THAT NIGHT IN CARDIFF - Cardiff 2-1 Leicester

Probably my favourite Cardiff City match in the CCS due to the atmosphere that red card created. Looking at how close Leicester are to winning the Premier League, just takes me back to how many fantastic encounters we've had with them.

Tuesday 30th March 2010

Ten-man Cardiff survived a second-half fight back to defeat play-off rivals Leicester in a controversial clash.
Ross McCormack followed up a Kelvin Etuhu effort to open the scoring, then his parried shot found its way to Peter Whittingham who scored from close in.

The Foxes felt denied a direct goal off an inswinging corner and when David Marshall misjudged another corner he parried to Steve Howard who fired home.

Gabor Gyepes saw red for bringing down James Vaughan, but Cardiff held on.

The victory sees the fourth-placed Bluebirds move three points clear of Swansea ahead of Saturday's Welsh derby, while Leicester remain in the final play-off spot, four points above Blackpool.

The Foxes are now on a run of three successive defeats, though, and have failed to pick up an away point this season against a fellow top-six side.

In contrast to the visitors' waning form, Cardiff started with the confidence born of a four-game unbeaten run that had seen them win seven of their previous nine at home.

Good build-up play down the left from Mark Kennedy and Whittingham set up Etuhu, who swivelled in the 12-yard box and did well to get in a low shot.

Leicester goalkeeper Chris Weale could only save weakly, the ball falling to McCormack who made no mistake with the follow-up.

With the Leicester defence a shambles, the Scotland international then had an effort cleared off the line by Andy King.
Adam Matthews had come on as a 35th-minute replacement for Darcy Blake, and the full-back went close to producing the goal of the season.

Picking up the ball in the middle of his own half, the teenager drifted past four players on a mesmerising run, easing into the box only to blast his shot over the bar.

McCormack was again involved for the second goal, Weale parrying his shot to Gavin Rae.

The midfielder showed the composure to find Whittingham, Cardiff's leading scorer making no mistake from six yards for his 22nd goal of the season.

With half-time looming, the visitors thought that Martyn Waghorn's corner had crossed the Cardiff line, but the officials ruled that Marshall had scrambled the ball clear.

The Bluebirds attacked the distracted Foxes, McCormack showing the composure to free Chris Burke with a delightful long pass.
Ex-Rangers man Burke, making his 150th league appearance, found Etuhu, who should have done better with a header over the bar.

Leicester were back in the game soon after half-time, though, when Marshall struggled with another inswinging Waghorn corner.
The ball fell to Howard from the Scotland international's flap, the half-time replacement making no mistake with a low, right-footed shot.

Waghorn was then replaced by on-loan Everton striker Vaughan, and within two minutes his pace led to the red card for Gyepes.

Nolberto Solano slid a pass down the side of the Cardiff defence and Vaughan had his heels clipped by Gyepes as he looked to run in on goal to leave referee Fred Graham with no option.

Richie Wellens forced Marshall into a sprawling save as the Foxes pushed for a late equaliser, but Cardiff held on for three vital points.

On the downside for the Bluebirds, Gyepes will be suspended for Saturday's showdown with Swansea, while Burke, Etuhu, Blake and Kennedy must be doubtful after picking up injuries against the Foxes.