With nine wins and six draws to show from their nineteen away matches, Cardiff City have shown top six, if not top two, form this season, but at home it’s been an impersonation of a relegation fighting team. Today, we got yet another example of why the odds remain firmly against City making it into the Play Offs as they lost for the ninth time in 20/21 on their own ground – Nottingham Forest, the team we always used to beat, gaining their third win in the last four meetings between the teams.
Chris Houghton, the Forest manager, has built his reputation on solid defences and his current side’s position too near to the relegation places for comfort is firmly down to a lack of attacking punch rather than any weaknesses at the back, they average just about a goal a game conceded away from home.
Therefore, given, City’s bizarre pre conditions for victory at Cardiff City Stadium, the chances of them recording what would have been win number eight looked remote.
City are great fun on the too rare occasions when they win on their own patch, because it means they must have scored three or more goals – failure to do that sees them gain the, very, occasional draw, but far more often it means they lose.
Tonight I find myself feeling much the same as a Swansea fan must have after their derby day defeat a fortnight ago. There were a lot of similarities between the two matches in that the away side were slightly the better in the first half, got their goal (in Forest’s case from their only on target effort of the match) and then spent the second period defending manfully in the face of pretty relentless pressure and, at the final whistle, I feel both sets of home team supporters could feel hard done by at their side not coming out of the match with a draw.
With Sean Morrison having not recovered from the injury he received in the Swansea match, the fit again Curtis Nelson replaced him in the only change from the last game. Mick McCarthy clearly felt that the players that won the derby had earned another chance for themselves, but, given the lack of experience Tom Sang and Joe Ralls had in the wing back role, it seemed an unnecessary risk to me given that Perry Ng was fit enough to be included as a substitute.
However, City’s problems today were not in the wing back positions. In fact, Sang and Ralls were among our best players.
To me, there was more evidence that the high intensity and pressing which was so important in keeping the fine run following McCarthy’s appointment going is fading because the effects of a season where the games come around quicker than usual are combining with consequences of the way we have played the game under the current manager to ensure that our players are close to being out on their feet.
There had been hopes that the international break could lead to a recharging of the batteries for at least some of our team, but there was little evidence of that. This was a tired performance by our attacking players, in particular Keiffer Moore who didn’t seem to have benefited from only playing about ninety minutes in total for Wales in the three games they played in the past fortnight.
It’s also a concern that Sheyi Ojo came up with another inconsequential appearance off the bench and one cross which led to our best chance of the afternoon apart, “inconsequential” described Josh Murphy’s contribution as well.
Jonny Williams was introduced along with Ojo and Murphy, but it was no fault of his that City produced very little which suggested an equaliser until the introduction of Rubin Colwill and Mark Harris inside the last ten minutes. Williams stood out of as someone who is well grounded in the basics of the game – that shouldn’t by enough to earn any particular praise normally, but in this team, which so often makes joined up football look almost an impossibility, it does tend to stand out.
To be fair though, City although again displaying their limitations when trying to find another blue shirt, we’re not as bad as usual at passing the ball and the BBC’s stats show that they shaded the possession fifty one to forty nine. However, one of the lessons of this season is that the more we have of the ball, the more our lack of creativity from open play is exposed.
Indeed, City’s best bit of incisive and creative football came in the first ten minutes when the front three combined well to set up Leandro Bacuna with a shooting chance that presented Brice Samba with just about the only save he had to make from a goal attempt – it was a decent piece of goalkeeping but that’s all it needed to be and if you combine that with the fact that Dillon Phillips couldn’t stop the only on target shot he faced all afternoon (he made a diving second half save from a shot which looked to be going wide), it rather tells you what a poor spectacle the game was.
The only goal was well worked by Forest as they made ground down on our left, got to the bye line where a cross was pulled for Manchester United loanee midfielder James Garner to sweep in from about fifteen yards. Now, the club website commentators made great play out of Joe Ralls’ positioning for the goal and how he had not got much help from his team mates, but I was left thinking that if, say, Will Vaulks was told to get himself on, our close to, the penalty spot every time the opposition were in our final third from open play, we’d end up conceding a fair few less goals than we do.
Going back to City’s lack of an end product, that Bacuna effort apart there was only a Sang header not too far over from a good Ralls cross in the best example we came up with of what a pair of wing backs can give you in an attacking sense and one of those long distance Vaulks shots that he occasionally catches so well (this one flew narrowly wide with Samba looking beaten) to get excited about in the first half.
After the break, Forest were able to get in the block that we couldn’t when the ball was turned back towards the penalty spot and so Moore was denied his seventeenth league goal of the season.
Besides that, it was only when we went for the usual aerial bombardment in the closing stages that Forest were seriously troubled.
Stand in captain Aden Flint was unmarked to reach a fine Murphy cross some five yards from goal, but I’m afraid it was the 19/20 Flint that turned up today when it came to his defending and passing, but not when it came to his work in the opposition penalty box, so the header flew over the bar and then Ciaron Brown got a firm header on a Murphy corner only to see the ball hit Forest’s Cafu and, very luckily, lob gently up into the air to Samba who was left with a simple catch to make.
Elsewhere, Barnsley and Reading drew 1-1 to make it a very good day for Bournemouth who were 3-1 winners over Middlesbrough, so the gap to sixth is now five points. That’s not insurmountable, but we haven’t been playing well for a few weeks now (a big win over a dreadful Derby and a gutsy and, but pretty fortunate, win at Swansea apart, we’ve played poorly since our awful showing at Middlesbrough) and I think we really miss Morrison when he’s not there. Apparently, he’s almost certainly out of Monday’s match at Sheffield Wednesday and is considered a doubt for next weekend’s match with Blackburn – I fear we’ll be in a position where we will have to take something like thirteen points out of fifteen by the time he comes back to stand a chance of making the top six.
Just a few words about a couple of widely contrasting results for City at age group levels in midweek. On Tuesday, the under 23s got back on the winning trail with another big win at Leckwith. This one was by a season’s best score of 6-1 over Wigan with Rubin Colwill scoring a hat trick – other goals came from Roland Idowu, Isaak Davies and there was another lovely strike from distance by Keenan Patten for a City team that were 4-0 up at the interval.
On Wednesday, the Academy team travelled to West Brom to play their long delayed Fourth Round Youth Cup tie and came out on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline. In a previous visit to the Hawthorns in 13/14, the first team came back to gain a 3-3 draw after conceding twice in the first ten minutes, but the youngsters were unable to do the same as their seniors.
When they found themselves 2-0 down in nine minutes it looked like being a very long evening indeed for City, but, they worked their way back into things to such an extent that, once Tom Davies had reduced the deficit about midway through the second half, they had West Brom rattled for much of the remainder of the game as they finished very strongly, but they just couldn’t find the goal to take it into extra time.
I make no apologies for saying this. MM was never a great choice in my mind but when I heard it was for 6 months I was happy to go with that.
When I heard he was given a 2 year contract I was disappointed. That was too early. That takes the drive out of him and the team. Friends will back me up on the fact I am not saying this now as I told them at the time.
I have been proven right.
Look at the results since he was given contract. Relegation form.
To me he is just a mercenary. He will get his millions no matter what happens now.
Prior to contract he was willing to make early changes.
Since. 10/20minutes from end.
If he thinks Bacuna is a decent creative footballer he shouldn’t be in management.
Ojo shouldn’t be on bench.
As you stated we cannot pass a ball. Its sheer panic when the ball comes at pace. Just kick it anywhere.
How may 5 to 10 metre passes were underhit.
All Cardiff fans should demand ambition. Ours is if you avoid relegation you are a success and are rewarded with millions. That’s pathetic.
It should have been Bellamy. I would get him now as a football director and if MM doesn’t like it he can resign.
We must look to the Jack’s. How many young managers have they gone for. If it’s not worked, replace them with another. Look at a few.
Roger’s
Martinez
Potter
Cooper.
Not too bad is it.
What do we get. Passed sell by date failures. When we had a good young one we as fans demanded him gone. 9 months later he was. 2nd in premiership now.
Let’s start looking forward. Rebuild by getting Bellamy in. Get rid of Bacuna, Ralls, Vaulks, Ojo, Flint, Hoillett, Pack, Nelson, Bennet. Bring in young ambitious players who can pass and have pace, drive and energy.
This team have taken the bluebirds name literally and are trying to pass to then 50 feet in the air.
hi is it my imagination or as we have gone into a period of games that can be classed as (need to win) as opposed to (must not lose) we have become more defensive. Not so much in change of formation but in the players being picked We had no genuine pace at the top end of the pitch yesterday and while i am quite a fan of BACUNA there is no way that him and WILSON together supporting MOORE could ever work as neither are speed merchants
Clearly ludicrous to start a MM must go campaign. He needs to get rid of dead weight and loan players at season end. Give him a chance to sign 2/3 players of his choice and start with his team.
I wasn’t thrilled with his appointment or extending before season end. Decision taken so let’s get on with giving him every chance. Talk of Bellamy in any role at the club defies reality.
We have an average Championship side which will finish 8th to 10th in my opinion.
Can’t wait for season to end.
Thank-you for yet another fine report, Paul. As you mentioned, that City, have now lost nine games at home is really poor, even for a relegation team. Just five teams have lost more at home. Going into yesterday’s game with a shout of the Play-Off lottery with that statistic is remarkable. Had we won just five of those home games, the extra 15 pts would have put us third with an outside chance of automatic promotion.
It was clear early on that City’s 3421 was not working against the visitor’s 4231. What I found strange was why leave it until 70 mins to change it? It needed to be changed after 20 mins. Nott’m F brought in three 6 footers for the game (centre back Worrell: 6’4’’, left back Blackett at 6’2’’ whilst midfielder Yates was 6’3’’.) Strange then that not until our triple substitution on 71 mins did we attempt to change things by going 4411.
Why was there a need to start out with our three at the back when Forest only played one striker, Grabban, and he only having scored three this season? I hope we are not turning out to be a one trick pony under Mick McCarthy. Not for the first time in his 15 games in charge have we been out-gunned 3 v 2 in the centre of midfield which leads to Moore being a virtual spectator for 90 mins. There was also a lack of creativity from midfield which mystified me when Sang (his rightful position) or Hoilett could play there. With a Ralls-less midfield we also lacked urgency and energy. It was noticeable, too, that gone was the tenacious closing down seen in February & early March. Moreover, Bacuna is not an attacking midfielder. In fact, apart from one run, this was another laid back performance with him being easily dispossessed on a number of occasions.
It was a lacklustre opening in the sun by City playing towards the Grangetown End. In fact it was a pretty low key first 45 mins by the Bluebirds, save for a clutch of corners just before 30 mins. City barely got out of second gear. Arthur always said that when players are used in an unfamiliar role give them time and they will always drift into their natural position. So it turned out for the only goal. Ralls was tucked in too far and did not put pressure on Christie’s run and cross which resulted in a firm shot from Garner on 29 mins. Your assertion that Nott’m F defended, “manfully in the face of pretty relentless pressure,” during the second period may have been true but we created little of note, just two clear-cut shots on target after the break. As I watched the second half I was hoping that we’d score with never a conviction that we would.
For once it wasn’t our passing that let us down. Our overall passing accuracy was 71% with six players bettering this figure. Rather I felt it was our lack of movement that contributed to an inability to open up the visitor’s defence. A more attacking player than Bacuna was needed in the top-third whist playing a sweeper deprived us of another player further forward.
It is fine to play youngsters and I’m pleased a trickle of younger talent is being seen this season in the First Team but, in a must win game, is bringing on Colwill and Harris better than Hoilett and Glatzel (his loan is lunacy with no meaningful cover for Moore).
The game also boasted a number of unsavoury incidents by the visitors. Cafu’s antics when being substituted, one surreal incident of rolling about on pitch whilst others also going down for minimal contact we can do without. Ref Ward’s repeated over-zealous whistling for minor contacts punctuated the game that only suited Nott’m F.
Whilst I am certainly not in the early brigade of chanting, “Macca Out!” the Slade-esque mindset of rarely deviating from type, irrespective of opposition or score, will get the natives restless. When appointed, I said to my mate of our new manager: “Six or 7 wins and he’ll have a 2 yr contract.” True to form, City obliged. Whilst he may well be playing the percentages with the squad he inherited this season this was a game that we shackled ourselves and never played with any degree of fluency. With only two attacking players (Wilson & Moore), Bacuna in an attacking role and a sweeper on the pitch at the start this was a far too cautious approach for this game. We were playing Nott’m F (who had only scored 30 goals this season before the start of the game) and not Norwich C, after all.
Although Moore is essential to Cardiff’s game (and was more accurate at heading the ball down rather than up early in the match) he is not a natural goal scorer. Perhaps Watters should at long last be given a proper chance to play off him.
The same lack of playing time also goes for Williams. In his short time off the bench he showed a degree of skill and energy for which the team urgently needed.
Sang also gave a man of the match performance — and this raises the question why he was left in the cold for such a long time. He is an excellent full back with an attacking flair, and if midfield is his more natural position why doesn’t the manager play him there. Midfield creativity is something urgently required.
There’s one further comment I’d like to make – namely, why do we persist in throwing high curved balls for every throw-in in the hope that defensive opponents will make a mistake or one of our players will somehow reach the ball from a needlessly ineffective STANDING JUMP? The trajectory is all wrong.
It seems to me that a variety of throws to the feet of a team mate is deemed impossible because we lack players of sufficient skill to receive the ball and control it instantly.
We are presumably safe from relegation but unlikely on present form to get into the top six. So, isn’t it time to give youth a chance?
Good morning Paul and others – late to the party this week but it has given me time to read everyone’s thoughts on a most disappointing afternoon.
I have the feeling that Forest’s goal, well taken though it was, was a strike on goal that could well have been blocked had Morrisson been about. The rearguard action taken by the defence in our previous outing at Swansea prevented many attempts at reaching their target and in this respect we missed the skipper who is certainly one to put his body on the line and also is able to set up the defensive shape perhaps somewhat better. There is always a need to have someone patrolling the area that Garner occupied when he made his strike. Lesson to be learned.
I really think also that the time has come to jettison both Murphy and Ojo as you hint. Neither really add much on a regular basis and if as reported their is a keenness from Premiership Clubs looking at young Evans, maybe now is the time to give him a run out.
I also believe that Sang could start in mid-field restoring NG to full back and I am desperate to see just how effective Watters could be if he was given a start, and if that means an appearance on the bench for Moore, so be it. And the energy shown by Williams is surely worth more than the odd 20 minutes that MM seems to want to give.
Not that I ever wish to see the team lose, but the reality of this defeat confirms the view that many feel that this team is not really a top six one, and from my perspective there is have a feeling of relief that we will not participate in the cruel play offs in this season. As many advocate, let us see just what some of our youngsters are capable of at senior level. That would surely give purpose to the remaining seven matches.
Morning everyone and thanks for the usual high quality and thought provoking responses.
Pr, as I remember the club’s reason for offering Mick McCarthy his contract earlier than they were planning to was that other clubs were getting interested in offering him a job. I’ll not accuse the club of out and out lies, but it only needed those stories about Celtic for that justification to be given a degree of legitimacy. I’m with you in thinking the club rushed into giving him a longer deal when they’d set out their criteria only a few weeks earlier.
That takes me on to the matter of now we have someone contracted for two more years, what’s he done since he signed his new deal and this leads on to Richard’s, justified in my view, point. It’s been a tough season for Bacuna who was forced to play at right back as a stop gap for months because of a blunder by our previous manager in going into the season with just one specialist in that position and now he’s been used in another position which I wouldn’t regard as his best. I can see that Bacuna’s stamina and running power could be an asset in a number ten/winger type role, but I see him in the team in recent games along with wing backs who aren’t natural attackers and I think we’re taking the field with only two players who you would call naturals at playing in advanced positions in Moore and Wilson.
Robert is right to say that Mick McCarthy needs time before he can be fairly judged. I was very negative about his appointment when the news of it first broke, but was reassured to some degree by reminders of how some of his early sides were seen as good footballing teams. So far, McCarthy has proved himself the pragmatist he said he was in that he inherited a squad which his predecessor had given up on in terms of trying to play more of a passing game and has got them playing in a way that is, in some ways, more Warnockwesque than we were under the man himself. In a few more weeks, he’ll have some months to try and change things for the better in my opinion if he’s so minded, but, I must say that, based on what he’s done so far, I’m not overly optimistic that he will be.
While accepting that there were different circumstances involved to some degree, I couldn’t help comparing the reaction when Wales’ back three become redundant against the Czechs on Wednesday with what we did, or didn’t do, when we went a goal down to a team playing with one out of form striker. Again I’m in agreement with one of you, this time it’s Steve when he says we did not need to stay with a back three for so long – it was crying out for Brown to move to left back to make a back four allowing Ralls to move into his more natural position – this wouldn’t have done too much to address our lack of creativity, but I believe that our two man central midfield is struggling these days in a way it wasn’t tending to in late January and February which suggests we’ve lost the surprise element which must have benefitted us when we first switched to three at the back.
Anthony, Watters has been given game time in what passes for our second string these days. There’s nothing wrong with that in my view, but I believe he’s scored five times in three games for the Under 23s and this should, surely, be recognised by at least some game time for the senior side? The fact he wasn’t used on Saturday makes me think that we might well see Watters moving on in the summer on a temporary basis, although I wouldn’t rule out a permanent transfer if any offer is deemed good enough – I’m not sure McCarthy fancies him.
BJA, last season, it felt like we were going to finish in the top six and, for a while, after we won at Bournemouth, I was feeling the same, but since our woeful showing at Middlesbrough, my confidence in that happening has all but gone – even our win at Swansea, which was such a fillip for team and supporters in so many ways, saw the weaknesses which weren’t there this time last season, exposed and so, with this in mind, I think we may well end up with two or three matches later on in this month and May which will be made for the sort of experimentation in terms of younger players you speak of. To me, players such as Bowen, Patten, Evans, Davies, Colwill and Watters would all benefit greatly from exposure to first team football for a longer period that the odd minute here ot there, Colwill has been given so far.