Sun Mar 08, 2015 10:20 am
Sunday 8th March 2015
By Steve Tucker
The Big Cardiff City Debrief: Memories of Premier League party fade as Charlton see off disappointing Bluebirds
The last time Charlton came to Cardiff, it was the Bluebirds who were celebrating. Two years on, it was the visitors partying after claiming an away win
' Was this anything like the last time these two teams met in the Welsh capital '
Think of that night two years ago when Cardiff City and Charlton fought out a 0-0 draw and the Bluebirds were promoted to the Premier League.
And now forget all that because this was the direct opposite of that. A largely soulless, silent stadium filled with supporters resigned to the fate of mid-table mediocrity.
Football on the pitch to match that too. Often dull and error-strewn, both teams saw their performances peppered with errors particularly in the first-half when both side struggled to get going. Cardiff dominated the opening 45 minutes without ever shining.
' The second-half was different then? '
It was much improved in terms of entertainment value at least.
Cardiff took the lead and deservedly so with a well-worked goal. Craig Noone’s cross was knocked back by Kenwyne Jones for Federico Macheda to smash home.
But then there was a deeply disappointing collapse from Russell Slade’s men as there has been way to often under his leadership.
This was the sixth time Cardiff have surrendered a lead under Slade. Tony Watt fired home and then Yoni Buyens scored from the penalty spot after Sean Morrison brought down Simon Church.
It was very disappointing for Cardiff who basically just threw the game away.
' What was Cardiff’s performance like on the whole? '
Better actually then of late. Put it this way, Slade’s side were much better than they were at Rotherham last time out and they ended up winning 3-1 there.
So often this season Cardiff have been accused of being too direct or not getting the ball down and playing properly. Here they showed that is what they are trying to work towards.
They knocked it about pretty well and tried to play it out from the back.
The only problem was they lacked a threat in the final third particularly in the first-half. Jones and Macheda playing together up-front failed to ignite really despite it leading to the goal.
There were a lot of unforced errors from Cardiff too which did not help their flow and fluency, but the intent to get the ball down and play was there from the home side.
' Who played well for the Bluebirds? '
At the back Bruno Manga was impressive again.
The guy has got to be a contender for Cardiff’s Player of the Season.
Matthew Connolly was solid as well just like he always seems to be for the Bluebirds. Slade made four changes from the side that won at Rotherham bringing back Peter Whittingham.
The player who caught the eye though was Conor McAleny who brought a lot of forward momentum to the side.
He was one of the few Cardiff players who looked as if he might make something happen. He is in on loan from Everton and should see a lot of pitch time between now and the end of the season.
' Seam Morrison was talking about a late surge to the play-offs. Does this result put pay to that? '
The idea of Cardiff making the play-offs was fanciful anyway even before this match. But within the camp you do have to make all the right noises of course.
Cardiff are now 15th and looking as if that is where they are going to finish.
One home win in their last nine is simply not good enough and they are now 18 points off the play-offs with ten games left to play. No chance.
The Bluebirds are 13 points above the drop-zone too and looking pretty safe, they are six points off the 50-point mark which is traditionally seen as the safety point.
It is all pointing to a campaign set to end in mid-table mediocrity. It’s about what they deserve.
' It does seem a long time since that night against Charlton when history was made, doesn’t it? '
It sure does. In fact it seems a long time since the start of the season when Cardiff were installed as favourites to bounce straight back to the Premier League under then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Then Cardiff were regarded as having a fantastic squad, the cream of the Championship really.
Now they look a shadow of that. They are a team in transition maybe, but on this evidence they are transforming into a bang average Championship side.
Slade has so much work to do if Cardiff are to be a force again any time soon.
What with budgets being cut and the way they are playing right now, you fear the chances of the Bluebirds celebrating promotion to the top-flight again any time soon are remote if not nonexistent.