Match Report " Cardiff City v Birmingham "
Sat Mar 21, 2015 5:30 pm
Eoin Doyle scored his first goal for Cardiff as they ended a run of seven home games without a win by earning a 2-0 victory over Birmingham.
Former Chesterfield striker Doyle got his first in nine games since his B£1million switch to the Bluebirds just after half-time, before a Peter Whittingham penalty wrapped up the points.
It ensured Cardiff's first win at home since January 10 to ease the pressure on manager Russell Slade.
Birmingham boss Gary Rowett was sent to the stands for the visitors in the second half and they could face further trouble after their fans clashed with police inside the Cardiff City Stadium.
Cardiff's afternoon had got off to a bad start before kick-off when in-form Federico Macheda, with three goals in his last three games, pulled up injured in the warm-up and had to be replaced by Kenwyne Jones.
The home side started brightly enough and centre-back Sean Morrison went close with a header from Whittingham's corner after three minutes but it proved to be a rare early opening.
Aron Gunnarsson went close to breaking the deadlock after 32 minutes when he met Joe Ralls' cross from the right with a firm header but it flashed past the post.
Ralls almost got on the scoresheet himself 60 seconds later but his long-range effort was narrowly wide.
Demarai Gray was causing problems down the left for Birmingham but they failed to turn any of his good work into chances.
Cardiff's troubles got even worse just before the interval when striker Alex Revell injured himself sprinting for a ball over the top and had to be replaced.
Birmingham then started the second period the better side but Cardiff's breakthrough goal came from a failed attack by the visitors.
Clayton Donaldson was sent through on goal but when he hesitated Bluebirds defender Bruno Manga was able to dispossess and start a counter-attack.
Matthew Kennedy, on as a second-half replacement for Gunnarsson, found Doyle and he scored with the game's first shot on target, in the 50th minute.
It sparked Cardiff's best period of the game and they would have gone further in front but for the wayward shooting of former Stoke man Jones.
First he saw a shot saved by Birmingham goalkeeper Darren Randolph, before he wasted two good chances in front of goal, the best of which he put over the bar from six yards.
Doyle almost got a second when he combined with Kennedy and put the ball through Randolph's legs, but his shot came back off the post.
The game was put beyond Birmingham when Doyle was brought down in the box by Jonathan Spector after 75 minutes and Whittingham stepped up to slot home the penalty.
Former Chesterfield striker Doyle got his first in nine games since his B£1million switch to the Bluebirds just after half-time, before a Peter Whittingham penalty wrapped up the points.
It ensured Cardiff's first win at home since January 10 to ease the pressure on manager Russell Slade.
Birmingham boss Gary Rowett was sent to the stands for the visitors in the second half and they could face further trouble after their fans clashed with police inside the Cardiff City Stadium.
Cardiff's afternoon had got off to a bad start before kick-off when in-form Federico Macheda, with three goals in his last three games, pulled up injured in the warm-up and had to be replaced by Kenwyne Jones.
The home side started brightly enough and centre-back Sean Morrison went close with a header from Whittingham's corner after three minutes but it proved to be a rare early opening.
Aron Gunnarsson went close to breaking the deadlock after 32 minutes when he met Joe Ralls' cross from the right with a firm header but it flashed past the post.
Ralls almost got on the scoresheet himself 60 seconds later but his long-range effort was narrowly wide.
Demarai Gray was causing problems down the left for Birmingham but they failed to turn any of his good work into chances.
Cardiff's troubles got even worse just before the interval when striker Alex Revell injured himself sprinting for a ball over the top and had to be replaced.
Birmingham then started the second period the better side but Cardiff's breakthrough goal came from a failed attack by the visitors.
Clayton Donaldson was sent through on goal but when he hesitated Bluebirds defender Bruno Manga was able to dispossess and start a counter-attack.
Matthew Kennedy, on as a second-half replacement for Gunnarsson, found Doyle and he scored with the game's first shot on target, in the 50th minute.
It sparked Cardiff's best period of the game and they would have gone further in front but for the wayward shooting of former Stoke man Jones.
First he saw a shot saved by Birmingham goalkeeper Darren Randolph, before he wasted two good chances in front of goal, the best of which he put over the bar from six yards.
Doyle almost got a second when he combined with Kennedy and put the ball through Randolph's legs, but his shot came back off the post.
The game was put beyond Birmingham when Doyle was brought down in the box by Jonathan Spector after 75 minutes and Whittingham stepped up to slot home the penalty.
Re: ' Match Report City v Birmingham'
Sat Mar 21, 2015 5:32 pm
Goals from Eoin Doyle and Peter Whittingham handed Cardiff City a 2-0 win over Birmingham City that leaves the visitors without a victory in their last three Championship games.
Whittingham and Sean Morrison both went close inside the opening few minutes as the hosts enjoyed a string of early set pieces.
Aron Gunnarsson then headed wide from Joe Ralls' cross, before Ralls nearly opened the scoring in dramatic fashion when he beat two Birmingham defenders and hammered a 20-yard effort narrowly wide of goal.
Cardiff took the lead five minutes after the restart when substitutes Matthew Kennedy and Doyle combined, with the former Chesterfield man sweeping the ball home from close range for his first goal for the club.
Demarai Gray found himself bearing down on goal minutes later, only for Fabio's last ditch intervention to preserve his side's lead.
Kenwyne Jones then nodded an effort narrowly wide and David Cotterill curled a free kick over the top of goal as the sides traded chances.
With time running out for the Blues, Gary Rowett's frustration boiled over and the Birmingham manager was sent to the stands for his fiery reaction to a decision from the assistant referee.
Doyle then struck the post before he was brought down in the box, with Whittingham stepping up to double Cardiff's lead from the spot.
Birmingham rallied in search of a late goal that would have dragged them back into the game, but Cardiff held on to extend their unbeaten run to three games.
Whittingham and Sean Morrison both went close inside the opening few minutes as the hosts enjoyed a string of early set pieces.
Aron Gunnarsson then headed wide from Joe Ralls' cross, before Ralls nearly opened the scoring in dramatic fashion when he beat two Birmingham defenders and hammered a 20-yard effort narrowly wide of goal.
Cardiff took the lead five minutes after the restart when substitutes Matthew Kennedy and Doyle combined, with the former Chesterfield man sweeping the ball home from close range for his first goal for the club.
Demarai Gray found himself bearing down on goal minutes later, only for Fabio's last ditch intervention to preserve his side's lead.
Kenwyne Jones then nodded an effort narrowly wide and David Cotterill curled a free kick over the top of goal as the sides traded chances.
With time running out for the Blues, Gary Rowett's frustration boiled over and the Birmingham manager was sent to the stands for his fiery reaction to a decision from the assistant referee.
Doyle then struck the post before he was brought down in the box, with Whittingham stepping up to double Cardiff's lead from the spot.
Birmingham rallied in search of a late goal that would have dragged them back into the game, but Cardiff held on to extend their unbeaten run to three games.
Re: Match Report " Cardiff City v Birmingham "
Sun Mar 22, 2015 2:52 pm
Cheers Owain 