A game that probably sent Bank Holiday viewers into an armchair early evening snooze was irrelevant as Cardiff City took another step to scuring their place in the play-offs for the Premiership as they held Nottingham Forest to a goalless draw at the City Ground in a match televised live on the BBC - a result that confirmed Newcastle United's return to the Premiership at the first attempt.
The result was fair, both sides had strong spells, both had chances, both looked happy enough with the draw and both understandably eventually looked tired - in Cardiff's case, iheir small and depleted squad were playing their 10th match in 31 days and 4th in 10 days .
City needed the point with all 5 sides who can still overhauling managaing afternoon wins ahead of Cardiff's 5:20pm, kick-off but this result keep them in 4th, 4 points ahead of Swansea in the next spot and, more importantly, 6 points in front of Blackpool, the side in 7th with just 4 games remaining.
Once again, Cardiff had to send out a patched up side with minimal options on the bench. Along with Burke, Hudson, Gyepes and McNaughton, Peter Whittingham was absent with injury today as well but Joe Ledley was starting for the first dual since his January dual hip op. McCormack and Etuhu were asked to be the widemen.
CARDIFF CITY: Marshall; Matthews-Blake-Gerrard-Kennedy; McCormack-Ledley-McPhail-Etuhu; Chopra-Bothroyd.
Nottingham Forest had equalled a club record with 12 successive home wins and City's point prevented them breaking it but at the same time, they narrowly avoided 7 successive away defeats at the weekend. That away form left them looking for promotion via the play-offs, like City, but it could have been more. They have done well in their first season up from League One under Billy Davies but certainly have spent to be where they are too.
FOREST: Camp, Chambers, Morgan, Wilson, Gunter, Tyson, Cohen, Moussi, Majewski, Earnshaw, Blackstock.
Despite the travel, late kick-off and live tv, 1,300 Bluebirds travelled to Nottingham and were heard clearly throughout amongst the 22,185 crowd.
City made a superb start and controlled the game for the first half hour, looking for more organised, composed and creative their their hosts. A barrage of corners, crosses and efforts on goals, Camp forcing a Ledley shot and then a Blake down header over the bar while McCormack's inswinging free kick had to be scrambled off the line.
Forest struggled but had the best two chances of the half, both resulting from Cardiff mistakes. Darcy Blake missed a header on halfway allowing forever City legend Rob Earnshaw away on goal but Earnie's effort was blocked by Marshall. Earnie, never forgetting his roots, ayatollahed a couple of times for City fans. Then a McPhail free-kick error sent Forest away on the break with Cohen somehow playing an air shot to miss the ball sent to the far post.
The second half was more undistinguished than the opening period but Cardiff rarely threatened and Forest had their moments. However the main talking point was an amazing late bust up between City keeper Dave Marshall and defencer Anthony Gerrard who argued over a cross, squared up, pushed and handed off each other - arguments rain over whether that was plain stupid and awful or showed how they care for the cause. A couple of minutes later, the two tangled again for a cross but Marshall punched away and gave opposiing Dexter lackstock a bust nose too - good enough!
In between, Marsahll made a couple of smart stops and one excellent save denying Blackstock clear on goal after another Blake mistake. There were some niggly moments and bookings for both sides.
This was Cardiff's first 0-0 of the season but, today, everybody was happy enough with it.
The result was fair, both sides had strong spells, both had chances, both looked happy enough with the draw and both understandably eventually looked tired - in Cardiff's case, iheir small and depleted squad were playing their 10th match in 31 days and 4th in 10 days .
City needed the point with all 5 sides who can still overhauling managaing afternoon wins ahead of Cardiff's 5:20pm, kick-off but this result keep them in 4th, 4 points ahead of Swansea in the next spot and, more importantly, 6 points in front of Blackpool, the side in 7th with just 4 games remaining.
Once again, Cardiff had to send out a patched up side with minimal options on the bench. Along with Burke, Hudson, Gyepes and McNaughton, Peter Whittingham was absent with injury today as well but Joe Ledley was starting for the first dual since his January dual hip op. McCormack and Etuhu were asked to be the widemen.
CARDIFF CITY: Marshall; Matthews-Blake-Gerrard-Kennedy; McCormack-Ledley-McPhail-Etuhu; Chopra-Bothroyd.
Nottingham Forest had equalled a club record with 12 successive home wins and City's point prevented them breaking it but at the same time, they narrowly avoided 7 successive away defeats at the weekend. That away form left them looking for promotion via the play-offs, like City, but it could have been more. They have done well in their first season up from League One under Billy Davies but certainly have spent to be where they are too.
FOREST: Camp, Chambers, Morgan, Wilson, Gunter, Tyson, Cohen, Moussi, Majewski, Earnshaw, Blackstock.
Despite the travel, late kick-off and live tv, 1,300 Bluebirds travelled to Nottingham and were heard clearly throughout amongst the 22,185 crowd.
City made a superb start and controlled the game for the first half hour, looking for more organised, composed and creative their their hosts. A barrage of corners, crosses and efforts on goals, Camp forcing a Ledley shot and then a Blake down header over the bar while McCormack's inswinging free kick had to be scrambled off the line.
Forest struggled but had the best two chances of the half, both resulting from Cardiff mistakes. Darcy Blake missed a header on halfway allowing forever City legend Rob Earnshaw away on goal but Earnie's effort was blocked by Marshall. Earnie, never forgetting his roots, ayatollahed a couple of times for City fans. Then a McPhail free-kick error sent Forest away on the break with Cohen somehow playing an air shot to miss the ball sent to the far post.
The second half was more undistinguished than the opening period but Cardiff rarely threatened and Forest had their moments. However the main talking point was an amazing late bust up between City keeper Dave Marshall and defencer Anthony Gerrard who argued over a cross, squared up, pushed and handed off each other - arguments rain over whether that was plain stupid and awful or showed how they care for the cause. A couple of minutes later, the two tangled again for a cross but Marshall punched away and gave opposiing Dexter lackstock a bust nose too - good enough!
In between, Marsahll made a couple of smart stops and one excellent save denying Blackstock clear on goal after another Blake mistake. There were some niggly moments and bookings for both sides.
This was Cardiff's first 0-0 of the season but, today, everybody was happy enough with it.
1 comment:
0-3, eh? Don't think you even had that may shots ;)
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