Whether we were in the running for automatic promotion or the Play Offs, early April has looked to be a crucial period in our season for about six months now. Before Christmas, it appeared as if our visit to Sheffield United on Monday would be a clash between two of the Championship’s top three clubs and while the Blades have fallen away somewhat in the second half of the campaign, they are still right in the running for a top six finish. Next Friday’s clash with Wolves was always going to be against a side that was likely to be going up by avoiding the lottery of the Play Offs, while less than a month ago it looked like the visit to Villa Park on 10 April might decide who would accompany Wolves up automatically.
Therefore, the Good Friday visit of struggling Burton Albion to Cardiff City Stadium was always seen as a not too testing prelude to the real stuff that was to follow. As Neil Warnock acknowledged in his post game press conference yesterday that was always going to make Burton dangerous opponents because they were a team everyone was expecting us to beat.
By and large, City have done so well this season on the back of a “we’ll show them” attitude whereby we’ve been perceived as a team which shouldn’t really be as high in the table as we have been. In a way, that has made motivation an easier task for our manager because he has been able to do what those in charge of any sporting team or individual, apparently, love to do prior to a game – portray their charges as underdogs.
However, as the wins have piled up since we ended our four match losing spell over the Christmas/New Year period, the realisation has dawned in places a lot further afield than south Wales that this Cardiff team have more going for them than they have been given credit for.
Although there is a part of me that does not want to admit this for fear of somehow jinxing us, the fact has to be faced that, before yesterday’s match, we were in a position where automatic promotion was now ours to lose.
The problem with this is that, with no disrespect to Burton Albion (and that “no disrespect” is meant genuinely, as opposed to when those words are used as a licence to insult someone!), there was no chance that Cardiff City could be portrayed as underdogs yesterday.
There is no two ways about it, we were massive favourites beforehand. Although I’d say the crowd of 21,086 was still not great for a side that was seven points clear of the third placed team with eight games to play, that could be explained to some extent by the low away fan turn out from the poorest supported team in the Championship and, although it doesn’t seem to be the case as much these days, Good Friday has always struck me as the Bank Holiday above others where more people are still expected to work.
So, overall, it wasn’t a bad turn out and I’m sure the almost twenty one thousand who were there to support the home side were, almost to a man or woman, expecting a Cardiff win.
In such situations can lie danger, because that is where complacency can develop and breed. I think it’s fair to say that there was an element of that among those watching yesterday (in my case, although I tried to come up with reasons as to why the game was a banana skin that we could easily slip on, my heart wasn’t in it – I thought three points were a virtual certainty) and, it’s reasonable to assume that if spectators felt that, then there was a danger that some of those in blue out on the pitch did as well.
Yes, I know they are all professionals and they should push such thoughts from their minds, but they are also human beings and they are bound to approach different challenges with different attitudes which, in some cases, could be down to the perceived weakness of their opponents.
Certainly, City were slow out of the blocks yesterday as the visitor’s could have gone ahead with barely a minute played as Liam Boyce’s header from a free kick was begging to be touched over the line by a Burton player before Sean Morrison hacked the ball clear.
There was another decent headed opportunity for Boyce before five minutes had been played and, certainly in those opening stages, where Burton were poised and confident in possession, Cardiff, as they so often have looked this season, were rushed and clumsy. This was never better exemplified than when an attempt to play some short, quick passes ended with a booking for Craig Bryson as the midfielder was forced to commit a cynical foul as the ball got away from him when City tired to pass the ball in a manner which every other team we play seems to find easier to do than us.
Burton manager Nigel Clough was right to say that City’s opening goal in the sixteenth minute came from their first meaningful attack and, as such, came against the run of play, but it did offer a clue as to how the match would pan out the longer it went on. The pass that the impressive Joe Bennett played down the left hand touchline may have covered quite a distance, but it would be so wrong to give it the often disparaging title of a “long ball”, because it was perfect both in terms of accuracy and strength as it enabled Junior Hoilett to to take it in his stride, burst to the byeline and put over a low cross which Kenneth Zohore was able to nonchalantly sweep home from close range for his fourth goal in six matches.
The pre match wisdom, which I shared, among most of those I spoke to was that Burton, who, if they are to stay up, are going to do it largely on the back of their decent away record, might prove difficult to break down, but, if we could get an early goal, we’dbe alright. Therefore, it was assumed by many I’d guess that City would go on to assert their superiority following Zohore’s goal, but, not a bit of it – within five minutes, the visitors were back on terms.
Lloyd Dyer may be thirty five now, but, on yesterday’s evidence, he still has a lot of the pace which has helped him be an effective winger at this level for around a decade and a half and, as such, he presented a test of Bruno Manga’s full back capabilities. Although he could complain about being left isolated by his team mates, it was a test Manga failed when Boyce was able to thread a pass inside him which left Dyer clear to come in from City’s right to cross low to the far post where another veteran, thirty four year old Darren Bent, was able to score easily past the helpless Neil Etheridge.
That was as good as it got for Burton. Manga endured an uncomfortable first quarter of the game, but, like his team really, gradually improved and went on to end the match in far better fettle than he started it.
Before Manga and City could claim to have overcome their problems, there was a fairly even second quarter of the game to be played out. The pattern of the match had changed to the extent that Burton’s early attacking threat had largely subsided and, increasingly, it was the visitors who were living dangerously, but, once again I find it hard to argue with Nigel Clough when he said the game changed on what happened in the three minutes added on at the end of the first period.
First, Zohore flicked on a Morrison pass into the path of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and the winger, who the video pictures here show was not offside, ran clear to beat ex City loanee Seve Bywater with a rising shot from fifteen yards. However, there was still time for Burton to take advantage of sloppy City defending to create a chance which Jamie Allen should have done better with and I think it was fair to say that 2-1 down at the break was harsh on the visitors.
I’d mentioned earlier that our first goal was a hint of things to come and this applied even more so to our second one, because, in both instances, Burton were shown to be unable to cope more with City’s pace than their power and, in that respect, our attacking play after the interval was a throwback to our early season form.
Back in August and September, opposing defences were being ripped apart by the play of a front three which looked as good as anything in the league at that time – I would say yesterday was the first time since our win over Leeds over six months ago where the Mendez-Laing, Zohore and Hoilett triumvirate were all at something near to their best at the same time.
Back in those early weeks of the campaign, City would often find it hard to get Mendez-Laing on the ball, but when they did he was devastating. It was a little like that yesterday as he had very few touches during Burton’s good spell, but he was one of three or four home players who suggested we might have too much for our opponents if we could get a foothold in the game.
To be honest, a poor touch by Mendez-Laing in the run where he scored should have given Bywater the opportunity to come out and dive for the play instead of opting to stay where he was, but he was probably remembering the earlier incident where he had seriously underestimated the winger’s pace and been beaten out on the touchline to leave his goal unguarded – Mendez-Laing took the ball on and, although his low cross was probably a little overhit, Bryson only really needed to make sure his effort was on target to score, but, instead, he shot wide.
Mendez-Laing may not be playing quite as well as he was in his first few matches for us, but I’d say he is definitely in his best form since then and much the same applies to Zohore.
Like Mendez-Laing, injury has played a part in our Danish striker having a rather long mid season dip in form, but he is looking to be completely over that at the moment. There was a curious choice to look to pass to Mendez-Laing when he found himself clear of the last defender and in the sort of position he was scoring from eight or nine times out of ten in the second half of last season and some somewhat over indulgent flicks when we were two goals clear. However, Zohore on this form is a right handful at this level and with his flicked header for his assist in the second goal, he showed the sort of targetman capabilities that he is often accused on here of lacking and a fourth “bread and butter” strikers goal in six games, he is showing an all round level of ability which suggests he could prosper in the Premier League as well.
Good though our other two front men were though, the best of the three against Burton, as well as throughout the season, was Hoilett. I’ve mentioned before that there were three candidates for our Player of the Season in my mind (Ralls, Morrison and Hoilett), well in the last few weeks, I think others such as Bamba, Etheridge and Bennett have advanced their claims, but, more and more, I’m coming around to thinking that it has to be Junior. Unlike, nearly all of the other possibles, Hoilett has not suffered with injuries over the past eight months, but when you also consider that he was playing competitive games for Canada at the time the rest of the squad were involved in friendly matches, his levels of fitness and stamina at this stage of the season are incredible.
As so often, Hoilett was our main attacking inspiration and, more than anyone else, justified my opinion that, like, for example, Villa, Wolves, Leeds and Brentford before them, Burton couldn’t cope with us when we turned on the pace and skill going forward.
Yesterday’s second half should have brought us more goals, but, in essence, it was like watching us in August when it came to attacking play (we weren’t quite at our August form at the back mind) when so much of our success stemmed from our front three.
However, it can be argued that, if anything, we carry more attacking threat now than we did then because we also have Callum Paterson raiding, and scoring at a rate of better than one in every two starts, from his advanced central midfield position. The Scot, who played at right back for Scotland in their defeat by Costa Rice ten days ago, was another who struggled to get on the ball early on and his first half influence wasn’t great, but he got his almost inevitable goal to put us a couple ahead in the sixty fourth minute when Hoilett’s cross bounced off Bryson into his path and he blasted in from eight yards – when you are able to get two midfielders making forward runs to give wingers at least four targets to aim for, you are always likely to score goals.
To be honest, even though we face some really tough fixtures in our run in, it’s hard to see how we can miss out on automatic promotion if our front three perform like they did yesterday and Paterson and Bryson continue to give us extra attacking options from open play – that’s not to say we will definitely finish in the top two because our defending will need to be better than it was at times against Burton, but, with eleven goals scored in our last four matches, our attacking play currently is meaning that teams are needing to score at least twice to stand a chance of taking even a point off us.
Finally, it was great to see Aron Gunnarsson playing his first football for us since our win at Barnsley in November. Not only that, it was great to see Gunnar playing so well on his return as, although I thought Bryson was an effective player for us yesterday, the Iceland captain’s passing, covering, tackling and leadership made our midfield look a better unit than it had done before he came on.
At last Paul I can see the house transfer has caused problems but like the trooper you are you always get through.
Your piece depicts my thoughts on yesterday’s game as I wondered after the break that we would be a little careful in this game but knowing that we were not the underdogs would we not be at the races.
Well the first 15 minutes told the story as our defence and midfield seemed to either think this was going to be easy or their minds hadn’t quite left the dressing room.
I thought that once a goal arrived and to be honest all three were really good goals that Cardiff would breeze it. Nope they did the unforgivable and allowed them back into the game. Not once but nearly twice. I do have a problem with manga at right back and during the first half he was the problem. I expected Warnock to bring in Peltier at half time but all credit to him he didn’t and the second half proved him right.
For the life of me I couldn’t understand why Morrison’s goal shouldn’t have stood but by then it was generally one way traffic and the second half could have resulted in double figures.
With three big games to come and six points at least should see us in a position where we could be neck a neck for the champions spot.
We all have seen the failures over the years but looking at this squad gives me an assurance that something like Preston and Blackpool will not happen to them.
Time will tell and possibly this week will define that thought
Onwards and upwards
Thanks for another enjoyable read Paul and I hope you are settling in to your new home.
In reality it was a comfortable win and with a bit of luck we may have scored five or six. Bywater was one of their better performers, in what was an attacking Burton line up.
As you say it was good to see Gunna back, we are going to need him during the busy run in. The bench is looking strong and we are again creating and scoring good goals. Feel sorry for Manga being asked to play out of position. Should we achieve our aim of promotion a right back is going to be a priority as Peltier and Richards lack premiership quality and are both injury prone.
Good morning Paul and others – What a great description “sloppy” is of much of our play yesterday. A win is a win however it is achieved, but my goodness me, we do make it difficult for ourselves at times.
As others have stated, Bruno had a very uncomfortable first twenty minutes or so, and his lack of positional sense was to blame for the Burton equaliser. Yes, he improved, but his lack of pace will cause us a few problems next week if he has to come up against Brooks on Monday and Cavaleihro on Friday. Time for Peltier to return???
NW was critical of Mr Hooper ( and perhaps his colleagues ) in his interview on Talk Sport, and I understand why. The early clattering of Zahore seemed to me deserving of some coloured card, and to disallow Morrison’s effort was questionable, but I state this without seeing any highlights.
Our “sloppiness” in not converting chances in the second period prevented us from having the proverbial hatful. A poor pass by Zahore when clear, Madine’s poor control and later on headed ball straight at Bywater just three examples of the word of the day. We need more composure when opportunities present themselves.
So good to have Gunnars back. His cameo appearance late on was though he had never been away, and the team looked better for his return. And if Ralls is not far from full fitness, then we will have a stronger unit but quite how NW will fit them all in to his starting eleven I really do not know.
We are in a strong position in the league, but Fulham’s continual point earning performances bother me, and with Wolves lucky streak not abating, we must not relax. What a shame we missed out on Derby a fortnight ago after their abject display last night.
A defining week lies ahead, so my lucky socks will need to be looked after with great care.
Finally Paul, hope you are settling in to your new surroundings.
For quite a long time I have been highlighting what I think are Zohore’s main shortcomings — primarily his unwillingness to challenge for high balls or to get close to the goal line for a goal opportunity. On both counts his display, I am glad to say, proves I had it wrong. Long ago I suggested that Zohore should use the Heidar Helguson technique and have a run at the high ball before jumping (which Paterson has been doing, thereby complementing Zohore). Yesterday, for the first time, it was a case of a “Beyond our Ken” moment as he had a run at the ball, jumped above a defender, and — in Paul’s word — flicked the ball for Mendez-Laing to run onto and score. I hope this is a sign of things to come.
Paul also says that “there is a part of me that does not want to admit” that Cardiff could get automatic promotion. I think we all share the feeling that we dare not count our chickens in this respect, but deep down we all have hope.
In the late 14th Century, Chaucer wrote that “April is the cruellest month”. T S Eliot used the same phrase in the early 20th Century. But Chaucer was optimistic, seeing April as the gateway to the joys of Spring, whereas Eliot was more pessimistic, linking April to “The Waste Land”. No prizes for guessing which poet I hope had it right in respect of what Cardiff do in the next month.
Thanks Paul great summary , hope your over your internet challenges following your recent move and have settled down for you .
Your views about us being back to our dangerous best as we were in August, with Patterson in as an added bonus ,is spot on .In fact the whole squad is stronger than in August .
I think it bodes well for our tough away games against those good footballing sides ,as they give you space , the battling end of table clubs can be worse to play this time of the year , those teams we now have to play , will have to decide to stick or twist (contain us or defend ).
I thought Bryson was excellent,taking into consideration that early yellow.
Holiett for me is easily my player of the season , as he has delivered consistentlywhile others have been out injured or form has dipped, at times he’s unplayable, at this level .
Lange contribution was great yesterday ,he’s fitter ,and quicker ,his goal smacked of a player back playing with confidence .
Zohore touch was sublime yesterday ,his fittness is also back, showed he could be a Premeirship player one day , we will struggle to keep hold of him even if we go up .
Patterson in my opinion is the force driving us through this end of business part of the season, I cringe when he goes down with an injury , he’s not a skifull touch player, it’s all about power and playing with no fear ,he’s nuts ,fearlessand he’s our,fearless nutter , he’s our version of Roy Keene , the midfield link he provides is what we desperately need, how many headers does he win ?
Great Bamba performance,again ,again and again .
Elderidge had some hesitant moments ,he needs to boss it a bit more in defence when gathering back passes and coming out , he seems to think too much when in those positions .
Gunnerson looked very composed , its like a class act new signing .
Bloody hell its going to happen isn’t it. ????
I’m glad our front three are firing again and some of our more important players are returning from injury – we’ll certainly need them!
Looking forward, based on your comment about automatic promotion, i still think we need four wins. If that happens then we are asking Fulham to go a total of 24 games unbeaten (17 already in the bag) and to win at least 6 of their remaining 7 games, and for Villa to go their final 8 games unbeaten and win at least 7 of these. The uncertainty being that Fulham start as strong favourites in all but two of their final games, these played when the season falls back into one game a week, and Villa strong favourites in all but three of their remaining games. The second element of uncertainty being that our next three games are so much harder than Fulham’s that they could be a lot closer heading into the final straight, and Villa too if we don’t avoid defeat at theirs. The third element of uncertainty being that blasted re-arranged fixture meaning we play so frequently now until the end of the season….
It’s going to be an exciting end to the season whatever happens. Here’s to smiling and enjoying the pressure being on the London and high spending clubs.
Ta, Paul for your latest report. Yes, we are slowly getting back towards something like the powerful, assertive attacking forays into opposition territory of the early season, whilst it was great to see both Gunnars back on the pitch and the reception he received.
There are some 3-1 wins that are comfortable and others where the scoreline flatters the victors. Though there were times the visitors tested City and might have scored more than their single goal, City really should have had five or six. That Mr Hooper chose to rule out a Morrison headed, ‘goal,’ for a foul when, on two first half occasions, the same City defender was both pulled and pushed in separate incidents in the Burton box, but no foul given, was simply mystifying. After Bywater’s aberration to leave his penalty area, in fact the field of play, only for Bryson to slice a chance wide of the left-hand post from a handful of yards with the net unattended was profligate in the extreme. With a couple of other gilt-edged chances not being taken the Bluebirds failed to add to the scoreline.
City again used a 4411 formation (Paterson behind Zohore and in front of the central midfield pairing of Grujic and Bryson). Bryson, who had his best game since away to Nott’m F, made a couple of good tackles, but does not offer what Ralls or Gunnars does. A midfield four of Mendez-Laing, Gunnars, Grujic and Hoilett (Ralls in reserve) with Paterson in a free role in front of them should be quite a powerful grouping for the run in.
Thanks Paul and hope you are all now settled into new house.
Top analysis as usual and agree with you and many comments above.
We should have scored 5 or 6 and there was a real buzz when we were bombing forward in the second half.
Thought Bryson did well – apart from his booking when he was a bit too keen. How God was it when he went off and Gunnar came on and looked like he had never been away. From what I can remember his first touch was a classy pass out wide that led to a chance. He calmed things down really effectively and he will be so keen to impress in the final run-in with the a World Cup looming. So many options in midfield now.
The front three were great and linked up well, as stated this was back to the collective form earlier in the season. Also agree Junior definitely on for player of the year.
All in all a good day’s work and let’s hope we can keep it going on Monday and keep the pack at bay!
Thanks everyone for your replies. I was going to mention the disallowing of Morrison’s goal, but left it as the piece was long enough anyway! I sometimes find myself having a quick look over to the linesman when we put the ball in the net, because something doesn’t feel right with the “goal”. I had that feeling with Bamba’s header because I was virtually in line with it and he looked offside to me, but it didn’t even enter my head to have a look for a flag with Morrison’s goal because there was not even a suspicion of a foul or offside as far as I was concerned – I find I am mentioning referees more and more this season, I don’t if it’s because our manager makes them an issue so often or that they are getting worse – I think it may be the latter (I see no British officials will be at the World Cup in the summer).
You are right about Gunnar’s first touch Huw it was a pass of a type I don’t normally associate with him and with Ralls “training hard” according to Neil Warnock in his post game press conference, I think we look as if we will have our strongest squad for some time going into this three match run of fixtures which will make things so much clearer in the next week or so.
Villa’s performance at Hull last night, following on from losses in their previous two games, has me thinking that we are at, or very close to, the stage where it is any two from three for automatic promotion with Wolves all but certain of taking one of them. In truth, Villa should have lost because diver Grealish gave away what should have been a certain penalty with an obvious handball that the officials missed.
Thanks Paul for your detailed report and your review of the thoughtful comments of everyone. As a supporter from afar, I feel so much more involved than by relying on newspaper reports. Having only been able only to watch the brief highlights on tv this time I can see why some concern is voiced over Manga at full back. He will need more help if played against a pacy winger – but I am confident that NW will be fully aware of that. Finally I would like the congratulate Anthony for remembering more quotes from our English studies together all those years (53?!) ago.
Thanks again to all you real supporters