The first thing to say about this amazing match at Cardiff City Stadium this afternoon where Cardiff City dealt a possibly fatal blow to Southampton’s automatic promotion hopes with a 2-1 win is that on another day, they could easily have conceded half a dozen goals.
Stuart Armstrong, a real class act at this level who was stretchered off in the dying minutes with what looked a serious injury, hit the post in five minutes to set the tone for a first half where the visitors had so many chances to add to the one goal they did get and the pattern continued through the third quarter of the game – there were fine saves by Ethan Horvarth and some great last ditch defending by City, but there was also a lot of poor, perhaps over confident, finishing by Southampton as well.
If you’re thinking this is beginning to read like another critical review of a home match which we won despite ourselves (e.g. Millwall and Huddersfield), then you’d be wrong – in many ways, I thought City were heroes to a man because their depleted side played with spirit, guts and no little skill.
Anyone who read my preamble to yesterday’s seven decades quiz on here will have read of the illness and injury crisis that has overtaken the club in the last week.
Sometimes, you hear managers talking of what sounds like a horrendous injury crisis in the days before a game, only for the team which takes the field to look very like the boss’ first choice eleven, but Erol Bulut was as good, or bad, as his word at Thursday’s media conference – he had so many of what he’d consider to be his strongest side missing.
City lined up with Horvarth in goal, a back four of Mahlon Romeo, Dimi Goutas, Nat Phillips and Ollie Tanner, Joe Ralls and Manolis Siopis were in front of them, then there were Cian Ashford, making his first league start, and Rubin Colwill on the flanks and David Turnbull at umber ten with Yakou Meite as the lone striker.
Now, I suppose you could argue that the starting line up wasn’t as weak as might have been expected, but it was when you looked at who was on the substitutes bench that the extent of our selection problems really hit home.
Young goalkeeper Matt Turner has been the back up for Horvarth for weeks now in Jak Alnwick’s continuing absence, Luey Giles and Dylan Lawlor, who were playing in the Euros for Wales under 17s last summer, were the defensive cover, Ryan Wintle was the only one of the players rated doubtful fit enough to be included and there were other midfield options in the experienced Romaine Sawyers, plus under 21 team regulars Joel Colwill and Cameron Antwi. Former QPR trainee Raheem Conte and Famara Diedhiou were the forwards alternatives for Bulut to consider – or so we thought!
I’d say the two names in the starting eleven that leap out as unusual are Tanner and Ashford. The first named has been a regular member of the squad this season, but, nearly always as a substitute and barely ever as a left back. Ashford has been in most City squads since the turn of the year, but, until recently, he has just been making up the numbers with no chance of being called upon.
However, it was these two who gave City hope after they’d conceded in the twelfth minute when Adam Armstrong, who’d scored twice in the first fifteen minutes of Southampton’s 2-0 win in . I first meeting of the teams back in December, cut inside Romeo and shot towards the far post, Horvarth was able to save, but knocked the ball out into a central area where Joe Aribo was able to net from fifteen yards.
I singled out Tanner for criticism last week at Millwall as he seemed to epitomise the couldn’t care less attitude shown in the second half, but here he couldn’t be accused of not being bothered. In fact, I think he paid for the effort he put in early on in the game and was clearly struggling before he picked up the injury (edit, it turned out to be cramp) that eventually forced him off in the seventy seventh minute.
Although Tanner’s inexperience at full back showed at times and there were some errors in his defensive play, he was very effective going forward in the first twenty minutes as he put over three really good crosses, one of which an unmarked Turnbull headed straight at keeper Alex McCarthy. Tanner also did well to create the space to get a shot in which didn’t trouble the goalkeeper. On the other flank, Ashford got the better of Ryan Manning a couple of times and knocked over a dangerous low cross that was scrambled away by a desperate defence.
City were causing their highly placed opponents problems, but it was hard to keep track of all of the escapes they had while doing so as, sometimes helped by home mistakes, the Southampton chances mounted up.
Che Adams had two good chances I can remember, both of the Armstrongs could have scored (should have in Adam’s case) and David Brooks should have done better from around the penalty spot before Horvarth remarkably recovered to knock the ball away just as it looked like the Welsh international was about to tap it into the net to double the visitors’ lead.
City’s early attacking promise soon faded and they were hanging on happy to be just 1-0 down by half time.
Southampton were unable to create as many chances for themselves after the break, but there was still another good one missed by Adams and Horvarth performed wonders to keep out an Adam Armstrong header from point blank range while Will Smallbone wastefully shot wide from fifteen yards.
City were certainly not laying themselves open to on the beach already accusations this week and there was much to admire in Ashford’s performance (I’m sure his manager was impressed by his defensive diligence and effectiveness), but, truthfully, the only thing offering hope of them getting anything from the match was a feeling that Southampton could yet pay for their profligacy.
In the end, it was the substitutions that decided the outcome. Southampton brought on an assortment of internationals, big money signings and established Championship names while City replaced Turnbull with Diedhiou, whose impact so far has been, to put it generously, limited, the injured Romeo with Conte and Tanner with Giles.
Remarkably, it was the City trio which had much the more positive impact. Conte, who I’ve only seen play as a winger or striker for the under 21s, was asked to play right back and his midfield support came from Meite who moved out to the flank as Diedhiou played through the middle. This meant that Ashford switched to the left where he and fellow teenager Giles had the responsibility of keeping Southampton’s right flank quiet – it was testament to how well the pair did that, by the end, it could be deemed the roles were reversed!
How it happened, I’ve no idea, but City now took charge of the game’s final quarter as, for the first time in his managerial career, Russell Martin, saw his side not in charge of proceedings against Cardiff as the game reached its closing stages.
I must admit to not being over impressed by Conte when he’s played for the under 21s, but here he was not looking the least bit fazed as he was performing better out of position for the first team than he does in his specialist positions for the under 21s!
In fact, it was Conte who lit the touch paper for City’s win when, fed by Colwill, he got to the bye line and pulled back a cross which found Meite unmarked twelve yards out, but his shot would have gone wide were it not for Diedhiou’s jabbed finish from five yards for his second City goal.
It was a different game now, Southampton wilted and Cardiff, both on the pitch and in the stands sensed that they could actually win.
I think Meite was going for goal from out on the touch line when McCarthy was forced to tip over and the keeper was then brought into action by a Diedhiou header from a free kick – it looked certain that one of Goutas or Phillips would force the rebound home, but it was scraped out for a corner by a last ditch block.
Against the trend of the season, Ralls and Colwill stayed on throughout, with the former impressive all the way through. As for the latter, he almost presented Southampton with a goal early on with a poor back pass and struggled to get into the game when the visitors were dominant in the first half, but I think he proved a few preconceptions wrong today as he played for a hundred and six minutes and became more influential the longer the game went on.
Colwill helped turn the tide in City’s favour and he played a small part in the winning goal, but all of the credit goes to Ashford (Giles helped as well mind) as he cut in from the left and got lucky as his shot from twenty five yards took a deflection off Jan Bednarek and eluded McCarthy’s dive.
If Southampton needed proof it wasn’t their day, it came shortly afterwards when Stuart Armstrong’s close range shot was diverted out for a corner by a great Goutas block and the likely ligament problem the Scottish international picked up in the incident saw him being stretchered off with an injury which I suspect will cause him to miss this summer’s Euros.
City’s win meant little as far as they are concerned when it comes to the league table, but the celebrations on the pitch at the final whistle told you that the players knew they’d been part of something special. So much of the football played at Cardiff City Stadium by the home team has been turgid and unsuccessful in recent years, but this was a genuinely uplifting experience made all the more so by how Ashford, Conte and Giles all looked like naturals at this level against a team that may well be in the Premier Division next season.
With so many regulars needed for the first team, it was a very young under 21s team that travelled to Crewe for a Friday afternoon game which they won 3-1 after going 1-0 down – Freddy Cook, Tanatsawa Nyakhuwa and Fin Johnson were the scorers. Of course, there would be regulars missing from the Under 18 team as a consequence of the first team’s injury crisis as well and they were beaten 3-1 at Burnley today.
Finally, a couple of defeats for the Highadmit South Wales Alliance Premier Division sides the blog follows – Treherbert Boys and Girls Club were beaten 1-0 at Bridgend Street and Ton Pentre lost 3-1 at home to Aber Valley.
I’m not often a betting man (another unsuccessful Grand National bet last weekend excepted), but after Erol announced his injury illness list on Thursday, I thought I’d check the odds on our game. I found I could get 7/1 for a city win (which had become 15/2 by Saturday), although I was more tempted by 4/9 for an away win, but in the end I did neither. Pre-season I wagered £10 on Cardiff to be promoted at odds of 20/1, and I thought there was more chance of that happening than us beating Southampton yesterday.
Just before the start of the game I was informed that ref Oliver Langford had also been the ref of our best performance of the season, our 2-1 win over Ipswich, and for some reason, that gave me some small hope that all might not be lost.
All over the pitch there were incredible performances from our makeshift team. None of the youngsters looked out of place and Raheem Conte looked a natural right-back to me.
After the game I even heard a couple of fans comments saying we can now afford to sell NG for big money as Conte is a ready made replacement!
I was impressed by Erol’s more measured response after the game, saying this fixture was an easy game to introduce youngsters to the first team, as there was no pressure to reach the playoffs or avoid relegation, so he’d encouraged the youngsters to play with freedom and not worry about making mistakes.
Whilst it’s true that Saints were profligate in front of goal, I was very impressed at how much our team were prepared to put their bodies on the line to make decisive blocks and tackles, at this stage in the season when many bodies are tired and aching. Goutas, Siopis, Phillips, Romeo, Ralls, Hovarth, I could go on…..
You’re right what you say about Diedhou – his appearances so far haven’t set the world alight.
However he was obviously pumped up when he came on as a sub yesterday, firstly charging down a Saints defender and winning a city corner, and then gesturing with his arms at the Canton end to increase the volume level. I thought that certainly helped change the atmosphere, and so justly got his goal IMO, and almost got another with a good header at the end.
It’s a moot point which was our better victory – this one over Southampton or the similar score against Ipswich. I can make a case for either tbh.
I was also struck me by the response of the opposing managers afterwards.
Kieran McKenna was pretty philosophical after his Ipswich teams late defeat here, saying that they’d done the same to many other teams this season, and this time they’d been on the receiving end of a late winner and they’d just need to accept it and move on – which they did with three victories, starting with a 6-0 win over Sheffield Wed and then a 3-2 over Southampton.
Yesterday, Russell Martin was in a bad mood afterwards, blaming his players for an ‘unacceptable’ performance, and barely mentioned the brilliant football they played for much of the match when in possession.
I wonder how his players will react in their final three games.
For us though, it’s the final home game against Boro next Saturday, and I really hope that Erol includes all the same youngsters in the matchday squad, even if some of our senior players become available in the meantime.
Finally I mentioned ref Oliver Langford earlier. With such an exciting game I don’t actually remember much about his performance, apart from giving yellow cards to 3 Saints players, and one to Cardiff.
I’ve been told that not remembering his performance is the sign of a good referee – so well done (again) Mr Langford!
Good morning Paul and BB – Paul, your, summary was of your usual high quality and a really good read, and may I add likewise to BB.
I believe that there are some who may suggest that our manager has lost the dressing room. Well he certainly hasn’t as Saturday’s efforts prove that is not the case. All, including the couple of whom I have been critical, put in a shift of total commitment that had this observer standing up at the end applauding long and hard as the team saluted the spectators. And how fantastic was it to see the three youngsters individually at different times dash to the Canton end with unfound glee to applaud our devoted followers. In fact, I stood for some minutes after the game after the players had left the pitch almost in some disbelief at what I had witnessed. A very good moment.
Invidious to really mention individuals, but Ashford, Conte and Giles were splendid, but I must mention the captain, Joe Ralls. I felt he was inspired on Saturday and his enthusiasm for the task was captured by everyone else. Surely his best performance of the season. And each and everyone in defence may well have had their best showing in a season with quite a few quality efforts, particularly away from home. (I read one of the messages from a Saints supporter that they should sign our two central defenders as soon as possible).
Much as I welcomed our second goal, particularly by young Ashford, the deflection was such that should it not have been an own goal? I’m certain that if the shot had been touched by a City player, that player would have claimed it. The current practice of awarding shots into the goal after deflection by opposing defenders seems to distort what has truly happened. There was another example of that yesterday when Fernandes’ second goal struck a Coventry player and finished in the net. Thoughts anyone?
The Canton end was in full voice when singing “Eryl Bulot, we want you to stay”. After this performance, I wonder what Mr. Tan will do. I know “one swallow does not make a summer”, but those who wore blue on Saturday seemed in tune with the supporters message.
Bravo, Paul! What sounds like a memorable afternoon merited a terrific report – and it came to pass. A superb piece by you, which has brought some warming pleasure to this Exile. Thanks.
Here’s to the Bluebirds’ future; in the hands – and at the feet – of some talented youngsters.
Dear Paul and BB,
My thanks to you both for your detailed responses to Saturday’s events. You can both guess where I am coming from…
Oh dear… that result has sealed it. Bulutball is here to stay. A new contract will be announced within a week, I fear.
And all the comments on WoL are suddenly euphoric again in their praise for our purveyor of Turkish Delight… as they were after the Ipswich semi fluke.
Amongst the cheering and the optimism, his fans seem to be saying that they think he has suddenly seen sense and started to put faith in our team’s youngsters.
That is still to be seen methinks, as I still ‘hae me doots’… but if he has, I would say to Erol… what took you so long?
Gee, my favourite player of my boyhood, was just 17 when he made his City debut. He established himself in our first-team, aged 18, in 1959/60 and made his senior Wales debut in October 1959, playing against England at Ninian Park in front of an all-time record attendance of 62,634, and heading a last-minute equaliser to cancel out what looked like being a Jimmy Greaves winner, in a 1-1 draw. (The twelve year old me was standing at the very front of the newly covered Bob Bank*, level with Graham as he powered home his magnificent header. How we whooped with exultant joy all the way home on the train from Ninian Park Halt.)
Six weeks later, I recall watching on TV as he was awarded the title of Welsh Sports Personality of the Year…
… and he was still only 18…!! And at 18, already had a ‘hinterland’ in terms of life experience. He’d been signed when working as a coal-miner in Penallta Colliery…!!
We seem to think that Cian at 19 is still a fragile flower, vulnerable to vicious winds and even more icy opposing chopper defenders. Oh… gorblimey… spare me such modern trendy thinking…
The adage ‘if he is good enough, he is old enough’ applies today, like it did when we gave first team debuts at 16 to John Toshack and Aaron Ramsey, and 17 to Don Murray and George Johnston. All 4 quickly became regulars in our first team squads.
*to think I remember the Bob Bank before it was covered by a roof… hard to believe it now, but this splendid photo of the 1953 crowd for the Arsenal match, seemingly sees the ground full to the gunwales… but just six years later, I was to stand on the same Bob Bank with nearly 5,000 more of us in the stadium…!!
https://tinyurl.com/yvnxts87
Och… snap out of it Dai. ‘The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there’… those grand days ain’t coming back. We live in an age now where a keeper makes one very good and a few standard saves and is hailed by local press as a star… even though he was at fault for the Soton opening goal.
Oh I nearly forgot re that photo: judging from it, interesting how in 1953, Big Tobacco could seemingly afford more advertising spend than even the highly profitable booze industry.
Right… off to count some zeds. At 76, my beauty sleep is more necessary than ever.
TTFN.
Dai.
Thanks all for the replies. Blue Bayou, I think we should hang fire a bit with Conte – granted, he was superb, but, based on what I’ve seen of him in under 21 football, he’s a left sided attacking player, who can do a job as a number ten and maybe as a striker. I think he got by on adrenalin to an extent and it would be a huge ask for him to become a replacement for Ng week in, week out. I agree with you about the ref and you’re right to single out Diedhiou who was like a man possessed when he came on – I’ve been having a bot of a message board discussion about what prompted the complete turnaround in the final quarter of the game and I’ll mention some of my theories on that later, but it was claimed by someone else that it was the incident when Diediou gained that unlikely corner.
I also agree with you about Russell Martin, he used to milk his wins over us as Swansea boss for all they were worth and although they didn’t make for pleasant viewing, I could understand why hr did it, but his reaction was little different when Southampton beat us back in December and I thought that was a bit off.
Brian, Joe Ralls was very good on Saturday, as were Siopis and Tanner who I’ve been critical of lately. As for what prompted such a passionate response from the team, you’re probably right when you credit it to Erol Bulut, but I offered three alternative explanations that may have been responsible for it on the message board – a realisation within the team that what they came up with in the second half at Millwall was unacceptable, the realisation around the hour mark that Southampton weren’t cutting them open at will like they had done in the first half and that they could make them pay for their profligacy and, third, a few who played in the first meeting between the teams saw the chance of getting one over on Russell Martin – having some youthful energy and enthusiasm in their ranks would have helped as well – whoever or whatever was responsible though, is it a Biot churlish to wonder where that spot of response was in other games we’ve played this year like Leeds, Preston, Norwich, Swansea, Sunderland and Millwall?
Thank you Lindsay for your kind words, City had eight representatives (plus two more who had been with City, but had been lured away by Premier league clubs) in the first Wales Under 17 squad to make it to the Euros last summer and there were three more in the squad which made it through to the next Finals tournament a few weeks ago – it would be criminal if such a rich crop of talent fell by the wayside as the latest victims of our dreadful inability to turn very promising teenagers into first team regulars over the past ten years or more.
Dai, you’re so right about how attitudes have changed in a relatively short time – when you’ve been supporting City for as long as most of us on here have ten years is not that long a time, but, to go a further ten years back, I can remember Joe Ledley, Chris Gunter, Adam Matthews (a very talented lad who Dave Jones badly mishandled in my view), Ben Nugent and Declan John all being given their league debuts as seventeen year olds as well as Aaron Ramsey who was sixteen. Of course, that’s a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to career ourtcomes, but only Nugent did not go on to have a long career in the EFL or better – I also think of Darcy Blake who I think was eighteen when he first played who I feel could have been a Premier League player without his off field issues.
However, despite this legacy from an Academy that was definitely serving its purposes for the first decade of its existence, the belief has taken hold in the ten years since then that someone of Rubin Colwill’s age (he’ll be twenty two on Saturday) is still some sort of kid fresh out of the Academy who should be handled carefully – the club’s history is littered with young, mostly Welsh, players who came into the team and coped well with the task of playing in the top two tiers of the game, but in Vincent Tan’s time it seems that carrying on with an approach that was successful in the past is now viewed as too much of a risk (I should say, I don’t blame our owner for this, but it might be that he had opted for too many managers who place a low priority on youth development.
As for Erol Bulut, I still feel that it’s odd that the contract issue has not been sorted out yet if the intention is to keep him on – I’d still rather we had someone else in charge next season. I would feel differently if Saturday had persuaded me that our manager had “seen the error of his ways” in terms of using players like Ashford when there is something riding on the game and in terms of him taking the more attacking approach we saw against Southampton into next season, but I’m not in either case, I fear it will be more of the same next season even if he stays and is given a bit of money to spend in the summer.
Sorry Brian, I didn’t answer your question about whether Ashford’s goal on Saturday should have been taken away from him and recorded as a Bednarek own goal. I don’t think it should because the general rule I’ve read about such situations is that if the goal attempt pas going to hit the target then the goal should be awarded to the person having the goal attempt even if there is big deflection involved. For me, Ashford’s shot was on target and would have required saving by the goal keeper – he also caught a shot from about twenty two yards really well in the first half and it would have been interesting to see where that would have ended up if a defender hadn’t blocked it.