' David Marshall saves Cardiff City from a defeat '

BBC Match Report

Tuesday 11th February 2014.

Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall saved his team from defeat in a scoreless home draw with Aston Villa.

The Scotland international pulled off an extraordinary last-minute save from Andreas Weimann to earn his relegation-threatened team a point.
Cardiff strikers Fraizer Campbell and Craig Noone both hit the woodwork during the same first-half attack.
But neither team could break the deadlock, with Villa frustrated by Marshall's heroics.
His save from Weimann followed another superb stop when Fabian Delph's 20-yard shot was deflected off Steven Caulker.

" Marshall earned Cardiff a point " - Solskjaer

A point is enough to take Aston Villa above Swansea into 11th place, while Cardiff remain in the bottom three.

Neither team posed a major threat in front of goal for much of the match, in spite of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's decision to start with Kenwyne Jones and Campbell as a twin strike force.
With Wilfried Zaha on the left flank and Noone on the right, Cardiff posed the bigger threat in the first half, with Campbell denied by a combination of goalkeeper Brad Guzan and a post after latching onto a Zaha pass
Seconds later, the American was helpless as Craig Noone's deflected shot from 20 yards looped onto the crossbar.
Apart from a penalty appeal for a foul on Jones by Nathan Baker, and Zaha's close-range strike being ruled out for a clear offside, there was little other incident during a first half in which Villa offered little.
However, Villa dominated after the break, with Christian Benteke and Gabriel Agbonlahor posing problems but running into an immovable object in the shape of man-of-the-match Ben Turner at the heart of the home defence.


" Villa dominated second half " - Lambert

The visitors should have taken the lead when Agbonlahor hesitated over a good chance and was dispossessed by Kevin Theophile-Catherine.
And when Villa did let get a shot away they found Marshall in the kind of form which has made him the Bluebirds' most valuable player this season.
The Scot flung himself high to his left to somehow tip Weimann's close-range shot over the bar, injuring himself in the process.
Manager Solskjaer said the save earned his side a point. The question is whether that alone is enough at a crucial stage of the season.
For his part, Villa boss Lambert was happy to see his team pick up their 17th league point away from home.

Notice how the report says Villa dominated second half, instead of Cardiff hit the posts twice and should have had a penalty in first half... And had some really good chances in the second half if Kenwyne could have been bothered...

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised Cardiff City goalkeeper David Marshall after an incredible save earned his side a 0-0 draw with Aston Villa.
In second-half stoppage time, Marshall, moving to his right, somehow changed direction and managed to tip Andreas Weimann's close-range effort behind at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday.
It could prove a crucial save at the end of a season in which Cardiff look destined to be fighting for Premier League survival come May.
And Solskjaer was quick to pay tribute to Marshall, as well as the central defensive pairing of Ben Turner and Steven Caulker.
"I thought it was a goal," Solskjaer told BT Sport.
"But then again you've got David Marshall there so you almost expect him to save it.
"He's been fantastic this season and again he saved us.
"He saved us again but you can talk about Steven Caulker and Ben Turner. They've done a fantastic job, as good a performance as you can ask for."
Turner, who was named man of the match, called on the Cardiff supporters to continue to back the team in their fight to avoid the drop, with the club second from bottom.
"Obviously things haven't been going as well as we want," he said.
"We suffered a disappointing result in the derby, but we need to stick together and we need the fans now more than ever."

Read more at http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/solskja ... ugWHOVT.99

Vine: David Marshall’s stunning save for Cardiff
FEBRUARY 12TH, 2014 BY UP FRONT

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