CARDIFF CITY suffered a Modern Day Greek Tragedy. After doing the hard work and fighting back from behind to take control against faltering Championship leaders Wolves, 3 points were on their way back to South Wales until on loan debutant goalkeeper Dimitri Konstantopoulos suffered the howler of all howlers by dropping a cross over his goalline leaving City to settle for a 2-2 draw when they deserved more.
It was another “bubble” trip and with away support also restricted, City took just 1,000 fans but with Wolves fickle following, barracking their side more than City fans were, it was Cardiff making the big noise as usual.
City were happy to be playing their first league game for 22 days and fielded a side which saw Dimi make his debut, Gyepes return to central defence after injury without having missing a league game thanks to postponements, Michael Chopra start the first game of his latest return to the club and Ross McCormack pushed wide as they lined up Konstantopoulos; McNaughton-Gyepes-Roger Johnson-Kennedy; McCormack-Rae-Ledley-Parry; Bothroyd-Chopra. As well as ex-Wolves boss Dave Jones now at City, the line up featured three ex-Wolves players in Kennedy, Gyepes and Bothroyd.
The subs bench was notable too as it contained neither a goalkeeper or Darren Purse or Eddie Johnson as it featured Burke-Comminges-Quincy-Scimeca-Whittingham.
As for Wolves, a one time runaway lead is being whittled away by the week and this draw saw them 4 points clear but with only 1 win in 10. Their starting line-up was Hennessey; Foley-Craddock-Berra-Ward; Kightly-Henry-Edwards-Jarvis; Keogh- Ebanks-Blake.
It was an opening 20 minutes to forget. Wolves blew City away with two goals in the first 8 minutes at Ninian Park earlier this season and could easily have repeated that as Dimi’s poor kicking gave a guilt edged chance to Edwards but a superb challenge from Gyepes denied him then Chops gave the ball away on the edge of the box under pressure from 4 gold shirted men, Keogh mishit when set to score and the ball came off a post.
City briefly responded, Chops shooting wide but disaster struck on 11 minutes. Jarvis, who showed well all half, sent over a good cross and EBANKS-BLAKE had no problems heading home for his 21st of the season.
Wolves showed signs of indicipline with a strongarm approach, Ebanks-Blake perhaps lucky to only get a talking for a kick out at Roger Johnson, the City man declining an offer to shake hands, such was his annoyance.
Finally, midway through the half, Cardiff finally responded and starting making an impression. As the did, Wolves fans got jittery and those 1,000 Bluebirds made all the noise. City won a couple of corners and had a half-hearted penalty appeal before a dramatic twist around the half hour.
First, Wolves really should have doubled their lead, Dimi making a superb stop to deny Keogh then Kightly fired over when looking at an empty goal. It was a miss they instantly regretted as Paul Parry got the ball wide, shot past two defenders and put it on a plate where, who was that coming over the the hill?, it was MICHAEL CHOPRA finishing with aplomb. (I haven’t used the word aplomb for ages!).
From that point onwards, Cardiff played all the football to the interval and pushed Wolves hard, the home side so lucky not to fall behind as Hennessey saved from Chops and McCormack missed connecting as the ball rolled away by a mere fraction. Cardiff were forced to reorganise as Bothroyd went off with a combo of concussion from a clash of heads and struggling to shake off a calf injury.
The game continued to be open with half chances either way but it was City showing control, quality and better focus although they would have just been relieved to get in level after an opening spell in which they could have been put out of sight.
Half-time: WOLVES 1 CARDIFF CITY 1
The 2nd half didn’t match the first half action but certainly had more drama starting with ROGER JOHNSON, who became father to a baby girl last night, celebrating with a magnificent header from a fizzing Paul Parry corner to put City ahead 4 minutes into the second half. RJ celebrated with a 'holding the baby' routine.
As the half progressed, City were a cut above their opponents but yet again will reflect on failing to put the game away and grab that elusive third goal, something they have still yet to achieve this season, the only side in the Championship not to do it either.
They worked several opening but the best two were wasted as Gavin Rae stalled in the area and was blocked while a flowing move set Paul Parry free, he rolled the ball through Hennessey’s legs but somehow a couple of inches wide too. Desperately unlucky.
Wolves used all their subs but were getting nowhere, their support had turned on them and Dimi wasn’t even tested at any time and then it happened.
9 minutes remained as Reid hit a high hanging cross but it was so close to goal that nobody bothered going for it leaving Dimi with the seemingly simple task of taking the cross under his bar. However he cocked up, no other words for it, dropped the ball behind him and a lino signalled it had crossed the line. DIMI OWN GOAL!! The remaining minutes saw City press for a winner but they couldn’t find it and so had to settle for the point which took them back to 6th with 4 games in hand on just about everyone around them. Win them all and they’re in the automatic promotion spots, if only it was that straightforward. Unbeaten at Wolves, Birmingham and Reading, the top three all season long, should be a matter of pride. Yet City drew with the lot of them and threw away 6 points with crazy late goals conceded. How costly could they be come May?
No time for looking back – it’s onwards and upwards facing QPR on Wednesday.
Gordon Brown called Alastair Darling into his office one day and said, 'Alastair, I have a great idea! We are going to go all out to win back Middle England'. 'Good idea PM, how will we go about it?' said Darling. 'Well' said Brown 'we'll get ourselves two of those long Barbour coats, some proper green wellies, a stick and a flat cap, oh and a Labrador. Then we'll really look the part. We'll go to a nice old country pub, in Little Something or other, and we'll show we really enjoy the countryside .......... Oh and remember not to mention the Hunting with Dogs Act.' 'Right PM' said Darling. So a few days later, all kitted out and with the requisite labrador at heel, they set off from London. Eventually they arrived at just the place they were looking for and found a lovely country pub and with the dog, went in and up to the bar. 'Good evening Landlord, two pints of your best ale, from the wood please' said Brown. 'Good evening Prime Minister' said the landlord, 'two pints of best it is, coming up.' Brown and Darling stood leaning on the bar contemplating new taxes, nodding now and again to those who came in for a drink, whilst the dog lay quietly at their feet. As they drank their beer they chatted about how heart-rending it was that pensioners were being imprisoned for not paying the council tax. All of a sudden, the door from the adjacent bar opened and in came a grizzled old shepherd, complete with crook. He walked up to the labrador, lifted its tail and looked underneath, shrugged his shoulders and walked back to the other bar. A few moments later, in came a wizened farmer who followed the same procedure. To the bewilderment of Brown and Darling people of all ages and gender followed suit over the next hour. Eventually, unable to stand it any longer, Darling called the landlord over. 'Tell me' said Darling, 'Why did all those people come in and look under the dog's tail like that? Is it an old custom? 'Good Lord no,' said the landlord. 'It's just that someone has told them that there was a labrador in this bar with two arseholes'.
For the 3rd successive Saturday, CardiffCity fans and players had no match and were forced to watch rivals results while racking up another game in hand but, yet again, those rivals slipped up making City’s position look better by the minute.
Tonight, City stand in 8th place and out of the play-off zone for the first time in ages yet they have at least 4, and upto 5, games in hand on everyone around them knowing winning the lot will take them top and winning just one is good enough for 4th.
The automatic promotion race has been thrown wide open and suddenly looks do-able as 2nd place Birmingham slipped yet up, this time beaten 1-0 at Coventry and lucky it wasn’t worse than that.The Blue Noses have taken just 10 points from their last 9 games and, despite their lofty position, have rarely played well all season long causing plenty of anxiety.
Even better, 3rd place Reading could not take advantage crashing 2-0 at home to BristolCity.The Wurzels leap-frogged City but have played 5 more matches.Reading, meanwhile, have taken just 5 points from the last 5 otuings and haven’t scored for 6 hours – keep the run going boys!!
Then Preston, who were 4th, were demolished 3-1 at Southampton.They were 3 down at half-time as The Saints collected their first home win for 5 months while Sheffield United, who were 5th, had to hit back twice for a draw at free-falling strugglers Plymouth.
Swansea fought back to beat Doncaster at home and now trail Cardiff on goal difference only while Burnley had to settle for coming from behind to draw at relegation-threatened Norwich.
Those afternoon results were better than anyone could possibly have hoped for but it got even better by night as QPR, who visit NinianPark on Wednesday night and had been improving fast, were dismissed 3-1 at home by Ipswich.
It’s now uptoCity to take advantage of these slip ups at Wolves tomorrow. C’MON CITY!!!!!
It's the time of season when games tend to be called massive but tomorrow's visit to falering Championship leaders, Wolves, truly is MASSIVE!
12 points behind them, 4 games in hand, the chasing pack faltering and promotion in City's hands, it's time to show whether they truly have the mettle and credentials. Here's a few previews.
After taking absence from visiting UK for 17 years, DEVO are back in May for their 2nd set of gigs inside 3 years.
The boys have long been confirmed for a Festival-style appearence headlining at All Tomorrow's Parties at Butlins Minehead for May 6th but at a cost of £300 for 2 for that weekend and a rest of bill that, for myself, was of passing interest only, it wasn't for me even if it's just 1 hour from my home.
However, best hopes realised, The Spud Boys have now added a date at Kentish Town Fourm, now known as HMV Forum, in London for Wednesday May 6th. Fantastic ... got my tickets ... I'm there.
It remains to be seen whether other dates will be added, here's hoping.
They still produce a live show most groups cannot touch, some try to imitate but nobody betters. D-E-V-O!
This evening's show looks ahead to the massive Molineux clash with Wolves this Sunday but also back at the Arsenal game with some depressing stories of the antics by some of our fans in London.
Listen in here > http://www.walesonline.co.uk/videos-and-pics/audio/news-audio/2009/02/17/focus-on-football-can-cardiff-city-bounce-back-from-fa-cup-defeat-91466-22950063/
After a humbling, even humiliating, F.A. Cup defeat at Arsenal last Monday night when Cardiff City fell way below their high standards, it's time to concentrate on the Championship and a promotion/play-off campaign once more. At last I say after what will be 22 days since they last played and beat Nottingham Forest.
The challenge couldn't start in bigger fashion with a visit to leaders but out of form Wolves this Sunday lunchtime followed by a stern home test against risers QPR next Wednesday.
Two players - Paul Parry and Joe Ledley - have vowed City will get it right at Wolves. Read on.
