Taiwo to be an Essex boy

One of the plusses from last night's F.A. Cup draw at Bristol City was the prominence of the previously written off Solomon Taiwo who played very well in a 60 minute sub outing.

So impressed were City fans who had slammed him for some time that they called for him to be given more of a chance in Cardiff's continued misfiring midfield.

However any chance of that has gone already with Dave Jones revealing post-game that Solomon is heading to League One high fliers Colchester United on loan.

The U's are in 4th, only 6 points off an automatic spot with 2 games in hand.

Jones revealed that Taiwo had not fully settled at the club or to Championship football while he has not been getting any games so the move will benefit him and the club.

Whether it's a short or long-term deal remains to be seen.

The Worst Away End in Football

And I thought the old Vetch Field, Colchester chicken run and Brighton's/Barnet's (forever!) temporary stands were bad.

Thankfully, I guess I'm unlikely to ever need to visit Miejski Klub Sportowy Znicz Pruszkow in Poland.

McPhail issues apology for seeing red but is he is denial?

In an unusual move, although clearly feeling the wrath of Cardiff fans for his idiotic red card costing City a likely win at Swansea, Steve McPhail has issued a personal apology on the Cardiff City website for his actions.

McPhail's apology
http://www.cardiffcityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10335~1473434,00.html

A past McPhail red card pictured - oops, he did it again

McPhail, City's skipper in that game, kicked the ball 40 yards away on halfway after the whistle was blown when already on a yellow card at a time The Bluebirds were in a 2-1 second half lead and in complete control of the Liberty Stadium encounter. It was the second time McPhail was sent off at Swansea this season - having received two silly yellow cards in the early season Carling Cup tie - and came after the Irish one footed midfielder issued a pre-game notice that he was out to make amends for that night and his red card which would never happen again in a derby. Talk about famous last words.

McPhail must have been acutely aware of City fans venting their spleens about his actions coming in a game that matters more than most to them, some even thinking it is time we looked for chance in a central midfield combo of Rae and McPhail that has under-performed all season. I'd include myself in that number as I cannot recall a single stand out McPhail game this term but more than a few anonymous ones. His apology is heartening. Credit to the player for that but does he really believe his weekend antics were 'out of character'?

A look at his Bluebirds record reveals that the player now has 4 red cards and 15 yellow cards in 115 Cardiff City outings and has experienced at least 2 suspensions every season at the club. Those who watch him will know that a majority have come from poor, niggly or late tackles and general frustration. Some players are like that, McPhail is certainly one of them although, his first two red cards at the club were due to a harsh decision at Colchester and some play-acting by a player at Stoke.

However what happened last Sunday suggests that he isn't really learning. As an experienced pro and the team's captain, it just wasn't good enough. If the player remains with the club, we can only pray he's learned a lesson the hardest way possible if/when he regains his place and knuckles down to play the type of football that he used to but which has not been evident this term.

.

TONIGHT'S CARDIFF CITY PHONE-IN with the Colchester reaction

Go here for a listen or download of the show from GTFM radio

http://www.mediafire.com/?jc9o9mw4xdt

COLCHESTER 1 CARDIFF CITY 1 - MEDIA MATCH REPORTS

CITY RUN OUT AT COL U

(pic courtesy of Mke Morris, www.cardiffcity.com)

The Laitt Report - U's 1 Cardiff City 1

Colchester Independent site

We'll appeal sending-off - Jones

BBC Sport, UK

Jimmy spoils Bluebirds' lively start

ic Wales

Colchester back “innocent” Jimmy Floyd

ic Wales

Football League review

Guardian, UK

Colchester United hold Cardiff City

Telegraph.co.uk

Cup kings Cardiff lose spark

Times Online

Jones bemoans "harsh" red card

ITV.com, UK

Jones staying focused on league

Bluebirds plan Jimmy appeal

Football.co.uk

Football: JONES THE JUGGLER MIXES IT UP

Sunday Mirror

Hasselbaink sees red but dream Wembley date still on the cards

Daily Mail

Colchester 1-1 Cardiff

Sportbox, UK

CARDIFF'S BIZARRE RED CARD HAT-TRICK AT COLCHESTER

Oh dear

What can he do?

Jimmy sees red

Now he's feeling blue

City may be appealing it but yesterday's Jimmy Floyd-Hasslebaink completed an unusual hat-trick, a Bluebird given an instant dismissal straight red card in each of City last 3 League visits to Colchester's Layer Road.

Steve Mc"Phail"s
to see the funny side of his red card

Last season, Steve McPhail was also harshly red carded. That came in the final minute, a penalty resulting from the same incident made it 3-1 to Colchester. I seem to recall City appealed that one too but were knocked back.

Banzai!!! It's Fan Zhiyi

The previous league visit to that was in 2002, City won 2-1 thanks to a superb Earnie double but Fan Zhiyi, laughingly dubbed "The Chinese David Beckham" which many City fans seemed to believe in advance, was red carded for what looked like a Hong Kong Phooey kung fu attack on a Colchester opponent in the goalmouth in front of City fans. Fan Zhiyi didn't last long at City.

Given this record, perhaps it's just as well that Colchester are going down.

CHAMPIONSHIP: COLCHESTER UNITED 1 CARDIFF CITY 1

An away point for The Bluebirds at the Championship's bottom side which they could view as two lost after an early thunderous Paul Parry strike and opening dominance but had to accept it was the right result following a back-to-the-wall job with the home side missing several chances and a rugged final 25 minutes after Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was controversially shown a straight red card for a challenge on Col U's keeper for a 50/50 ball, that decision infuriating City boss Dave Jones.

I didn't go as I am nursing my wife back to health after a major op and saving to get the family to Wembley but, mostly, as City are in mid-table obscurity, Colchester is a crap journey and their ground and away facilities are the worst in any division, let alone the Championship! It's a trip I was happy to miss for once.

Once again, squad rotation was the order of the day with Darcy Blake (for the injured McNaughton), Ledley, Hasselbaink and Ramsey starting.

Paul Parry's opener inside 10 minutes seemed to send City on their way as they were overwhelming the Essex team but, in similar style to the home victory over Hull in midweek, they inexplicably took their foot off the gas and Col U started creating problems.

The game then evened out but with City surviving a few lucky escapes until Hasslebaink got his red card and a probable 3 match ban leaving him out of action until the semi-final. Cardiff were in real trouble from that point onwards depsite Jones changing personnel and tactics.

John Jackson, also scorer in Col U's 4-1 pasting at Ninian Park, slammed an equaliser and City were mighty lucky not to have lost as the home side failed to convert late chances although Thommo also saw one cleared off the line for The Bluebirds according to one radio pundit yet PhilB from http://www.cardiffcity.com/ messageboard has retorted that, "Thommo had trouble getting the ball to the keeper 15yds out, the man looks so disinterested and unfit i`d back Fowler (on crutches) to beat him over 10-30yds".

If City were to have a fnal shot at the play-offs, it was a must win fixture but the point, taking them to 49, leaves them probably just one win from safety and they can then save their best (hopefully) for the F.A. Cup.

More reports later.

COLCHESTER'S BLUEBIRDS SUPPORTING BOSS WARY OF CITY THREAT

FROM TODAY'S WESTERN MAIL

Williams is wary of the threat posed by upbeat Bluebirds
ic Wales - United Kingdom