REPORT: AFC BOURNEMOUTH 1 CARDIFF CITY 2 - CARLING CUP ROUND ONE

CARDIFF CITY comfortably picked off The Cherries to progress into Round Two of the Carling Cup with a 2-1 win at League Two A.F.C. Bournemouth but could have made it easier still.

A Paul Parry double inside the first 13 minutes, 10 shots in the first 20 minutes and fluent attacking football suggested a goal glut was to take place but poor defending allowed the hosts back into the game just before the half-hour. However that pretty much turned out it be it with Cardiff happy to cruise to victory while Bournemouth huffed and puffed without ever threatening City's Tom Heaton in goals.

Dave Jones had notably paid lip service in the first round of this Cup and all signs were that the squad would be rotated and possibly involve an Academy player or two as well with 7 substitutes allowed in the competition. It was therefore a big surprise to the 400 or so travellers from South Wales at The Fitness First Stadium (or the Stadium Formerly Known As Dean Court) that 9 of the side who kicked off the Championship against Southampton were on the field and the only changes were swapping forwards as Parry and Bothroyd started while Thommo and McCormack had a rest on the bench.

Bournemouth's financial plight saw a point deduction help relegate them to League Two and they started this season on -17 points after more financial troubles. Just as well Luton have -30 and Rotherham also had -17 to help their chances of league survival. Their problems weren't helped as City blitzed them from the first whistle in a contest that had a men against boys look about it as City led 2-0 after 13 minutes.

Both goals came from flowing City moves but assisted by Bournemouth defensive howlers. The first on 7 minutes saw a ball catch AFC's central defenders napping, PAUL PARRY got behind them and finished comfortably slotting the ball home under little pressure. 6 minutes later, a poor back-pass, another defender sliced the ball in the air and it fell to PAUL PARRY who nodded over Bournemouth's keeper for City's and his second. Cardiff were playing beautifully, peppering efforts on goal so it was a real shock as JO KUFFOUR ran past 3 defenders, got wide of McNaughton and fired past Heaton on 28 minutes. Just before half-time, Bothroyd should have wrapped up the game but somehow hit the post from 2 yards with an open goal facing him.

The first half was action packed but the second period turned out to be largely actionless. Bournemouth had a lot of the ball but found it impossible to penetrate City while Cardiff were quite happy to play within themselves, possibly easing themselves home without using too much energy having the first team on the field. Kevin McNaughton, Steve McPhail and Gavin Rae took knocks, hopefully none serious, while Thommo, McCormack and Comminges got late substitute action.

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