We’re at a time of year now where if City have nothing to play for, as they do now, my interest can turn more towards Glamorgan cricket team and with Chris Cooke’s side proving themselves to be very competitive so far this year, it was the two day win over Kent completed yesterday, rather than the thought of today’s trip to Birmingham that provided my sporting excitement up until three o clock today.
However, I must say that I enjoyed our game this afternoon more than I expected to. Yes, with their Championship status for next season assured, Birmingham’s newish manager, Lee Bowyer selected an under strength side with a smattering of younger players, but this was still a very satisfying performance by City with no little style and a very interesting selection in the back three which might possibly offer a clue as to what we can expect next season from Mick McCarthy in terms of our approach and mode of play.
Before I come to that though, pride of place has to go to Harry Wilson – I’d still say Michael Chopra’s trio against Leicester in 2007 was the best hat trick I’ve seen by a City player, but Wilson’s three today runs it very close and has overtaken John Buchanan’s against Sheffield United in 1979 to move into second place on my not very long list of great City hat tricks.
Today all of Wilson’s goals came from outside of the penalty area, something which I would have thought was pretty rare for a hat trick, as must be a team winning 4-0 with four strikes from more than eighteen yards out.
In his pre game media chat, Mick McCarthy revealed what was a long injury list with Sean Morrison and Jordy Osei-Tutu once again ruled out. Put this together with Will Vaulks’ suspension and, while our side wasn’t as youthful as Birmingham’s, we were a long way short of being at full strength.
With McCarthy going with Dillon Phillips instead of Alex Smithies, there were three changes to last week’s starting line up with Wilson coming in for Josh Murphy and Leandro Bacuna replacing Morrison.
That was only the half of it though, because what our manager chose to do with his eleven once selected was very interesting. On seeing the side, I’d assumed Joe Ralls would be used in the left wing back role we saw him in at Swansea, but, instead, it was Ciaron Brown who remained out on the left, while Ralls stayed in central midfield alongside Bacuna, not Marlon Pack.
It turned out that Pack lined up at right centre back alongside Aden Flint and Curtis Nelson, as, at a stroke, Mick McCarthy introduced the passer we’ve been lacking into our back three and, while this didn’t bring about a total transformation, there was a composure and control about us that has been lacking for far too much of this season for my liking.
Of course, allowances have to be made for the strength or otherwise of the opposition. Although I’m all in favour of bringing some poise on the ball and ability to build from the back into the team, we are talking about defenders here and I’m enough of a traditionalist to believe that, above all else, defenders need to be able to defend.
Whether Pack would be able to do that to a satisfactory standard will need to be answered another time because, in truth, that side of his game was barely tested today and there’s also his unfortunate recent habit of giving the ball away in very dangerous areas to be borne in mind.
For now though, Pack at centre back is definitely an experiment that should be continued in the season finale against Rotherham next week.
Onto the game then and I thought City made something of a dozy start against opponents buoyed by a recent run of one defeat in eight which had taken them well clear of the bottom three – Birmingham were first to most of the loose balls and were winning most of the fifty/fifties, but the whole tenor of the match changed on nine minutes with a goal which would have had Mick McCarthy purring (hard to imagine I know!) and Lee Bowyer spitting feathers.
If we are going to be seeing a new, play out from the back Cardiff City, then Birmingham gave us a few reminders, if they were needed, of the dangers of such an approach.
For example, home captain Mark Roberts, having received a short pass from young goalkeeper Zach Jeacock really didn’t want to be playing the ball to Wilson stood nearly thirty yards from an unguarded goal with a keeper struggling to get back between the sticks. That probably makes Wilson’s chance sound easier than it really was – he needed to control the ball and then hit his shot very quickly, which he did, and yet it all looked so unhurried as he curled the ball delicately beyond the despairing Jeacock with the outside of his left foot.
It was “absolutely awesome” and “sublime” according to our manager and set the scene for something of a bitter sweet reminder of Wilson’s talent because it must be 99.99 per cent certain that he’ll only be our player for one more game – Mick McCarthy has said as much and, with the player himself saying it’s time for him to move away from Liverpool permanently, it’s hard to see him being loaned out again next season.
Still, what happened today should ensure Wilson heads to the Euros in a confident frame of mind and, after today, his goals (seven) and assist (eleven) figures have to compare very favourably with similar type players at other Championship clubs.
Wilson doubled the lead on forty minutes with his first goal direct from a free kick this season – you have to say it was a poorly aligned Birmingham wall which left Wilson with a fairly easy task, but I should emphasise that I mean fairly easy by his standards. For most, it would have been difficult enough to have curled the ball low around the wall from nearly thirty yards out to leave the goalkeeper without a hope of making a save, but Wilson made it look simple.
Wilson was chasing a hat trick a few minutes later when he fastened on to a perfectly flighted Brown pass (I’ve never understood why his passing has been thought of as being a step down from most of his team mates) and powered in a shot from eighteen yards which brought the first of three fine saves from Jeacock, who would foil sub Mark Harris and Rubin Colwill after the break.
Harris was introduced at half time for Keiffer Moore who had taken a blow to his head quite early in the game, but the loss of their attacking lynch pin was hardly felt this time as the home grown product, who has been something of a forgotten man under McCarthy, gave a reminder of his capabilities with a hard running performance.
Harris’ reward for an impressive showing came when City broke quickly and effectively as Wilson, just outside his own penalty area, fed Harris, who flicked on to sub Murphy, on for Colwill, and then ran on to the return pass before firing low and hard past Jeacock from twenty yards for his third goal in what has been something of a breakthrough season for him.
Birmingham then wasted their best chance when Steve Seddon shot well over after City had again proved to be susceptible to a ball pulled back towards the penalty spot and the home side were punished once more when Wilson doubled his season’s free kick goal tally within about forty five minutes of his first one – this one was in an ideal place and angle for his left foot and he shot hard and unerring across Jeacock and into the roof of the net from twenty or so yards.
This was City’s tenth, and biggest, away win of a season which has also seen them draw eight of their twenty three matches on opponent’s ground. That’s not quite a top two record (Norwich and Brentford have more away points than us), but it does confirm what has been pretty clear for a while – it’s our hone form that has cost us dear this season.
Finally, the one disappointing aspect of the afternoon for me was that, having named Sam Bowen, Kieron Evans and Isaak Davies among the subs, Mick McCarthy choose not to give any of them game time in circumstances that I would have thought were ideally suited to handing a youngster a debut with the side comfortably ahead in a game with nothing riding on it.
After their draw with Blackburn today and Derby’s 2-1 loss at Swansea, Rotherham know that a win at Luton on Tuesday would take them out of the bottom three at the expense of Wayne Rooney’s side. Even if they lose that game though, Rotherham will not be relegated when they come here next Sunday, so it becomes a match where we’re unlikely to see any youngsters given a debut from the start.
Hi Paul.
Thanks for the report. Agree with you, wasn’t especially excited about watching this one as felt a bit of a meaningless fixture. Only bought my match pass just after kick off when I decided to give it a watch – and really pleased I did!
Totally agree that Birmingham were fielding a weakened team and weren’t great – as poor as anybody we have played against this year.
However, we were “on it “ from the start and also benefited from not playing in orange!
I haven’t got your powers of recall for past City hat tricks, all I know is that was some trio from Wilson. All top quality finishes and a bit frustrating that having a player of that quality for the season, combined with a 20 goal striker should have resulted in a top 6 finish – minimum. Obviously our poor home form and general inconsistencies explain why that hasn’t happened.
Agree that Pack at the back was an interesting experiment and that, in certain circumstances, it might work. We all know he is the best passer of the ball, but is prone to giving it away in dangerous areas. None of that this time and as long as there is some speed around him then that could be a way forward.
Also impressed with Brown who did distribute well all game and Colwell was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet but put in another impressive performance.
As you say Paul, let’s see a few more youngsters coming through and end the season with a nod to the future and what next season could look like. Feels like Mick will be using a combination of youth and cheaper signings, funded by sales. Let the speculation begin!
Ta Paul for your report. Like you I took a bit of an interest in Glamorgan’s encounter with Kent as I, ‘watched,’ it on the England Cricket app. I was impressed with both the result and the app. Let’s hope for a successful summer.
In a bygone era the St Andrew’s pitch would have been hard and dusty most seasons come May. Last Saturday though it was dry and bumpy but well grassed, too.
City went 3421 and the hosts a straight 442. True Bowyer made 7 changes from the previous fixture but City also had 10 unavailable. Colwill and Wilson played behind Moore whilst at last Ralls and Bacuna played in central midfield. I say, ‘at last,’ for far too little this season our best pairing have not featured together in the centre of midfield. Their mobility, a little more pace and certainly quicker thinking resulted in a far better tempo to our game. For me the only place where, due to slowing legs, Pack can now play is the sweeper role as a free man between two markers. Though at Birmingham he was one of the markers he still gave a good account in this unfamiliar role. In fact some may say: ‘It was only Birmingham,’ but I was encouraged by his performance. From, perhaps, being surplus to requirements Pack may now have a newer string to his bow.
A word about the referee, Mr Andy Davies. Having been critical of the many cloned performances we have seen this season, the man-in-the-middle gave a most pleasing performance. He was unfussy, calm and almost anonymous for much of the game. The game appeared to flow much better than last week’s match, despite one more foul (31 to 30) being given. One major plus was that Mr Davies did not give the obligatory free kick every time there was contact or a player ended up on the grass. There were only two bookings.
When we play a little quicker we get the best out of Murphy. Furthermore, with more mobility in the centre of the pitch we only played 60 long balls (of which 37% were accurate) whilst Birmingham played 47% more at 78. True, City’s best play was a 40 minute period either side of half-time, though we posed a threat throughout the game.
Wilson’s performance was a glimpse of what a good player he can be. It was fitting, at the end of his fitful season, that he got a very good hat-trick. His 7 goals and 12 assists leaves us wondering how many more goals and assists he would have accrued had the left-footer not been marooned for long periods of the season on the right wing. His impudent chip, with the outside of his left foot, for his first; a wicked curl from a 25 yd free-kick for the second and an expertly placed third from another 20 yd free-kick completed a good afternoon’s work. He also had a hand in City’s third goal, helping to set up Murphy on the left who released Harris to score from the edge of the box. One more thing about Wilson’s first was that he must have chased a good 30-40 yds putting pressure on the defence before shooting.
As has been mentioned it was disappointing that, at 0-4 up and with 3 mins left of the 90 (plus 3 added mins), we saw Williams and not one of the youngsters introduced to the game.
Considering where City were at the end of January Mick McCarthy has done a good job in rescuing the season. However this was a year when a top six position should have been well within our grasp. In fact this was a better squad than the one Malky MacKay got promotion to the top flight with. I just wonder how close he would have got us to the automatic places.
Thanks both for the replies, Huw, here’s the Chopra hat trick – looking at it again, I’m beginning to think Wilson’s is better;-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLvxRaJ4pG4
You’re right about Pack, a back three of Flint, Morrison and Pack would be manna from heaven to a quick and intelligent striker in a team with the ability to play passes around the side of them – Nelson is important for the balance of the defence, but would Mick McCarthy play a back three which didn’t have one of Flint and Morrison? Agree about the orange kit!
Steve, my constant criticism of our four midfield players is that if you’re looking for a quartet that covers from A to Z in an ideal world, ours only manages something like A to P, but maybe Ralls and Bacuna offer the best range as a pair – despite a poorish season by his standards, I still rate Ralls as our best all rounder, while Bacuna, with the best power, energy and stamina out of the quartet, is the one best suited to a box to box role. As you say, Bacuna especially has been distracted by being used in positions that I do not believe allow him to show what he is best at. Unfortunately, whatever combination of the four you come up with, I think we need to add someone with more creativity, flair and organisational ability to get us closer to that A to Z coverage. Your stats bring home what a difference it makes to have someone who is comfortable on the ball at the back, as I mentioned in my piece, there’ll be far tougher tests than Saturday’s for Pack, but, if he can come through them, we would move towards becoming more of a two or, maybe, three dimensional team.
Good morning Paul and others – On the subject of hat-tricks, in admiration of both Messrs Wilson and Chopra, there surely could be no more spectacular trio of goals scored for the City than by Neil O’Halloran upon his debut for the City against Charlton in December 1955. I was fortunate to witness this feat, all the more remarkable because all were headed goals.
His career with the City did not last overlong, and I do not know why. Wikopedia states that he had few appearances thereafter, and only scored one more goal which is quite remarkable in view of his incredible first appearance. If there are any of your followers out there who could shed some light on exactly why he had such a brief career with us, it may answer this query.
But back to to the present, as far as this season is concerned, it surely is a case of what might have been.
Hello BJA. A very good reference tool I have says the following about Neil O’Halloran;-
“An amateur player when he signed on for City, he still remained a part time professional, retaining his job as a boilermaker, as he progressed through the ranks. He made a series of impressive performances in the Football Combination and this earned him a debut on which he promptly went and scored a hat trick, a feat that still remains unique in the history of the club. Unfortunately he found himself unable to maintain this sort of form, and only featured in City’s first team in a few short runs subsequently. He moved on to Newport County where he made 14 League appearances, scoring twice in his only season, before dropping down to non-league, and scoring many goals for Merthyr Tydfil and Barry Town. In later years he became a very successful businessman, and chairman of Barry Town, under whose ownership they enjoyed some of their most fruitful seasons in the League of Wales.”
He played for us before my time – I knew of his debut hat trick, but it’s his Barry Town connection which is my main memory of him. There’s not much in that description of him to indicate why he found it hard to follow up on his historic debut and you have to conclude that, considering he only played ten times for us, his spectacular first game was something of a freak because he also struggled to get games at Newport when he went there.
Thanks Paul.
Ta for your reflections on my post, Paul.
Like you, my view is that Ralls is our most complete central midfielder and our most consistent player in that position. Regarding Pack, I’d be surprised he if could make a go of playing centre back as his lack of pace will be even more exposed there than in midfield. That said, as a sweeper, he has the qualities to make an adequate job of it providing he does not get exposed in one to ones. That said, in a perfect world, MM needs to sign someone to fill this role with a bit of pace and passing ability. My feeling is he might go with what we have. A scenario of any 3 from our 4, ‘up and down,’ centre backs would limit the whole effectiveness of adopting that formation and lead to another season of 40 yd thumps from the back.
On the question of hat-tricks I’m surprise no-one has mentioned Alan Warboys’ four against Carlisle (March 1971). Less surprising would be the omission of Tapscott’s six against Knighton Town (Welsh Cup).