" Match report Cardiff v Leicester 26 Sept 2011 "
Mon Sep 26, 2011 7:43 pm
There was an air of let’s get this one out of the way. No one really expected a Cardiff win after knocking out their visitors from the Carlin cup in mid week. The drawing of Burnley in the next round did not help. Even after a fantastic performance against Blackpool the week before the enthusiasm for this game was not quite there. The game ended up reflecting this.
Cardiff fielded a fairly strong side against one of the promotion favourites in Leicester. Marshall retained his place in goal with Naylor starting for the first time at left back. The familiar faces of McNaughton, Gerrard and Hudson had up the rest of the defence. Malki Mackey decided to stick to 5 in midfield with Conway, Whittingham, Cowie, Kiss and Gunnarson leaving Miller up front on his own.
The first 20 minutes of the game was a dour affair with both side feeling each other out. The best from this period came from the visitors who created a couple of chances that came to no harm, a header that went well over and a volley from the 18 yard line that went well wide.
Cardiff then suffered a setback when Conway twisted his angle chasing for a ball. He was substituted by Earnshaw on 24 minutes and the striker soon looked like he would have an impact as he found himself in the clear 18 yards out. However he dwelled to long on the ball and the away strip managed to clear their lines.
The substitute saw a change in the formation with 2 strikers up front. This seems to spark Cardiff into life and soon went close again. Cowie broke into the Leicester area with only the keeper to beat but from a tight angle saw his effort blocked. Moments later Whittingham from 30 yards caused the Leicester keeper to spill his shot. Unfortunately for the home side there was no Cardiff striker to pick up the loose ball.
As Cardiff looked like they had got the better of the visitors they suffered another blow as Earnshaw had to go off. He was replaced by Gestede making Cardiff keep to the 2 front striker roles.
The first half ended with no goals scored. The second half started with no more substitutions left for Cardiff as Blake replaced Hudson.
So Cardiff was into a plan C and it seemed to work. From the kick off Whittingham had a shot blocked that looked goal bound. Moments later Miller found himself in space put sent his shot well over the bar.
Gestede started to make a nuisance of himself and forced a free kick just outside the Leicester area. The Leicester keeper took himself to the right of his goal but was left standing as he watch Whitttingham free kick go to his left post. Fortunately for him the ball just went wide and into the side netting.
Cardiff had taken the game by the scruff of its neck but Leicester tried to get back into it by committing its players up front. One such move saw them loose out to McNaughton who in space darted down the line and just outside the box set up Gestede who saw his shot that was goalbound desperately blocked by the Leicester defence.
Whittingham then found himself with a chance just outside the penalty area but uncharacteristically sliced his shot wide.
As Cardiff seemed to be in control they suddenly found themselves at a disadvantage as Gestede was seen hobbling. This coincided with Leicester starting to take control with 20 minutes left. However they failed to break down a stubborn Cardiff defence who seemed to be a lot fitter than the all star brigade visitors.
However as Cardiff looked to see the game out they nearly lost it as Leicester were awarded a free kick 30 yards out in the dying seconds. The kick was whipped in and a Leicester head was first to the ball. Fortunately for the home side the ball bounced up of the ground and against the bar for a goal kick.
The referee brought the game to an end and Cardiff had failed to score for the first time this season.
Summing up. I thought it was a well earn point. It was not pretty but the work rate was second to none. We were very unlucky with the injuries but it was refreshing to see us go to a different plan that nearly worked.
Cardiff fielded a fairly strong side against one of the promotion favourites in Leicester. Marshall retained his place in goal with Naylor starting for the first time at left back. The familiar faces of McNaughton, Gerrard and Hudson had up the rest of the defence. Malki Mackey decided to stick to 5 in midfield with Conway, Whittingham, Cowie, Kiss and Gunnarson leaving Miller up front on his own.
The first 20 minutes of the game was a dour affair with both side feeling each other out. The best from this period came from the visitors who created a couple of chances that came to no harm, a header that went well over and a volley from the 18 yard line that went well wide.
Cardiff then suffered a setback when Conway twisted his angle chasing for a ball. He was substituted by Earnshaw on 24 minutes and the striker soon looked like he would have an impact as he found himself in the clear 18 yards out. However he dwelled to long on the ball and the away strip managed to clear their lines.
The substitute saw a change in the formation with 2 strikers up front. This seems to spark Cardiff into life and soon went close again. Cowie broke into the Leicester area with only the keeper to beat but from a tight angle saw his effort blocked. Moments later Whittingham from 30 yards caused the Leicester keeper to spill his shot. Unfortunately for the home side there was no Cardiff striker to pick up the loose ball.
As Cardiff looked like they had got the better of the visitors they suffered another blow as Earnshaw had to go off. He was replaced by Gestede making Cardiff keep to the 2 front striker roles.
The first half ended with no goals scored. The second half started with no more substitutions left for Cardiff as Blake replaced Hudson.
So Cardiff was into a plan C and it seemed to work. From the kick off Whittingham had a shot blocked that looked goal bound. Moments later Miller found himself in space put sent his shot well over the bar.
Gestede started to make a nuisance of himself and forced a free kick just outside the Leicester area. The Leicester keeper took himself to the right of his goal but was left standing as he watch Whitttingham free kick go to his left post. Fortunately for him the ball just went wide and into the side netting.
Cardiff had taken the game by the scruff of its neck but Leicester tried to get back into it by committing its players up front. One such move saw them loose out to McNaughton who in space darted down the line and just outside the box set up Gestede who saw his shot that was goalbound desperately blocked by the Leicester defence.
Whittingham then found himself with a chance just outside the penalty area but uncharacteristically sliced his shot wide.
As Cardiff seemed to be in control they suddenly found themselves at a disadvantage as Gestede was seen hobbling. This coincided with Leicester starting to take control with 20 minutes left. However they failed to break down a stubborn Cardiff defence who seemed to be a lot fitter than the all star brigade visitors.
However as Cardiff looked to see the game out they nearly lost it as Leicester were awarded a free kick 30 yards out in the dying seconds. The kick was whipped in and a Leicester head was first to the ball. Fortunately for the home side the ball bounced up of the ground and against the bar for a goal kick.
The referee brought the game to an end and Cardiff had failed to score for the first time this season.
Summing up. I thought it was a well earn point. It was not pretty but the work rate was second to none. We were very unlucky with the injuries but it was refreshing to see us go to a different plan that nearly worked.
Re: " Match report Cardiff v Leicester 26 Sept 2011 "
Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:12 pm
Thank you Ian 
Re: " Match report Cardiff v Leicester 26 Sept 2011 "
Mon Sep 26, 2011 10:38 pm
cheers Ian still read them, even though i was there
being next to baz I can only see half the pitch
being next to baz I can only see half the pitch