions and tactics as Lennie was with us. Promptly sacked in January, in came, Micky Adams and ex-Bluebird boss Alan Cork. They survived only to find themselves right back in the brown stuff this term. Adams has now only won them 9 out of 37 Championship games, 3 in 18 attempts this season. They travelled to Ninian outside the relegation spots on goal difference only

Their new Ricoh Stadium has produced better but not as good as expected crowds, results have been ropey. On the road, they have now failed to win in 10 attempts but this was their 6th draw from those games. Cardiff were well below par but you could see exactly
why Coventry are where they are on their display.

Coventry starting line up were Fulop, Duffy-Page-Shaw-Heath, Hall-Hughes-Thornton-Nalis-Scowcroft, McSheffrey. Morten Fulop was a tall (6'5") Hungarian keeper on loan from Spurs, the defence were slow with ex-Bluebird Robert Page and Richard Shaw in its middle (combined age = 68). City, and particularly Jerome, should have exploited that but never did. Cov had 5 spread across midfield leaving Gary McSheffery in isolation up front. Subs included Dele Adebola and ex-Wrexham striker Andy Morrell.

The first half set the pattern for the entire game. Jerome fired over in the first 30 seconds and the game went downhill after that. City had all the possession and looked half decent until they got to the final third where they were clueless and punchless. The only enjoyment was in watching Jason Koumas put on a one man showboating routine with several pieces of extraordinary skill leaving the crowd gasping and applauding. The best for me was when he won a ball that he had no right to get to, dinked it over a defender's flying studs, accelerated past another as though he wasn't there with an audacious dummy but his cross just failed to reach Lee.

For all Koumas' brilliance however, none of it was in or around the penalty area and he was also being let down by others around him making poor passes or wrong selections. In attack, how did City only ever allow Jerome and Lee to get into Cov's penalty area? They have to be supported by runners, especially at home. Unfortunately, it also wasn't helped by Jerome probably having his worst game in a City shirt, he was a shadow of what he can be. To some fans, it appeared as if some Cardiff players had enjoyed their Saturday nights a bit too much, I'm sure it wasn't that way.

There were shots on goal but none to get excited about. A 6'5" keeper and every cross we put into the area was a high ball, he took them all. Every shot was from distance and at height, was it possible to make things any easier for Fulop?

The three best moments came when Jerome tried to curl a shot for top corner but Fulop snatched it quite comfortably as it turned out. Koumas bettered it with an edge of area side footed effort that Fulop did well to turn around the post but, again, it was the right height for him. The best move was when Weston was under pressure deep in his own half from McSheffery but, with his back to goal, he knocked the ball back over his head, turned McSheffery and left him for dead and tore down the right. Exchanging passes with Whitley, his cross was excellent for Lee but he wasted the chance in climbing above Page but heading harmlessly wide, the target had to be hit.

The strangest moment came when a though ball with Jerome at least 5 yards offside wasn't stopped, Jerome took it and was heading to goal when the lino, who must have been asleep, decided to flag several seconds later than he should have.

For those with an obsession with officials, ref Clive Penton, did your head in. He frustrated the mildest observer with over-fussy and inconsistent refereeing. The most jaw-dropping moment for me was when he wasted a minute in making Glen Loovens take a free-kick forward. Not in a dangerous position, but 75 to 80 yards from goal, what bloody difference did it make? I can understand them being taken back but brought forward? Four players were Cardiff, two from each side, including Lee and Whitley in quick succession in the second half. The ref didn't affect the game, it was bad enough anyway, or the result but he certainly didn't help the afternoon.

I've mentioned nothing about Coventry because there was precisely nothing to mention for them. They did well defensively, they got out in numbers but their only effort at goal was blocked. More than few City fans remarked how they were worse than Crewe because at least Alexandra had a go. Cov however would have been very pleased holding City, it was upto Cardiff to do something about it, we just weren't good enough for that to happen today.

H/T: CITY 0 COV 0

If the first half was poor, the second half was dire. Koumas went quiet so now there was nothing to appreciate. Cardiff were lost, awful Route One bang it downfield unimaginative football. Moves, when put together, lacked pace or a spark. Coventry were more than happy to take that.

The only threats came when Lee won a shooting distance free-kick for Koumas. Anticipation built up but Koumas' effort sailed over the bar. The closest we came was unlucky when, at last, we tested Fulop with a low shot, Alan Lee hit one on the turn, Fulop's fingertips just prevented it from finding the far corner. And that my friends, was it.

If Coventry managed any effort at goal, on target or off target, I apologise to them but I missed it or forgot it. City however were clueless about what to do and how to do it until the very final whistle and that, I have to say, included Dave Jones' decision making.

The only entertainment, if you wish to call it that way, was giving stick to ex-Jack and Welsh international Richard Duffy. The silly boy decided to stare out sections of the crowd who did that, as if that would help, so it got louder and longer. He probably had the last laugh though.

Only two subs were used. Paul Parry replaced Alan Lee for the final 15 but in a central striking role. You what? Haven't we learned by now that it is a complete waste of time. Meanwhile, Ferretti, the striker, got the final 4 minutes, very generous. Ardley, who we know as value as someone who can put over the best of crosses, wasn't used at all. It was as if City didn't want to win and make the play-off spots, they were content with the 0-0 against poor opposition. That may be good enough for the club but if they want fans coming back, it's got to be better than this.

Alexander had nothing to do except belt a few back-passes upfield, anyone in the ground could have kept a clean sheet for City today. With so little to do defensively, it was disappointing that neither Barker or Weston featured further up the field. Purse and especially Loovens did well in all aspects of their play but I wish we didn't turn to Loovens to just bang those long balls ahead in the closing stages. We're better than that, we have to be.

Midfield was the Koumas show but, as mentioned before, his best play was in the least worrying areas of the pitch for the opposition, they would have been happy with that. Whitley did well too but Cooper had a nothing game playing left-footed but always on the right and Joe Ledley struggled. You have to remember he is 18, an age where most players would be bit part or in for a few games then rested, and used out of position. The club have so few options, it looks like we have to persevere..

Up front, Alan Lee showed yet again that his best place at this club is on the bench and maybe used for impact in the final half hour. He tries, he runs but he's not an intelligent player, he's certainly not the best header of the ball and he can't hold up play. Jerome was very poor, he looked so lethargic. I can't believe it was the same player I've been admiring and who has been earning rave reviews but it was. Again though, we're over-relying on an 18 year old to do the business week after week, it won't happen.

The point only improved City one place to 11th. They have looked jaded and clueless in each of their two games but have another opportunity at Hillsborough this coming Wednesday in front of Sky cameras too. It is City's game in hand over most clubs above them, win and we go 5th. draw and we go 6th. It should focus the minds of everyone. Somehow, it didn't today.


THE COST OF BEING A CITY FAN:
Tickets: £25 (2 including one on the excellent £5 Ambassador season ticket offer)
Programme: £3
Food/Drink: £8
Travel: £4
Total for game: £40

Total for season-to-date: £1,345