Was I dreaming or did I really see it? Cardiff City score three and Eddie Johnson standing head and shoulders above the rest as Man of the Match. Apparently, it really happened. An excellent City display – they were as good tonight as they were awful at Southampton last outing – re-ingoted The Bluebirds play off and promotion credentials with a 3-1 success against a feisty ill-disciplined Barnsley side who departed Ninian Park having broke an all-comers record for second half free-kicks and fouls conceded.
Ahead inside 4 minutes through skipper Joe Ledley, that lead doubled by Chops before the interval in which City were superb and experiencing few problems. A pleasing victory looked routine victory until sub Macken scored for The Tykes within 10 seconds of coming on but any fightback swiftly ended as Teymourian – a man on a night long mission to be sent off – finally got his red card and City’s win was sealed by an outstanding Peter Whittingham finish in the dying stages.
The three goals scored was the first time City had achieved it all season – the last Championship side to do so – the last time they got 3 was, ironically against Barnsley at Ninian Park at the end of last season. All that was missing was a goal for Eddie in what some hailed as his finest hour but only will say has been his only hour … so far.
Cold, wet and miserable – that was the weather heading to Ninian Park but also the temporary mood around the club after a poor draw with QPR last midweek and a shocker at Southampton last weekend. Yet thy knew this was a big chance with 8 of the remaining 14 games at home, 2 of them this week and they start of a run which sees 6 of the next 8 league games at Ninian Park.
Dave Jones promised changes having read the riot act and settled for three. In defence, Darcy Blake had a surprise call in place of Comminges while McNauthon remains injured (maybe it’s just me but I felt Comminges was a touch unlucky). Chris Burke was injured so Paul Parry reverted to his usual role having been a stand-in striker while up front, Eddie Johnson was given what must be getting close to his final chance and was partnered by Michael Chopra sufficiently recovered from a heel knock. The subs bench again included no keeper but also, once again, no Darren Purse either.
CARDIFF CITY: Konstantopoulos; Blake-Gyepes-Roger Johnson-Kennedy; Parry- Rae-Ledley-Whittingham; Eddie Johnson-Chopra. Subs: Capaldi-Comminges-McCormack-Quincy-Scimeca.
Barnsley have been a team to relish playing recently. Regularly beaten at Ninian Park, losers in that momentous F.A. Cup semi-final at Wembley almost a year ago and City gained a double having triumphed at Oakwell early season with a Peter Whittingham goal. With a limited budget and with respect, they make up the Championship numbers and often feature around the drop zone but have skilful players and are more than capable of shocking anyone.
This setback took them to within 2 points and 2 places of relegation but they were confident pre-game having been unbeaten in 3 with victory at Sheffield Wednesday on their last awayday and having beaten QPR last Saturday at home, a task City failed miserably to do last Wednesday night.
BARNSLEY: Muller; Hassell-Foster-Guedes-Kozluk; Campbell-Ryce-Colace- Teymourian-Hammill-Mifsud-Bogdanovic. They operated a narrow 4-3-1-2 style system with Campbell-Ryce playing ‘in the hole’ between midfield and forwards. To be honest, tricky as it looked, I preferred him there than out wide taking on Darcy & co.
The crowd looked well down as the teams came out but a last second surge saw the attendance at 15,902 – down on the usual but Barnsley brought less than 100, the weather was poor and there’s a lot of upcoming games in these tough financial times.
City were 2 games without a goal but took just 4 minutes to change that with a dream start. A free-kick saw Roger Johnson ghost behind the defence with late run, his first header across the box came back to him and his second header was scrambled behind. That corner saw Chops miss a point blank free header but Johnson was there again to send across goal where JOE LEDLEY swept home from 8 yards.
Barnsley were playing enterprising football but City bossed them where it mattered while Cardiff rediscovered the high tempo, quick passing and movement game which had all bar evaporated in their stumbling and sub-standard last couple of displays. The fans were warming to City’s football and, particularly, the touches, flicks and commitment of Eddie Johnson who started well and got even better. They also enjoyed abusing Simon Davey, the Jack Barnsley manager, who himself enjoyed abusing the officials while the Grange End enjoyed abusing a ‘fatty’ in the Barnsley support. Everyone was happy then!
Cardiff threatened every attack and Eddie was so close to scoring, failing to connect with a superb Chops ball across the face of goal while Chops himself was wrongly ruled offside as he bore down on goal having been played in by Rae. Muller proved he was as tasty as the yoghurts bearing his name with the first of several stunning saves, this one to deny Peter Whittingham’s superb free-kick which was low and into the corner of goal but save of the half went to Dimi who superbly tipped over a Mifsud 20 yard smash which dipped viciously late on.
Meanwhile, with most of the ground now shouting Eddie, Eddie, Eddie, he nodded just wide from a Paul Parry corner before getting booked after being pushed and throwing his hand up for a silly handball meeting a cross. I thought he was doing an impression of Statue of Liberty personally, kinder souls suggested Superman.
City needed a second goal and deserved it as well so Parc Nin was thrilled to see it duly arrive 2 minutes before the interval. Peter Whittingham seemed to have a shoot on sight policy and it paid dividends as his dig from 25 yards skidded on the greasy surface, Muller could only block and there was the ace poacher MICHAEL CHOPRA to sweep home form 5 yards.
Half-time:
F.A. CUP SEMI-FINAL WINNERS 1
F.A. CUP SEMI-FINAL LOSERS 0
It was testimony to Eddie Johnson’s first half display in which Barnsley’s defenders didn’t seem to know how to play him or dispossess him that Sousa, his marker, was taken off at the interval and Darren Moore who looks more suited to door duties at Oceana was asked to have a go. He was physical, pulled, grabbed, bullied – same as always with him - but also came off 2nd best as the Cult of Eddie was unstoppable.
The game remained a lively and highly entertaining contest and both side had early chances. Mifsud, losing to City for the 2nd time in a month having been with Coventry when they were dispatched last month, broke behind the defence and his looping cross shot missed Dimi’s far post but was close while, at the other end, Eddie Eddie Eddie almost profited as Muller and one of his defenders hesitated dealing with a forward pass, Eddie’s boot got between them and directed the ball across goal. Eddie also went down to enormous penalty roars but it wasn’t to be.
Barnsley had no option but to press City so the game stayed open but took a dramatic twist just past the hour as JON MACKEN entered as a sub as a free-kick was about to be launched in City’s box. In it went, Moore’s header was blocked and Macken, on the turn, fired high into the net despite Dimi’s best attempts and made it 2-1 within less than 10 seconds.
Incredibly, that was the first goal conceded at Ninian Park in 8 games and 733 minutes – the last side to do so were Reading last November.
It may have been time for some panic but Barnsley shot themselves in the foot. Eddie Eddie Eddie burst past one challenge and was about to unload cutting in when he was taken down on the edge of the box. Enter the loony Teymourian who had been spoken to a few times by the ref and was already on a yellow card for blocking a first half free-kick to get involved again and, inexplicably, give Chops a slap in the chops all in front of the ref.
A straight red followed and the Fulham on-loan man refused to leave the pitch for a while despite 15,000 cheerios being waved at him although one man not joining in was their boss Simon Davey who was himself sent to the stands.
The resulting free-kick saw Muller make another wonderful flying save as Chops executed a perfect up and over with pace as well. That turned out to be Chops last meaningful action as his heel problem surfaced again as he limped off ominously with McCormack coming on.
Although down to 10, Barnsley kept 2 men up front and often made it 3 so you couldn’t fault Dave Jones for giving the pacy Quincy the final 15 minutes (for Parry) to run at The Tykes defence with pace and freedom and he took it.
Taking the game to the visitors, City were trying everything to kill it off. Quincy wide, Quincy at Muller, Whittingham wide, Johnson blocked, Quincy dancing around defenders and bringing another superb flying stop from Muller, Whitts effort from one side going for a throw in on the other and then Gavin Rae sending the crossbar wobbling like the dear departed Shakey Man’s hand with his 25 yard howitzer which Joe Ledley volleyed perfectly over the top of the Grange End as he hit the rebound first time from 20 yards.
Finally, after 40 league and cup games, City got their precious third goal in the 89th minute which was celebrated like hitting the jackpot at Las Vegas and what a peach it was to achieve it in style.
It all began as Dimi failed to come for a lofted ball into City’s box, Roger Johnson had to urgently head away under unnecessary pressure. The ball broke for Kennedy who fed Quincy who again danced and went direct at pace down the line, he moved the ball inside for Eddie Johnson who stayed calm and played in PETER WHITTINGHAM who Paul Parry or Jay Bothroyd-like cut inside the last defender and curled the ball beautifully around Muller and in off his far post. Nine City players celebrated while Johnson and Dimi started a shouting match over the incident that unwittingly led to the killer goal.
Five minutes of added time were added, nearly all of it caused by a barrage of free-kicks and niggly fouls given away by Barnsley which they continually perform, even when 2-1 down in the dying stages that saw them wasting their own time. The bad tempered side of the play extending to the dugouts as well were Davey and his assistant moaned at anything and everything but at least that allowed City fans to pour more scorn on the whingeing fat Jack.
That added time belonged to City as well as dynamic Eddie – now full of confidence – was making Moore look silly while Muller made one final superb stop to halt a Whitts piledriver.
Big questions were asked of City tonight and they answered them in full in a big team display. Dimi looked more than competent in goals, the defensive unit – albeit with some stray distribution – performed well with special mentions to Darcy who slotted in very well at right back plus Roger and Gabor who must be the Championship’s best central pairing, Glenn who anyone?
Central mid ran the game and were back to their best, Joe looking particularly sharp, and the wide men played in fits and starts but certainly caused enough damage while Chops showed what an important player he is while Eddie has now set a standard that has to be the very least we expect from him. On tonight’s form, it would even be hard to drop him for Jay which speaks volumes.
Excellent night, excellent game and performance by the boys who are now back in 4th and must surely use this as a platform for a concerted charge. The chase is truly on.
Ahead inside 4 minutes through skipper Joe Ledley, that lead doubled by Chops before the interval in which City were superb and experiencing few problems. A pleasing victory looked routine victory until sub Macken scored for The Tykes within 10 seconds of coming on but any fightback swiftly ended as Teymourian – a man on a night long mission to be sent off – finally got his red card and City’s win was sealed by an outstanding Peter Whittingham finish in the dying stages.
The three goals scored was the first time City had achieved it all season – the last Championship side to do so – the last time they got 3 was, ironically against Barnsley at Ninian Park at the end of last season. All that was missing was a goal for Eddie in what some hailed as his finest hour but only will say has been his only hour … so far.
Cold, wet and miserable – that was the weather heading to Ninian Park but also the temporary mood around the club after a poor draw with QPR last midweek and a shocker at Southampton last weekend. Yet thy knew this was a big chance with 8 of the remaining 14 games at home, 2 of them this week and they start of a run which sees 6 of the next 8 league games at Ninian Park.
Dave Jones promised changes having read the riot act and settled for three. In defence, Darcy Blake had a surprise call in place of Comminges while McNauthon remains injured (maybe it’s just me but I felt Comminges was a touch unlucky). Chris Burke was injured so Paul Parry reverted to his usual role having been a stand-in striker while up front, Eddie Johnson was given what must be getting close to his final chance and was partnered by Michael Chopra sufficiently recovered from a heel knock. The subs bench again included no keeper but also, once again, no Darren Purse either.
CARDIFF CITY: Konstantopoulos; Blake-Gyepes-Roger Johnson-Kennedy; Parry- Rae-Ledley-Whittingham; Eddie Johnson-Chopra. Subs: Capaldi-Comminges-McCormack-Quincy-Scimeca.
Barnsley have been a team to relish playing recently. Regularly beaten at Ninian Park, losers in that momentous F.A. Cup semi-final at Wembley almost a year ago and City gained a double having triumphed at Oakwell early season with a Peter Whittingham goal. With a limited budget and with respect, they make up the Championship numbers and often feature around the drop zone but have skilful players and are more than capable of shocking anyone.
This setback took them to within 2 points and 2 places of relegation but they were confident pre-game having been unbeaten in 3 with victory at Sheffield Wednesday on their last awayday and having beaten QPR last Saturday at home, a task City failed miserably to do last Wednesday night.
BARNSLEY: Muller; Hassell-Foster-Guedes-Kozluk; Campbell-Ryce-Colace- Teymourian-Hammill-Mifsud-Bogdanovic. They operated a narrow 4-3-1-2 style system with Campbell-Ryce playing ‘in the hole’ between midfield and forwards. To be honest, tricky as it looked, I preferred him there than out wide taking on Darcy & co.
The crowd looked well down as the teams came out but a last second surge saw the attendance at 15,902 – down on the usual but Barnsley brought less than 100, the weather was poor and there’s a lot of upcoming games in these tough financial times.
City were 2 games without a goal but took just 4 minutes to change that with a dream start. A free-kick saw Roger Johnson ghost behind the defence with late run, his first header across the box came back to him and his second header was scrambled behind. That corner saw Chops miss a point blank free header but Johnson was there again to send across goal where JOE LEDLEY swept home from 8 yards.
Barnsley were playing enterprising football but City bossed them where it mattered while Cardiff rediscovered the high tempo, quick passing and movement game which had all bar evaporated in their stumbling and sub-standard last couple of displays. The fans were warming to City’s football and, particularly, the touches, flicks and commitment of Eddie Johnson who started well and got even better. They also enjoyed abusing Simon Davey, the Jack Barnsley manager, who himself enjoyed abusing the officials while the Grange End enjoyed abusing a ‘fatty’ in the Barnsley support. Everyone was happy then!
Cardiff threatened every attack and Eddie was so close to scoring, failing to connect with a superb Chops ball across the face of goal while Chops himself was wrongly ruled offside as he bore down on goal having been played in by Rae. Muller proved he was as tasty as the yoghurts bearing his name with the first of several stunning saves, this one to deny Peter Whittingham’s superb free-kick which was low and into the corner of goal but save of the half went to Dimi who superbly tipped over a Mifsud 20 yard smash which dipped viciously late on.
Meanwhile, with most of the ground now shouting Eddie, Eddie, Eddie, he nodded just wide from a Paul Parry corner before getting booked after being pushed and throwing his hand up for a silly handball meeting a cross. I thought he was doing an impression of Statue of Liberty personally, kinder souls suggested Superman.
City needed a second goal and deserved it as well so Parc Nin was thrilled to see it duly arrive 2 minutes before the interval. Peter Whittingham seemed to have a shoot on sight policy and it paid dividends as his dig from 25 yards skidded on the greasy surface, Muller could only block and there was the ace poacher MICHAEL CHOPRA to sweep home form 5 yards.
Half-time:
F.A. CUP SEMI-FINAL WINNERS 1
F.A. CUP SEMI-FINAL LOSERS 0
It was testimony to Eddie Johnson’s first half display in which Barnsley’s defenders didn’t seem to know how to play him or dispossess him that Sousa, his marker, was taken off at the interval and Darren Moore who looks more suited to door duties at Oceana was asked to have a go. He was physical, pulled, grabbed, bullied – same as always with him - but also came off 2nd best as the Cult of Eddie was unstoppable.
The game remained a lively and highly entertaining contest and both side had early chances. Mifsud, losing to City for the 2nd time in a month having been with Coventry when they were dispatched last month, broke behind the defence and his looping cross shot missed Dimi’s far post but was close while, at the other end, Eddie Eddie Eddie almost profited as Muller and one of his defenders hesitated dealing with a forward pass, Eddie’s boot got between them and directed the ball across goal. Eddie also went down to enormous penalty roars but it wasn’t to be.
Barnsley had no option but to press City so the game stayed open but took a dramatic twist just past the hour as JON MACKEN entered as a sub as a free-kick was about to be launched in City’s box. In it went, Moore’s header was blocked and Macken, on the turn, fired high into the net despite Dimi’s best attempts and made it 2-1 within less than 10 seconds.
Incredibly, that was the first goal conceded at Ninian Park in 8 games and 733 minutes – the last side to do so were Reading last November.
It may have been time for some panic but Barnsley shot themselves in the foot. Eddie Eddie Eddie burst past one challenge and was about to unload cutting in when he was taken down on the edge of the box. Enter the loony Teymourian who had been spoken to a few times by the ref and was already on a yellow card for blocking a first half free-kick to get involved again and, inexplicably, give Chops a slap in the chops all in front of the ref.
A straight red followed and the Fulham on-loan man refused to leave the pitch for a while despite 15,000 cheerios being waved at him although one man not joining in was their boss Simon Davey who was himself sent to the stands.
The resulting free-kick saw Muller make another wonderful flying save as Chops executed a perfect up and over with pace as well. That turned out to be Chops last meaningful action as his heel problem surfaced again as he limped off ominously with McCormack coming on.
Although down to 10, Barnsley kept 2 men up front and often made it 3 so you couldn’t fault Dave Jones for giving the pacy Quincy the final 15 minutes (for Parry) to run at The Tykes defence with pace and freedom and he took it.
Taking the game to the visitors, City were trying everything to kill it off. Quincy wide, Quincy at Muller, Whittingham wide, Johnson blocked, Quincy dancing around defenders and bringing another superb flying stop from Muller, Whitts effort from one side going for a throw in on the other and then Gavin Rae sending the crossbar wobbling like the dear departed Shakey Man’s hand with his 25 yard howitzer which Joe Ledley volleyed perfectly over the top of the Grange End as he hit the rebound first time from 20 yards.
Finally, after 40 league and cup games, City got their precious third goal in the 89th minute which was celebrated like hitting the jackpot at Las Vegas and what a peach it was to achieve it in style.
It all began as Dimi failed to come for a lofted ball into City’s box, Roger Johnson had to urgently head away under unnecessary pressure. The ball broke for Kennedy who fed Quincy who again danced and went direct at pace down the line, he moved the ball inside for Eddie Johnson who stayed calm and played in PETER WHITTINGHAM who Paul Parry or Jay Bothroyd-like cut inside the last defender and curled the ball beautifully around Muller and in off his far post. Nine City players celebrated while Johnson and Dimi started a shouting match over the incident that unwittingly led to the killer goal.
Five minutes of added time were added, nearly all of it caused by a barrage of free-kicks and niggly fouls given away by Barnsley which they continually perform, even when 2-1 down in the dying stages that saw them wasting their own time. The bad tempered side of the play extending to the dugouts as well were Davey and his assistant moaned at anything and everything but at least that allowed City fans to pour more scorn on the whingeing fat Jack.
That added time belonged to City as well as dynamic Eddie – now full of confidence – was making Moore look silly while Muller made one final superb stop to halt a Whitts piledriver.
Big questions were asked of City tonight and they answered them in full in a big team display. Dimi looked more than competent in goals, the defensive unit – albeit with some stray distribution – performed well with special mentions to Darcy who slotted in very well at right back plus Roger and Gabor who must be the Championship’s best central pairing, Glenn who anyone?
Central mid ran the game and were back to their best, Joe looking particularly sharp, and the wide men played in fits and starts but certainly caused enough damage while Chops showed what an important player he is while Eddie has now set a standard that has to be the very least we expect from him. On tonight’s form, it would even be hard to drop him for Jay which speaks volumes.
Excellent night, excellent game and performance by the boys who are now back in 4th and must surely use this as a platform for a concerted charge. The chase is truly on.
1 comment:
Allright mate,just want to say its a cracking blog-keep up the good work.For a lifelong City fan living in Germany(worse luck)it keeps me well informed and up to date and not to mention a little home (Ninian)sick.Hope we can do it this season,fingers crossed,good luck.Cheers!
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