BLAKE'S DEVON!

Darcy Blake yesterday agreed a 6 month loan deal (or a deal until January depending on who you believe) to Championship rivals PLYMOUTH ARGYLE.


A Caerphilly product and still just 20 years old, Darcy hasn't quite broken through to Cardiff City's first team held back by injuries and for reasons I sometimes can't understand, not quite getting the same opportunities as others ... did anyone say Comminges for example??


The Welsh Under 21 stalwart has only been an unused sub this season and had only 26 Championship outings (11 as sub) managing 7 appearences last term. Ironically, many of those outings are as an emergency defender when, to my mind anyway, he's a more natural and better midfield man.


With City strengthening at the back and midfield this term, Darcy has probably fallen further down the pecking order so it's a perfect move for him as he needs first team football and I'm sure he's do a job at Argyle.

OASIS R.I.P.

Brit rockers OASIS who have been a major rock'n'roll force for almost 20 years split up last night with Noel quitting the group after the never ending feuding between the Brothers Gallagher hit another low.

Rumours have been rife for a week of their demise after they pulled out of a headline V Festival appearence but it came to an end with another pull out headling a festival in Paris last night minutes before they were due to hit the stage after a furious fight.

OASIS - SLIDE AWAY FROM KNEBWORTH 1996 - I WAS THERE!!!

On their official website, Noel posted, "It’s with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight. People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer. Apologies to all the people who bought tickets for the shows in Paris, Konstanz, and Milan”.

Question is - will he? This has happened before (in 2000) and they carried on but they are a group in demise and loved only for their live shows rather than their latest music offerings by many, myself included.

In their time, Beatles imitators or not, they were immense and a live experience like no other. I've seen them perform a few times including their major Knewborth headline shows in 1996 at at a time when their music was vital. Since then, they have stayed mainstream but their records have been more cliche-ridden radio friendly anthemic formula and got progressively less interesting.

It's hard to say what the future holds for Liam but Noel is more than talented enough to go his own way.

Streaking is Back

Back and Running

Apologies if the blog has been a bit quiet of late but had a hectic time at work and especially at home meaning I had minimal time to do this.

Things are settling down again at home as the Good Lady is back from a hospital op and recovering so here we go again then.

Video Highlights - Cardiff City 3 Bristol Rovers 1

CLICK LINK to VIEW:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8225211.stm

Taiwo signing confirmed

Solomon Taiwo has become Cardiff City's 7th summer signing, 6 of them permanentm after completing a medical for his reported £250,000 switch from League Two outfit Dagenham and Redbridge.


The player - a midfield lynchpin for the Daggers - has been tracked by City since last season but his potential was highlighted by an outstanding display for the Londoners against Cardiff in Carling Cup Round 1 action a fortnight ago and his impressed in their flying start to the League campaign which saw them in 2nd spot.



City boss Dave Jones has describes him as "a good prospect, a strong player, a good athlete and comfortable on the ball who, with no disrespect to Dagenham, playing with better players around him he should up his tempo and the qualities that he has got."


Jones admits it is a punt but believes the players has the qualities to make an impact at this level and moved quickly to dismiss some thoughts amongst sections of Bluebird followers that he may be a replacement for Joe Ledley by adding, "We haven't bough in a midfield player because of what might or might not happen with Joe. We have brought in a midfield player because we are trying to bolster our squad. Hopefully that reassures the fans".


Welcome to Cardiff City, Taiwo.

In Photos - CARDIFF CITY 3 Bristol Rovers 1 Carling Cup Round 2

Solomon wisely set to join City

It's being reported tonight that Dagenham and Redbridge's powerful midfielder Solomon Taiwo is in South Wales tonight finialising a potential £250,000 move to Cardiff City.

Solomon who? You may ask.

He's a 24 year old Nigerian born player who has been with 9 South East mainly non-league sides and 1 in America with 5 years before joining League Two outfit Dagenham and Redbridge in 2007. His start there was tainted with 2 red cards but he has since become a pivotal and influential player for the Daggers.

Two weeks ago tonight, Taiwo shone at Cardiff City Stadium in Daggers Carling Cup defeat and that obviously convinced Dave Jones to make a move although he has been tracking the player for some time.

Cardiff have needed extra central midfield cover and Taiwo fits the bill although, clearly, he is a gamble.

Video Highlights: CARDIFF CITY 3 Bristol City 0

Re-live City's comprehensive demolition of the Carrot Crunchers.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8218330.stm

Chopra's "On Fire" Goal Celebration vs The Carrot Crunchers

An amazing Cardiff City performance was crowned by Michael Chopra's fantastic goal celebration. Scoring 7 goals already and in each of City's 4 Champi0nship games means he truly is on fire.

What's On? Could it be Watson?

A couple of sources have today linked Cardiff City with a season long loan move for Wigan midfielder Ben Watson with a view to a permanent deal. One national daily claims on its website that the deal is 'on the verge' of being completed.


Watson, still only 23, would be an excellent addition to City's squad as he's an energetic box to box goalscoring and contributing midfielder. Riased through the youth system at Cystal Palace, he was dubbed the "Peckham Beckham" with his set pieces and general play.

18 goals in 145 league starts bring plenty of admiriers and he joined Premiership Wigan Athletic for a cool £2M in January making an instant impact crowned by winners against Sunderland and Hull.

However the arrival of ex-Swansea boss Roberto Martinez and his influx of mainly foreign players has seen him pushed out of facour so club and player are looking for a move.

However I wouldn't get excited or hold your breath - rumour has it that Premiership Portsmouth and fellow Championship side Ipswich are both monitoring developments and favurong paying to buy the player now for a £1.5M deal.

Cardiff 3 Wurzels 0 - the manager reaction

Dave Jones in raptures

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8217168.stm

Bristol City’s Gary Johnson

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/8217890.stm

Cardiff City 3 Bristol City 0 - in picture

4 Hours to go so ....

Etuhu The New Blue

After a day or two of rumours, Cardiff City have this morning confirmed the capture of Manchester City's Nigerian forward Kelvin Etuhu on loan for the rest of the season. He joins the squad today and is available for selection in tomorrow's Severnside derby against Bristol City.

There's no point lying down son ...
you're still off to Cardiff

Etuhu has been with the Eastlands club for the past 3 seasons and had 10 Premiership appearences, the last a home start against Fulham last April, as well as previous loan spells with Rochdale and Leicester. He was on the sub's bench for the Mancs in a midweek friendly against Barcelona too.

However with their influx of strikers, he's got no chance of appearences this term which made his loan or sale a formality. Cardiff are believed to have secured his swervices despite interest from Premiership outfits Wolves and Portsmouth.

Welcome to Soutb Wales Bluebird Kev!

MICHAEL CHOPRA's GOAL SALVO in Cardiff City's opening 2009/10 have not just propelled City to the Top of the Championship and himself to head the scoring charts (and let's enjoy it while we can!), it has also matched him up with soem notable Bluebirds forwards down the years.

Read the below article from John Heyda, Cardiff City Internet Statto.





Michael Chopra has scored in each of Cardiff City's first three league games this season. Doing so puts him in select company, as only a handful of other Bluebirds have managed the feat. In fact, Chopra is only the fifth City player to score in each of the first three league games. Here are the others who have accomplished the feat:

* Stan Cribbs, in the first three games of the 1932/33 league campaign. Cribbs would go on to net 11 goals for the season.

* Jimmy Collins, in the first three of the abandoned 1939/40 campaign. As these were the only three games played that year before the start of World War II called a halt to proceedings, you could argue that Collins doesn't belong on this list and that only four have turned the trick.

* Graham Moore, in the first three of the 1959/60 season. Moore would wind up with 13 for the year.

* Nathan Blake, in the first three of the 1993/94 season. He'd finish with 14.

In netting six goals so far, Michael Chopra matches the club record for most goals in the first three league games. In 1928/29, Hugh Ferguson scored six in the first three. Five of them came in the second game of the season, a 7-0 rout of Burnley in the home opener. Only a handful of other Bluebirds have netted as many as four in the first three league games.

* Jimmy Collins had four in the first three games of the 1937/38 season, including a hat trick in the second game. Collins would finish with 23 goals.

* Jimmy Collins had four in the first three of the 1939/40 abandoned campaign as well.

* Wilf Grant had four in the 1951/52 season's first three. Grant would wind up with an impressive 26 goals in league play.

* Nathan Blake had four in the first three in 1993/94.

In short, Michael Chopra is the first City player in club history to score six times in the first three league games while netting at least one in each of the three.

Make Your Own Paper D-E-V-O!

A bizarre website but I'm almost tempted to have a go this weekend!!

Video Highlights of Chops hat-trick and Cardiff's 3-1 win at Plymouth

Excellent new service with BBC online showing highlights of every Championship game 48 hours after they were played.

Enjoy City's early season return to the summit via the link below.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8210321.stm

Tonight's Cardiff City Phone-In

Tonight's show, aired on GTFM, featured Trust member Tracy Marsh giving a ladies perspective on Cardiff City.

Listen, or download the show, via this link:

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

Plymouth Argyle 1 Cardiff City 3 - WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!

MICHAEL CHOPRA blasted a sensational hat-trick to make himself the Championship's leading scorer and propel Cardiff City back to the summit ... with 43 games to go.

A fantastic night in Devon saw City blast away the Green army despite missing the likes of Kevin McNaughton, Mark Kennedy, Steve McPhail and Ross McCormack. The subs bench looked like a school outing, it wa spacked with kids, and the starting 11 featured 17 year old Adam Matthews making his league debut.

However it was Cardiff who made all the running and still showed the class and qualities. Chops opened his and City's goal account on just 4 minutes - superb link play with Jay Bothroyd saw him break clear and finish with style.

It stayed that way until the final 11 minutes although City had a few chances to extend their lead in the opening period but Argyle missed a sitter. The second period saw the home side predictably make more of a fist of things and Cardiff were living dangerously.

After Fallon for Plymouth and Joe Ledley took it in turns to hit the bar at opposite endsm of the pitch, it was Chopra who scored again to put City further in front. Five minutes later and with 5 minutes to go, CHOPRA bagged his hat-trick from the spot after Burke had been upended. Chops is looking sharp again and 6 goals in his first 3 Championship outings is phenonemal.

However one blot on City's night as Tony Capaldi - returning to his former club - needlessly handled a cross in the final minute to give the home side a penalty to earn a red card for his 2nd yellow and his place in the side after a patient wait for his chance. Gow who grabbed a 90th minute equaliser against City for Blackpool last season had to settle for a 90th minute consolation instead tonight.

Other results saw City return to the Top of the League - what a fantastic result and night.

Chops and the Managres react to Cardiff's big win in Devon

Hat-Trick Chops, King of the Champ

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8209780.stm

Plymouth boss Paul Sturrock

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/plymouth_argyle/8209034.stm

Happy Dave Jones

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8209636.stm

'No goal' ref taken off officiating Cardiff City tomorrow

Ref Rob Shoebridge - at the centre of controversy over the weekend for failing to spot an obvious and perfectly good Crystal Palace goal at Bristol City - has been 'punished' with a fortnight's rest and removed from being in charge of Cardiff's encounter at Plymouth Argyle tomorrow night.

In an extraordinary incident, Palace scored with a shot a couple of yards inside goal but which rebounded from the back of the net. Palace players celebrated, Bristol's held an inquest as they headed back to halfway for a restart and their fans had heads in hands but Shoebridge and his linesmen failed to notice the ball had gone in.

If you haven't seen it yet, check the clip here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8204164.stm

"Dai" Marshall on Cardiff's point at Blackpool

Click here for video with Cardiff City's new hero goalkeeper:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8203748.stm

Cardiff City injuries - bad luck, coincidence or a sign?

Somehow I don't think it's my perception over reality but Cardiff City players do seem to suffer more injuries than the average club, especially injuries where players just pull up.

Yesterday at Blackpool saw Ross McCormack stretchered off after he heard his hamstring "ping" while Paul Quinn also pulled up with a leg strain. Steve McPhail completed a hat-trick of Bluebirds who went off injured.



Add to that Mark Kennedy being absent after after a hamstring strain in the Scunthorpe match last week and recall how Bothroyd, McCormack, Ledley, Kennedy and Chopra were all absent at the tail end of last season with hamstring pulls and you do wonder what is going on.

One of City's problems is its small squad which forces players to play while not 100% fit, the Blackpool game saw Joe Ledley and Chris Burke have to perform after being unwell all week.

However it doesn't explain why so many Cardiff men suffer with hamstring trouble.

McCormack could join Kevin McNaughton spending several weeks out of action, there is no news on Quinn but he may be absent as well leaving City's resources vastly depleted heading to Plymouth on Tuesday night.

McCormack's dream of Premiership football will surely now go on ice as well as Hull have ended their interest while other clubs would surely not take a player who will be injured for some time and that creates another problem.

Cardiff clearly need 4 new faces but it's well known they need to move players out and had been hoping to sell McCormack or Ledley before the transfer window closes in a fortnight - their departure is looking very remote at present.

Jones - happy with draw, unhappy with display

Dave Jones' post-match interview following Cardiff City's
1-1 draw at Blackpool can be seen via this link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8203731.stm

Shocking - Cardiff City players and management go on the razzle in Blackpool

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

The Wheels on the Bus go Stop, Stop, STOP!

Russell Brand, his mate, the movie and the DEVO t-shirt

Russell Brand and Jonah Hill on location for "Get Him to the Greek" in Central Park - 07/30/2009

Video of the Week - GOLDIE LOOKIN' CHAIN - Everybody is a D.J.

Although a novelty act, I've also had a sneaking admiration for Newport boys GLC.

Here's their new single with suitably humourous and ironic lyrics.

City home to Bristol Rovers in Carling Cup Round 2

Tonight's second round draw for the Carling Cup has pulled a Severnside Derby as Cardiff City were pulled out to play at home against Bristol Rovers which means a return to the city for Rovers Director of Football and former City boss Lennie Lawrence.

Cardiff were ranked as one of 25 seeeded clubs meaning they were going to face a lower divison side, the tie offers them a strong chance of progress.

It will be the first clash between the clubs in almost 9 years when City, the ranked lower, hammered them 5-1 with Earnie bagging a hat-tick in a live Sky F.A. Cup game.


The game will take place on two weeks tonight on Wednesday August 26, ironically just three days after City play their neighbours Bristol City in a Championship clash.

As someone has already remarked, we're going to see a pair of Bristols down the City!

FULL DRAW

West Brom v Rotherham
Norwich v Sunderland
Tranmere v Bolton
QPR v Accrington
Bristol City v Carlisle

Leyton Orient v Stoke
Port Vale v Sheffield Wednesday
Hull v Southend
Leeds v Watford
Cardiff v Bristol Rovers

Portsmouth v Hereford
Crystal Palace v Manchester City
Wolves v Swindon
Gillingham v Blackburn
Blackpool v Wigan

Southampton v Birmingham
Preston v Leicester
Newcastle v Huddersfield
West Ham v Millwall
Coventry or Hartlepool v Burnley

Nottingham Forest v Middlesbrough
Reading v Barnsley
Swansea v Scunthorpe
Doncaster v Tottenham
Peterborough v Ipswich

Toshack unhappy with Wales loss

CLICK LINK FOR VIDEO INTERVIEW:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8198593.stm

Gabbidon discusses Welsh loss in Montenegro

Click link to see video interview:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8198574.stm

Friendly: Montnegro 2 Wales 1

A disappointing game and result as Wales fell to defeat in Eastern Europe tonight.


Wales were robbed of what limited experience they had as Craig Bellamy was injured - with his club forgetting to inform John Toshack - while Carl Fletcher announced his retirement on the day they were due to fly. Joe Ledley, stripped of Cardiff City's Capataincy last week, still led his country. It's hard to remember the last time Wales had ideal preparation for any game.

Wales team: Wayne Hennessey, Chris Gunter, James Collins, Ashley Williams, Danny Gabbidon, Sam Ricketts, Jack Collison, Joe Ledley (c), Aaron Ramsey, Simon Church, Rob Earnshaw.


Montenegro are ranked 96th but played beyond that - although they were helped by sloppy Welsh defending and a 'homer' of a ref who bizarrely came from neighbouring Serbia.

Earnie had an effort disallowed and Wales had other chances before they fell behind to an unjust penalty awarded against Danny Gabbidon, brilliant to see him back after 18 months out injured. Gabbi's ring rustiness told again as the home side doubled their lead before the interval with the central defender caught out by a through back.

Early after the break, Sam Vokes pulled one back but Wales rarely threatened again from that point and were indebted to a post and poor shooting to prevent a more decisive margin.

Far too early in the season for a friendly like this, isn't it?

Tonight's CARDIFF CITY phone in show

This evening's show, aired on GTFM, featured CardiffCity.com messageboard regulars Dave Sugarman and Paul Richards aka The Lone Gunman and Sludge Factory.

It also includes a chat with myself ... if you can bear that!

You can listen or download the show via this link:

http://www.mediafire.com/?5mnkjjwdknr

Video Highlights of Cardiff City Cup win and Dave Jones' reaction

Here's the BBC edited highlighted package of City's 3-1 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge in Carling Cup Round 1 action.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8197773.stm

And this is Dave Jones' opinion of that game.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8196527.stm

CARDIFF CITY 3 DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 1 - how the press saw it

I had a creche on the subs bench, says Dave Jones

WalesOnline

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones happy to see goal hunger

WalesOnline

Championship - Jones backs Chopra

Yahoo!

Spot of bother, but Cardiff City are too strong

WalesOnline

JONES SALUTES DAGENHAM EFFORT

Sportinglife.com

Cardiff 3 Dagenham 1

Sportinglife.com

Cardiff City 3 Dagenham & Redbridge 1

Guardian Series

Cardiff 3-1 Dagenham

Sportbox

Dave Jones' reaction to City's win over Dagenham & Redbridge

Click link below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8196527.stm

CC Cup Round 1: CARDIFF CITY 3 Dagenham & Redbridge 1 match report

Dave Jones' men, despite a late scare, coasted into Round 2 of the Carling Cup with a 3-1 win over Dagenham and Redbridge meaning the new stadium has opened to competitive fixtures with 2 wins and 7 goals scored. Tonight on a warm sunny evening, City were two up inside half hour with Rae and Bothroyd on target, the latter with a twice taken penalty.


They could/should have got more but predictably, if wrongly, over-elaborated and dropped a gear which allowed the visitors forced their way back with a goal in the final 10 minutes and caused a few flutters afterwards before sanity was restored as Peter Whittingham finished it in added time with a superb finish to an equally fantastic move.

+++++ THE TEAMS +++++

CARDIFF CITY
Dave Jones was as hacked off as Swansea fan looking at the current Championship League table condemning the madness of playing this round of the competition in an international week. He had a point with City having 8 men away on duty. Total absentees were 13 with injuries included but a goalkeeping crisis was averted with Enckleman asking not to be in Finland’s squad for a friendly. With the day’s sporting headlines declaring “Gerrard pulls out of Holland friendly”, I guess our centre—half did the same.

However City still had a strong side with 7 of the starters who blitzed Scunthorpe at the weekend. Capaldi replaced the injured Kennedy while Marshall, Ledley and McCormack were covered by Enks, Rae and Comminges respectively.

City: Enckleman; Quinn-Hudson-Gerrard-Capaldi; Whittingham-Rae-McPhail-Comminges; Bothroyd-Chopra. The subs bench consisted entirely of Academy players feasting on water and spot cream with Santiago, Edwards, Meades, Evans, Jarvis, Farah and Wildig.


DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE
In true Soccer AM fashion, I ask the lad, ‘do you want to watch City tonight?’. “‘Who against?” he asks so I tell him it’s Dagenham and Redbridge. “They’re playing two games in one night, what time will it all finish then??” – he wanted to know.

A merger of two clubs in the 90’s, they made the Football League in 2007 finishing 20th at their first attempt and missing League Two play-offs by 1 point last season after losing at home to Shrewsbury on the final day – The Shrews taking their spot. A decent record for the Essex club whose gates are nearly always below 2,000 but who have exited this competition in Round 1 each year but they opened their league season with a 2-1 success at Crewe.

Captained by former Welsh international keeper Tony Roberts - who was 40 last week - their side were: Roberts; Doe-Arber-Antwi-Griffiths; Gain- Thurgood-Taiwo-Green; Thomas-Benson.

+++++ THE MATCH +++++

Dare I say true Cardiff City Cock Ups almost caused me to miss the start. I ordered two tickets but when I got to the pick-up point, only one was in the envelope. City's answer to that? - go to the Ticket Office and queue outside with everyone else to get your other ticket printed. Wonderful!


The crowd was just 5,355 - including 200 or so from The Daggers who were out to enjoy themselves and make a noise - with stands behind both goals closed for the night and they were able to chat freely as the game took some time to come to life. When it did, it was often when City injected some pace into proceedings with Peter Whittingham looking a threat and Capaldi getting forward and overlapping.


A couple of shots blocked or wide, Roberts made saves from Chops and Whitts but the first shot in real anger produced the first goal on 20 minutes. Again it was Whittingham causing problems as he cut inside a defender, burst in the area and had sight of goal. There was a groan as he elected to square it but that was immediately drowned as GAVIN RAE let fly from 20 yards to comprehensively beat Roberts to match his goal tally for last season.


Six minutes later, it was 2-0 and felt like game over already but the story behind the goal was interesting. Whitts again burst forward and threatened but he cut the ball to Jay Bothroyd just inside the box who went down under challenge to earn the softest penalty award. I didn't think it was one, many did mnay near me and the whole of the Daggers side.


However Bothroyd lined up to take the spot-kick and showed what a sloppy, arrogant player he can sometimes by barely walking up, let alone, running in for the spot kick but then knocking it towards goal with as much speed as a 80 year old on a Sunday drive. The penalty was saved with ease, the crowd reaction towards Bothroyd was hostile but he was saved by the ref who was pedantic and awarded a re-kick for encroachment, again quite harsh on The Daggers.


Next up, was a tiff between Chopra and Bothroyd. Chops remonstrating that as he had missed, it was his turn. Bothroyd was having none of it and hid the ball so Chops couldn't take it off him. A quite embarrassing state of affairs. BOTHROYD took it and blasted it away with most players celebrating with him but Chops walking back and leaving them be.


City almost added a third straight afte rwards as Roberts did well to block Chopra's close range stab while Comminges was denied on the rebound by a desparate block but the final few minutes of the half, until Enckleman was called on to make a stop, were pretty dull.


Half-time: CITY 2 D&R 0


D&R also had the first say of the second half as two City defenders blocked shots from a corner kick while an effort across goal wasn't too far away. The game appeared to be going through the motions but whenever City found the urgency and enthusiasm to inject some pace - which wasn't often enough - the visitors always had problems but they stayed in some contention thanks to more Roberts saves with Chops and Comminges both being denied one on one.


With the game not beyond doubt, Dave Jones' plans to use the kids were shelved although Aaron Wildig appeared for his debut in place of Comminges and did well, showing some good moments before City were punished for their lethargy as SCOTT grabbed a shock goal on 81 minutes meeting a whipped low cross first time on the bounce and steering his effort past Enckleman.


Suddenly, it was game on as Daggers forced a couple of corners, Quinn was skinned and a ball across goal was missed by a fraction of an outstretched boot and crosses were flying around City's area. We never do it easy, do we?


However City rode the storm and finsihed the night in sensational style with a smart move, Chops fed McPhail in the touchline, he danced past a defender and found WHITTINGHAM to swivel past two more defenders and smash a rising drive across Roberts high into his far corner. You beauty!


A good controlled performance on the whole but City got sloppy and almost paid the price. In all reality though, it was as comfortable a win as they could have hoped for. There was no real star of the night - they all put in reasonable shows - although that central defence still need to tighten up and control more, Enckleman still has wayward kicking and can't blame the pitch this year and we could do with being more direct and shooting when the chance is there instead of overplay.