Town’s undefeated run was halted at eight games as Cardiff came from a goal down to beat the Blues 3-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium. Daryl Murphy put Town ahead with a brilliant strike in the 29th minute, Peter Whittingham equalised with a similarly special effort on 37, before Federico Macheda netted two minutes after the break and Adam Le Fondre added the third on 69.

Skipper Luke Chambers and top scorer Murphy returned to an otherwise unchanged side with Tommy Smith dropping to the bench.

Stephen Hunt, who made his first start of the season in the 1-1 draw with Blackburn on Saturday, was amongst those who travelled but were omitted from the 18, along with Darren Ambrose and Alex Henshall. Youngster Matt Clarke was again named on the bench.

The Blues started the stronger and on four Murphy, returning after an achilles problem, brought the ball forward to the edge of the box before shanking his shot high and wide.

Cardiff were the first side to seriously threaten in the 13th minute when Anthony Pilkington curled a looping effort goalwards which Dean Gerken palmed over the bar, Christophe Berra having blocked the former Norwich man’s initial shot.

From the resultant corner, Conor Sammon missed Whittingham’s corner which somehow avoided everyone in the six-yard box until it reached Macheda beyond the far post. The former Manchester United man looked to cut the ball back and Cole Skuse did well to hook it away ahead of the awaiting Bluebirds.

As heavy rain joined the swirling wind, David McGoldrick sent a shot well wide, before Williams created an opportunity for Sammon. The Welshman fed the on-loan Derby striker on the right of the area but he scuffed the ball past the post and too far ahead of McGoldrick.

On 21 Craig Noone, who had been the home side’s brightest spark early on, had the ball in the net but after Macheda had strayed offside.

Williams shot wide from distance for Town, then at the other end Le Fondre smashed the ball well over from a Pilkington cross.

The game had been an even affair with Town having most of the ball, although with Cardiff perhaps having had the better of the chances, but on 29 the Blues went in front.

Bluebirds left-back Fabio made a mess of dealing with Chambers’s long ball forward and it fell to Murphy who took it on a few strides before slamming a superb strike into the right-hand corner of the net, giving keeper David Marshall no chance.

The Blues continued to press having gone in front via Murphy’s seventh of the season, Jonny Parr believing he should have been awarded a penalty when clipped as he looked to get onto a bouncing ball in from the left.

On 33 Williams was fouled by Bruno Ecuele Manga on the edge of the box but McGoldrick curled the freekick well over.

Four minutes later, the home side were on terms. Kevin Bru headed on Murphy’s clearance from a corner on the left. Whittingham out-muscled Williams, turned and then smashed a 25-yard strike beyond Gerken and into the net. It was a goal every bit as good as Murphy’s at the other end.

As the break approached, McGoldrick nodded a Mings cross from the left back into the box but Whittingham cleared.

The 1-1 scoreline was a fair reflection of the first half, both sides having had spells in charge but without creating too many chances.

Cardiff had probably had the better of the opportnities prior to Murphy’s excellent goal, while the Blues had had more of the ball, passing it around confidently and with the trickery of Williams and McGoldrick causing the Cardiff backline a few headaches, although largely outside the box.

Whittingham’s strike gave keeper Gerken no chance, although the Blues will be disappointed not to have got the ball away by that stage. The goal was the ninth Town have conceded either directly or indirectly from corners in all competitions this season out of a total of 13.

Within two minutes of the restart, Cardiff went in front. Mings failed to deal with a Pilkington cross from the Bluebirds left at the far post while stretching, then Parr did exactly the same when it was sent back over from the right. Pilkington returned a low cross into the area and Macheda diverted into the net from close range.

In the 48th minute there was a minute’s applause amongst the crowd to mark the 48th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster.

The momentum was very much with the home side having gone in front with the Blues under pressure.

Full-back Fabio made a superb run down the left in the 55th minute, Gerken eventually blocking his stab at goal. The danger wasn’t gone and the Town keeper was forced into another save, pushing Noone’s 25-yard strike away to his right.

A minute later Mings was booked for a foul on Noone, the left-back’s fifth yellow card of the season meaning the 21-year-old will miss Saturday’s game against Huddersfield.

Just before the hour, Bru found Parr with a clever diagonal pass into his path on the right but Sean Morrison got ahead of the diving Williams to head the Norwegian’s cross behind, although referee David Coote and his linesman somehow saw it as a goalkick. Soon after, Fabio was booked for a late tackle on Williams.

The Blues went close to getting back on terms in the 66th minute when Williams chipped a right-wing cross to the far post having exchanged passes with Sammon and Murphy’s looping header dropped only just wide. Soon after, Balint Bajner replaced Sammon in the Town attack.

Three minutes after the Blues had almost levelled, the home side increased their lead. Morrison headed back Noone’s cross from the right and Le Fondre’s deflected effort beat the wrong-footed Gerken.

Teddy Bishop replaced Williams for the final 15 minutes as the Blues went chasing what appeared to be an unlikely comeback, the Bluebirds having dominated the second half.

On 79 Skuse shot well over from 20 yards, Bishop having played it to him after Bru had charged down a clearance, but opportunities to reduce the deficit were rare. With three minutes of scheduled time remaining Anderson took over from Bru.

Deep in injury time, McGoldrick headed Anderson’s cross from the right wide and Bishop shot well over but moments later referee Coote’s whistle confirmed Town’s first defeat since August 23rd, their first ever loss at Cardiff's new ground and their first to the Bluebirds by more than one goal.

While the first half had been evenly contested, the Blues were second best after the break having conceded the early goal.

Town, who drop to ninth, had one chance to get back in it when Murphy’s header looped just wide, but once the Bluebirds had scored their third the result was never in doubt.

Cardiff: Marshall (c), Brayford, Fabio, Morrison, Ecuele Manga, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Noone, Pilkington, Macheda (Ralls 84), Le Fondre (Maynard 78). Unused: Moore, Gabbidon, Connolly, Kim, Daehli, Maynard.

Town: Gerken, Parr, Mings, Chambers (c), Berra, Skuse, Bru (Anderson 87), Williams (Bishop 75), McGoldrick, Murphy, Sammon (Bajner 67). Unused: Bialkowski, Clarke, Smith, Tabb, Anderson, Bishop, Bajner. Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire). Att: 20,191.

Photo: Action Images

jonnysuave added 09:33 - Oct 22 If only us late comers knew what Arnie M actually said... The post is down and like all those singles refused play by Radio 1 back in the day it causes more interest... A forum should be about differing opinions. Opinionated posters should get a backbone and deal with 'abuse' through wordsmithery and wit. As for Arnie M stick by your guns old boy, some on here are far too sensitive.

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bohslegend added 10:19 - Oct 22 I'm in stitches laughing at poor poor blueboy and his crocodile tears. If ArnieM has had a pop at you because he's fed up with you only turning up when we lose, well then good for him. I agree with jonnysuave, if your 'offensive' comments about the team, manager and anyone who dares to support them are not taken down, why should ArnieM's? Grow a pair blueboy.
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Lightningboy added 10:31 - Oct 22 Can't believe how poor our defending has been for the goals we're conceding at the moment..that was keystone cops stuff last night..no matter how good Gerken can be he's not commanding enough at times..i'm not convinced that Bialkowski's the answer either though. Sadly we're resorting to type once again now as we have done whenever we've been near the play-offs over the last few years..we get into the top 6 and cannot handle the pressure. 4 without a win - big effort is needed again to push us back up the table.

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Walk_the_Wark added 11:30 - Oct 22 We don't have a good team or a bad team. We have an ok team. We have a manger in McCarthy who is experienced at getting teams out of this division and is a good man-manager. He will get us promoted. He will stay for a good while, as his people skills will mean he gets on well with ME, and he is balancing the books. If we are not promoted this season we probably will be next. However McCarthy is old fashioned and stubborn, and set in his old ways. He is out of touch with the modern game and seems unwilling (or unable) to update his skills. He is fashioning Town into an old-fashioned hard-working, difficult to beat unit, reliant on graft, physicality and route one approach. I believe he will get us promoted. But sadly, as he has done with his other clubs he will come unstuvk in the premier league when faced with younger, more talented managers with more flair and tacticle guile. My hope is that if we can't get rid now, then we will before we are relegated again, otherwise the promotion which I believe is coming will prove another false dawn... I suppose at least we will have parachute payments to play with. Sadly, for those who want to see pass and move football and flair players- we may have a good few years to wait.

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smithy91 added 13:12 - Oct 22 The difference between how we do this season compared to last is handling the pressure games, or moments in games, which will enable us to secure the extra points needed to be in the playoffs (missed out last season by a couple of wins worth of points). This is why myself and a fair few others on here get rather agitated by games like the forest one and Blackburn, where in all honesty the game should of been wrapped up. Tonight was just one of those nights (seen the goals- very jammy on Baaa-diffs part bar the first one). And so my point leads to this- we must be beating lower ability/budget/expectation teams like Huddersfield at home/and Blackpool away as well tbh. Derby, Watford, The scum, etc would all likely beat these teams

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oldegold added 13:42 - Oct 22 Agree with Walk_the_wark that if we don't up the ante and start bossing games and be more attack minded then we are not going to get out of this division. MM is a good manager but this style of football is dire to watch sometimes and he seems incapable of adapting to the times.
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bohslegend added 14:03 - Oct 22 Agree with the sentiment Walk the Wark but maybe disagree with the assessment of how we currently play. Yes, MM likes his teams to get stuck in and defend well. He has brought that attribute to the club and it's no bad thing (recalling the hidings we took under PJ in particular). But as everyone who has been to or watched the games recently, we are starting to put some decent football together on top of that. MM has been using 3 strikers for most of the recent games and we now also have a playmaker like Joniesta (although if we needed to buy a player like that we couldn't afford him, no fault of MM). So while we are all impatient to get up and out of this division playing stylish football, the reality is there was a lot wrong to begin with and MM is slowly but surely putting it right. What gets to me is the total lack of credit given by the MM-outs (Mouths for short) who seem to relish coming on here after less than 3 points claiming the world is coming to an end. But the same people go missing when we are on a good run. Hypocrites.

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NoelTheDub added 17:58 - Oct 22 bohslegend I have to laugh when you attack anyone that has a rightful opinion,as your a MM supporter you have to agree that our last two draws were in my view 4 points dropped and MM tactics at the end of both games were at fault which makes last nights result worse.I thought Cardiff might be to strong for us and squad wise way ahead and I didnt come on here and attack our team or manager for that matter.My view on here is MM has and will cost us points with his negative tactics and that something Im not going to stay quiet on.Our results have been great and credit where its due but as you say I and others only come on when a bad result comes in thats rubbish as our last 3 games only 2 points and you didnt here from me.Im not happy with this haul as maybe we should have beaten Forest and Blackburn with a more positive approach at the end but its something Iv got to bite my tongue on and hold back on not writing on this forum after those games.We are in the rightful position at the moment midish table and I dont expect much more with our weak squad but you at times get so carried away when we grind out some good results and that MM is the best thing since sliced bread, and at times I have to agree but thats what this page is all about different mindsets...

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BlueWill added 18:39 - Oct 22 Cardiff have a new manager in Slade, who is a class act, never easy to beat a team with a new manager, just need to pick ourselves up against Huddersfield!
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RRanger added 19:47 - Oct 22 C'mon guys,its not even the end of October yet and we are up in the mix;have put 8 unbeaten games together including away draws at Derby and Notts Forest, drawn away also at Sheff Wed who are tough at home and beaten Wigan away. I truly believe we have every chance of making the playoffs at least and are well capable of beating most teams in this division and putting another good run together. keep the faith. ps I agree with those posters that feel we are beginning to play more attractive football. Its the players that seem to struggle with a lead and particularly in the last 15 minutes seem to to stop playing the way they have been playing for the previous 75 minutes. From where i sit in the Brittania stand I have a good view of MM and TC urging the players to defend further up the field but it seems to be the average pro's basic instinct to defend deeper and deeper a- in the dying minutes of a game. Thats why the likes of Man C/Chelsea and in our division Watford are so good. They understand that attack IS often the best form ofm defence.

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Ipswichbusiness added 21:12 - Oct 22 I wasn't at the game so I can't comment on it. However, after an excellent few results, we seem to have run out of steam. Away draws are good but we have to win our home matches and Huddersfield will be important. I fear that dropping points against Blackburn could be very damaging come the end of the season.
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blueboy1981 added 21:20 - Oct 22 Thanks for all your support people, current and past - I no longer wish to be associated with people who have to sling abuse - or support such abuse. I wish ITFC all the very best, as I have done, and more, for almost half a century. Phil - Keep up the good work, for the sake of the decent and good posters, who REALLY care about ITFC.
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StochesStotasBlewe added 22:31 - Oct 22 Blueboy, Will be a shame if you have decided not to continue to post on TWTD. I for one will miss your posts, don,t always 100% agree with you but for the most part you have always said it as you,ve seen it & I share your frustrations/delight in all things to do with our great football club. Lets hope that once again, ITFC will be back where you & I both believe we belong .COYB,S.

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JustSpivvyChops added 23:06 - Oct 22 Said it before the season started and I continue to say it..................the team, the manager, the performances, the results..........it's deja vu, last season is being played out again, almost exactly.
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TimmyH added 11:45 - Oct 23 Keep posting Blueboy - don't let 1 poster (who had obviously been drinking) get the better of you. As we all know we all have an opinion and yours should rightfully be known alongside the next mans.
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