F.A. Balls Up - City fans shafted for Newcastle away

Cardiff City fans have been looking forward to the Newcastle away trip all season, many have pre-booked trains and hotels weeks and months ago.

However a muppet at the F.A. allegedly made a mistake and published the 2009/10 fixtures with both Newcastle and Sunderland at home same day. To compound that, they did nothing to change it until 6 weeks before the game.

Now, on police advice, City's big clash at St. James' Park will now take place on Friday February 5th with a 7:45pm kick-off. City fans going will have to take a day's holiday (or sick leave!) and many have lost money.

Thanks for your consideration everyone ... thanks for nothing!

Glastonbury'09 - neil young, rocking in a free world

A brilliant show by Neil and his band tonight and there's a video here of his performance of KEEP ON ROCKING IN A FREE WORLD - what a great tune.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/glastonbury/2009/artists/neilyoung/

Thorpe Park visit

Visited Thorpe Park today under shadows of Heathrow Airport in picturesque Surrey and enjoyed it. It's not as expansive or with as many rides as other theme parks but has more than its fair share or thrill and big rides.

The new ride is saw, very similar externally, to Speed at Oakwood but with some indoor dips and tricks too. One top if you go - do it first as there's no Fattrack available for it as queues were 3 hour long during the day - not worth it for a ride that lasts less than 90 seconds. Fortunately, we had to wait only 40 minutes.

Other rides were great - Stealth with its 0-80mph in 2.3 seconds followed by an outrageous vertical hairpin on the outside of the structure, Rush - an air compressed super fast swing, Collosss with its 10 loop the loops and the wettest water chutes and log flumes on those shores amongst many others.

Ot even had its own man made beach, pool and slides - didn't swim but enjoyed the rest there.

Photos attached:

Photos of the day/game can be found here > http://nigelblues.blogspot.com/2008/08/doncaster-rovers-1-cardiff-city-1-in.html


When Cardiff City last visited Doncaster Rovers in November 1997, both teams scored in the second half to share a 1-1 draw with City coming back from behind. History repeated itself. Ross McCormack rescued a point in the 88th minute to level Lewis Guy putting Rovers ahead 20 minutes earlier.

A satisfactory point, an unsatisfactory performance and a poor match devoid of quality or much excitement. A bit like the latest Big Brother series, you watch it, kind of enjoy it but come away wondering if you really saw anything interesting at all as neither side showed great ability to make chances or look as if they have goals in them - no wonder goalmouth action was at a complete minimum.


While Cardiff remain unbeaten in a reasonable start to the season, it served as a reminder that unless Dave Jones unearths a strong centre-half replacement for Loovens, adds midfield bite and finds a goalscoring forward, we're going nowhere fast and destined for another season talking about or "nice" football but worrying nobody in particular in mid-table. "We nullified each other" said Dave Jones afterwards which translates as, "bloody hell, how boring was that?".

Little else compared to that 1997 game. Then it was a pitiful 1,004 spectators at Belle Vue in League Two, the Bluebirds fielding a side with some players I've almost completely forgotten - 'legends' such as Mark Harris and Glenn Crowe. The new Keepmoat Stadium (a sterile experience to remind us new grounds are really not everything and always lose atmosphere) saw a crowd 11 times greater, 11 years on. 11,874 with 2,200 from South Wales as Doncaster rejoiced playing their first home game at this level for exactly 50 years. It was a surprise they didn't sell out, City fans taunting their low (no) volume support - save 1 drum! - with "empty seats" songs. A good day out though and that's what much of the awayday experience is about - as long as City score to give us our jumping about moments and don't lose, we're generally satisfied.

Our carload headed off on the 210 mile trip to Donny hopeful, each of us predicting a draw, all of us guessing 1-1 too yet none of us bet on the scoreline. The long trip was relatively swift, the low being a four car M1 pile up near Sheffield, the high was various gestures to Leeds United fans (which were twice as enjoyable afterwards as they lost at home) but we still arrived in good time.

As soon you enter Doncaster, the stadium (good to see a new ground with 'proper' floodlights) can be seen but it is in the middle of a clinical country/retail park. It would be like City having their stadium at the far end of Cosmeston Park! Presumably built on regenerated land from old mine workings or similar, it was all too pleasant. Parked up, the walk to the ground was around a lake pathway full of 'blue green toxic' algae(!!) and built up masses of mad made land hills, similar to where The Tellytubbies 'live'. Donny fans came and left over them like worker ants ... with us singing The Automatic hit, "What's that coming over the hill?".

Keeping with these surroundings, the only pub near the ground was a Beefeater but away fans in colours were very welcome. The Grangetown boys were there with their wives on romantic weekends - staying in a Travel Inn by Keepmoat Stadium, apparently persuading them that it was in the Lake District(!?). Donny fans with huge numbers of them wearing replica kit were shiny happy smiley people still not believing that they were in the Championship and basking in their opening day win at Derby. They loved our appreciation and thanks to them for beating Leeds in the play-off final, the club half of Doncaster supported until their rise! It was all very pleasant, far too pleasant, it felt bizarre watching City away in these surroundings. Although the police helicopter overhead, their ridiculously large numbers and some of their OTT antics die try to redress the balance a tad. Good effort plod.

At least The Keepmoat is a traditional four sided stadium although (a low) bowl shaped outside but with a capacity of just 15,321, it is a League One ground by size with no stand having more than 18 or so rows. The Away End, behind a goal, was typical of those provided in new grounds even if it is set a few yards away from the goal but it had all those modern facilities - decent pricey catering, a bookie, spacious toilets (perfect for the sneaky smokers!) and a bar which even sold wine by the glass (how lovely) yet they shut it without announcement for half-time. Spoilsports.

It ended a typical Cardiff City week. A Cup win, Capaldi still injured but now joined by Gavin Rae (injured in the victory at Bournemouth), some bids for our players reportedly turned down for Ledley, Johnson and Whittingham but Peter Ridsdale, like the Del Monte man, said "yes" to selling Loovens to Celtic making him the fourth player to have played in the F.A. Cup final just 13 weeks ago to have since left the club. In fact, just half of the 14 players used in the F.A. Cup Final were on show. Loovens was due to have made his 100th City league outing today but, after refusing to sign a new contract, Cardiff were faced with the option of letting him leave for Celtic with £2.5M in their pockets for replacements or losing him for nothing next summer - not much of a choice really. It's good business they tell us. Yeah, yeah, yeah ... only if Dave Jones does see that money after a big sale for once ... and if he spends it well! That's big IF's with our lot.

If there was a surprise, it was up front where Dave Jones 'dropped' Thommo was impressed pre-season and scoring in last week's opener for Paul Parry, scorer of 2 in the week. There was a strong argument for putting McCormack on the bench and going with Parry and Thommo, Ross works hard but is still settling but it's DJ in charge and he sent out Heaton, McNaughton-Johnson-Purse-Kennedy, Whittingham-Scimeca-McPhail-Ledley, Parry-McCormack. On the bench were Enckleman-Blake-Bothroyd-Comminges-Thompson. City wore black armbands but nobody not why, "It's for Loovens leaving" was the most popular remark closely followed by, "It's because we've got to play Darren Purse". Sadly, it turned out to be in respect of the wife of an Academy assistant who passed away.

Donny followed their great opening day win with a surprising midweek Carling Cup defeat at Notts County but reverted to the team used last weekend Ex-Jack and ex-Pineapple Head Jason Price plus the striker we love to goad, Darren Byfield, were both injured. The only known player is veteran keeper Neil Sullivan who was joined by O'Connor-Mills-Hird-Roberts, Stock-Wellens-Coppinger-Taylor, Guy-Hayter. Sullivan kept goal in front of City fans 1st half. He was reminded of his Leeds past with "there's only one Scott Young" and general abuse but took it well and enjoyed playing the villain. He also made the only save of a dour first half, a superb one handed flying save as Paul Parry's effort was rising for a top corner.

Other than that, there was little to get excited about as the half was a near replica of last week's opening 45 minutes against Southampton but without the goals. City were pinned back and unable to put any passes or moves together as Donny - buoyed by their drummer making the only noise for them - were naturally up for it. They huffed, they puffed, they made sure they were busier in midfield but didn't give Heaton any work other than goal-kicks, their best effort was a shot across goal which ended up nearer a corner flag. City's only worry was when Darren Purse went down injured especially as City had no natural cover for him but he carried on.

After his recovery came City's best - some would say, only - spell of the game. They did show what they were about, how they were a better side as then played the ball around, pushed the home side back into their own half and bossed for a spell. Yet, that Parry shot apart, we offered no major threat either. Some half chances were traded but that was largely it.

Half-time: DONNY 0 CITY 0

The Doncaster programme made for entertaining reading thanks to its fantastic inaccurate claims about City which included;
1. Miguel Comminges was born in France.2. James Simmonds is still with us and squad number 223. Peter Whittingham made his Cardiff City debut against Newcastle United coming on as a sub for Gareth Barry.4. Joe Ledley came from the same Cardiff City Academy that also produced Jason Koumas.

However the entertainment rudely ended as the teams returned for the 2nd half. Again, Donny pushed from the off and City were crying out for a change as they were comfortable but could produce nothing. The same could be said for Doncaster too as their edge of area free-kick flew over the stand and another half chance flew well wide. Donny fans tried to wind us up with a chant of "Play up Pompey" - we must have progressed if we best abuse we get these days is for losing a F.A. Cup Final!! Midfield were anonymous again and as McPhail was yellow carded, City fans launched into a chant of "Jonesy, Jonesy, sort it out".

Whether Jones chose it ignore it and be stubborn, only he will know but maybe he was content with a game where we never looked like losing or conceding but never looked like winning or scoring either. Except just as I was saying this, we fell behind to a sucker punch goal ... maybe the game was making our players sleepy in the humid, close weather too. It was a giveaway, a 60 yard ball found Purse and Johnson nowhere, enabling LEWIS GUY, scorer of the winner at Derby last week, to take a touch to control the ball and then fire past the advancing exposed Heaton.

Guy smiled at us, waving a finger as the Donny players celebrated in the corner nearest us. The drummer was in apoplexy. Amazingly, one City fan - a staunch home and away follower - ran to the police to berate the player's celebration and an officer was despatch to make notes about an official complain about the celebration. It seemed innocuous to me, surely we're bigger than this? A steward in front of us celebrated too, he was swiftly removed by his superior after more feedback.

It was now sub time and at least Dave Jones finally has options when we're in this position. Off came Whittingham, who started well before disappearing out of the game, for Bothroyd as Parry went wide. That made little difference so on came Thommo for Scimeca as we went 4-3-3 but Doncaster were in charge and not feeling any threat from City's wholly inadequate 2nd half output. Comminges for a limping McNaughton was the final change.

Again, it made no difference and we contemplated the long journey home being made longer still by a loss when we grabbed a just about deserved draw when facing defeat when Donny cracked and panicked to help gift us a goal to make up for the one we gifted them. It told you they were very nice and obliging in Donny!

Two minutes remained when McPhail sent in a simple ball but Sullivan, one of his defenders, Thommo and Boothroyd all went for it, the keeper fumbled, Bothroyd appeared to mishit but the ball ran wide for McCORMACK - hardly seen all game - to slot home to sent us all mental. Fans charged to the front of the stand from all parts to celebrate and wave at Donny's Ten Boys who had loved their 20 minutes of gesturing heaven while leading. A few of them decided it was "time to go", maybe helped by our singing fro them to do that, we waved them on their way.

Two "Get Out Of Jail Free" cards used in the opening two games means City are 7th when they could have been 17th without them but at least we have finally discovered the knack of scoring late, something that often worked against us last season. All credit to City for keeping going and trying to the end even when things aren't going their way. They show they have character even if they are lacking in other departments at present but, in context, Southampton and Doncaster are likely only to bother the arse end of the Championship this season. We need to improve a lot if we are finally to push on and deliver on Messr Ridsdale and Jones' fine words spoken post-Wembley and all summer.

Positives today? Hopefully, McCormack's goal may settle him but who will stop all our forwards wanting to head down the channels? We must have more directness from our strikers whose cause, admittedly, is forlorn when the service offered for McCormack and Parry was a series of long, high balls. Midfield aren't functioning well currently, Joe Ledley has been below par, Whittingham anonymous while McPhail and the hard working Scimeca never exercised any control. I know Rae was missing but they do need help anyway.

At the back, Tom Heaton has been well protected by his defence with very little to do but their slackness has still seen him concede in every game so far. Mark Kennedy worries me on the left. If he's a defender, there's still hope for me on the evidence so far. Both Southampton and Doncaster realised it and targeted him, who'd have imagined we'd be missing Capaldi once upon a time? Purse did ok even if his distribution was in his trademark wayward style a couple of times. More pertinent, Purse/Johnson just do not gel or look a partnership. They never faced much pressure today but you worry how they will cope when that happens.

The return journey was thankfully swifter even if we hit heavy rain, it was dark not long after 7pm and seemed more like October than the middle of August. Thanks Dave for the driving! A good point, an enjoyable awayday but the questions about Cardiff City's deficiencies and areas to address strike me as exactly the same ones we were talking about towards the back end of last season. Two weeks of the transfer window remain for PR and DJ to put right what they haven't so far all summer, that clock is ticking fast.

CARDIFF BAY CLASSIC CAR SHOW

Popped along to Cardiff Bay for some lunch and a stroll and found a classic car show there.

Took a few pics which can be seen at this link:

080810-Cardiff Bay Classic Cars

If you are having problems viewing this email, copy and paste the following into your browser:
http://s337.photobucket.com/albums/n379/NigelBlues/080810-Cardiff%20Bay%20Classic%20Cars/?albumview=slideshow

DYRHAM PARK & BATH

Went out for the day and with rain expected - although it didn't materialise - we headed over the Bridge to a stately National Trust home called Dyrham Park a few miles outside of Bath and then into the city.

Not our idea of a wild day out by any means but it was different, worthwhile and we all enjoyed.

Pics, if interested, are below.

080808_Dyrham Park and Bath

If you are having problems viewing this email, copy and paste the following into your browser:
http://s337.photobucket.com/albums/n379/NigelBlues/080808_Dyrham%20Park%20and%20Bath/?albumview=slideshow

CARDIFF BIG WEEKEND - GLASVEGAS, YOUNG KNIVES and ASH

Popped along to the final night of the free music festival which featured over 30 groups and was headlined by The Men They Couldn't Hang on Friday and Ska founder and legend Prince Buster, still performing at 70, on Saturday.

The Sunday bill included the likes of Go Audio, Yoav and Beth Rowley in the afternoon before The Automatic rocked it up with an excllent 45 minute set in the rain at 6pm just before I arrived.

I was thoroughly looking forward to seeing GLASVEGAS who are being championed in many quarters and have a great sound about them but it was hardly an enthralling show with little or no interation with the audience apart from "look at those f*ckers on that ride going up and down" by the lead singer seeing the adjoining fair between songs. Maybe the fact he walked on stage pretentiously holding a glass or red wine put me off slightly but, probably, it had more to do with them curtailing their 50 minute set to just 25 minutes.

In that time, the songs they showcased all sounded really good, a guitar heavy Aztec Camera?, with the novel sight of a female drummer standing up with just two drums beating and a couple of symbals. Had to laugh at one tune ending - "Here we f*cking go" about 25 times - not enough to match Super Furry Animals The Man Don't Give A F*ck but a good attempt! A decent group, a great sound but suspect they have limited shelf life.

YOUNG KNIVES were nothing if not entertaining. A group with a great set of tunes who played along with the audience and who sounded great. Not sure they have the look but, fair does, they're up to taking the piss out of themselves. Loved their show and their songs.

ASH are 90's legends and rounded off the evening with a blistering 60 minute set packed with many of their hits - Burn Baby Burn, Orpheus, A Life Less Ordinary, Shining Light, Girl From Mars, Oh Yeah amongst many other - with Tim Wheeler (the happiest rock star alive??) laughing, joking, bouncing and rockign all the way through (so bouncy and energetic was he that every pic I took of him is blurry!), some killer drum beats and a bass player throwing shapes all set as if he was home playing guitar hero on his X-Box! They got the big crowd, despite the iffy weather, bobbing along, jumping and singing throughout. Fanatastic stuff, well done Ash!

A VISIT TO COSMESTON

With South Wales temperatures hitting the 80's for the third successive day - very welcome after a dreadful summer to date - popped over to Cosmeston Country Park near Penarth for an hour to two to enjoy it.

Within 5 minutes of getting back to the car, the mother of all thunderstorms and torrential rain, started which soaked hundreds there ... lucky escape for us.

WESTON'S BURNING

Incredible live tv pictures this morning as Weston-Super-(night)Mare's Grand Pavilion burned down in less than an hour and is still in full flow with, I imagine, the whole pier endangered.

(NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU DON'T - This picture was about half-hour into the fire, another 30+ minutes later and the whole pavilion had gone)

It's a shame as it strikes chords with most of us in South Wales who are probably the group who visit the place more than anoy other with Weston being a 45 minute drive from Cardiff. The town is a bit of a hell-hole and so obviously seen better times while the beach is more mud-flats than sand but I tended to visit it most years for a day out with the family although hadn't been this year - as my parents did with my brother and myself when we were kids.

The Pavilion is more an amusement arcade cum fairground these days with dodgems, bowling, ghost train, fun houses and more to go with the multitude of fruit and games machines.

The Pier is probably the one thing that makes the place worth a visit, it's hard to imagine going there without it.

THE LEYS, Vale of Glamorgan

With the first burst of fantastic weather this year and temperatures still over 70 in the early evening, it was perfect for being outdoors rather than inside.

Heading to the Vale coastline, many opt for Penarth, Barry Island, Southerndown or Ogmore but there's some other treasures in-between.

Popped to the Leys near St. Athan this evening which is unfortunately located right next to Aberthaw Power Station and near Aberthaw Cement Works - what glamour! - but for a quick blast of sea air, a decent walk and without going too far afield, it's a pretty decent place.

I got fond memories of it as a kid as power station water outlets visible at low tide used to be like a jacuzzi and wave machine combined. I've lived to tell the tale! It's also a mecca for bass fishing as the warm water there draws in the fish.

It is also officially the starting point of the Vale of Glamorgan Coastline Walk which extends all the way to Porthcawl ... ... although unofficially, it goes east as far as Barry Island. Not that I've ever walked it all but there are some great sights along there.

Anyway, enough of the chuff, have a look at the pics.

http://tinyurl.com/4frz8w

Wales to Wurzleland - Ferry Good or Not Ferry Good?

Another punter is looking to invest in a ferry service between South Wales and the West Country.

Sounds a good idea in theory but is there really enough demand for it?

Penarth to Minehead is 96 mile while Swansea to Ilfracombe is greater than a journey to London at 174 miles and not the easiest drive in heavy summer traffic. So a 13-15 mile crossing alternative makes sense on a distance/time level but is it really viable?

Would enough people be willing to be foot passengers only to justify this? Who would really want to go often to Ilfracombe or Penarth? I suppose Minehead may work for Butlins visitors!!

It has been tried several times before - I remember a hovercraft doing a Barry Island to Minehead route about 15 - 20 years ago (maybe longer) but they never seem to last.

Be interesting to see if this one takes off.

Plan for Wales to get Channel ferries

ic Wales - United Kingdom

TREDEGAR HOUSE and PARK PHOTOS

With some glorious weather about, I went for a lunchtime stroll around Tredegar House - seems many from my workplace had the same idea. It can't be all bad when this is on your workplace doorstep.

Anyways, if interested, here's some pics from a beautiful venue

http://www.tescophoto.com/wpp/tesco/buyprints_screennail.jsp

1927 on Tour

I never realised City went on a tour of various towns and cities around Britain as well as Wales after winning the Cup in 1927.

Here's cine footage of the parade in Rhyader, Powys.http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7320000/newsid_7328500/7328582.stm?bw=bb&mp=rm&news=1&bbcws=1

Wouldn't it be fantastic if the 2008 Boys did a similar tour taking in all the places that love us such as Millwall, Stoke, Swansea, Bristol, Wolverhampton? Let's be'aving it!

EATING IN PUBS AT NIGHT - OK or NOT???

Does anyone else share my 'phobia' of sorts about eating late evening in pubs and certainly on a Friday night??

Pubs are the new restaurants of course and now a place many of us go to eat as much as have a drink but, for me, some times are taboo.

(Pic - Goscombe pub in Canton)

Take last night - the missus, still recovering from her major op, wanted to get out for a while and have something to eat. Fair enough I thought - won't be an expensive meal but maybe a decent Italian or Indian.

No, she wanted to go to a pub. My next thoughts were those pubs that aren't really pubs at all - you only go there to eat such as Toby Carvery, Harvester etc.

So we cruised around, I made suggestions and then ended up where the missus wanted to go all along. To Canton and we ended up in The Goscombe.

I like the place but I'm not overly fussed on its menu but eat there on a Friday night? Ugh! We go in - it wasn't late - but the Friday night drinking crowd are arriving. Another hint comes in the form of no menus on any table but they're at the bar and on window sills.

Our food arrives quickly - easy when the missus orders a wrap and I just have ham and chips! - but we are the only ones eating in the pub although, in fairness, a couple of others did too before we left.

I know these pubs advertise food until late and all day everyday but there does seem to be an unwritten rule that it's only for lunchtimes or early evenings really. Please tell me I'm not being stupid!

BARRY ISLAND

Not as sunny as the previous two weekends but it was yet again dry and not so chilly for Fenruary in South Wales so went to see the relic that is Barry Island, still a decent place for a stroll as many did.

View photos

If above link doesn't work, copy/paste this into your browser:

http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/I.jsp?c=z44xjkd.1ykuuycwp&x=0&h=1&y=mcad5v

CONGRATS STEVE & NICOLA WYVILL

Good firends of mine whom I've known for 20 years and worked with most of that time too got married today.

For such enormous egg chasing fans, it was a shock they got married on in international day just as the game was underway but they had a top time at Miskin Manor.

It felt like Friends Reunited as many of my current workmates were there (the bride works with me) but loads of old colleagues at AA (where bride and groom worked for many years with me too).

They're total opposites but go well together. Good night indeed.

Outing - Porthkerry Park, Barry

Another beautful February Sunday all over the U.K. so headed to Porthkerry Country Park and seafront in Barry. Altough much chilier than last weekend, it is just great to get out and about.

Here's some pics of a lovely place to visit.

View photos

If you can't access pictures in this above link, copy/paste this into your web browser:
http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/I.jsp?c=z44xjkd.1vdkvssw9&x=0&h=1&y=4erh6i

Rest Bay, Porthcawl

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND IT'S BEEN IN SOUTH WALES AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

Instead of wrapping up, it was almost t=-shirt weather inland and, at the coast, a breeze made it feel like May, not winter, with unbroken blue skies and glaring sun.

A few pics from the visit are here

View photos

CHAMPIONSHIP: WEST BROMWICH ALBION 3 CARDIFF CITY 3 (match report)

SATURDAY JANUARY 19th
CHAMPIONSHIP - Game 28/46 - at NINIAN PARK

WEST BROMWICH ALBION (1) 3
Bednar 33, Alberechtsen 73, Johnson o.g. 88

CARDIFF CITY (2) 3
Parry 28 seconds, Parry 33, Ledley 52

Photos are at:
http://nigelblues.blogspot.com/2008/01/championship-west-bromwich-albion-3.html


West Brom and Cardiff City served us a thriller. The Bluebirds did us proud but it was agony too as they grabbed a lead in the opening 30 seconds, doubled it after the half-hour and led 3-1 with 15 minutes to go before Albion showed their class and quality to rescue a point from what looked a hopeless cause although it took a freak Roger Johnson 88th own goal to level matters at 3-3.

An exhilarating game, a cup-tie atmosphere and the first time I've had a hoarse voice shouting on City for some time but it was that sort of game. "3-1 and you f**ked it up" gloated the Albion fans at the end. They had a point but City's point at The Hawthorns, performing so well against easily the best team in the Championship, was something each of us would have gladly taken beforehand. Both teams and sets of fans deserve credit for making it memorable.

I like West Brom and I love the Hawthorns - a proper football team with passionate fans watching their football in a real stadium. City fans obviously see it the same way as our initial 1,500 allocation sold in no time, 500 more went in 2 separate extra allocations and it was pretty obvious many more Cardiff fans were in the home sections, some being escorted out when sussed, the giveaway being unable to contain themselves as City's goals rained in.

Perhaps the only sour not was the disgraceful treatment of our coach travelling fans - the ones least likely to cause problems - by West Midlands Police. Can they ever do anything right? A funeral procession escort from Frankly Services for over 1,000 of our number saw them get to the ground after kick-off and Parry had already scored. By the time they had entered a woeful 4 turnstiles, it was 20 past. West Midlands Police have no excuses for treating our fans this way and should be big enough to explain their antics and apologise. I won't hold my breath though.

Thankfully, I was one of a few hundred who opted for train. To stay low profile and have a hassle free day, our small group decided to get to Birmingham via a link at Bristol Parkway and avoid the direct route. Many had the same thought, including Joe Ledley's brother. In comes our connecting train ... packed with City fans! Little did we know the service we'd waited for started out at Cardiff too but went to Temple Meads first.

A decent trip though but time to go low profile again at Birmingham New Street which was swarming with police as Chelsea were also in town (playing Birmingham) and it's a connection point for many football fans. Cardiff fans were held up, searched before they were, I understand, escorted to a pub but we sneaked away into the grey day. Our group of 7 trebled as we bumped into the London 1927 travellers in the centre. Standing outside a pub we'd arranged to meet, someone phoned as it was shut. "We're not opening until 2", the sight of 20+ civil City fans enough to terrify its landlord inside apparently so we went upmarket in All Bar One, fantastic beer at incredible prices (incredible = £3 a pint!) but worth the extra to ogle the barmaid in there.

We split into smaller groups, some in search of pubs with Sky and cheaper ales, Mike Morris and myself had kids in tow and were meeting others so a Wetherspoon's (there are 7 in the middle of Brum) and met other City fans there, didn't win a single game on the quiz machine which says a lot about us and it was time for the game with one final 5 minute train trip to Hawthorns, a station about 3 minutes walk from the ground.

The match tickets were bar coded so there was no turnstile attendant, you slotted your ticket in the reader - after getting through the searches of course! - but every gate needed someone on duty to help you and in case there was a problem. Can anyone explain what was the point of that system?

Inside, no ale on sale (seems to be a standard practise wherever we visit these days) in our away end behind the goal with Baggies fans to our right. The police and stewards were keen to keep a no man's land between home and away fans but Cardiff fans since moved into the area and that was that, let the singing contest begin ... with some also more than happy to spend their afternoon having a stare out and gesturing contest with those on the other side of the divide and police/stewards also joining in with this more significant entertainment by pulling out Cardiff fans who went a bit too far, although they then let them back in again after a word.

City warmed up confidently but what a shock to see Peter Enckleman's hair-don't, a grey blonde straggly long haired style with a massive bald spot on the top of his pate that made him look about 60. Someone should tell him. Also warming up were two kids - Matthews and Brown - given Chris Gunter and Jason Byrne's old squad numbers and brought along for the experience but, no surprises, City were unchanged from the team that overcame Sheff Weds the week before with Oakes, Oakes, McNaughton-Johnson-Loovens-Capaldi, Whittingham-Rae-McPhail-Parry, Hasselbaink-Parry. Subs were Enckleman-Purse-Ramsey-Thompson and Darcy Blake.

Blake replaced Steve MacLean, the striker brought here for nothing from Sheff Weds who never fitted or quite looked able enough, yet Plymouth and Paul Sturrock think differently as they snapped him up for their transfer record fee of £500,000 with a long contract 24 hours earlier. On the evidence shown at City, brilliant business for us and something that could end in tears for them but maybe he'll settled better in Devon.

Albion are top of the Championship with the best team and a squad more able than anyone else's who, under Tony Mowbray, look certain for promotion. They have been incredible at home with, before this one, 34 scored in their 13 previous home games and just 11 conceded. Their last 3 at home in the league saw them hammer Charlton 4-2, Bristol City 4-1 and Scunthorpe 5-0 but they needed extra-time and penalties to be beat Charlton in the FA Cup during midweek and were seeking revenge over City for our 4-2 mauling of them at the Hawthorns earlier in the season in the Carling Cup, however Cardiff hadn't won here in the league since 1951, a run now stretched to 13 games. The Baggies' side were Kiely, Hoefkens-Pele(!!)-Barnett-Alberechtsen, Greening-Koren-Filipe Teixeira-Brunt, Miller-Phillips.

In the fully enclosed old stadium adapted and modernised Hawthorns (how I was we could have done something similar to Ninian Park), the atmosphere was hot with over 2,000 City fans in the crowd of 22,325. City were in black, WBA in their traditional Tesco Carrier Bag lookalike shirts (is that why they're called the Baggies?). They're the home of boing-boing but it was City fans doing that and going absolutely mental as PAUL PARRY opening the scoring in an amazing 28 seconds.

City got the ball in their own half, put together several passes involving half the side before Gavin Rae stroked the ball ahead in space for Parry to ran at defenders, he cut inside one of them watching him and unleashed a 25 rising drive that had Dean Kiely Minogue beaten all the way as it flew over him into the top corner. That's must be the earliest hug I've had with complete strangers for years, the place went bonkers. Funniest of all was a girl in the row in front of me who, I swear must have been about 8 years old, who turned to the West Brom fans and shouted "have that one you w*nkers, now f**k off" gesturing away like a veteran. I was shocked but in hysterics at the same time as she continued her tirade.

It heralded a half where Cardiff took the game to the league leaders, playing some fantastic football and creating most of the chances and causing danger every time they got forward. The longer the half progressed, the more ragged Albion became as balls swept long or wide were met by determined City tackles or spectators as they flew into the crowd. Their early threat was Ishmael Miller, who was big, very pacy and a real handful. One crunching Glenn Loovens challenge and as was finished, out of the game on the quarter hour, but replaced a huge Czech in new Baggies cult man Roman Bednan, it hardly meant things were easier. The chances were City's Johnson heading wide, Whittingham firing narrowly wide, Jimmy blazing over.

City were dominant at the back that the first seen of Baggies talisman Kevin Phillips was a speculative 30 yarder that flew towards us seemingly in slow motion that had Oakes flying across goal to palm behind. Then a worrying moment as Kevin McNaughton flew into a typical heroic challenge to block Phillips and, from my vantage point at the front of the stand, I could immediately see he was out cold and looking very pale. Lengthy treatment with City fans chanting his name eventually saw him back to his feet but the club doctor ruled him out, on came Darcy Blake for a testing challenge up against Chris Brunt.

The game restarted and Albion immediately tested him with a ball behind him, Blake was coolness itself turning full circle to leave Brunt behind, smacking the ball upfield, Jimmy flicked on and there was PAUL PARRY racing away in full flow, carrying the ball a full 30 yards deep into the box and firing the ball right across Kiely into the bottom, opposite corner, Parry's 8th of the season in which he doesn't score ordinary goals or tap ins and he was now looking for his first league hat-trick. Two-nil, dreamland and complete bedlam in our end, Albion looking in some despair, joy of joys!

Why is it City so often have the habit of shooting themselves in the foot when things are going so well? Straight from the restart, Albion won a free-kick, the ball no more than a simple chip into our box but there was BEDNAN to meet it unchallenged and plant a firm header across Oakes, 2-1 City.

Undeterred, on the pitch and off it with off singing, back came City undeterred and, once more, got stuck into the home side. Whittingham was very close, Parry had two chances and maybe should have bagged his hat-trick with clear sight of goal in the 6 minutes added time but his curled, placed top corner effort was narrowly over the angle. Albion, meanwhile, were looking quite ragged again, the home fans making their frustrations know too. What a breathless 45 minutes.

Half-time: Baggies 1 City 2

Albion started the second half trying to get at City more but, yet again, our counter-attacking caused them infinitely more problems than their pressing caused City and, 52 minutes, that two goal deficit was restored with City playing the ball out of defence, JOE LEDLEY involved three times as the ball moved upfield. He enjoyed a little slice of luck as he ball across the face of the area flew back towards him but what followed was quality as Jimmy let the ball run, Joe turned away from a defender and, calm as you like, rolled the ball into the opposite corner. That goal coming at our end signalled the biggest celebration and mass hug of the lot and took the atmosphere up another notch.

City's singing had been on the money all afternoon but now it was triumphant. Apart from all the usual repertoire did come a light-hearted, "you're just a small town in Chasetown" jibe at The Baggies whose players heads visibly dropped at that latest setback. The ayatollah was in full flow and the inflatable sheep was bouncing around in our end.

With Albion going nowhere, they showed what a squad they have as a double sub came just before the hour. What it must be to bring on players like Zoltan Gera as a sub and a pop star in James Morrison too! Pele (a name like that, you're'aving a laugh) and Koren made way as they threw caution to the wind.

Their tactics were simple, they loads up both flanks and moved the ball, left to right or right to left, firing in cross after cross after cross and City were suddenly finding themselves hemmed in and desperately trying to absorb it all. City had two big problem. The first, yet again, was Jimmy Floyd-Hasslebaink was clearly burned out by the hour, unable to chase the ball, close play down or hold up play when it came his way yet Thommo, despite City fans calling his name, was confined to warming up. The second was their inability to be ruthless and finish it. Gavin Rae, twice, and Joe Ledley were the guilty men. Ledley who was in on goal coming in fro an angle, the shot should have been his only thought but he opted to try and set up someone else, that chance went. Rae found a top Joe Ledley cross leave him with a free hit at Kiely but he trapped the ball and laid it back, another move had him set up by Whittingham yet he blazed over.

It was to prove costly as Albion, backed by impressive support of their own that got behind their side with an incessant chant, were making headway, City unable to stop the crosses and suddenly looking powerless to win the challenges in the box. Two or three times, a header flew narrowly wide, a header and a shot were straight at Oakes, a penalty appeal was survived and a Kevin Phillips goal was disallowed.

City fans were now starting to get a bad feeling and few doubted if Albion got a second, then another would follow, the momentum and possession was completely one way. On 73 minutes, we finally cracked, Oakes made a fantastic save to push a downward Bednan header up and away but City weren't alert enough to react, the ball was immediately lofted back into the danger area where ALBRECHTSEN rose above everyone to make it 3-2. Only then did Dave Jones change Hasslebaink for Thommo, that was a mistake in my view.

It was now, quite simply, a case of whether we could hold on although Thommo's first touch almost turned a Rae cross goalwards and missed Ledley's boot by a coot or two as it glanced wide. The Albion attacking was intense, Capaldi and Blake were being pinpointed, they certainly loaded up an extra man on Capaldi's side and we didn't respond, it was unerring how balls were flying to the wings and then into the box. Where was Michael Oakes amongst all of this mayhem? The answer was glued to his line. Not once did he came for any ball or help out his beleaguered defenders. He didn't have a bad game at all but it may have given Dave Jones the reason/excuse he perhaps wants to start with Enckleman.

City seemed to be riding it however and hopes again rose that we could hold on even though there was a lot of added time when disaster struck. 88 minutes, a simple ball into the box beat all the target men, ROGER JOHNSON was there to sweep away but mistimed it, the ball sliced and screwed off his boot over a helpless Michael Oakes. You can't stop Magic Johnson scoring, can you? :>)

From delight to despair as, for the second time, 6 minutes added time were shown. Both sides had one golden chance. Joe Ledley for City as he charged for a through ball, Kiely raced out and timed it wrong in his challenge, Joe did everything to shoot off balance as he fell, his effort agonizingly sailing a couple of feet over. You have to wonder if he had taken the challenge alone and gone down, was a penalty a certain award. At the other end, Albion won a knock down, a shot across Oakes must have smelled the paint of his far post as it whistled by.

Honours even then, a fantastic match in which you felt disappointed how it ended for City but, once the emotions of an amazing game had died down, immensely proud of their efforts and how they so nearly won against, let's be honest, a far superior team man-for-man although their defence didn't convince at all.

Coming home, we got lucky. Wanting to get home rather than go on the sauce (unlike me I know but I had a heavy Friday night), we arrived at Hawthorns as a train pulled in, avoided the law back at Birmingham and they again tried to pen other City fans and got to New Street 2 minutes before a service pulled out and before the hordes made it. With few footie fans on board, the bar was open - Stu, Mike and myself raided it and had a decent trip home a little gutted how it ended, chuffed by the point overall and celebrating a good awayday. What a contrast all of this is to just 2 or 3 months ago, long may it continue!

Costs:
Trains (me and the boy): £24
Tickets: £42
Programme: £3 (a big 100 page production)
Food/Drink/Misc: £35

Total: £104

MERTHYR MAWR - for a walk mawr!

Went to Merthyr Mawr sand-dunes for an extended walk to do something about the excess pounds on my belly - on top of the excess pounds already there! - and to get the stir-crazy mutt an over runabout along with the family.

I've only been in summer before and while I love it, it can be tortuous climbing the sand hills as the ground falls away beneath you in blazing heat between wind-protected dunes. Remember when Cardiff City used this as their pre-season training base?

I wasn't sure what to be expect but one of those non-expectations was having to pay to park. £1.50 and the place was buy too with a mobile snack bar now in place.

To my surprise, the walk was much easier with the sand damp and tougher in winter and the cooler weather. So enjoyable, we walked all the way to Ogmore Beach and back, I think I struggle to get halfway in summer.

If you're bored and looking for something different to do, I'd certainly recommend it. Got a feeling I'll be back there before long too.


Loads of pics here

View photos