Video Highlights: CARDIFF CITY 4 Burton Albion 1

Highlights - Cardiff 4-1 Burton Albion

Ross McCormack's extra-time double sees Cardiff book a Carling Cup second-round tie at Peterborough.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8910068.stm

Cardiff City 4 Burton Albion 1 Carling Cup Round 1 match report

CARDIFF CITY needed extra-time, a couple of escapes and late, late quality by Jason Koumas and Ross McCormack to see off the determined challenge of League Two side Burton Albion and earn a glamorous round 2 tie at .... Peter borough United. 4-1 was the final score but that truly flatters as City got their final three goals in the 107th, 110th and 118th minutes (by McCormack twice and Chopra). Before that, Jay Bothroyd put City ahead on the quarter-hour and a possible rout looked on the cards but more joke defending saw Burton level before the interval and that was it stayed until extra-time although Burton could, maybe should, have got a dramatic win with the final kick of the 90 minutes normal time.

It is Burton’s second season in professional league football and their first ever meeting with City. Son of Brian, Nigel Clough guided them into the big time but left midway through last season for Derby County, ironically Cardiff’s next opponents this weekend. Mrs Karren Brady a.k.a. Paul Peschisolido took over the reins and led them to a highly respectably 13^th place in last term in League Two. The Brewers overhauled their squad with 8 new signings over the summer and like City, opened the new campaign with a home draw last weekend (theirs against Oxford United). They arrived at CCS aiming to improve on their Carling Cup debut last season - a 5-1 pasting by Reading.

Their starting line-up was Legzdins, Boertien, Webster, Stanton, James, McGrath (C), Harrad, Penn, Pearson, Young, Bolder. :

Cardiff were aiming for a second win in the day having beaten the increasingly familiar team of Tax & Winding Up Order United away at their Law Court Stadium over lunch, victory set up by clearing the latest the HMRC debt for £1.3M last week but the embargo it caused during summer still leaves City playing catch up.

After naming just 4 subs last weekend, the limited squad was tested again Darcy Blake on Welsh duty (but withdrawing with injury on match day), David Marshall (who withdrew for Scotland), Kevin McNaughton nursing injuries from Sunday and yesterday's signing Seyi Olifinjana not yet ready.

It meant Cardiff made only 3 changes but 3 surprises as Martin John (an American (I think!?) who has been training with City for a couple of weeks) has been signed and started at left back, Jason Koumas was on the sub's bench and Michael Chopra was selected as captain.

City: Heaton; Matthews-Gerrard-Gyepes-John; Burke-Rae-Drinkwater-Whittingham; Bothroyd-Chopra. The full sub's bench was Koumas, McCormack, Quinn, Hudson, Taiwo, Wildig, Jarvis

On a mild, blue skied evening, only the two pitch length sides of the ground were open but the crowd was 6,088, less than 250 resplendent in Burton yellow. Before kick-off, Ali paid tribute to Cardiff City legend Brian Clark who so sadly passed away at the start of the week sending the stadium into spontaneous applause for a couple of minutes which continued after the game kicked-off. A full tribute however will be paid next home game in the league with the blessing of his family. For now, the players wore black armbands. If Clarkie was watching in heaven, I wondered what his thoughts were seeing Jay on the deck after every challenge, it's not the game he played or knew.

Those present were treated to a bright start by Cardiff with pacy attacks and some majestic touches and passes by Peter Whittingham. One ball over the defence almost saw Bothroyd lob the visiting keeper so it was was fitting when Whitts set up the opener as he beat the offside trap to meet a measured Drinkwater through ball and tee up JAY BOTHROYD to steer home in front of goal when he could possibly have run in on goal himself.

However City were stunned as Burton levelled within 4 minutes but it was more hari kari defending. The back four had already been guilty of misplaced passes and poor control and it magnified as Gavin Rae played a reckless high pass across the defence which was made worse by Anthony Gerrard's terrible touch and the ball fell perfectly for HARRAD to bear down on goal and chip past Heaton.

Cardiff were generally comfortable but rarely threatening much either and sloppy in their play with few highlights other than Jay Bothroyd's sizzling distance drive just over the bar and a laugh as Gavin Rae capped his very poor personal display with an audacious back heel attempt on the edge of the box that he fluffed totally and almost sent Burton racing clear on the break. Another funny was Jay heading a corner well wide but the ref awarding another corner ... what was he thinking?

Half-Time: CITY 1 Burton 1

Jay Bothroyd got his wish and was substituted at half-time after spending much of the first half moaning and looking at the bench who turned a blind eye to it, although he did take a knock in the half. A couple of minutes later, Adam Matthews was off too with an apparent groin problem. They were replaced by a pumped up Ross McCormack and Paul Quinn.

The game was poor with neither side threatening to score or overly worry the other and resembled a training ground match for chunks of a tedious second period. City fans wanted the win and to go home, nobody wanted extra-time.

Burton were quietly fancying their chances and almost went ahead as Paul Quinn got himself in a mess and almost turned the ball home. Cardiff used their third sub as it was Jason Koumas for the hapless Gavin Rae which earned a huge ovation, Koumas ayatollahing to the crowd within seconds of being on the pitch.

Cardiff were no nearer forcing the winner although McCormack had a far post header disallowed and, instead, should have lost with the last kick in normal time as a scramble saw the ball fall for Pearson in front of goal a couple of yards out but he somehow managed to hook wide and high. I can't even begin to explain how he managed to do that.

Final whistle blew and all City's catering staff had locked up and gone, some City fans decided to do the same and I was wondering why I hadn't as the opening period of extra-time saw Cardiff struggle and Burton, sensing their chances, put three efforts not too far wide.

Dave Jones, for the second game running, decided to change tactics - this from a man who rarely did it all last season. However anyone know what he was trying to achieve? John pushed high up in midfield, Burke dropped to left back.

Fans were resigning themselves to a penalty shoot out when, finally, Cardiff got their act together. A classy slide rule pass and ROSS McCORMACK fired low across the keeper and in off the far post. Two minutes later, even better as ROSS was 35 yards out and back to goal but he brought down a pass, turned his marker, made space and drilled home left footed into the corner from the edge of the box. Superb skill and finishing.

Cardiff seemed to be making up tactics as they went along. Michael Chopra in midfield anyone? However with tow minutes remaining, more Koumas magic as he sent CHOPS away and his effort was turned home in style.

At final whistle, the players acknowledged the crowd but Ross McCormack came over, gave his own applause then removed the shirt and gave it to a boy at the front of the stand before waving again. Many City fans believe he may have been saying goodbye, we'll see.

Finally, at almost half past ten, we could escape. Burton should be proud of their efforts and had three of four very game players. For a league two side, they stuck at their game all night and were a footballing side. City, though, have quality in abundance and I am sure we will produce some exciting stuff. Whether it's winning football, only time will tell.

Cardiff City 4 Burton Albion 1 - in pictures

Play for Cardiff and you'll never play for Scotland, Marsahll warned

CARDIFF CITY goalkeeper DAVID MARSHALL has been warned by new Scotland boss Craig Levein that his international career will end if he plays for The Bluebirds in their Cardling Cup tie with Burton Albion at CCS tomorrow night.

City and Last week, City and Dave Jones tried to withdraw "Mars" from Scotland's friendly in Sweden tomorrow (when he was certain to be on the bench) at a time they faced playing Burton with no recognised goalkeeper available, a situation which has passed after Tom Heaton has now registered with the club and he will surely figure tomorrow.

Marshall, apparently, has been struggling with an elbow injury for a while but flew to Scotland on Sunday evening after Cardiff's draw with Sheffield United to joj the squad and be medically assessed before being released. It therefore makes Levein's puiblic comments seem a bit harsh but as Wales fans have seen, there has been many a time a player has been "injured" for his country and then played for his club.

When asked what would happen if Marshall played for City, Levein was forthright, "If he plays for Cardiff tomorrow night, then I don't think he will be back in the Scotland squad. We have to put some rules in place that if you are playing in a game just before the call-up and you get an injury, then I think it is right that you turn up and let the doctors assess the injury - and that is what has happened."

"However he praised Marshall for joining the squad and his attitude, "I spoke to the lad amnd to be fair he came up on the flight Sunday night and flew back first thing yesterday. He has a problem with his elbow and has had it for weeks now. In my opinion and the medical team's opinion he is not fit to play on Wednesday. I have to look at these situations and listen to what the medical team tell me and really pleased the lad made the effort to come up when he knew he was not going to be involved."

"I am fairly comfortable (with reasons for the call-offs]. I just want to get this idea that if you do have an injury then I would like them to come up and be part of the squad, even if it is just for a night to see the guys. We don't get together often enough that we can let these opportunities go past."

Koumas so happy to be back with City and Dave Jones ... but not ready to play

JASON KOUMAS has given his first official interview after returning to The Mighty Mighty Bluebirds telling Cardiff City player (the video section of the official club website) that it was the only place he wanted to be.

Hoping to rekindle his hugely successful loan 5 seasons ago, the 30 year old said, "It`s great to be back, it's probably been a long time waiting to be honest and I can`t wait to get started. I`ve had a bit of a tough time at Wigan, especially the last few months. I`ve been injured, been out a lot. I`ve just gone a bit stale there. It was agreed that I wanted a change. I spoke to Dave Jones quite a bit and told Wigan there was only one place I will go to and that was Cardiff."

So why Dave Jones?

"He just lets me play, he gives me a freedom. I enjoy playing for him, he`s got great coaching staff. He is the reason I`ve come back here - it`s definitely Dave Jones and I can`t wait to get started again."

However Koumas revealed that he is upto 10 days away for playing so will not feature in Sunday's league opener at home to Sheffield United, Tuesday's Carling Cup tie with Burton Albion and possibly next weekend's first awayday at Derby County.

Nevertheless, welcome back Jase!