' Norwich v Cardiff Match report '

Norwich City 0 Cardiff City 0

1,500 travelling Cardiff fans went home with a point



A superb goalkeeping display from Cardiff's David Marshall denied Norwich City all three points at Carrow Road in their first Premier League meeting.

Chris Hughton's side created several opportunities but were thwarted by the Scottish goalkeeper.
Marshall made excellent stops from Jonny Howson, Gary Hooper, Nathan Redmond and Leroy Fer.
Opposite number John Ruddy also reacted brilliantly to block Jordon Mutch's first-half shot for the Bluebirds.
The result leaves Norwich, who have won only one of their last five games, in 18th place on eight points.
Cardiff are one point better off, with manager Malky Mackay's attentions now focused on the first all-Welsh Premier League match against Swansea on 3 November.


The first half contained an incredible 16 efforts on goal, with superb last-ditch defending preventing either side from breaking the deadlock.
Former Norwich keeper Marshall came to Cardiff's rescue on a number of occasions, blocking long-range efforts from Howson and striker Hooper, who has yet to score in the league, before producing a double-save to deny the pair again just before the break.
And when Marshall found himself in no man's land from a corner, team-mate Peter Whittingham was on hand to block Leroy Fer's beautifully controlled volley on the line.
Home goalkeeper Ruddy also impressed, first when he blocked Jordon Mutch's point-blank shot with his face and then when he turned South Korean Kim Bo-Kyung's low drive around the post.
There were fewer clear-cut chances after the interval, but the second half still delivered on goalmouth action, with the majority of the action in the visitors' area.


Hooper, whose manager still believes he can force his way into the England World Cup squad, was again heavily involved.
The striker headed a foot over from six yards before Robert Snodgrass failed to make good contact on his sumptuous ball.
Norwich manager Hughton brought on Netherlands forward Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Nathan Redmond, with the England Under-21 international twice stinging Marshall's palms.
With five minutes remaining, Fer - who signed for the Canaries in the summer - should have opened the scoring but directed his effort straight at the keeper.


The match ended controversially when Fer kicked the ball into an empty net from a throw-in instead of passing back to Marshall after the ball had initially been kicked out of play to allow a home player to get treatment.
Referee Michael Jones disallowed the goal.

What a waste of words.

Cardiff get the ball kick the ball into the opposition half, lose possession,Norwich string a few passes together, Goalkeeper makes a save.

repeat 20 times !!

Norwich C 0 Cardiff C 0

Media Wales


Cardiff City avoided slipping into the relegation zone as they dug in for a credible draw against fellow strugglers Norwich City at Carrow Road.

The Bluebirds were under huge pressure at times, particularly during a first-half that saw Norwich command the midfield area.

Cardiff boss Malky Mackay picked an attacking line-up, with Jordon Mutch, Kim Bo-Kyung, Peter Odemwingie and Fraizer Campbell all starting.

But the Bluebirds chief scrapped that initial plan at the break, bringing on Aron Gunnarsson and Don Cowie to tighten things up considerably.

Goalkeeper David Marshall may have been at the centre of Chelsea’s controversial equaliser in the loss at Stamford Bridge last weekend when dispossessed by Samuel Eto’o, but he starred here in Norfolk.

Norwich were dominant but found Marshall in fine form to leave the Canaries in a precarious position with only Crystal Palace and Sunderland beneath them in the Barclays Premier League table.

Scotland stopper Marshall was not the only goalkeeper on his game as John Ruddy denied Jordon Mutch at point-blank range.

The Canaries might also have had a penalty, but again luck was against them.

A Gary Hooper shot hit Steven Caulker on the arm after bouncing off the Cardiff captain’s boot early in the second half, but referee Mike Jones waved appeals away.

Hooper had numerous opportunities to open his Premier League account, but failed to do so and Hughton’s decision to substitute the former Celtic striker 18 minutes from time was met with cries of “you don’t know what you’re doing”.

Norwich did beat Marshall late on, but it sparked a melee as Leroy Fer was expected to return the ball to the goalkeeper. Jones ruled in Cardiff’s favour as the match finished in a stalemate.

If Hughton were to depart, Norwich fans would no doubt be in favour of a move for Malky Mackay, who made more than 200 appearances in six years as a Canary and whose status at Cardiff is best described as complicated.

Hughton has been criticised for a conservative approach, but there was an urgency about a Norwich side unchanged following the 4-1 loss at Arsenal.

Martin Olsson shot wide and Hooper twice got beyond the visiting defence to no avail in the early exchanges.

Cardiff had chances as Norwich pressed forward.

Caulker headed wide from a Peter Whittingham corner when unmarked before Peter Odemwingie found Fraizer Campbell and the striker centred to Mutch.

Mutch scored at Fulham and Chelsea but was denied from six yards as Ruddy spread himself and somehow turned the ball over.

There was another deluge of Norwich attacks as Caulker blocked from Hooper following Fer’s direct run, Marshall saved well from Jonny Howson and then Whittingham cleared off the line as Fer hooked a Robert Snodgrass corner towards goal.

Marshall then had to be alert to save Hooper’s early shot from 25 yards.

Ruddy saved a Kim Bo-kyung effort which deflected off Sebastien Bassong before another flurry from Norwich.

Howson was denied by Marshall, Russell Martin headed over from a Snodgrass cross and then the Cardiff goalkeeper pulled off a remarkable save to keep Cardiff level at the interval.

Snodgrass’ cross deflected off Mutch and Marshall instinctively turned it on to the post before saving the rebound from Hooper.

Norwich had scored six Premier League goals entering the contest and there was a familiar unease for the locals at half-time after their team failed to add to the total.

Mackay reacted to his side’s lacklustre first-half showing by replacing Kim and Odemwingie with Gunnarsson and Cowie.

Referee Jones waved away penalty appeals when Hooper shot on the turn and the ball bounced off Caulker’s boot and on to his arm.

Hooper headed a corner over soon after and then attempted to play provider after squirming by Caulker, only for Marshall to turn the striker’s cross away from Pilkington.

Much to the frustration of home fans, Hughton replaced Hooper with Johan Elmander in a double change which also saw Nathan Redmond replace Pilkington, while Cardiff brought on Craig Bellamy, another with a Norwich connection.

Redmond had an effort saved, volleyed narrowly wide from the resulting corner and saw an angled drive saved by Marshall.

The Norwich bombardment continued as Ricky van Wolfswinkel was introduced three minutes from time and Bassong joined him up front.

Marshall again saved in stunning fashion from a Fer header and Cardiff scrambled clear.

Fer passed the ball into the Cardiff net after receiving a throw-in from Van Wolfswinkel.

After some shoving, it was confirmed the strike would not count as he was expected to return the ball to Marshall.

What a waste of words.

Cardiff get the ball kick the ball into the opposition half, lose possession,Norwich string a few passes together, Goalkeeper makes a save.

repeat 20 times !!

can't agree more. we are deluding ourselves that as a club we can survive in this division playing like this and on 35% possession football. we are sitting on our back four and defending, hoping that will see us through, our midfield is haemorrhaging possession and our attack is non existent. it is a recipe for relegation. there has to be a change and a few days in a boot camp won't solve anything. there has to be a change of tactics, style or manager or all three.

i usually post elsewhere, but my opinion is dismissed so letting off steam here. even before we were promoted i suggested then that mm was not the manager to see us through and certainly not one for the premier league. i won't quote Cromwell just yet...