For almost 35 minutes, this game was going exactly to the script you would fully expect from two sides in perfect mid-table obscurity with nothing to play for.
They came the mayhem in the form of six goals, controversy, twice City fighting back from behind to draw 3-3 and the bitter twist as the end as Darren Purse got a straight red card which will rule him out of the F.A. Cup Final in an incident that sparked chaotic scenes.
Dave Jones claims Cardiff are playing like they have a Cup Final on their minds. Conceding 9 goals in 3 games over 8 days after only 6 conceded in the previous 10 games tells you that alone. But he is also selecting teams with the Cup Final in mind.
Among those rested today were Kevin McNaughton, Gavin Rae, Roger Johnson, Joe Ledley and Peter Whittingham who all found themselves on the subs bench, no sign of back-up keeper Michael Oakes, as City lined up with Enckleman, Blake-Purse-Loovens-Capaldi, Sinclair-Scimeca-McPhail-Ramsey, Thompson-Hasselbaink.
The only action of the opening half hour was enough to send the admirable 600 Bluebirds in the crowd of 10,694 to snooze with only an Akinbiyi shot giving Enks a simple save to note but it came to life on 34 minutes when GRAHAM ALEXANDER played a one-two with Andy Cole on a run and finished smartly. City' didn't seem concerned as a linesman flag was raised but the ref overruled him and awarded the goal sparking protests. The player offside - Akinbiyi - was judged not to be interfering but it's natural to stop if a flag is raised. All of this was a prelude to a very unexpected 2nd half.
The game looked up on 53 minutes for Cardiff as Burnley doubled their lead with City offering little resistance - other than neat ineffective football - as Blake, Akinbiyi and COLE linked up smartly with the latter turning into an unguarded net from close range.
However within three minutes, it was 2-1 as JOE LEDLEY on as a half-time sub for the injured Steve McPhail converted a penalty with Trevor Sinclair making the most of being caught in the box.
City had perked up and added more pace when Whittingham replaced a poor Hasselbaink and 60 seconds later, they levelled it with AARON RAMSEY's 1st ever Bluebirds goal and a quality strike with a blistering 15 yard finish.
Cardiff looked the only winner at this stage even though Akinbiyi missed an open goal after Cole made Enckleman save but they fell behind again and conceded three goals in three successive games for the first time in 23 years with CLARK CARLISLE heading home unmarked from a Robbie Blake corner needlessly given away by Darren Purse with only 4 minutes to go.
The Bluebirds weren't finished though and, for the second time, scored three minutes after conceding as Whittingham's cross pinged in the box, Thommo and CALDWELL clashed and the ball deflected in off the latter for an o.g.
That should have been it but there was a twist in the tale and crazy drama as Darren Purse lost control on halfway and then caught Andy Cole with an ugly challenge, mistimed many believe, as the latter was set to steal the ball away. Purse, who has had the most hapless season possible characterised by being dropped from the team with an error-strewn game, own goals, missed penalties, red cards was shown a straight red which means he misses Wembley. Andy Cole didn't help persistently badgering the ref over the challenge. A crazy thing to do at the death of a meaningless game but if any player was likely to do something silly with a Cup Final around the corner, there's always a chance Purse will be that man.
It still wasn't finished as Purse went down the tunnel and was followed by Andy Cole chasing him down, followed by Hasselbaink and Johnson from the bench and followed by some coppers. Both sides have played this down but Cole never returned to the pitch leaving both sides with 10 men to finish.
The result leaves City in 13th and means a Top 10 place in now out of reach with only Barnsley at home next Sunday afternoon to go. It's another mid-table finish, exactly as it has been every year since we returned to the Championship in 2003.
They came the mayhem in the form of six goals, controversy, twice City fighting back from behind to draw 3-3 and the bitter twist as the end as Darren Purse got a straight red card which will rule him out of the F.A. Cup Final in an incident that sparked chaotic scenes.
Dave Jones claims Cardiff are playing like they have a Cup Final on their minds. Conceding 9 goals in 3 games over 8 days after only 6 conceded in the previous 10 games tells you that alone. But he is also selecting teams with the Cup Final in mind.
Among those rested today were Kevin McNaughton, Gavin Rae, Roger Johnson, Joe Ledley and Peter Whittingham who all found themselves on the subs bench, no sign of back-up keeper Michael Oakes, as City lined up with Enckleman, Blake-Purse-Loovens-Capaldi, Sinclair-Scimeca-McPhail-Ramsey, Thompson-Hasselbaink.
The only action of the opening half hour was enough to send the admirable 600 Bluebirds in the crowd of 10,694 to snooze with only an Akinbiyi shot giving Enks a simple save to note but it came to life on 34 minutes when GRAHAM ALEXANDER played a one-two with Andy Cole on a run and finished smartly. City' didn't seem concerned as a linesman flag was raised but the ref overruled him and awarded the goal sparking protests. The player offside - Akinbiyi - was judged not to be interfering but it's natural to stop if a flag is raised. All of this was a prelude to a very unexpected 2nd half.
The game looked up on 53 minutes for Cardiff as Burnley doubled their lead with City offering little resistance - other than neat ineffective football - as Blake, Akinbiyi and COLE linked up smartly with the latter turning into an unguarded net from close range.
However within three minutes, it was 2-1 as JOE LEDLEY on as a half-time sub for the injured Steve McPhail converted a penalty with Trevor Sinclair making the most of being caught in the box.
City had perked up and added more pace when Whittingham replaced a poor Hasselbaink and 60 seconds later, they levelled it with AARON RAMSEY's 1st ever Bluebirds goal and a quality strike with a blistering 15 yard finish.
Cardiff looked the only winner at this stage even though Akinbiyi missed an open goal after Cole made Enckleman save but they fell behind again and conceded three goals in three successive games for the first time in 23 years with CLARK CARLISLE heading home unmarked from a Robbie Blake corner needlessly given away by Darren Purse with only 4 minutes to go.
The Bluebirds weren't finished though and, for the second time, scored three minutes after conceding as Whittingham's cross pinged in the box, Thommo and CALDWELL clashed and the ball deflected in off the latter for an o.g.
That should have been it but there was a twist in the tale and crazy drama as Darren Purse lost control on halfway and then caught Andy Cole with an ugly challenge, mistimed many believe, as the latter was set to steal the ball away. Purse, who has had the most hapless season possible characterised by being dropped from the team with an error-strewn game, own goals, missed penalties, red cards was shown a straight red which means he misses Wembley. Andy Cole didn't help persistently badgering the ref over the challenge. A crazy thing to do at the death of a meaningless game but if any player was likely to do something silly with a Cup Final around the corner, there's always a chance Purse will be that man.
It still wasn't finished as Purse went down the tunnel and was followed by Andy Cole chasing him down, followed by Hasselbaink and Johnson from the bench and followed by some coppers. Both sides have played this down but Cole never returned to the pitch leaving both sides with 10 men to finish.
The result leaves City in 13th and means a Top 10 place in now out of reach with only Barnsley at home next Sunday afternoon to go. It's another mid-table finish, exactly as it has been every year since we returned to the Championship in 2003.
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