" CARDIFF CITY ITS GOT TO STOP "

Neil Warnock wants his Cardiff City side to sort out their late goal issues ahead of next season

The Bluebirds have now conceded 15 goals in the final 10 minutes of matches - costing them a total of 12 points across the season


Sunday 12th Mar 2017


Neil Warnock has insisted Cardiff City's worrying habit for conceding late goals isn't concerning him....yet.

But the Bluebirds boss will know it's a trend he'll have to buck in time for next season after statistics reveal only one Championship rival has shipped more in the final ten minutes of games than Cardiff.

Lukas Jutkiewicz grabbed an 89th minute leveller to deny the Bluebirds making it to 50 points with nine games remaining after Joe Ralls' 53rd minute penalty had put the hosts on course for victory in front of a 20,000-plus crowd.



It came just days after Derrick Williams pounced in the last minute to earn Blackburn Rovers a draw at Ewood Park.

And with Jazz Richards' unfortunate 83rd minute own goal handing QPR victory at Loftus Road last weekend, it's now three games in a row that the Bluebirds have suffered from a sucker punch close to the bell.

It's happened enough times even in Warnock's reign to have cost Cardiff an extra nine points to their current 48-point tally – a figure that would have put them just one shy of their total last year at the same stage of the season when they were firmly in the play-off hunt.


Lukas Jutkiewicz celebrates scoring Birmingham City's equaliser (Photo: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
On top of the two potential wins and one draw lost to late goals in the last week, Brentford's 91 minute goal on Boxing Day saw the Bluebirds drop a further two points while Ryan Williams' 94minute effort for Barnsley saw the Tykes take the win in a game destined for a draw.

And, as Warnock was quick to mention as he discussed the problem after the Birmingham clash, there the Wigan game early in his tenure that saw him lose his first match when Jordi Gomez struck with four minutes remaining.

Of the issue, Warnock said the recurring theme wasn't bothering him at the moment given Cardiff's midtable position, but he did admit: “The concern is because I hate losing and when you concede that late it feels like you've lost – but I'd be more disappointed if it's still happening in 12 months.”


Warnock wants to see his side improve their defensive record in the final 10 minutes of matches
Still, any hopes of that promotion bid a re-energised Cardiff support are dreaming about won't last if the trend continues next term.

Because, in a habit that precedes Warnock's arrival as Paul Trollope's successor in October, Cardiff have now shipped 15 goals in the final ten minutes of games. Only doomed Rotherham have conceded more in that defining period of matches with 18.

It accounts for 28% of their 53 goals conceded this year, costing them a total of 12 points over the season so far. Only Leeds have conceded a higher percentage of their total goals against in those final minutes, 11 of their 36 goals shipped – or 30% – coming in that same late period of games, though it has only cost Garry Monk's men seven points over the season. Including Trollope's time, Cardiff's late goal grumbles have cost them a total of 12 points.



It could be just an anomaly, especially when you consider that the final ten minutes of games is also when Cardiff have scored ten goals over the campaign – their most productive ten minute slots in matches.

Fitness and mentality are normally factors, but Warnock has pointed to more a case of not killing sides off having been ahead and on top, while also reckons Cardiff's injury-hit squad and lack of options have had an impact – something he will ensure won't be an issue next year.

“I can't fault the effort, that was super against a difficult system and a side content to play for a draw,” Warnock said of the draw with Blues. “We put a lot of energy in but we had the weakness of conceding late on.

“But we have a few injuries, all the top sides have decent choices on the bench to change things

“That won't happen next season. All the top sides have got decent choices on the bench to change things and, at the moment, we haven't got much.

“We still have a lot to learn and that's why it's frustrating because it's a game we should have won.

“But we've got quite a few injuries and we've got to bite our tongue and get on with it.”

GOALS CONCEDED IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES

Rotherham – 18

CARDIFF – 15

Bristol City – 13

Brentford – 12

Wolves – 12

Birmingham – 12

Blackburn – 11

Leeds - 11

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

It has been like this under the past four managers and Dave jones before that. we defend far too deep inviting presssure. Need more than one person up front otherwise when the ball is cleared it will keep on coming back. It could be a fitness issue ?

It has been happening for years, cant put my finger on it exactly but the players didn't look fit enough yesterday.Away at Newcastle say ,you can understand teams dropping deep to preserve what they have,but against poor teams like QPR,Blackburn and Birmingham,its totally unacceptable especially when we were clearly in the sriving seat. Having the captain of the team at the heart of the midfield maybe,warnock clearly rates Morrison though, I think hell be captain again next season

Every fan around me was screaming the team to push up, are the players really that stupid not to hear the fans pleas to step out and not sit so deep. Beggers believe sometimes. inviting pressure . Birmingham were piss poor yesterday but still grabbed a point. And the brum fans at the end was like they won a cup final. We deserved the win but game management cost us again. no leaders on the field calming things down.

NW needs to look at himself for that game.
We had 2 subs left and we had pressure on us.
He refused to break up the pressure by using an easy sub.
Cost us 2 points.

Shocking record.

Some of these players need a kick up the back side. Hopefully the summer will address most of these issues.

Agree with all,it seems to have become a culture issue.

Shocking record.

Some of these players need a kick up the back side. Hopefully the summer will address most of these issues.

they obviously had the kick up the backside when he arrived. but as others have mentioned in other threads ,you cant play this kick and rush game after game without it taking its toll on energy levels especially with such a small squad.. i hope that its a case of getting the best out of a squad not of his making this year just to get points on the board anda more ballanced approach next season.

Agreed it has to stop - next season will be tough enough as it is without chucking away points from winning positions

However I don't buy into this small squad and injuries reason. It has happened twice in two games now and back in December when we had a larger squad twice in back to back games then.

Maybe it is the mentality of players but I remember Warnock saying after it happened in December he would wait till January to addrsss it. I assume he meant freshening up the squad and players but that has not worked.

Let's hope that he gets it right for next season

[quote="bluebird7291"]NW needs to look at himself for that game.
We had 2 subs left and we had pressure on us.
He refused to break up the pressure by using an easy sub.
Cost us 2 points.[/quote

I thought it odd to bring on Whitts who doesnt mark effectively nor tackle when we were 1-0 up.
To compound the problem he kept Pilkington on the pitch i.e another player who doesnt get stuck in or give 100%. Pilkington seems to flatter to cieve and plays in short spurts. Whitts has been a great servant but no longer contributes enough.I dont think you can play both in the team, especially when you,re trying to see out a 1-0 win!
Whitts seemed to try to mark / defend for 5 mins but after that he started to wander and "stroll" and no surprise when a couple of crosses came in from their left and a goal was scrambled in.

I work it out that if you go from near the end we are 5 points down this season.

Fulham away - 2
Reading home -2
Wigan home -2
Wolves home +2
Barnsley home -1
Brentford -2
Bristol C away +2
Burton home + 2
Derby away +2
Blackburn away -2
Bham home -2