CARDIFF CITY head north to Hillsborough promising a revnge mission after losing on the final day of last season to miss a Premiership play-off spot on goal difference. However it proved only to be words as City crashed 3-1 to Sheffield Wednesday and now find themselves and so after being Top of the Table after 4 games, they now find themselves in 9th five games later having lost 5 of their last 6 games, one being in the Carling Cup at Aston Villa. To make a bad afternoon worse, City also saw Joe Ledley sent off for two bookable offences.
+++TEAM NEWS+++
CCFC - Hudson and Gerrard haven't convinced as a defensive unit and many thought Gyepes would get a start after a good show at Aston Villa in midweek but Dave Jones preferred to give the under-fire pair another go. Post-game, that fire has only increased with scorn poured on DJ too.
However Jones opted for a tactical change rather his ingrained 4-4-2 but trying a fluid 4-3-3 come 4-5-1 unit with Marshall; Matthews-Gerrard-Hudson-Kennedy; Whittingham-Ledley-Rae; Burke-Bothroyd-Chopra. The subs bench underlined how limited City are at present - no attacking midfield option and a rookie kid forward.
SWFC - The Owls came into the game with 3 losses and a solitary point from their last 4 outings and not much love for their skipper and last season's Bluebirds skipper Darren Purse - he's also scored an own goal already this season, no change there then! However Purse out-performed Mark Hudson on the day which is quite damning.
++++ THE MATCH ++++
City can be accused of starting games too slowly and after going behind to Aston Villa inside 2 minutes on Wednesday night, Sheff Weds had to wait all of 4 minutes to score this time and, once again, defending was at fault as Hudson was turned far too easily by Varney and the skipper pulled him down just outside the box for a yellow card. The resulting ESAJAS free-kick went in low off a post with keeper Marshall not even attempting to move. Shocking stuff.
And it could have got much worse as The Owls hit the woodwork twice and City had two other let off but totally against the run of play, they levelled on 16 minutes as Bothroyd's flick on saw Chopra race clear and a charging Owls keeper Grant tug him. PETER WHITTINGHAM smartly converted the penalty. It was the first time all season that Cardiff had responded after going behind in a game.
Bluebird nerves settled and City started to have the better of it coming close twice and having Bothroyd and Chopra goal disallowed - the latter proving to be a completely wrong offside decision and causing further angst after City suffered the exact same fate at Villa Park in the week.
Half-time: SWFC 1 Cardiff City 1
Hopes were high that City would record 3 points but the second half was a complete disaster and started yet again with then loss of an early goal. Questions about our defending yet again as Esajas centred unchallenged and striker VARNEY was allowed to head home with no marker on him.
City got battered 2nd half and just didn't muster a shot on or off target. Any lingering hopes of a result were forgotten when Joe Ledley was dismissed for a second yellow card, City feeling his first card in the opening half was harsh while Wednesday secured victory as Esajas got his second assist, this time setting up CLARKE.
It could have been worse as the hosts peppered City's goal as the final on goal count was 12-1 in Wednesday's favour. Cardiff, Dave Jones and his men certainly look a sorry state right now.
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