CARDIFF CITY and DAVE JONES' only idea of consistency, it would seem, is to be consistently good or consistently bad and here we go again as City followed up Wednesday's 6-1 home spanking of Derby County with an equally 4-0 destruction of Watford at Vicarage Road, the Bluebirds first victory there in 11 attempts over 39 years.
A Peter Whittingham double opening the scoring with a penalty and grabbing a rare as rocking horse sh*t header, Adam Matthews' first goal - a 50 yard free-kick! - and a superb Jay Bothroyd finish truly stung the Hornets ... and, once again, City could have scored more than that.
Is there anyone however who can explain just how the club are able to start the season as early pace setters with 11 goals in 4 games, then fall away with 4 defeats out of 5 and only scoring twice to now hit back with 2 successive wins (and 3 out of 4) notching up 10 goals in 2 games??? However this stunnign victory sent City into the international break full of confidence and clear in 4th spot ahead of 2 winnable home games when the action resumes. Suddenly, it's all looking good again!
I went to a Stereophonics gig in Cardiff so missed joining the 1,500 happy throng in a crowd of 13,895 at Vicarage Road. The spectators included Joe Ledley and Ross McCormack and the former was available after suispension and the latter was back after 2 months out, both having to wait for their chance from the sub's bench with Dave Jones' understandably naming the same side that "Rammed" Derby.
CARDIFF CITY: Marshall; Matthews-Gerrard-Hudson-Kennedy; Whittingham-Rae-McPhail-Burke; Ledley-Bothroyd. Subs: Enckleman, Gyepes, Ledley, McCormack, Quinn, Scimeca, Taiwo.
Watford have made a reasonable start to the season. They have drawn half of their opening previous 10 games and would have jumped above City had they won but suffered their first home defeat in midweek (2-3 v Coventry) so were looking to bounce back but they were, thankfully, battered as free-kicks and a late consolation goal quest aside, they were never in it!
City have been notorious slow starters but they were 'at' Watford from first whistle and showed early intent as Burke forced Loach to make a smart stop but the hosts responded, a free-kick rattling the bar.
Michael Chopra should have increased his season's tally to 13 when Jay Bothroyd selflessly teed him up but he squirmed his effort wide with Loach nowhere but that mattered little when Burke cleverly supplied a pass to send Bothroyd behind the home defencewhere he was clipped and tug for a soft but obvious penalty - PETER WHITTINGHAM smacking home the spot kick with aplomb.
City stepped it up even more even though Marshall had to save one free kick but at the other end Chops fired wide, Bothroyd was blocked and, incredibly, Hudson directed a free header against a post when he should have scored and Gavin Rae fired the rebound wide when it was easier to fire home.
Yet again, those misses never savWatford either as City doubled their lead in amazing style. Adam Matthews, the 17 yr old defender playing only his 9th pro game, took a 50 yard free-kick which incredibly sailed over City's forwards, Wtaford's defenders and then caught keeper Loach off his line and flew in bouncing just before the goal line. Altogether, "Matthews from the halfway line"!!
Half-time: Watford 0 City 2
Cardiff were in no mood to declare and set about Watford with real style and intent. Chops missed again while Hudson (twice) and Bothroyd had headers saved by Loach before Mark Kennedy was forced off before the hour with injury but it didn't affect City as Quinn replaced in and then it was game over as City added two more in a minute.
3-0 came on 73 as Quinn's cross found Rae on the opposite siode of the area who helped it back and there was WHITTINGHAM running in and putting it home with the rarest of headers. The final one, was a beauty, Burke hit it forward, BOTHROYD held it up then swivelled 360 degrees to beat the final defender and unleash a rising drive into the roof of goal which a diving Loach could not get to. That was his first goal since Scunthorpe on the season's opening day. It could have been worse as Chops failed again when set up by McPhail but his goals weren't needed today.
Joe Ledley and Ross McCormack had late run outs and Watford applied some late pressure but it was futile so Marshall and his defence will be happy with a clean sheet.
What a beautiful day, what a beautiful game!
A Peter Whittingham double opening the scoring with a penalty and grabbing a rare as rocking horse sh*t header, Adam Matthews' first goal - a 50 yard free-kick! - and a superb Jay Bothroyd finish truly stung the Hornets ... and, once again, City could have scored more than that.
Is there anyone however who can explain just how the club are able to start the season as early pace setters with 11 goals in 4 games, then fall away with 4 defeats out of 5 and only scoring twice to now hit back with 2 successive wins (and 3 out of 4) notching up 10 goals in 2 games??? However this stunnign victory sent City into the international break full of confidence and clear in 4th spot ahead of 2 winnable home games when the action resumes. Suddenly, it's all looking good again!
I went to a Stereophonics gig in Cardiff so missed joining the 1,500 happy throng in a crowd of 13,895 at Vicarage Road. The spectators included Joe Ledley and Ross McCormack and the former was available after suispension and the latter was back after 2 months out, both having to wait for their chance from the sub's bench with Dave Jones' understandably naming the same side that "Rammed" Derby.
CARDIFF CITY: Marshall; Matthews-Gerrard-Hudson-Kennedy; Whittingham-Rae-McPhail-Burke; Ledley-Bothroyd. Subs: Enckleman, Gyepes, Ledley, McCormack, Quinn, Scimeca, Taiwo.
Watford have made a reasonable start to the season. They have drawn half of their opening previous 10 games and would have jumped above City had they won but suffered their first home defeat in midweek (2-3 v Coventry) so were looking to bounce back but they were, thankfully, battered as free-kicks and a late consolation goal quest aside, they were never in it!
City have been notorious slow starters but they were 'at' Watford from first whistle and showed early intent as Burke forced Loach to make a smart stop but the hosts responded, a free-kick rattling the bar.
Michael Chopra should have increased his season's tally to 13 when Jay Bothroyd selflessly teed him up but he squirmed his effort wide with Loach nowhere but that mattered little when Burke cleverly supplied a pass to send Bothroyd behind the home defencewhere he was clipped and tug for a soft but obvious penalty - PETER WHITTINGHAM smacking home the spot kick with aplomb.
City stepped it up even more even though Marshall had to save one free kick but at the other end Chops fired wide, Bothroyd was blocked and, incredibly, Hudson directed a free header against a post when he should have scored and Gavin Rae fired the rebound wide when it was easier to fire home.
Yet again, those misses never savWatford either as City doubled their lead in amazing style. Adam Matthews, the 17 yr old defender playing only his 9th pro game, took a 50 yard free-kick which incredibly sailed over City's forwards, Wtaford's defenders and then caught keeper Loach off his line and flew in bouncing just before the goal line. Altogether, "Matthews from the halfway line"!!
Half-time: Watford 0 City 2
Cardiff were in no mood to declare and set about Watford with real style and intent. Chops missed again while Hudson (twice) and Bothroyd had headers saved by Loach before Mark Kennedy was forced off before the hour with injury but it didn't affect City as Quinn replaced in and then it was game over as City added two more in a minute.
3-0 came on 73 as Quinn's cross found Rae on the opposite siode of the area who helped it back and there was WHITTINGHAM running in and putting it home with the rarest of headers. The final one, was a beauty, Burke hit it forward, BOTHROYD held it up then swivelled 360 degrees to beat the final defender and unleash a rising drive into the roof of goal which a diving Loach could not get to. That was his first goal since Scunthorpe on the season's opening day. It could have been worse as Chops failed again when set up by McPhail but his goals weren't needed today.
Joe Ledley and Ross McCormack had late run outs and Watford applied some late pressure but it was futile so Marshall and his defence will be happy with a clean sheet.
What a beautiful day, what a beautiful game!
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