CARDIFF CITY produced a mirror image of recvent displays at Scunthorpe but got the same result. This time, they were poor and behind first half but the better side after the break and, for once, scored a late goal instead of conceding one to draw 1-1, City's 4th successive draw.
This was a return of the opening day fixture in which Cardiff City had their first competitive game at the new stadium and trounced Scunnie 4-0. The fixture had a few 4's about it as City were 4th whilst Scunthorpe pasted Derby 4-1 at the Baseball Ground last weekend.
The usual strong contingent of vocal Blubirds support made the 500 mile round trip to be met by a grey and chilly. I wasn't there, I'm saving it for the Newcastle weekender. Scunnie's Glanford Park - scene of City memorably winning the Third Division Championship at the start of the 90's with 6.000 fans filling most to the ground - is tight, compact and doesn't really suit this level which underlines what a great job the Iron have done to reach this level.
No players sold and thanks to the transfer embargo that the club don't want to confirm, no arrivals either could have seen a very weakened side. As it was, Chris Burke and Jay Bothroyd were over injury and illness respectively while Aaron Wildig got his first Championship start replacing the hamstrung Gavin Rae.
CARDIFF CITY: Marshall; Matthews-Hudson-Gerrard-McNaughton; Whittingham-Wildig-Ledley-Burke; Bothroyd-Chopra. Subs: Enckleman-Capaldi-Gyepes-McCormack-Taiwo-Feeney-Quinn.
Scunnie has yo-yo'd between League One and the Championship but look safe this time even though they started the day 3 places and 5 points above the drop zone. Look many at this level, they have good and bad results in equal measures, their home record in unspectacular which must have given Cardiff hope. However the fact they survive and compete well at this level while Cardiff are in financial chaos - and things may yet get worse - should embarrass Peter Ridsdale. There's a lesson to be learned but it may be too late.
SCUNTHORPE: Lillis: Williams-Byrne-Mirfin-Wright; Togwell-Thompson-Woolford-O'Connor; Hayes-Hooper.
The crowd of just 5,032 including over 500 from Cardiff saw a bland first half but the home fans would have been happiest as their side held an interval lead as Cardiff, surprise surprise, made a slow start. Under the cosh, they fell behind to another silly goal, this time inside 10 minutes. A dubious handball gave an edge of area set piece. O'CONNOR put the ball over the wall and his effort flew in but it wasn't in any corner or unstoppable, City keeper David Marshall was just completely caught out.
Cardiff just didn't work as hard as the home side and half the time were off the boil but when they put it together, they looked dangerous. Bothroyd, Chops and Burke all had efforts. However City had a handful of close shaves so were grateful just to be in the game.
Half-time: Scunnie 1 City 0
The 2nd half started exactly as the 1st half was, the quality and pressure continuing to come from Scunnie. Five minutes after the restart, Cardiff still hadn't got out of their half, three headed clearences and a Marshall save were needed.
Thankfully, City finally woke up, stepped it up a gear and started to pressure and worry the home side but, of concern, it wasn't resulting in efforts on goal.
However after surviving a let off with Mark Hudson just flicking the ball off the line when O'Connor shot past Marshall, City had a huge but deserved stroke of fortune as WHITTINGHAM's low edge of area shot took an outrageous looping deflection of Mirfin and left keepr Lillis helpless. Amaizngly, that was his 16th goal of the campaign.
City searched for a late winner and you felt their pressure might pay off but it wasn't to be. Instead, they survived an added time penalty appeal when Marshall appeared to catch a home stri striker trying to go past him.
39 points off 25 games doesn't seem too fantastic but it still has City ion 5th spot. Play-offs look the most relaitic option as the automatic places are now 10 points away. In the respect, they appear to be 1 of 8 clubs going for 4 places. If the club can somehow stabilise, it could yet be a nail biter.
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