CARDIFF CITY fell to their 2nd successive defeat and their first on their Championship travels this season with a 1-0 defeat at Loftus Road to QPR but remain in 6th place ahead of Rangers on goal difference. The only goal came late from sub Gavin Mahon after City had battled almost an hour with 10 men after Darren Purse was controversially given a straight red card on 27 minutes while City's misery was compounded as Miguel Comminges was also sent off, another controversial decision, with his second yellow card in the dying minutes. Yet, in what admittedly was a poor scrappy encounter, it was City who played the better football and created more chances but luck appears to have deserted them at present.
With 5 players injured, City will be grateful that 4 men who didn't travel with the squad on Friday due to illness recovered to make it to the game on Saturday. The huge boost was the presence of Michael Chopra, back on loan, but there were surprises as Eddie Johnson started alongside him, Paul Parry was on the bench and Miguel Comminges got reinstated at left back. CARDIFF CITY: Heaton; McNaughton-Purse-Johnson, Roger-Comminges; Whittingham-Rae-McPhail-Ledley, Johnson,Eddie-Chopra. Subs were Enckleman-Blake-Brown-Gypes-Parry.
Rangers are inconsistent and not living up to their moneybags billing under the control of F1 owners and Indian steel tycoons. They recently sacked Ian Dowie and currently have ex-City man Gareth Ainsworth managing the side but remain inconsistent. QPR: Cerny; Stewart-Connolly-Hall-Ramage; Ledesma-Rowlands-Cook-Tommasi; Blackstock-Di Carmine.
City, playing in their mulberry wine coloured away kit, made a dominant start willed on by 1,400+ travelling Bluebirds in a crowd of just over 13,000, winning a corner inside the first 10 seconds and another a couple of minutes later, Roger Johnson heading the first over the bar. Eddie Johnson started well and showed signs of linking with Chopra who created City's most dangerous moment just before the quarter hour but shot just wide appealing for a corner. QPR, by contrast, created no early problems and no effort at goal until an unnecessary free-kick saw Lee Cook hit straight at Heaton.
Cardiff remained lively and almost opened their account at the quarter mark of the game with a smart move involving Rae, Comminges and Whittingham who found room for McPhail, his curling shot was touched wide by the Rangers keeper.
A relatively quiet game, with some sections of the Rangers support expressing their disapproval of their side's display, came to life in controversial style as Darren Purse and Cook went for a 50/50 ball, Purse caught his opponent with no hint of malice and no protests for Rangers fans or players but ref Les Probert amazingly brandished a straight red card. It was the ref's first red card awarded all season but seems certain to be one that Cardiff will appeal as nobody, other than the ref, appeared to believe it was deserving of that outcome. City wasted little time in bringing on centre-half Gabor Gypes but in a surprise move, Dave Jones opted to remove Joe Ledley from the game instead of one of the forwards with Eddie Johnson the favourite for most people. It was 4-4-1 but Chops was encouraged
The boldness of that decision almost paid out 5 minutes before the interval as McPhail won a loose ball, found Peter Whittingham and his powered drive narrowly clearing the bar. The rest of the half continued to see City have slightly the better of it and R's make no impression, it was not apparent that the home side had the extra man of the pitch.
City started the 2nd half as they did in the first period, playing good football and looking the more likely to score as Whittingham, Chopra and Eddie Johnson (twice) went close but Rangers, ominously but understandably, started to find a bit more space and exert pressure cajoled by Ainsworth to play more passing football but they struggled to do that but he was able to throw on 3 attacking substituions including the dangerous Buzaky and Agyemang.
On 72 minutes, those subs came closest to a breakthrough, Heaton parrying a Buzaky hit and Agyemang thankfully put wide when the chance was there on the rebound but back came City with Rae misfiring and Eddie Johnson heading over which proved to be his last action of his best City display as Paul Parry replaced him.
It was shaping up for a late decider and there was a feeling City may pay for not making more of their bright build up play, good football and half chances and, as pressure increased but still against the run of play, City finally cracked with 10 minutes remaining. The goal a simple cross headed home well by GAVIN MAHON.
Any hopes of a comeback went as Miguel Comminges collect two yellow cards moments apart, the second also controversial for comments made to a linesman leaving City to play the final 5 minutes with 9 men yet, in the final action, Cardiff still nearly grabbed the most unlikely draw as Cerny had to save a Roger Johnson header at a set piece.
A day to forget for City, their followers, management and players. Onwards and upwards, Crystal Palace at home next Saturday and City need a win.
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