Hughie Ferguson, Graham Moore, Brian Clark, Peter Sayer, Nathan Blake, Scott Young and Andy Campbell – all of them scorers of goals etched deep into Cardiff City folklore and now there’s a new name to add to the list, Jack Bycroft.
It was Bycroft whose late, late goal confirmed that less than a year after that afternoon when Aaron Ramsey’s Cardiff City dropped into the lower divisions for the first time in twenty two years with a tame 0-0 draw against West Brom, they returned to the Championship at the first attempt.
If you’re reading this, you’re almost certainly a City fan and you’ll, surely, know who Bycroft is by now, but, if you don’t, then he’s Exeter City’s second string goalkeeper, who, with his side 3-2 down well into added time against Stockport, came forward to bullet in an excellent near post header from corner.Â
Bycroft’s goal wasn’t enough to take his team out of the bottom four, but it removed any last doubts that there may be about a sensational end to the season which would see City denied the automatic promotion they deserved.
Two equally dramatic lunchtime matches ensured that, by the time we kicked off, only Stockport could deny us. Bolton yet again scored in added time at home, this time against the team who can’t stop conceding added time equalisers, Huddersfield. Reduced to ten men early in the second half, Bolton went from 1-0 up to 3-1 down, but then battled back for a 3-3 draw.
Meanwhile, Bradford were at Barnsley where, again, the home team again had a player shown a red card, this time within the first ten minutes. However, it was Barnsley who broke the deadlock early in the second half, only to concede a couple of goals late on, but there was a twist on ninety six minutes when Barnsley snatched an equaliser.
The two draws left City needing to better Stockport’s result to guarantee finishing above them and this they did because of Bycroft’s heroics.
City got the job done with a 3-1 win where, after a careless start that was very much like Tuesday at Huddersfield, they grew into the game to the extent that, by the end, it was a lot more like Bolton a week ago even if they never quite reached those heights.
With just the one change to the starting line up, Gabriel Osho for Will Fish, it was a vote of confidence really by BBM for the team that gave what I thought was our worst performance in months on Tuesday.
However, with Dylan Lawlor caught in possession twice early on and Osho hardly suggesting cool authority at times, it was a concerning opening period as Reading, having switched to a back three from their usual flat back four, caught City on the hop to some extent.
Just as at Huddersfield, City had their woodwork hit early on, but this time a linesman’s flag meant that it wouldn’t have stood anyway, but they had a bona fide scare when defender Jeriel Dorsett turned really well only to then blast over from close range.
City began to piece things together though and home goalkeeper Joel Pereira had to make good saves to deny Ollie Tanner (with ex City man Andy Rinomhota doing really well to deny Chris Willock from the follow up) and Alex Robertson.
City kept up the pressure and took the lead on forty minutes when a cross was headed out to Ryan Wintle who clipped in a precise cross that was headed in superbly by someone in an orange shirt. For a mere fraction of a second, I thought Osho had netted his first goal for the club, but, no, it was the captain Rubin Colwill which means that the last two goals he’s scored for us have been with his head.
However, if the one he scored at Exeter was simplicity itself, this was a classic old fashioned centre forward’s header in the mould of Ron or Wyn Davies or our own John Toshack – David Turnbull’s goal against Chelsea was a very good header, but, off the top of my not very talented head, Colwill’s is the best one we’ve scored this season.
Having worked hard to take what was a deserved lead, City were almost pinned back seconds before half time as Paddy Lane’s well struck effort from fifteen yards got a slight deflection which made Nathan Trott’s save to turn it on to the top of the net one of his best of a superb season for out goalkeeper.
I know I’m getting a bit boring carrying on about the number of brilliant goals we’ve scored this season, but the one Omari Kellyman scored ten minutes after a half time was a classic of its type. We worked our way out from an awkward situation near our corner flag to hit Reading on the break to such an extent that Wintle’s `perfect pass put Kellyman free to run from half way and calmly place the ball beyond Pereira – it was a goal which summed up what we’re all about at our best. I should say at this point that having said I’d vote for Joel Bagan as our Player of the Season last weekend, I now finding myself opting for Wintle seven days later!
Not long after that, news came through that Exeter, 2-0 down after half an hour, had levelled things up at 2-2. It was fairly typical of how things have gone lately that the euphoria quickly died – firstly, Turnbull, on for Robertson, gave Lawlor a hospital pass with what his first touch i believe. Lawlor was penalised for handball and booked as Lewis Wing, who had scored for Reading from thirty five yards at Cardiff City Stadium, looked at the free kick from ten yards closer. Wing’s shot was certainly well struck, but Trott will I’m sure be disappointed to palm the ball straight into the path of Daniel Kyerewaa whose shot found the far corner of the net.
Soon after, the news came through that Stockport had regained the lead and when Osho made a mess of a straightforward long ball forward by the Reading keeper, Trott reacted quickly to keep out an effort by Reading’s top scorer Jack Marriott.
Perry Ng helped quell any nerves though with a fine left footed shot on eighty seven minutes to complete a performance that was much more to the standard he’s set in recent months and certainly a lot better than what we saw from him on Tuesday.
The result was not in doubt after that and, the truth is that, given our far better goal difference than Stockport, we were as good as up then, but Bycroft’s goal was the cherry on top of the cake.Â
My plan is to write a piece on our promotion early next week once I’ve collected my thoughts a bit more. Therefore, for now, I just want to say to BBM, his coaching staff and the whole squad, congratulations and thank you for a season which ranks right up there with my favourite ever ones. You didn’t just get us straight back up, you did it playing a great brand of front foot football with a team that always had a group of talented home grown players at its heart.
It was a game of two penalties at Leckwith this afternoon as City’s under 18s did their end of season Play Off hopes no favours by drawing 1-1 with Crewe. Mannie Barton put as ahead from the spot early on only for the visitors to net their own penalty in the 90th minute.
Well done to the Welsh women’s team as well as they followed up their 4-0 home win over Albania at Wrexham on Tuesday up by winning 1-0 this afternoon in the return game – Rhiannon Roberts getting the vital goal.
In the Highadmit South Wales Alliance Championship, Ton Pentre drew 1-1 against second in the table Tata Steel United and look set to finish in the division’s top six, which isn’t bad considering their struggles in recent years. Treorchy Boys and Girls Club seem set for a similar type finish in Division One South East following their 1-0 win at St Joseph’s today.
As usual, thank-you Paul for your report. I agree with you. Even for a promotion winning season, we have scored a remarkably high number of excellent goals. Let’s hope Osho also manages to get on the scoresheet before the end of the season.
Yesterday afternoon found me, in a strange situation. Much as I would have liked to have been at Reading watching City seal promotion, it was not to be. In one of those strange situations that life occasionally throws up, I was within walking distance of St James’ Park, Exeter, where the home keeper scored his heroic goal.
So we are up; a prospect I dearly wanted but daren’t think about last summer. Against all odds we are thankfully alongside the two other Welsh clubs again, should Wrexham fail in their play/off efforts.
Of the game proper, Colwill Snr’s header, as rare as a Bobby Charlton one, eased the emotions before that lovely constructed and executed Kellyman effort found the net. For a full-back, Ng can certainly hit a ball. What a strike. What a goal for #3.
So what of the season? Following the turgid Football of the late 20thC, “Mad Mick’s,” Football Odyssey and the possession for possession’s sake football (?) of the Bulut and Riza eras I have nothing but praise for BB-M’s football revolution, carried out with many youngsters after the Club jetisoned 17 players last summer. True City stuttered in those 3 recent home games and that afternoon in Plymouth, but that had more to do with Tan not sanctioning a second striker last August. The youthfulness of the squad, many playing their first proper full season at first team level, has also made the season so much more pleasing. Anyone who has witnessed the away-day demolitions of Rotherham, Doncaster and Exeter plus the ease with which City dispatched Bolton should be happy. Those who bring up the fact that City’s football is negative, after amassing a goal difference of +36, open themselves up to a charge of living in an alternative universe.
True, there have been times where we could be criticised but for the overwhelming majority of this season we have been, if not irresistible, then certainly the best footballing team in this league. The respected, ‘Not the Top 20,’ YouTube vlog thinks so. Though, it is true that all this has been done only at the Third Tier level is a valid point but that’s where we found ourselves following the poor off-field management of the Club by Tan, Dalman & Choo. Now its down to Tan to release some finance for next season. Will he?
That BB-M has forged a successful unit with the players he was dealt is worthy of great credit. As I said early on in the season, BB-M’s mantra is possession with purpose, not possession for its own sake. Give me this over, “Mad Mick’s,” five centre halves any day.
Dear Paul and Steve…
I will be back with a proper response to the report on the state of play of FOOTBALL 2026. Unfortunately I have a lot on my hands today so probably won’t find the time.
But I would ask that we please remain civil here and not constantly talk of TAN… yet never talk about ‘Barry-Murphy’ without first always including his Christian name… even when using his initials viz… ‘BB-M’.
I am reminded of those so-called ‘supporters’ who during our first season back in the top tier after half a century out of it, raised banners DURING THE GAME saying ‘Tan leave our club’ at stadia like Goodison Park… and idiotically thought seeing these would incentivise the team. Had it been a war, such a bizarre form of ‘patriotism’ would have resulted in their execution for treachery.
And if you still don’t think that Vincent is worthy of his first name, I suggest that Sheffield Wednesday fans would have taken him in a heartbeat over Dejphon Chansiri… not to mention Barry Town fans still haunted by the name of that madman Stuart Lovering.
And before signing off pro tem… I have news for you two…
Cardiff City were not the best footballing team in the division: Lincoln City were, by a country mile. Most tellingly, the man you call ‘Mad Mick’ was cited by Brian in WalesOnLine as being one of the two important managers we have had in recent years… or as he put it ‘Mick McCarthy and Neil Warnock’. (Why is it that I don’t think he was listing the two in alphabetical order? I figure he sees Mick as the greater boss.)
But hey, both those guys rinsed a small fortune out of Vincent Tan: and can you blame our owner for not wanting a repeat?
But if he is going to untie the pursestrings, we should hope that Argyle do not join us as the third promoted team. That way, the sublime Lorent Tolaj will not want another season in the third tier, but be susceptible to the blandishments of a Championship club.
And this is a man who can lead an attack on his own, and can also play up front in a two with the likes of Bim Pepple.
And before closing… as for Gabriel Osho scoring before the season’s out, best of luck with that… if he does it will be from one of his suicidal pass backs… as mad as that insane throw-in that gave Arsenal their goal yesterday.
DW
Thanks both for your replies, Steve, I covered much of the stuff you talk about in the message I posted yesterday – among the things I said was that the style we used when our target man striker was fit was hardly “tippy tappy” and pointless passing. We’ve not been averse to playing long passes to Salech and, even without him, the long pass from defensive areas out to the wings has been a fundamental part of our play all season.
Dai’s reply comes as a surprise because you’d never guess it was written the day after the club he must have supported seventy years, or very close to it, was promoted. I’m not sure why I was included in the bit about calling our owner just by his surname either. I daresay I’ve done that in the past at times, but I’m pretty sure I didn’t mention him at all in my piece on the Reading game which Dai is replying to. I did make reference Mr Tan a few times in the message posted yesterday before I’d read Dai’s reply and I always called him Vincent Tan in that.
As for how much we will spend under this owner in the summer, I have my say on that in the piece I wrote yesterday – I feel we could see a change of ownership in the summer, but, if we don’t, I wouldn’t expect Vincent Tan to spend much unless we cash in on some of our most sought after players. I wouldn’t be too critical of Vincent Tan if we don’t spend much because I think his hands will be tied to an extent because of the impact of what I still call FFP regulations.
Apols Paul if I had given you the impression that I was accusing you of never using Tan’s first name. Not so… I just started off with ‘Dear Paul’ because I usually do start off with your name, not least because it is vital that we don’t think that the best part of two decades monumental labour of love that is MAYA has been the work of a form of artificial intelligence… but rather, it has been the work of one man’s hard graft… (graft, that in a just society you’d get the MBE for undertaking).
But I also started off with your name, because I was following it with Steve’s… and it was vital that I did not want him to think I was singling him out, for (a) he is a civilised and most decent fellow, and (b) his was the latest in many examples down the years of City fans never using the name Vincent.
Now, I say to myself, hey Dai… don’t get precious about it. Surely there are occasions when it is perfectly proper to just use a surname? Like in a match report, we talk of Trott, Bagan, Wintle, etc… seldom using their first names. So why not just ‘Tan’?
Why not indeed…
One cannot argue with the logic there. So I am probably over-reacting… but why?
You see, let us be honest here… we talk of ‘Tan’ as though he were a criminal up on a serious charge. Remember the days when TV reports on murder trials talked about ‘Sutcliffe’ and ‘Brady’… no mention of their first names.
Well that’s how it seems to me to be with the name of Vincent Tan. Like he is in the dock.
But as far as we know, he is an honourable man… even given the prestigious ‘Sri’ title by Malaysia’s government. And remember, unlike someone else we know who owns a big club, he did not admit to burning down his old school.
TTFN,
Dai.
PS… no I can’t get away with hoping that you think my ending of my first sentence there was me being ironic. No such luck.
Truth is, I am as guilty as the next man. I should have said… MR Tan’s first name… but did not… because the habit of just calling him ‘Tan’ is a pernicious one that can poison us all… me included.
Look, there are legitimate arguments to be made re his ownership/stewardship these past 15 or so years, and I ‘get it’ that I see his glass more than half full rather than the half empty that many fans see… but we should all try to follow your shining example and studiously avoid the pejorative use of ‘Tan’ as in the ‘Tan Get Out’ treacherous banner unfurled at Goodison… which 13 years later still sticks in my craw.
DW
What’s in a name?
Just for clarification let me add to Dai’s latest posts. I can see where he is coming form and I don’t hold that against him. My use of Tan and BB-M was not indicative that I desired to convey any hidden meaning in their use. Rather it was simply for a case of quickness and not derision that I have used them and probably will again.
I just took a look on line to find Mr Tan’s full name. Here goes … it is Tan Sri Dato Seri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun according to that fine bastion of truth, Wikipedia.
Similarly, I have simply shortened Brian Barry-Murphy to BB-M for the same reason.
Readers will have noticed that I’ve written, “Mad Mick.” The inverted commas were to convey that others had used that form and not that I think anything less of him as a member of the human species. Perhaps it was less than generous of me and a different appellation should have been used.
I’m probably the world’s worst in that I’ll shorten any name: Basil (Baz), Robert (Rob), Howard (How) & Philip (Phil) etc. Even our previous owner, Dato Chan Tien Ghee, was happy to be called, “TG.”