Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Championship: Bristol City 0 CARDIFF CITY 6 (SIX!) match report

When David Marshall superbly saved and turned a Nicky Maynard howitzer of a free-kick onto the post, I just knew Cardiff City were going to win … especially as that was the only save he had to make all night and Cardiff were incredibly 6-0 ahead!


Apart from the predictable but always enjoyable “ooh aah, it’s a massacre”, it’s no wonder City fans were singing, “can we play you every week?” as this was the third successive Tuesday night the clubs played each other and Cardiff were the dominant side each time following the F.A. Cup replay win with this double league thrashing as it followed a one-sided slaying of the Wurzels in a live Sky game earlier this season.


What a contrast to Brizzle Zity being a bogey side for Cardiff throughout my life as emphasised by this being Cardiff’s first win at Trashton Gate in 42 years and 20 attempts!


Since the cup game last Tuesday, Cardiff have that fantastic 4th round win over Leicester while Bristol had the weekend off but signed 2 new players in the lightning fast and tricky Jamal Campbell-Ryce from Barnsley and striker Patrick Agyemang from QPR to give new buoyancy .. it didn’t work! As if it wasn’t entertaining enough, it also made Campbell-Ryce’s pre-match brag that “We’ll give Cardiff City a good beating” worthy of a comedy award.

Bristol City: Gerken; Orr-McAllister-Fontaine-Carey; Campbell.Ryce-Harley-Skuse-Haynes; Maynard-Agyemang.


Dave Jones had to send out his threadbare patched-up squad but was boosted by the return of Adam Matthews and Gavin Rae from injury. Captain Mark Hudson, like Campbell-Ryce, may regret his pre-match quote. He said he was fed up of playing Bristol City. He got his wish, he was on the bench! Joe Ledley, in his last game before his hip operations, was Captain for the night.

Cardiff City: Marshall; Matthews-Gerrard-Gyepes-Kennedy; Whittingham-Rae-Ledley-McCormack; Chopra-Bothroyd.




It was another bubble trip which limited the travelling support so all credit to the 700 who went … thousands of us who did not are now very envious of them.



The home side, watched by a crowd of 13,825, made a strong start and won a handful of corners but never tested Marshall although Maynard wasn’t far off with one drive but it’s Bristol’s defence that seems to crumble when Cardiff pressure them and yet again, they turned out to be a complete shambles. Even so, for Cardiff to score 3 times in 4 minutes as they did midway through the half, was just incredible.


The first was a real cock up as Chops chased a ball over the top, keeper Gerken and one of his hapless defenders banged into each other fearing Chops and the ball ran loose for PETER WHITTINGHAM to net his 18th of the season, amazingly just about half of his career total which now stands at 37.



That was on 19 minutes and just 3 minutes later, the lead was doubled as Whittingham played a ball over the defence, Gavin Rae burst beyond them and hit a terrible screwed shot from outside the box but it ran into the path of ROSS McCORMACK to bang home at the far post.



60 seconds later and it was football heaven as City made it 3-0, McCormack smashing a 60 yard pass that was perfection itself to find MICHAEL CHOPRA who drilled across Gerken and into the opposite side of goal.



City threatened and goals were in the air every time we attacked and they added a fourth by the interval as FONTAINE, with no Cardiff player near him, miscued a ball across the box past his own keeper. It was the third Bristol own goal of the season for Cardiff – thanks Wurzels!! Another fantastic stat was that it was the 7thCardiff had scored 4 or more in a league game, that is some achievement. time this season,



The home ends of the ground emptied as some went home, others went in disbelief for a pint while City fans sang their hearts out but, even so, they were still drowned by the half-time boos from home fans who were still watching on.


H/T: Wurzels 0 Cardiff 4 (FOUR)


Of course, all the talk was Peterborough away a month when Cardiff had the same interval away lead but messed up, almost unforgivably, to draw. Any thoughts lightning could strike twice were abolished when City scored yet again in the opening minute of the second half.

This time, Bothroyd’s skill to turn, hold up play and then play a pass to put Chops clear was too good again for the home defence, CHOPRA fired home his 15th of the season beating Gerken on his inside from 15 yards.



By 55 minutes, it was 6 (SIX) as a short corner saw McCormack run the ball on and then drill the hardest and lowest of shots from outside the box to comprehensively beat the home keeper.



It could have been more after that as a Chops effort was cleared off the line, others were blocked, saved or wide but the job was done and Cardiff declared and eased their way home with Feeney and Burke given late run outs.



The Bristol fans still around were left to face total humiliation with Cardiff fans taunting them mercilessly or to throw their free match programmes and other objects onto the pitch.



The result took Cardiff upto 4th and, just as importantly, back above Swansea.



Next up, Doncaster visit the stadium on Saturday and after they were hammered at home themselves tonight, should we be hopeful or fearful in this topsy turvy Championship? For now, brilliant night Cardiff and thank you for making me 10 foot tall.

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