Championship: Derby County 1 CARDIFF CITY 2 match report

Chops looking like he's ate all the pies(!!)
celebrates City's opener

Cardiff City’s successfully opened their Championship 2010/11 away campaign with an excellent and deserved 2-1 victory at Derby County’s Pride Park thanks to Chris Burke’s late winner and Michael Chopra’s superb early goal was cancelled out within 10 minutes.

Nigel Clough’s Derby went into the clash full of optimism after grabbing an opening day win at Leeds United and were aiming to win their first two league games of the season since the legendary Clough Senior, Brian, was in charge of the club. However they were dealt a blow before kick-off as key striker Rob Hulse was injured in Friday training while deputy Chris Porter was recovering from a knock and unable to start. Their starting line-up skippered by Wales runaway come media pundit Robbie Savage was Bywater; Brayford-Varker-Leacock-Roberts; Bailey-Savage-Green-Cywka; Commons; Varney.

City’s last league away of 2009/10 was at Derby so it was ironic that it was our first away this season. However only 3 of the side used in May in a 2-0 defeat were staring today, 4 had left the club. Cardiff were boosted by midweek injury concerns Marshall, Blake, McNaughton and Jay all being available, latest signing Seye Olifinjana was to debut and McCormack was on the bench with his move to Ipswich having stalled or failed but Koumas was absent with a virus as City lined up: Marshall; Blake-Hudson-Gyepes-McNaughton; Whittingham-Drinkwater-Olifinjana-Burke; Chopra-Bothroyd.

Derby had typically fine support with an attendance of 25,103 but it was the 900 travelling Bluebirds making the noise as Cardiff opened strongly and when they took the lead on 15 minutes, it was already deserved. A beautiful goal as City advanced on the left, Burke cut the ball inside, CHOPRA took it in his stride as he passed one player and advanced in the area before superbly sending two home defenders the wrong way in a dummy and stabbing the ball over keeper Bywater.

City were set fair but rocked before the interval, firstly allowing Derby back into the game as a throw was hooked across the box where CYWKA nipped in front of Hudson and Blake to touch home, Cardiff’s defence once again undoing the fine work of midfield and up front. More worryingly, Kevin McNaughton was knocked out cold in an accidental head collision and, having recovered from that, was out again minutes later taking a knee to the head which held up the game for over 10 minutes as he was put in a neck brace and taken to hospital. He was later released and travelled home with the team but faces more tests in the coming week.

Cardiff however recovered from the setbacks and should have gone ahead again before the interval with Whitts, Bothroyd and, most of all, Chopra all going close.

City adjusted tactics and fairly dominated the second period but weren’t testing Bywater. However that chanced on 76 as Whittingham hit a 25 yard grass cutter which Bywater spilled, tangled with a defender and CHRIS BURKE closed in to hook the ball clear and stroke into an unguarded net.

Late Derby pressure almost saw a leveller with Marshall having to make a double save and helped out by a Drinkwater block in added time to ensure three points were collected. City and the support were delighted by a big performance crowned by a man of the match display by Olifinjana who showed silky skills, was strong in the tackle and gave the first impression that he is the midfield boss Cardiff have been missing in the last couple of years.

Onwards and upwards!