Fri Nov 21, 2014 11:15 pm
Cardiff beat Reading on the strength of Peter Whittinghams penalty
Guardian report
Cardiff 2 Reading 1
Championship
Cardiff
Alex Pearce 20 o.g., Peter Whittingham 45 +3:54 pen
Reading
Michael Hector 81
theguardian.com, Friday 21 November 2014
Alex Pearce’s nightmare first half helped Cardiff make it five consecutive home wins as they saw off Reading.
The Reading defender’s 45 minutes to forget began with the game’s opening goal when he diverted Peter Whittingham’s inswinging corner past his own goalkeeper, Adam Federici.
And seconds before the break the Republic of Ireland centre-back was shown the red card when he fouled Adam Le Fondre inside the box, allowing Whittingham to score the second from the penalty spot.
A late mistake from David Marshall allowed Michael Hector to reply for Nigel Adkins’ men, who remain without an away win since August.
After an afternoon that saw Cardiff’s owner, Vincent Tan, and former manager Malky Mackay back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, the spotlight turned to Cardiff’s current manager, Russell Slade, as he looked to preserve his unbeaten home record since taking charge of the Bluebirds.
Slade’s unchanged line-up had little of the ball in the opening 20 minutes, with Le Fondre’s wayward header all they had to show for their endeavours.
That was until the Reading captain, Chris Gunter, back at his boyhood club, was forced to put Craig Noone’s inviting 19th-minute cross behind for a corner and Whittingham’s back-post delivery was put into his own goal by Pearce.
Despite being behind Reading continued to look bright going forward against a Cardiff defence that had kept only two clean sheets all season, with Jordan Obita forcing Marshall into a stop at his near post.
But in first-half added time Pearce’s miserable evening was compounded with the second sending-off of his career. A lovely raking ball from John Brayford from the left-back position fed Le Fondre and, when his former team-mate hauled him down inside the box, the referee, James Linington, produced the red card despite protestations from Gunter that Pearce was not the last man.
Whittingham stepped up and sent Federici the wrong way as Cardiff cruised into the interval.
The Bluebirds picked up where they left off after the break with Federico Macheda forcing Federici into a diving save before both wingers, Anthony Pilkington and Noone, fired over.
Having earned the penalty, Le Fondre was close to getting on the scoresheet himself against the club where he spent three years, only for his optimistic chip to drop just the wrong side of the far post 12 minutes into the second half.
The home support were then up on their feet for the introduction of the popular playmaker Mats Daehli for only his second appearance since Slade’s arrival.
But as the game ticked into the final 10 minutes they were sitting a little less comfortably after an error from Marshall allowed the 10 men a route back into the match. The ball pinged around the box before Hector’s drilled effort squirmed under the Scotland international to leave the vocal away following dreaming of the most unlikely of comebacks.
But the nearest Reading came to earning a late point was a penalty appeal for a foul on the substitute Nick Blackman, only for Linington to show the forward a yellow card for diving.
Fri Nov 21, 2014 11:16 pm
CCFC OFFICIAL SITE
FRIDAY NIGHT REPORT: CARDIFF CITY 2-1 READING
21st November 2014
by Will Pallot
Cardiff City recorded a fifth-successive home victory under the Friday night lights as they saw off the visiting Reading 2-1.
The Bluebirds broke the deadlock midway through the first half when Peter Whittingham’s fierce corner kick delivery was turned into his own net by Royals centre-back Alex Pearce.
It continued to be a nightmare evening for Pearce as, with half time looming, he hauled down his former teammate Adam le Fondre for a City spot-kick. The challenge earned the defender a red card and saw the score-line doubled, as Whittingham dispatched the resultant penalty with consummate ease.
The Royals set up a nervy finale when Michael Hector drove a low shot through Marshall with ten minutes remaining, but City held strong to earn the points and take themselves to within three points of the playoff positions.
Chronological Report:The Bluebirds took to the pitch for the first time in almost two weeks following the international break, and after taking a few minutes to get back into the swing of things, it was the home side who created the first half-chance of the match. Anthony Pilkington, who started out wide on the left flank, swung the ball in to former Royal Adam le Fondre, whose header comfortably cleared Adam Federici’s bar.
Despite that opportunity, it was to be a slow start to this encounter, as neither side managed to maintain a significant period of pressure in the opposition’s half.
However, in Anthony Pilkington, City had a player who looked eager to create something. His clever turn inside on the fifteenth minute gave him a sight of goal from inside the Reading penalty area, only for their back-line to reassemble and block his low drive.
Cardiff didn’t have to wait much longer for the opener though. After Chris Gunter had put the ball out for a corner at the far post, a sense of expectancy increased around the stadium with Peter Whittingham strolling over to take the corner kick. As expected, he caused the visitors some serious difficulties with a trademark delivery that Royals centre-half Alex Pearce could only turn past his own ‘keeper.
GOAL: CARDIFF CITY 1-0 READING (Alex Pearce OG, 20 mins)
The goal settled down what had been a somewhat tense affair up to that point, but it was Reading who would create the next opportunity. Welsh winger Hal Robson-Kanu knows the Cardiff City Stadium well from international duty, and he strode forward with purpose through the middle of the park before spreading the ball out wide to Jordan Obita. The youngster was in plenty of space on the left, but his subsequent effort was well saved by David Marshall.
City carried on pressing in search of a second as the pace of the game rose. A couple of corners and a dangerous free-kick delivery from Whittingham kept Federici on his toes in the Reading goal. However, the Bluebirds’ best opening was squandered when Pilkington failed to get the ball out of his feet after showing great desire to drive into the box.
As half time approached, the Cardiff back line held firm to keep their opponents safely at bay, despite a brief period of pressure. But, with three minutes of injury time, there was plenty more drama before the whistle blew.
When Adam le Fondre squirmed past his marker in box, Alex Pearce made his evening even worse as he hauled his former teammate down illegally. The referee had no option but to dismiss the Royals defender and award a penalty. Peter Whittingham held his nerve from the spot, sending Federici the wrong way, and doubling City’s lead before the break.
GOAL: CARDIFF CITY 2-0 READING (Peter Whittingham pen, 45 mins)
HALF TIME: CARDIFF CITY 2-0 READING
Macheda_Reading_460
Reading substitution: Garath McCleary replaces Simon Cox (45 mins)
The second half commenced with the wind still in City’s sails. The second goal, and consequent red card, seemed to have given them a comfortable buffer in this game, which they soon looked to increase. Pilkington was again first to threaten as he tested the reflexes of Federici after cutting onto his right foot. The Reading stopper palmed it away though, to keep his side within two goals.
Reading were now set up to counter attack, with a healthy dose of pace on the wings brought through the introduction of Garath McCleary. However, their ten men were set to be under some pressure in this second half, and could have found themselves further behind had Craig Noone controlled his curling effort.
With City enjoying plenty of space in the final third, le Fondre looked keen to capitalise and net against his former employers. His strike from the left flank didn’t quite dip in time though, as it had looked set to nestle in the top corner.
With chances for the visitors now few and far between, they would have to make the most of each one to come their way. But unfortunately for them, Oliver Norwood was unable to test Scotland’s number one when his free-kick flew past the ‘keeper’s post. Meanwhile, John Brayford came close at the other end as his marauding run culminated in a left-footed shot that was dragged just wide.
Cardiff substitution: Mats Møller Daehli replaces Craig Noone (69 mins)
Reading substitution: Jake Taylor replaces Danny Williams (71 mins)
Cardiff Substitution: Fábio replaces Matthew Connolly (75 mins)
The Bluebirds looked set up to attack with Mats Møller Daehli and Fábio now on the pitch. They were content simply to keep the ball away from their opponents. However, as the match approached its final ten minutes, Reading soon ensured that they’d face a nervy conclusion though, as they pulled one back against the run of play.
City were unable to clear the ball as it ricocheted around the box following a Reading corner. After several efforts were valiantly blocked, the ball broke to Michael Hector, who drove low from just outside the box. Marshall was unable to get a clear sight of the ball due to the amount of bodies in front of him, and was powerless to prevent it squirming between his legs and into the back of the net.
GOAL: CARDIFF CITY 2-1 READING (Michael Hector, 81 mins)
Reading substitution: Nick Blackman replaces Hal Robson-Kanu (82 mins)
Both Macheda and Daehli came close to responding immediately to save what looked to be some nervous final minutes for City. Federici once again stepped up to deny Macheda’s close-range shot though, while Daehli, following up on the rebound, fired into the side-netting.
Cardiff substitution: Kenwyne Jones replaces Federico Macheda (88 mins)
With the fourth official signalling four minutes of injury time, hearts were in mouths around Cardiff City Stadium as the rain began to pour down. Cardiff were doing well to hold the ball high up in the corners of the pitch though, and remained strong enough to see out the game. A collective sigh of relief came as the final whistle blew and City hung on for the fourth home win of Russell Slade’s tenure, adding pressure on the teams above before the Saturday encounters.
FULL TIME: CARDIFF CITY 2-1 READING
Attendance:20,643 (852 away fans)
Teams
Cardiff City:Marshall, Connolly (Fábio), Turner, S Morrison, Brayford, Noone (Daehli), Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Pilkington, le Fondre, Macheda (Jones).
Subs not used:Manga, Adeyemi, R Morrison, Moore.
Reading:Federici, Kelly, Gunter (C), Pearce, Hector, Norwood, Williams (Taylor), Robson-Kanu (Blackman), Obita, Murray, Cox (McCleary).
Subs not used:Andersen, Cummings, Cooper, Tshibola
Fri Nov 21, 2014 11:18 pm
Cardiff City 2-1 Reading Match report: Bluebirds survive nervy ending to down 10-man Royals
Nov 21, 2014
By Chris Wathan
Alex Pearce, who was sent off at the end of the first half, scored an own goal and Peter Whittingham added a penalty to make it five consecutive home wins
Driving Welsh rain, bitter November cold and yet the Bluebirds would like to be nowhere else than Cardiff City Stadium right now.
After all, it is very much a case of home sweet home for a side who has now made it five straight wins on their own patch.
It was uninspiring but relatively uncomplicated as two first-half goals and a sending off as part of an Alex Pearce nightmare made sure of the job before anyone had a chance to complain about the weather. Or mutter about the performance.
That said, there would have been more than just moans had Michael Hector's late strike forced a comeback as Cardiff somehow found themselves under late pressure.
Reading may well feel as though they would have deserved it the way fortune eluded them and stopped them try making more of the fact Cardiff were anything but convincing.
Indeed, an own goal from Pearce, a penalty conceded by the same man and an inevitable red card all inside 45 minutes do tell a tale of a night of cursed luck, especially given they had played far the better football.
Yet, at the same time, never did Cardiff's sturdy-looking defence looked troubled with the incisive passing in front of them. At least until a late Royals rally.
And rarely was David Marshall tested until Hector's shot somehow dribbled through his legs. Ultimately, the odd-flash of quality at the other end proved enough.
On 20 minutes it had been the quick feet and delivery of Anthony Pilkington to force a corner, from which a Peter Whittingham set-piece forced Pearce to turn into his own net.
And in first-half injury time it was a clever through ball and then clever movement from Adam le Fondre that tempted Pearce into a clumsy manhandling to see the spot-kick awarded. Whittingham, like so often, had little hesitation in dispatching.
So not a win to start a compelling case for promotion and yet, under Russell Slade, the 100 per cent record continues at Cardiff City Stadium. Slade has overseen four of the five wins and with Rotherham and Brentford to come before Christmas, it could well be that the 10 successive victories achieved by the title-winning team of a couple of years back comes into view.
They will need to be better than this and, of course, Slade will not need reminding that perhaps a truer test of his side's credentials will come on the road where they are yet to score let alone taste success. Watford in a week's time will be a better yardstick.
They will unlikely be allowed to watch the Hornets or many other sides pass around them the way Reading did and not come unstuck or at least face greater pressure.
And while things became more straightforward after the second goal, the man advantage made it difficult to pass judgement.
But, if Slade was asked to organise and simplify, there was evidence of that. While Reading probed with passes and lost markers through movement, there was an unbudging red wall on the edge of their area that was not broken down until the death.
And while the Bluebirds did not have much early build-up play to them, they did have a few players willing to run at space from broken play and try and get past a man or two. Craig Noone showed more alertness than he has done for some time but it was Pilkington who made the difference for the hosts.
Perhaps buoyed by his goal on international duty, he was involved in Cardiff's only attacks of note early on, one requiring a block from Hector and the other forcing former Bluebird Chris Gunter – applauded on his return – to turn behind over his own bar.
Gunter knew, though, that the danger would not be over with Whittingham on set-piece duty and so it proved as Pearce shinned into the bottom corner under pressure from lurking Cardiff targets.
Wales international Hal Robson-Kanu and Jordan Obita did force saves from David Marshall as Nigel Adkins men looked for a quick response.
But Cardiff were not about to turn the screw with Pilkington, after another dangerous run, arguing with Federico Macheda for his lack of movement to display the disjointed nature of their attacks.
Yet just as Reading looked towards the break to regroup, they imploded. Le Fondre's intelligence had not brought him a scoring opportunity but it did find him inside the box and nimble enough to fool Pearce. Referee James Linington had little doubt over the penalty and then over the red card decision, despite Gunter's pleas he was in a position to cover.
That was it for Reading, Adkins' plans in tatters and Slade's job done. Macheda did have a shot to sting Adam Federici's hands and John Brayford should have done better when meeting Aron Gunnarsson's floated pass on the overlap, but there was no need to abandon too much shape as Reading made a gainful effort to get back into the game.
Still, they relaxed a little too much and Reading deserved their hope when Cardiff failed to clear a corner and Hector drove a shot from the edge of the box, the presumably unsighted Marshall unable to stop it heading between his legs.
Nevertheless, the record at home remains. The chance to change the record on the road is to come.