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Cardiff City 3-1 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Tuesday, 31st Oct 2017 21:59

Bersant Celina was again on target for the Blues but his late goal wasn’t enough to prevent Town from falling to a 3-1 defeat at Cardiff. Junior Hoilett put the Bluebirds in front on 12, then Omar Bogle doubled the lead seconds after the break. Celina’s final minute goal threatened to set up an unexpected grandstand finish but Danny Ward’s injury time goal ended Town’s hopes of gaining a surprise point.

Town boss Mick McCarthy made six changes to the side which beat Burton Albion 2-1 on Saturday.

Into the XI came Celina, Dominic Iorfa, Tommy Smith, who was making his first appearance since the opening day of the campaign, Flynn Downes, Grant Ward and Kevin Bru, who was handed his first start of the season.

Adam Webster, Martyn Waghorn, David McGoldrick, Jordan Spence and Freddie Sears were all rested - Town have three games in eight days - and dropped to the bench, while Tristan Nydam was missing from the 18.

The Blues started in a 4-1-2-3 system with Downes and Bru, who came on as a sub against the Brewers, just ahead of Cole Skuse in central midfield, Ward and Celina in the wide roles and Joe Garner the lone central striker.

Cardiff were without striker Kenneth Zohore and midfielder Aron Gunnarsson due to ankle injuries and full-back Joe Bennett, who has a calf problem.

The Bluebirds made three changes from the team which drew 0-0 with Millwall at the weekend with Lee Tomlin, Bogle and Callum Paterson coming into the team for Craig Bryson, Town summer target Danny Ward - who both dropped to the bench - and the injured Bennett.

Former Blues keeper Brian Murphy and ex-loan winger Liam Feeney were both among the Cardiff subs.

The Bluebirds made the early running, Sol Bamba hooking over following a long Paterson throw, then home skipper Sean Morrison claimed he was hauled back by Garner as a corner came over from the left. The former Reading man may have had a case.

On seven Hoilett struck the game’s first serious effort, cutting in from the left before shooting across Bartosz Bialkowski’s goal and wide.

Town were still to get going when the Bluebirds took the lead in the 12th minute. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was given plenty of time to cross deep from the right and an unmarked Hoilett hit a rather scuffed volley into the ground and past the unsighted Bialkowski. It was a goal which appeared all too easy for the home side to score.

Having gone behind the Blues began to make some headway, Bru seeing a strike from the edge of the area blocked.

But on 16 Cardiff would have doubled their lead but for a brilliant Bialkowski stop. Hoilett curled across a teasing low ball from the right, which Bogle toed towards goal only for the Blues’ Polish keeper to stick out a foot and keep it out.

In the 27th minute Celina was rather less successful with a freekick from just outside the area than he had been at the weekend, hitting his strike straight at the wall after Downes had been fouled as he broke towards the box after good work from the Kosovo international in the build-up.


The Blues were beginning to pass the ball with more confidence and in the 31st minute they should have got on terms.

Celina sent over a corner which had been well won by Ward from the right, Garner rose highest to flick across goal straight to Smith at the far post, who scraped wide when he should have scored.

Chambers blocked a Bogle overhead kick inside the area with his head on 38, before Cardiff keeper Neil Etheridge badly mis-kicked when out of his goal on the Cardiff right. Fortunately for the home side Ward was unable to find space to shoot at the empty goal.

The Bluebirds had another chance a minute later when Mendez-Laing was fed in behind Smith but the former Rochdale man smashed into the side-netting.

Town carved out another opportunity to equalise in the 40th minute, Celina weaving his way into the box before finding Downes unmarked on the right of the area. The 18-year-old looked destined to score his first senior goal but somehow Joe Ralls slid in to divert the ball behind.

The Blues again weren’t too far away from a leveller in the 44th minute, Garner rising high to head Celina’s left-sided corner over the bar.

In first-half injury time Ralls hit a shot from the edge of the Town box which was deflected behind after a well-worked Cardiff counter-attack.

The scoreline remained the same at the break, the Blues having come more into the game as the half wore on having made a slow start during which they conceded Cardiff’s goal.

They might well have conceded again before creating but being unable to take two or three chances to equalise. However, the Bluebirds continued to be a threat at the other end.

The second half was only 35 seconds old when the home side doubled their lead. After a clever pass from Lee Tomlin, Mendez-Laing squared to Bogle, who had only Bialkowski to beat, which he did confidently.

Bogle, who was making his first start for the Bluebirds following his summer move from Wigan, went close again in the 53rd minute, hitting a shot which Bialkowski did well to bat away after linking up with Hoilett.

A minute later, with the home side now confidently stroking the ball around, Paterson hit a low effort which the Town keeper saved down to his right.

On 59 Tomlin, who scored a hat-trick against the Blues in Peterborough’s 7-1 home win over Town in 2011, tricked his way to some space 25 yards out but his shot failed to trouble Bialkowski. A minute later Smith was booked for a foul on Paterson.

The Blues had done little to suggest they would win after coming from behind for a third time away from home this season, so it was little shock when McCarthy made the first of his three changes in the 65th minute.

However, Callum Connolly’s introduction for Downes - who had found the game tough - was perhaps a surprise with the Blues briefly playing a 4-4-1-1 system with Celina off Garner. Soon after, Cardiff swapped Tomlin for Loic Damour.

In the 73rd minute Bru was replaced by Sears, who joined Garner up front. But the Blues continued to struggle to make any impact.

On 76 Hoilett was replaced by ex-Town loanee Feeney for Cardiff, then two minutes later Waghorn took over from Garner for the Blues. The Bluebirds replaced Bogle, who was given a warm ovation by the home fans, with Danny Ward for the final eight minutes.

Morrison was booked for a foul on Sears as he broke towards the Cardiff area on the left on 83. Celina took the freekick and curled towards goal but Etheridge pawed behind, his first serious save of the game.

Seconds later, Cardiff threatened again on the break, Skuse turning Mendez-Laing’s cross from the right behind at the far post.

With three minutes remaining Ward should have made it 3-0 after Town failed to deal with a ball over the top. The former Rotherham man used his strength to hold off a challenge but somehow stabbed wide.

Town were handed a surprise lifeline in the final minute when Celina pulled a goal back, the on-loan Manchester City man’s fifth of his loan spell.

Sears broke into the area and saw his strike blocked and Waghorn saw his subsequent effort charged down before Grant Ward squared to Celina, whose low shot beat Etheridge.

But the home fans’ nervousness regarding a shock Town comeback lasted only a minute with Danny Ward quickly restoring the Bluebirds’ two-goal advantage.

With Town having committed plenty of men forward, Mendez-Laing brought the ball forward in space on the Cardiff left before hitting a shot which Bialkowski saved. However, the ball fell to sub Ward who found the net. Soon after, referee Oliver Langford brought the game to an end.

The home side thoroughly deserved the three points with the match looking to have been settled 35 seconds into the second half when Bogle scored Cardiff’s second goal.

Town, having spurned a number of chances to equalise in the first half, never looked like getting back into the match in the second until Celina’s surprise late goal but Ward’s third came soon afterwards to prevent a late flurry which might have yielded an undeserved equaliser.

Again, having beaten a team from the division's lower reaches, Burton Albion, at the weekend, the Blues were unable to take anything from a match against a side from nearer the top, the victory having taken the Welshmen up to second.

The game failing to end in a draw equals a Town club record of 14 matches without a draw from the start of a season achieved at the beginning of the 1954/55 campaign.

The result sees the Blues drop to 11th ahead of Saturday’s home game against Preston, whose manager Alex Neil watched tonight’s match, with the Lilywhites a place above them on goal difference ahead of their game at home to Aston Villa tomorrow.

Cardiff: Etheridge, Peltier, Morrison (c), Ecuele Manga, Tomlin (Damour 66), Ralls, Bamba, Paterson, Mendez-Laing, Bogle (Ward 82), Hoilett (Feeney 76). Unused: Murphy, Halford, Bryson, Gounongbe.

Town: Bialkowski, Iorfa, Knudsen, Chambers (c), T Smith, Skuse, Downes (Connolly 64), Bru (Sears 73), Celina, Ward, Garner (Waghorn 78). Unused: Gerken, Webster, Waghorn, McGoldrick, Spence, Sears. Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands). Att:15,951.


Photo: Action Images



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neil1968 added 06:57 - Nov 1
Never saw the game just listened on radio and the impression I got from that more or less backs up the general consensus on here . One thing I do notice tho is that Kevin Bru is getting a slating on here but again going by the radio was a bit of a shining light on an otherwise dismal evening . Any thoughts on this from people that were at the game
0

martin587 added 06:59 - Nov 1
BlueArrow.
If you live in Southend and I ever have a spare seat your welcome,but after last nights performance you may well change your mind.!!
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tractorboybig added 07:10 - Nov 1
We are not relegation favourites for no reason.
2

woohoo added 07:15 - Nov 1
Wasn't there so can't comment on performance.
Predictable result though.
Mid-table mediocrity again this season by the look of things.
(Ex ST holder)
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martin587 added 07:31 - Nov 1
Neil1968.
He was one of the better players,but most were well below par.The team selection was terrible and it showed on the pitch. Very little understanding,poor leadership again.Why make six changes.!🤔
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martin587 added 07:36 - Nov 1
OH ! I forgot to say,Two shots on target,one goal and guess who scored.
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Swn98 added 07:51 - Nov 1
Tractorboybig there are fifteen teams shorter than ITFC to be relegated on the Betfair market most of them 50% shorter in price fake news springs to mind!
-2

Gcon added 08:12 - Nov 1
See, he's not wrong about the way he plays Celina. He only gets going after 80 mins, so why play him before that.
-7

Gcon added 08:16 - Nov 1
Look at Blueboy! In like Flynn with his comments when we lose.
Hovering over the keyboard, desperate to be the first poster to relish the loss.
Quiet as a mouse when we win. Some 'fans' eh?
-6

tractorboybig added 08:20 - Nov 1
SWN98 Before the season started the ones I observed had us and Burton favorites! we had a good start but being out played by burton last week and the peformances I have seen this year we are crap.,
3

midastouch added 08:59 - Nov 1
Some of us actually wanted Bogle here...

Town Among Clubs Linked With Wigan Striker Bogle 28th Jul 2017 13:43
Town are reported to be one of a number of Championship clubs eyeing transfer-listed Wigan Athletic striker Omar Bogle. 45



Blues Among Clubs to Send Scouts to Watch Bogle 28th Jan 2017 19:32
TWTD understands Town were among a legion of clubs to send a scout to watch Stevenage beat Grimsby 2-0 this afternoon with Mariners striker Omar Bogle likely to have been the reason for their trip. 22

1

midastouch added 09:26 - Nov 1
And does this sound like a lazy player with a bad attitude?

Warnock quotes taken from:

McCarthy: We Took Conceding Soft Goals to a Whole New Level 31st Oct 2017 23:21
Boss Mick McCarthy felt his side took conceding soft goals to a “whole new level” during their 3-1 defeat at Cardiff City. The Town manager was particularly frustrated by the Bluebirds’ second goal 35 seconds after half-time, which he believed was the game's pivotal moment. 61


"...and Omar did well. He's been busting a gut to play and really worked for his chance.

"He's done extra sessions to make sure he was ready to make the most of his opportunity because he's not played much.

“He's a bit of a project and when I signed him I told his agent I'd only agree to the deal if he was prepared to be third choice here.

"He had to realise he had to fight his way into the side and show me what he can do. I can't speak highly enough of him.”
1

Barty added 09:27 - Nov 1
Barty : All seven league wins have been against teams in the bottom half of the table.
Ultimately MM takes the blame [ rightly so ] but lets face it we are simply not good enough at present to challenge in this division, That's the sad fact. Lets hope MM goes to Sunderland [ I wish !! ] but unfortunately we are stuck with him until end of season.
1

oldegold added 09:38 - Nov 1
Took 84 minutes for us to have a shot on target last night...sums up the McCarthy era. Hopefully he will be gone by this morning....
2

Lightningboy added 09:58 - Nov 1
Now that Grayson's had the push i'm hoping Sunderland will do us all a bloody big favour and come in for McCarthy.

🙏🏻
3

IpswichToon added 10:19 - Nov 1
I thought last night's game was actually a great positive for us. We played some great football at times, and it actually made for an enjoyable game to watch for once. I can't fault MM's selection at all. Everyone on the field I was happy to see. I would have liked to see Spence in at right back because I think he is more reliable and helps us to pass the ball up from the back. But I see why Iorfa was picked, we did need his height and presence. Bru showed last weekend he has something to prove and again put on a fantastic display - for me, he was the best player on the pitch in the first half. Aside from the opening 10 minutes of the half, I thought we deserved more. Cardiff were forced to play like the away side and hitting us on the break, which paid off far too easily on multiple occasions.

But overall, contrary to many here, I think it was a good game, and a massive step in the right direction. I much prefer to watch us play some good football and get beat like last night, than to watch us get bombarded for 80 minutes then walk away with 3 points like last weekend. More of the same and we will see the results follow!
-1

midastouch added 10:49 - Nov 1
It said on the Radio last night that we passed it well (at least in the first half) but sounded like we didn't have enough cutting edge and therefore very few chances created. And defensive frailties cost us. I think Celina could well operate better with the likes DmG around him and it sounds like he links up fairly well with Bru. Perhaps Bru deserves another unlikely chance given his performance in the first half last night. I've often been quick to slate Mick and I most certainly want him out. But to be honest last night was going to be tough for any manager of this club to get a result from. Cardiff have spent a lot bigger than us.
Nevertheless, the time has come for Mick to go to Sunderland and for us to look at other options, the honeymoon period has long ended!
2

Swn98 added 10:57 - Nov 1
Tractorboybig in your post you stated we ARE relegation favourites this is not true.
0

Swn98 added 11:02 - Nov 1
Midas i accept that MM is departing in May why can't others ridiculous to sack the manager
when we are on the tails of the play offs and a game in hand. I would accept he has to go in feb if theres no chance of playoffs or worse relegation.
-2

midastouch added 11:23 - Nov 1
@ Swn98 I think if Sunderland took him it would be the best way out for all concerned (although this is pure speculation as I don't know if there is any truth to these rumours). If there was any truth to it though then should Sunderland come in for him we don't then have to pay him compensation for sacking him, in fact we might even be owed some compensation from Sunderland, now wouldn't that be great!
Unless things turn really ugly I don't think we'd go down this season under Mick (although recent form is a worry but he's proved in the past he can scrape out results to keep us in this division more than once). If it's going to cost us a lot to get him out this season (I don't know how much compensation he'd be due if we sacked him) then there is of course an argument to let him just run down his contract and we look elsewhere in the summer. I can understand some fans though not wanting to wait that long because the relationship between Mick and the fans is in danger of going toxic the way things are going. If however the compensation money could instead be saved for a new manager in the Summer (and we just like it or lump it for the rest of the season with Mick), if that money was instead invested in the team for a new manager (should Marcus offer a new manager such an incentive, they'd need some sort of incentive I imagine to come here) then it might be worth enduring Mick for the rest of the season. But if Sunderland were to come in now, then it would suit both parties rather well I imagine.
3

jas0999 added 12:19 - Nov 1
Couldn't be be bothered to post last night. All interest gone. Not looking forward to Saturday. Remarkable that MM still at the club. Blame for that sits with Evans who presumably has no interest. Fortunate wins over Bolton and Burton papers over massive cracks. Eight defeats in last eleven. Dreadful.
3

blueboy1981 added 14:48 - Nov 1
Swn98 ............ we're mid table - just accept that two months back we were top - now 11th - therefore stop trawling for excuses for such poor form.
1

blueboy1981 added 14:52 - Nov 1
....... I don't think Sunderland are that desperate - if he did go, I could imagine the Supporters singing from the rooftops - and it wouldn't be the Sunderland Supporters ... !!
0

blueboy1981 added 15:04 - Nov 1
Gcon ........ shame your Messiah McCarthy isn't as good at his job, as you are at making false statements / comments - we would all be 'happy chappie' and not just you and your brigade..
1

warktheline added 16:36 - Nov 1
How the hell posts claiming ‘play-off contenders' ...what planet are you on? We currently sit in a false league position , we can't even beat teams above us in the table, haven't been since McCarthy arrived, given time even the ‘die hard' McCarthy's backers will see reality before their very eyes! He's content to flutter around mid table, as is the owner. We're slip sliding away, slip sliding away!!!!
3


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