Cardiff 0-2 Brighton:Gap down to 5 points as Bluebirds lose

Cardiff City 0-2 Brighton: Gap down to five points as Bluebirds lose

Feb 19th 2013


Cardiff City 0-2 Brighton

23,700 attendance

Cardiff City lost to Gus Poyet's Brighton on a night when the chasing pack all won to close the gap at the Championship summit.

Brighton put a dampener on Cardiff manager Malky Mackay’s birthday celebrations as goals from former Swansea midfielder Andrea Orlandi and Jose Ulloa secured victory at Cardiff City Stadium.

Orlandi opened the scoring when he turned in a David Lopez cross just before half-time before Ulloa sealed the win in stoppage time to boost Albion’s play-off aspirations and inflict Cardiff’s second home defeat of the season.

But Mackay, who turned 41 on Tuesday, will have been left wondering how his side failed to make the most of a host of chances as they were denied four times by the woodwork and by a superb performance from Brighton keeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

This was Cardiff’s first loss in 10 games and their lead at the top of the npower Championship has been cut to five points after Hull’s win over Blackburn, although the Welsh club have a game in hand on their Yorkshire rivals.

Cardiff should have put themselves into a handy lead before Orlandi struck with the crucial goal, and their profligacy ultimately proved costly.

In-form Fraizer Campbell, with three goals in three appearances since joining from Sunderland, almost gave the hosts an early lead as his lofted shot from Craig Bellamy’s pass just flicked the top of the bar.

Kuszczak saved a low shot from Craig Noone, with Campbell lurking after Bruno Saltor had gifted the ball to Andrew Taylor on the Cardiff left.

Former Manchester United stopper Kuszczak then made a stunning stop to keep out a curling Peter Whittingham effort which was destined for the top corner, although he was fortunate seconds later as he misjudged a Bellamy shot which bounced under his body and up on to the bar.

After David Marshall kept out an Ulloa effort the overworked Kuszczak was soon back in action as Dean Hammond’s awful backpass on the edge of his own box played in Bellamy, but the Pole was out quickly to push the ball away from the Wales international, before saving his follow up.

And Brighton punished the Bluebirds by taking the lead against the run of play two minutes before the break.

Lopez got away down the right-hand side and his perfect ball into the box found an unmarked Orlandi, who swept the ball beyond Marshall.

The goal knocked Cardiff out of their stride as they struggled to find any rhythm early in the second half, but the introduction of Craig Conway for Noone sparked them to life as the winger whistled in a shot tipped over by Kuszczak, before clipping the bar with a misdirected cross.

Cardiff frustrations increased after Adam El-Abd, who had already been booked, appeared to bring down Bellamy in the box, only for referee Keith Stroud to award a free-kick on the edge of the area.

Cardiff piled on the pressure. Campbell fired over from Matthew Connolly’s astute pass and an Aron Gunnarsson header came back off the post, but Ulloa had the last word as his shot from Lopez’s pull-back went in off Mark Hudson for his first league goal for the Seagulls.

Got a sickening feeling about this. Sold our soul, and we're still going to mess it up. Seen it so many times before. Since 70/71.

Gap to third place is the only one that counts, 8 and a game in hand. Win at wolves maybe and 2 games at home v mid table teams....9 points easy

Gap to third place is the only one that counts, 8 and a game in hand. Win at wolves maybe and 2 games at home v mid table teams....9 points easy

No easy points in this division. I wish people would stop spouting that BS.

i blame you Annis you shouldve stayed in spain




Brighton have only lost 4 times on the road this season, They're a tough team to beat home or away.


Have said previosly "id rather drop points to lower placed sides then our challengers"

Championship: Brighton shock league leaders Cardiff with 2-0 win
Last Updated: February 19, 2013 10:42pm


Andrea Orlandi: On target in Brighton's win at Cardiff


Goals from Andrea Orlandi and Jose Ulloa gave Brighton a shock 2-0 victory at Championship leaders Cardiff on Tuesday evening.

Orlandi opened the scoring when he turned in a David Lopez cross just before half-time before Ulloa sealed the win in stoppage time to boost Albion's play-off aspirations and inflict Cardiff's second home defeat of the season.

But Mackay, who turned 41 on Tuesday, will have been left wondering how his side failed to make the most of a host of chances as they were denied four times by the woodwork and by a superb performance from Brighton keeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

This was Cardiff's first loss in 10 games and their lead at the top of the npower Championship has been cut to five points after Hull's win over Blackburn, although the Welsh club have a game in hand on their Yorkshire rivals.

Cardiff should have put themselves into a handy lead before Orlandi struck with

the crucial goal, and their profligacy ultimately proved costly.

In-form Fraizer Campbell, with three goals in three appearances since joining

from Sunderland, almost gave the hosts an early lead as his lofted shot from Craig Bellamy's pass just flicked the top of the bar.

Kuszczak saved a low shot from Craig Noone, with Campbell lurking after Bruno Saltor had gifted the ball to Andrew Taylor on the Cardiff left.

Former Manchester United stopper Kuszczak then made a stunning stop to keep out a curling Peter Whittingham effort which was destined for the top corner, although he was fortunate seconds later as he misjudged a Bellamy shot which bounced under his body and up on to the bar.

After David Marshall kept out an Ulloa effort the overworked Kuszczak was soon back in action as Dean Hammond's awful backpass on the edge of his own box played in Bellamy, but the Pole was out quickly to push the ball away from the Wales international, before saving his follow up.

And Brighton punished the Bluebirds by taking the lead against the run of play two minutes before the break. Lopez got away down the right-hand side and his perfect ball into the box found an unmarked Orlandi, who swept the ball beyond Marshall.

The goal knocked Cardiff out of their stride as they struggled to find any rhythm early in the second half, but the introduction of Craig Conway for Noone sparked them to life as the winger whistled in a shot tipped over by Kuszczak, before clipping the bar with a misdirected cross.

Cardiff frustrations increased after Adam El-Abd, who had already been booked, appeared to bring down Bellamy in the box, only for referee Keith Stroud to award a free-kick on the edge of the area.

Cardiff piled on the pressure. Campbell fired over from Matthew Connolly's astute pass and an Aron Gunnarsson header came back off the post, but Ulloa had the last word as his shot from Lopez's pull-back went in off Mark Hudson for his first league goal for the Seagulls.



http://www1.skysports.com/football/live ... 408/report

Championship: Brighton shock league leaders Cardiff with 2-0 win
Last Updated: February 19, 2013 10:42pm


Andrea Orlandi: On target in Brighton's win at Cardiff


Goals from Andrea Orlandi and Jose Ulloa gave Brighton a shock 2-0 victory at Championship leaders Cardiff on Tuesday evening.

Orlandi opened the scoring when he turned in a David Lopez cross just before half-time before Ulloa sealed the win in stoppage time to boost Albion's play-off aspirations and inflict Cardiff's second home defeat of the season.

But Mackay, who turned 41 on Tuesday, will have been left wondering how his side failed to make the most of a host of chances as they were denied four times by the woodwork and by a superb performance from Brighton keeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

This was Cardiff's first loss in 10 games and their lead at the top of the npower Championship has been cut to five points after Hull's win over Blackburn, although the Welsh club have a game in hand on their Yorkshire rivals.

Cardiff should have put themselves into a handy lead before Orlandi struck with

the crucial goal, and their profligacy ultimately proved costly.

In-form Fraizer Campbell, with three goals in three appearances since joining

from Sunderland, almost gave the hosts an early lead as his lofted shot from Craig Bellamy's pass just flicked the top of the bar.

Kuszczak saved a low shot from Craig Noone, with Campbell lurking after Bruno Saltor had gifted the ball to Andrew Taylor on the Cardiff left.

Former Manchester United stopper Kuszczak then made a stunning stop to keep out a curling Peter Whittingham effort which was destined for the top corner, although he was fortunate seconds later as he misjudged a Bellamy shot which bounced under his body and up on to the bar.

After David Marshall kept out an Ulloa effort the overworked Kuszczak was soon back in action as Dean Hammond's awful backpass on the edge of his own box played in Bellamy, but the Pole was out quickly to push the ball away from the Wales international, before saving his follow up.

And Brighton punished the Bluebirds by taking the lead against the run of play two minutes before the break. Lopez got away down the right-hand side and his perfect ball into the box found an unmarked Orlandi, who swept the ball beyond Marshall.

The goal knocked Cardiff out of their stride as they struggled to find any rhythm early in the second half, but the introduction of Craig Conway for Noone sparked them to life as the winger whistled in a shot tipped over by Kuszczak, before clipping the bar with a misdirected cross.

Cardiff frustrations increased after Adam El-Abd, who had already been booked, appeared to bring down Bellamy in the box, only for referee Keith Stroud to award a free-kick on the edge of the area.

Cardiff piled on the pressure. Campbell fired over from Matthew Connolly's astute pass and an Aron Gunnarsson header came back off the post, but Ulloa had the last word as his shot from Lopez's pull-back went in off Mark Hudson for his first league goal for the Seagulls.



http://www1.skysports.com/football/live ... 408/report

Shock? I did say we would win. You are an average team. Are we?

Had this game down as a draw before kick-off..Thought that B&H would give us a game.

Well organised team,with some good signings this season - Good luck with the rest of the season B&H Fan.

Brighton barely crossed the halfway line in the second half. We've beaten much better teams than them this season but the worry for me is how we currently struggle to create / take chances. Have we been worked out, and if so who on our bench can come in and make a difference?

Cardiff City's lead at the top of the Championship is down to five points after Brighton's hard-earned 2-0 win.

Midfielder Andrea Orlandi struck just before the interval to give the Seagulls a 1-0 half-time lead.

Brighton's former Manchester United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak produced a string of good saves in the first half.

And Leonardo Ulloa scored a deflected goal in second-half added time to seal the victory for Brighton and boost their play-off bid.

With main rivals Hull and Watford both winning, it was bad news all around for Cardiff manager Malky MacKay on his 41st birthday.

Middlesbrough's defeat at Burnley leaves Brighton two points outside the promotion play-off positions.

Got a sickening feeling about this. Sold our soul, and we're still going to mess it up. Seen it so many times before. Since 70/71.

Get a grip, man!!

Look at the table and simply ask yourself "Would we have settled for THIS position BEFORE this season started?"

Too bloody right we would!!

Brighton played well but WE contributed to our own downfall today with POOR finishing and the ref didn't help by 'bottling' the penalty/sending off decision in the 2nd half (not the first time Keith stroud has ruined a game at the CCS)

We'll dust ourselves down and move on, starting this Sunday against Jez Moxey's team. I'll be there in full voice and supporting the team for all I am worth!!

Still a long way to go this season but we are in POLE position. Keep the faith!!

A bad day at the office but NOT the end of our season. EIGHT points clear of 3rd and a game in hand

This must be the most f*cking hardest league to get out of in the world, unless your shit and get relegated. So many teams that are similar. There's going to be no easy points, its going to be tight to the end i think.

Only thing I'm scared of is if we do mess it up, Cardiff City will be known as chokers.

But to be top, 5 points clear of 2nd and 8 from 3rd with a game in hand. I would'nt change that for anything

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... l-win.html

We dominated the game and had chance after chance. We made a decent side look distinctly average and only a lack of luck, poor finishing and superb goalkeeping stopped us winning by a shedful.

We've had our share of luck over the last few months - Leicester away, we should have lost and maybe won a few when a draw would have been a fairer result, so really can't complain when it doesn't go our way for once.

Some aspects of the performance were poor, fair few shoddy passes and some poor ball play by our back 5, but overall most of our players won their battles and for me we showed that we can create plenty of chances against a good side.

Really no need to panic, and there still won't be even if we don't get too many points in the next 2 games, which might mean we drop out of the top 2 as the Barnsley game has been postponed so we could be left behind Watford and Hull but with 2 games in hand.

Biggest worry for me is the negative atmosphere from our fans, the players did well to keep their composure with all the moaning going on. We are top, 5 points clear with a game in hand FFS, probably preaching to the converted with most on here, but we really should be getting behind the side more. I felt pretty alone sometimes last night when I was encouraging the players/team on.

This must be the most f*cking hardest league to get out of in the world, unless your shit and get relegated. So many teams that are similar.

I dunno, Bristol have been trying to get relegated for a few years now.

Championship: Brighton shock league leaders Cardiff with 2-0 win
Last Updated: February 19, 2013 10:42pm


Andrea Orlandi: On target in Brighton's win at Cardiff


Goals from Andrea Orlandi and Jose Ulloa gave Brighton a shock 2-0 victory at Championship leaders Cardiff on Tuesday evening.

Orlandi opened the scoring when he turned in a David Lopez cross just before half-time before Ulloa sealed the win in stoppage time to boost Albion's play-off aspirations and inflict Cardiff's second home defeat of the season.

But Mackay, who turned 41 on Tuesday, will have been left wondering how his side failed to make the most of a host of chances as they were denied four times by the woodwork and by a superb performance from Brighton keeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

This was Cardiff's first loss in 10 games and their lead at the top of the npower Championship has been cut to five points after Hull's win over Blackburn, although the Welsh club have a game in hand on their Yorkshire rivals.

Cardiff should have put themselves into a handy lead before Orlandi struck with

the crucial goal, and their profligacy ultimately proved costly.

In-form Fraizer Campbell, with three goals in three appearances since joining

from Sunderland, almost gave the hosts an early lead as his lofted shot from Craig Bellamy's pass just flicked the top of the bar.

Kuszczak saved a low shot from Craig Noone, with Campbell lurking after Bruno Saltor had gifted the ball to Andrew Taylor on the Cardiff left.

Former Manchester United stopper Kuszczak then made a stunning stop to keep out a curling Peter Whittingham effort which was destined for the top corner, although he was fortunate seconds later as he misjudged a Bellamy shot which bounced under his body and up on to the bar.

After David Marshall kept out an Ulloa effort the overworked Kuszczak was soon back in action as Dean Hammond's awful backpass on the edge of his own box played in Bellamy, but the Pole was out quickly to push the ball away from the Wales international, before saving his follow up.

And Brighton punished the Bluebirds by taking the lead against the run of play two minutes before the break. Lopez got away down the right-hand side and his perfect ball into the box found an unmarked Orlandi, who swept the ball beyond Marshall.

The goal knocked Cardiff out of their stride as they struggled to find any rhythm early in the second half, but the introduction of Craig Conway for Noone sparked them to life as the winger whistled in a shot tipped over by Kuszczak, before clipping the bar with a misdirected cross.

Cardiff frustrations increased after Adam El-Abd, who had already been booked, appeared to bring down Bellamy in the box, only for referee Keith Stroud to award a free-kick on the edge of the area.

Cardiff piled on the pressure. Campbell fired over from Matthew Connolly's astute pass and an Aron Gunnarsson header came back off the post, but Ulloa had the last word as his shot from Lopez's pull-back went in off Mark Hudson for his first league goal for the Seagulls.



http://www1.skysports.com/football/live ... 408/report

Shock? I did say we would win. You are an average team. Are we?

Average teams don't top the league for months on end. You were fantastic last season when you came down here, this season not so much. I thought you were average and this comes from someone who is incredibly unbias, I believe we have not deserved three points in many of our home games, last night we deserved to win.

OMG, SOME CRAP ON HERE,

We were unlikely to go to end of season without a defeat or two.

We were fortunate to beat Huddersfield and Watford at home. Palace even as they had some great chances. These things even out over the season.

It was just one of those nights. If we had played poorly and created nothing then I'd be worried but I can't see a slide like previous seasons. Everything conspired against us, a poor set of officials, the woodwork, inspired goalkeeping and dreadful finishing.

I'm still optimistic.