It’s just over a fortnight since Chris Willock had an awful game at Port Vale and I don’t think it’s going too far to say that things came to a head regarding his underwhelming first season at the club as he copped some terrible stick on social media with some proclaiming that he should never play for the club again.
This lunchtime we saw proof of two things – first, the team that struggled so much at Port Vale before emerging with a goalless draw is actually quite good given an injection of confidence gained from being well coached, being encouraged to express themselves on the pitch and winning a few games.
Second, if Port Vale away represented the nadir of Chris Willock’s Cardiff City career up to now, then Luton away some sixteen days later was the game in which he finally really announced himself as a Cardiff player.
The signs had been there at AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday after he came on to replace the stricken Ollie Tanner (a scan confirmed ligament damage and a fractured fibula which is likely to keep Tanner out for about four months) that Willock would react positively to his likely elevation in the winger pecking order at the club. The ex QPR and Arsenal man became increasingly influential until he came up with the cross which led to Isaak Davies’ late winner, but this was a different level again as he scored the only goal in something of a statement win at Kenilworth Road, Luton.
It’s truly encouraging that, despite Willock’s fine performance he had plenty of rivals for the man of the match nomination and, if anything, I’m edging towards Nathan Trott who came up with a string of good saves to preserve our, almost, perfect defensive record five games into our season.
A bad late miss apart, Rubin Colwill contributed another non stop showing which made a mockery of the misgivings I used to have about his stamina a few years ago and I thought Cian Ashford did very well.
The fact is though that there wasn’t a weak performer today in a blue shirt – Ronan Kpakio’s errors came from, if anything, trying to play too much football and being too confident, the centrebacks got into trouble once or twice by letting long balls bounce, but it’s remarkable that they are so assured and effective when they have a combined age of just forty one. Joel Bagan was just solid, as was the reborn Ryan Wintle. David Turnbull was part of a dominant midfield until he to go off in the first half and Callum Robinson contributed fully to an excellent first quarter from City in which they really should have scored at least once.
This brings me on to the one criticism I’d have of City today – in fact I’d say it applies to most of our matches this season. Our finishing and final ball so far does not match the quality of our play in all other areas of the pitch. The statisticians tell us that we had one attempt on goal at Port Vale (still not sure what it was) and our goal at Wimbledon was our only effort on target of the evening. By most people’s reckoning, we murdered Rotherham last weekend, but, even then, there were only six on target efforts.
Today, while Willock’s finish was exemplary, there were too many examples of poor finishing. For example, Turnbull, a very good striker of a ball, scuffing a shot from eighteen yards wide which had been teed up perfectly for him. Robinson not getting a clean stoke away when unmarked about eight yards out, Joel Colwill bobbling a low cross straight at the keeper from six yards and, finally his elder brother shooting wide from a one on one when he’d done so well to win the ball and then run thirty yards with it before shooting a yard wide – again, it’s indicative of the physical transformation of Rubin that once he got clear in this incident, you knew no defender was going to catch him..
City were a joy to watch in the first twenty odd minutes as Luton just couldn’t get near them and although the home side improved as the half went on, a high quality League One match was scoreless at the break with us having been the better team. However, the only on target effort we’d managed was an outrageous shot from the half way line from Robinson that home keeper Josh Keeley just about managed to turn behind for a corner.
You have to contrast that with Luton’s mostly more accurate shooting, although City will be grateful that veteran Nakhi Wells did not have his shooting boots on as Keeley’s long punts downfield caused a problem for the first, but not last, time and he rolled his shot wide when he really should have scored.
Trott made a great save to preserve City’s lead on Tuesday after a quiet introduction to the club, but here he was called into action three times in quick succession to make some fine saves with the best of them being from a crisply struck twenty five yarder by George Seville and such had been Luton’s comeback from a rocky start that it would have been City who were grateful to hear the half time whistle.
Without Turnbull, City had lost some of the calm control they’d been showing, but his replacement Joel Colwill’s differing skill set became valuable as Luton came out to give City more of a physical challenge after the break.
Luton would eventually effectively decide that they couldn’t take on City in a footballing contest and would make their big side even bigger when introducing more physical substitutes,.However, they didn’t really come closer to scoring than they did very early in the second half when former City man Mark McGuinness met a cross eight yards out and I was expecting the net to bulge like it did quite often when he was with us, but Trott got down to his right brilliantly to turn the ball around for a corner.
In both of our away games we’ve had to endure spells of differing intensity where it looked like we could concede at any minute and it was the same here, especially when the ball bounced about crazily in front of our goal with Luton having three or four chances before the last one flew just wide from close range.
What was impressive here though was that City lifted their performance when the pressure was at its height and came out to first create a chance for Joel Colwill and then win the game through Willock. It was all the winger’s own work as well as he won back possession twenty five yards out, moved clear off an opponent then turned McGuinness inside out before calmly placing his shot past Keeley from fifteen yards.
City regained a lot of their poise after the goal and although Lawlor, who would eventually be replaced by Calum Chambers, had to put in a great block to deal with a dangerous low cross, the pressure of Luton being behind at home as title favourite was being shown in shooting which had lost much of its earlier accuracy. Indeed, City really should have left the last few minutes less stressful for supporters by killing the game off when captain Colwill did so well until his finish.
As a pleasant surprise, the referee stuck rigidly to the five minutes extra time shown by the fourth official as Rubin Colwill and Isaak Davies, on for Willock, made an effective job of running the clock down by Luton’s corner flag.
One moan while I remember, Luton kicked off the first half which I reckon means Rubin won the toss and, elected to play towards our fans in the first half. The same thing happened at AFC Wimbledon , but I’m not sure who kicked off there, so we might not have won the toss that night, but I’d much prefer us playing towards our fans in the second half of away games.
With Stevenage dropping their first points after losing 1-0 at Huddersfield, City go a point clear at the top and will, hopefully look to bring in some new recruits before their next league game – BBM is doing his best, can those who have got it wrong so often in the past do theirs?
Another win for the under 18s who beat Barnsley 4-2 at Leckwith at lunchtime with goals from Riley Hilaire-Clarke, Jack Sykes, Harry Watts and Leo Papirnyk.
A win as well for Ton Pentre in the Championship of the Highadmit South Wales Alliance, they got the better of Tonyrefail Boys and Girls Club by 3-1 to pick up an away win in a Rhondda derby.
Thanks Paul for your summary of yesterday’s City performance at Luton with which I am totally in accord. August has been a most encouraging month to date and if we are able to see out the month with two more wins at home this week, it will be the best start to a season for many a while and a good watch. Perhaps more accuracy with attempts on goal, but there is an entertaining feature about the City’s displays so far.
There have been many comments on this site recently about poor or strange refereeing decisions. I have never believed in the view that some referees are “biased”, always thinking, probably naively, that officials are honest – capable of making mistakes certainly, but honest. But did not yesterday’s man in the middle commit an absolute howler when after he had stopped play with Colwill minor in possession in the Luton penalty area as a result of Saville supposed head injury, he restarted the game by giving the ball to the Luton goalkeeper. That surely was not correct was it? Possession handed back to opponents – can’t be right. Anyone of your more knowledgeable contributors have any thoughts. I watched Colwill’s reaction – he was bemused.
But back to the match itself, once again six Academy products (all Welsh) appearing at some time or another, and a goalkeeping display of some excellence. And with Wintle, Willock and Turnbull revealing their undoubted talents, this new City team will hopefully bring better times to the CCS.
Thank-you, once more, Paul, for your fine review of City’s game at Luton. It was good to be able to watch it on Sky and others, not of the CF11 parish, witness the strides we have made in so short a time under BB-M.
Going into the game I did feel that Luton would be the most physical of sides we had played this season. I was also hoping for a better showing from the Bluebirds than the first taste of this at Port Vale. I need not have been concerned. City’s play in the opening 32 mins, before Turnbull’s injury, was as dominant and pleasing as you could wish to see. With possession stats of 30%-70% it was remarkable. But that did not tell all the story. We had some four efforts that should have nestled in the net during this period of play had profligate finishing not reared its ugly head. The introduction of Colwill (J) for the Scot coincided with the hosts coming more into the game but it was still even at the interval. As the City players had their cuppas or oranges in the cramped Luton dressing room, the visitors had 65% possession; a passing accuracy of 89% and committed only 2 fouls.
As the second half wore on, an angular Luton became ever more physical. Their players played as we once did. It seemed that whenever Saville went anywhere near a blue shirt it was grabbed and the player grappled to the grass. That said, the ref attempted to keep the game flowing and the spectacle was far better for it. I read online that the vexed issue brought up by Brian resulting in their keeper having the dropped ball despite City the possession when play was halted in the penalty area was correct. Incredible though it is that’s the Law. So basically a defending player can go down pretending to be injured in the penalty area; if he is holding his head play must be stopped and restarted with a dropped ball to the keeper. Absolutely bonkers! Overall though, the official was a vast improvement on some we’ve had this August and I commend him for that.
It was good to see that Willock’s improvement was rewarded with a lovely winner. This was a Premier League sort of goal that fittingly won the difficult looking away game for us. Long may his upturn of form continue with Tanner’s enforced injury layoff. Many have already spoken of Trott’s inspired lunch-time endeavours, “at the Ken.” Incidentally, that’s the first time I’ve ever heard that expression in over 65 years of football. Trott was simply unbeatable and had an afternoon like Kevin Keelan always seemed to have for Norwich City at Ninian Park. His handling and positioning was beyond reproach. Notable mentions must go to the back-four, Wintle, Turnbull and Colwill (R) though all played their part in an excellent performance.
At the close of the game we had 62% possession; a passing accuracy of 85%, were not bullied and came out of the test victorious. Once upon a time we would have wilted under the physical nature of the pressure.
Well done BB-M and City.
Right boyos,
Sackcloth and ashes for me.
Let me start with Chris Willock. I have made myself hoarse shouting “Taxi for Mr Willock! Send the bill to me!” But yesterday was by a country mile his best game for us, which normally would not be saying much because for the past year he has been consistently anonymous bordering on rank poor… indeed, I’d go further and say bordering on the ‘unconscionably bad’.
But yesterday he really was mesmerisingly good… but as you rightly say Paul, it was his misfortune to really have to share the MAYA man of yesterday’s match with Nathan Trott.
And to think I called him ‘cocky’…!! It might indeed still not be an inaccurate epithet to aim his way… but let me be the first to admit, my goodness, he has a lot to be ‘cocky’ about… for yesterday, he turned in a top class performance. Those great saves gave City the three points, no doubt.
So I have now radically revised my opinion of Nathan: his USP according to BBM was his outstanding work with the ball at his feet. Well, after yesterday, methinks his long passing is far less impressive than his work with his hands: and let’s face it, goalkeeping is primarily about shot stopping… and so suddenly, I feel we have our own Gianluigi Donnarumma.
I am mystified how this fella has been on the books of West Ham for a full FIVE YEARS and never make a single appearance for the first team, but instead be loaned out to Wimbledon and then 2 foreign clubs before the Hammers selling him in 2024 for an undisclosed fee to Copenhagen… who promptly gave him a 4 year contract.
Yet a year later, they are allowing him to come to us on a season long loan. I can’t quite fathom it.
However I am now a Trott – and to some extent – BBM convert. But I hope they watched the James Trafford fiasco last night on MotD. No repeats please.
Only an idiot would be against short incisive passes FORWARD at speed… playing the ball just ahead of your teammate for him to run on to. But no tiki-taka in your own third… and that includes you too Ronan… yet again you are not realising danger down by your own goal-line. As you rightly point out Paul, there is a time and place for him overplaying… but manifestly not by his own goal.
Two more wins in the coming week and surely BBM will win Manager of the Month… how long has it been since we had a manager who won that award? Did Colin win it once or twice? Methinks he must have. I know Malky and Dave Jones were previous winners of an award that seemed to bring a jinx with it for the games in the following month.
Will sign off now.
Before I do, a word re Brian’s query…
What I’d say is the Laws of the game seem to change every 5 minutes… and yes when a game is stopped these days, the game is restarted with the ball being given back to the team in possession.
There was a famous case at Anfield about 3/4 years ago where the referee gave the restart back to Liverpool just outside their penalty area, although their opponents had been in possession. And you’ve guessed: within about 25 seconds Liverpool had worked the ball down the other end and scored.
Cue, mass booing by the away fans.
But certainly when I was a kid learning the Laws of soccer*, the only approved way of restarting a game was a contested drop ball. I can remember some feverish activity in the penalty area with drop balls there, back in the day.
I have only just read Steve’s always readable contribution, as I had started this longish piece before he posted it. I endorse most of what he says, and would point out that when I watched City defeated 3-1 there back on March 4th, 1978 when Luton had the two blond Futcher twins in their team, nobody called it ‘the Kenny’ in those days. And I had worked and been based in Luton for a few months some four years prior to that, and it was a nickname I assuredly never heard.
First time I heard it was about two years ago. Methinks it stems from an affectionate attitude to this most quirky of grounds, now that its days are numbered.
*yes, you’ve read that right. I have called it ‘soccer’ ever since about 1954…
Yours till lunch tomorrow,
Dai.
Thank you, Paul, for your excellent analysis again, and for the second time in a week standing with our magnificent away game supporters I found I was not the only one shouting beggingly ‘SHOOT’ whenever we had a player with the ball in or very near the opposing penalty area – as you say our goalkeeper “came up with a string of good saves” making him ‘man of the match’ for many, but how many good saves did their goalkeeper have to come up with – you spotted one, but .. surely by now the Manager has realised our main problem : actually scoring goals!
PS: A lovely interview with Kevin Keelan; a hero back in the day when goal-keepers rarely wore gloves …
https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2019-12-09/norwich-city-legend-kevin-keelan-pays-emotional-tribute-to-brother-duncan-forbes
Kevin Keelan at Ninian Park …
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/73/26/a1/7326a14f17505942f3dbd597ff1ac3a3.jpg
Thanks for the replies which had something of a theme to them regarding that decision to restart the game after a, very dubious, injury to a Luton player with what was effectively a free kick to Luton when Ciiy had the ball within the home team’s penalty area. I should have mentioned this in my piece because I noted it during the game and said to myself we won’t get the ball back in the same place when play resumes. I assumed we’d be given the ball somewhere just inside the Luton half, Brian asked that cannot be right can it and, although the decision not to restart play with us in possession in t Luton penalty area didn’t surprise me, it didn’t seem right to me either. However, Steve says that the referee was within the Laws of the game to do what he did (in which case the law is an ass) which pleases me a little because it means that I can say that the referee (mR coy?) was the best one we’ve had so far in a league game, which was my feeling as I watched the game – that’s not saying much mind, but I don’t think the ref against Port Vale was too bad and the one on Saturday was good enough for the Championship in my opinion.
As far the Ken or Kenny is concerned, I like to think that I’m not too much of an old fuddy duddy, but I am when it comes to this sort of thing. Luton’s ground is a little like Old Trafford (the football ground) to me in one way only – they are both grounds that I’ve visited without watching a game – it was very much a flying vivit to Kenilworth Road, so it’s not surprising that I didn’t hear it called The Ken or Kenny while i was there, but if someone would have done it, I’d have tolf them in no uncertain terms that the ground was called Kenilworth Road! Calling that ground the Ken or Kenny is akin to calling Caroline Steet “Chippy Alley” or Ninian Park (the old lady” and should be done under no circumstances whatsoever!
Dai, Trafford’s error on Saturday was a strange one in that it seemed pretty obvious that it was going to end in disaster even before he played the ball and yet, such was the extent of his indoctrination he still went ahead and did it! Faced with such situations, most goalkeepers would decide to knock it upfield towards their centre forward – Trott has done that quite often with City. Turning to our keeper, I’m sure he’s going to get caught out when trying his Cruyff turns by somebody soon, but, what he’s done for me is give me a better understanding of playing out from the back by goalkeepers. I’ve said using the goalkeeper to, in effect, play as an extra outfield player can be judged a success or failure by contrasting goals conceded through playing that way against goals scored as a consequence of playing that wayk, but, having seen Trott and the way we are trying to play, I realise my view was too simplistic, I think Trott is fundamental to how we want to play under BBM and so it’s more of a case of conceding more than an allowable number of goals through playing that way – say we concede three through Trott being robbed of the ball, is that too many for the way we’re playing currently to become self defeating?
Graham, I think we’ve had a gramd total of five on target shots in our three away games and scored from two of them – that’s a very healthy conversion rate that will take some fancy shooting for us to maintain that sort of success rate over a season. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the subject of our shooting, and final ball, comes up in training this week.