Championship Game 1 - CARDIFF CITY 4 Scunthorpe United 0 (match report)

WE ARE TOP

OF THE LEAGUE,

SAID WE ARE TOP

OF THE LEAGUE!

Cardiff City demolished Scunthorpe 4-0 (and it could have been more) to open Championship football at the new stadium in emphatic style. Michael Chopra scored twice and was denied a hat-trick only by bad luck and a goalpost, Jay Bothroyd targeted to help make it 3-0 and game over by the interval while Peter Whittingham rounded off the afternoon with a late penalty.

Got to be honest, I wasn’t sure I was ready for a new season waking Saturday morning. Still haven’t got over City’s crushing capitulation – and tossing it all away – at the end of last season while decent summer weather in early August felt like I should be doing something else instead of football. Still, the chance to wear shorts and flip flops down the City was not to be missed.

But here we go again - a new Championship season which, on paper anyway, appears to be as wide open as Jordan’s legs. No clear favourites, no certainties to go down, anyone can beat anyone and Cardiff City appear to be as capable of being stranded below halfway as they are of being in the play-offs.

Today took us nowhere nearer knowing where our destiny lies, it was just a hugely enjoyable occasion, because if City could have hand-picked opponents to help get a flying start to the 2009/10 campaign, it’s a fair bet Scunthorpe at home would have headed the list. You can, though, only beat what’s in front of you and City did it in style reminding us all just how good a side they are and can be.

The beauty of a new stadium only across the road to Ninian Park is that we can still head to the same watering holes and Canton was doing a roaring trade both in the pubs and with those who bought tinnies in Tesco and hit the streets. Still can’t get used to those plastic glasses they now serve us which makes town more appealing for a pre-match bevy anyway.

It did feel surreal walking under the railway bridges and past Ninian Park to go to the new ground. It is just me surprised they still haven’t taken down the fences and taken away the portkabins creating the eyesore on Leckwith Road?

Bearing in mind the prices of food and drink in the ground, it was funny to see many keep on walking to Asda, Greggs, Subway and even Costco in the retail park. But is it a surprise when a hotdog and drink in the stadium cost £7 but the same in Costco with unlimited refills costs £1.47?

However even the most hard-bitten Ninian Park-ite, whilst bemoaning the lack of a clock/time display, looking at a “big” screen that’s too small and doesn’t show any replays and counting the embarrassing sight of meagre few prawn sandwich brigaders in the Premier Club, had to admit with the new ground being light years ahead … a bit like moving from grabbing grans in the Wynford Hotel to suddenly getting into the VIP of a superclub.

Big areas under the stand to meet/chat, better seats, better views, enormous toilets and, most importantly of all, the atmosphere/buzz as the afternoon developed was more than a match for the old place.

++++++TEAMS++++++

CARDIFF CITY were missing Kevin McNaughton but were otherwise at full strength with Ledley and Bothroyd recovered from last week’s knocks … providing your definition of full strength are 2 players who want away and a squad light by at least 2 midfielders and a striker. Mark Hudson was named Captain with Ledley’s future still uncertain but the biggest talking point was not who put the **** in Scunthorpe but who put the t**t into Ross McCormack? His prima donna antics had him destined for the bench but illness to Chris Burke saw him get a surprise start that had audible boos when announced but Ross spent the afternoon showing his talents and skills, talking with his feet, and had the faithful chanting his name long before the end.

From this season, 7 substitutes can now be named so City lined up with: Marshall, Quinn-Hudson-Gerrard-Kennedy, McCormack-Ledley-McPhail-Whittingham, Chopra-Bothroyd. Subs: Enckelman, Burke, Capaldi, Comminges, Gyepes, Magennis, Rae.

SCUNTHORPE are currently yo-yoing between the Championship and League One in the same way as West Brom do between the Prem and this level. That they do it at all with crowds rarely above 6,000 and often much lower is testimony to a well run club and the organised, entertaining football by manager Nigel Adkins.

Returning to this level after a dramatic 3-2 Wembley play-off win over Millwall, they talk openly of the “C” word, consolidation, being their aim for the season as it’s not quite acceptable to admit the real aim is an “S” word, survival. They have no star names but their strikers Paul Hayes and Gary Hooper shared 43 goals last league season so needed attention.

Their side were Murphy, Morris, Jones, Mirfin, Byrne, Sparrow, McCann, Togwell, Woolford, Hayes, Hooper.

++++++MATCH++++++

Despite Scunnie bringing the average Big Brother 2009 tv audience with them – about 250! – they were in good voice and so were City. The afternoon commenced with a minute’s applause for legendary manager Bobby Robson and it was heartening to hear City fans chanting, “There’s only one Bobby Robson” for a former England boss but that’s the respect he’s earned.

City kicked-off and Jay Bothroyd took all of three seconds to end up on the floor for the first time but the resulting sweep upfield by Scunthorpe’s Jones caught City square and Hooper was one on one against Marshall but the keeper saved his effort to prevent City going behind with 10 seconds.

Cardiff were playing the sharper football with quick feet, passing and movement but it wasn’t producing chances while the visitors tested Marshall a couple more times in the opening section of the game.

Nerves settled on 21 minutes as the crowd of 22,273 – City’s biggest home gate for over 30 years – as Cardiff forged ahead with a freak goal but from a classy move. On the wing, Ross McCormack showed all his class to turn and get away from Scunnie markers in the tightest position on the touchline from halfway, then swept forward and sent a diagonal ball across the edge of the area which Whittingham shot first time but his effort clipped CHOPRA on the back of his heel, looped in the air, over helpless keeper Murphy and in you go, you beauty.

A couple of minutes later, Chopra was so unlucky not to have doubled his and City’s tally as he cleverly turned a defender with a dropping ball 30 yards out, advanced and shot wide of Murphy seemed perfectly placed but hit the inside of his post and was clearly after rolling across goal.

City were in the groove now and while Scunthorpe looked useful getting forward, the evidence was compelling that their defence were unable to compete against the dazzling one touch football and general play of Chops, Jay, Joe Ledley, Whitts and Ross while Steve McPhail was also loving it out there and putting on some showboat pieces too.

Just after the half-hour, it was 2-0 as another smart move forward saw Ledley’s shot across goal touched by Murphy but there was JAY BOTHROYD to scramble it home at the far post and celebrate like he had scored a 30 yard blinder.

Scunthorpe were made to realise that there is more chance of England salvaging a result from the Ashes 4^th Test as them leaving South Wales with anything as CHOPRA blasted home in the final moments of first half added time and a terrific goal it was. Some blinding one touch passes and flicks carved up the visitors defence like a Christmas Day turkey and made them realise they were on for a stuffing. The moved completed with Bothroyd’s backheel past a weary defender, Chops shimmying past another and rifling his effort into the roof of the Family Stand net.

Half-time: CITY 3 SCUNTHORPE 0

A presentation group came out half-time just as the sprinklers popped up and gave them a drenching, the same thing happened before the start too. That’s entertainment.

The second half was always going to be a less intense affair but with strong sun and high heat, the players certainly put in a shift. Joe Ledley went off feeling a knock and he was also unwell so Rae had a half.

Scunthorpe returned with an expected response but even though Mark Hudson made some Spencer Prior/Darren Purse-esque gaffes, they never fully tested “Dai” Marshall.

Instead, all the quality and chances came from City. Best showboating moment was the rejuvenated McPhail’s back-heel flick beating a closing down forward on the edge of his box although McCormack’s majestic flicks and turns were akin to a Spanish matador as he teased players and beat them time and again.

Only a couple of big saves, blocked shots, goalmouth scrambles and more saved Scunthorpe falling to a heavier defeat. Their defence looks set for a torrid season on this evidence but City’s attacking play was a joy to watch and packed with invention and quality.

More subs followed with Chops and Jay withdrawn, Magennis getting a league debut and Chris Burke providing late torment to the visitors. Indeed, it was one 90^th minute run that saw Burke ghost past his marker yet again and dragged back into the box for a penalty.

Some wondered if Ross would get it given a result beyond doubt and Chops off but up stepped PETER WHITTINGHAM to take it like it was a practise kick rolling it one way and sending the keeper the other. Out walked the Scunnie boys … with 20,000 waving them on their way.

Superb afternoon, brilliant entertainment and what a start to the season. WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE chanted the crowd and indeed we are, with Swansea in 23^rd as well making it more enjoyable.

(Sidenote – Do we really have to persist in anti-Swansea chants that have creeped in over the last year or two? I can’t stand them. The most nauseous being the Stand Up if You Hate Swansea one. Why? I can’t even be bothered about them! It’s so small minded and we’re better than that, leave that stuff to the Jacks)

That table made fantastic reading with 8 of the opening 11 Championship fixtures ending in draws, City have already opened up a 2 point gap over 4^th … only 83 more points needed for promotion and surely City won’t blow the play-off places this time either!

A great start in which every man played very well although Whittingham wasn’t that influential, Hudson could be a concern against better attacking sides. On the plus side, Quinn had an excellent match but the plaudits today should go to our attacking talent who put Scunnie to the sword.

Photos can be seen at

http://nigelblues.blogspot.com/2009/08/cardiff-city-4-scunthorpe-united-0-in.html