" SECOND IN A ROW FOR CARDIFF CITY "

Cardiff City reach Carabao Cup second round with comeback victory over Portsmouth

Goals from Greg Halford and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing ensured the Bluebirds progress in the Carabao Cup

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After beating Burton away on Sat, Warnock fielded a weaker team tonight and Cuty won again.

Over 800 Pompey fans came to Cardiff tonight


Warnock made eight changes


Eight changes made by Warnock

Neil Warnock stuck to his word in shifting things around, making eight changes for tonight’s game.




CARDIFF CITY 2 PORTSMOUTH 1
AET

SEAN MORRISON OG
MENDEZ - LAING
GREGG HALFORD

Attendance: 6,592 (851 #Pompey fans)




Cardiff City: Murphy, Halford, Manga, Morrison (capt), Richards, O'Keefe, Damour, Tomlin, Kennedy, Pilkington, Ward.

Subs: Etheridge, Peltier, Ralls, Mendez-Laing, Meite, Hoilett, Coxe.

Portsmouth: McGee, Rose, Burgess, Pitman (capt), Whatmough, Naismith, Bennett, Talbot, Evans, May, Haunstrup.

Subs: Bass, Davies, Baker, Main, Kabamba, Chaplin, Close.

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Cardiff City reached the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 extra time win over Portsmouth.

CARDIFF CITY 2 PORTSMOUTH 1 (aet, 1-1 after 90 minutes)

Neil Warnock had welcomed the chance the Carabao Cup provided of minutes for his Cardiff City players that needed them. He would not have welcomed the extra 30 his side required as they were frustrated by League One Portsmouth.

At least Greg Halford managed to stop the added nuisance of penalties and grabbed a winner after 113 minutes, his first goal for the club placing the Bluebirds into the second round in a fortnight's time.

Still, though the Warnock was keen to give players, like Halford, a chance to impress and some first-team challengers more time to bed in, it's hardly likely the extra-time forced by Kenny Jackett's side had figured in his plans.

Certainly, it wasn't ideal that someone such as Lee Tomlin – selected after a short pre-season left him short of full matches fitness – or Danny Ward, had to go the extra mile ahead of the weekend visit of Aston Villa. Fresh rather than heavy legs will be required against Steve Bruce's promotion favourites.



Yet, on a pretty wet and miserable August night, the clouds presented something of a silver lining as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing again hinted at his worth.

The free signing from Rochdale wasted little time when he made his competitive Bluebirds bow at Burton as he helped swing the game Cardiff's way. Here he needed just a few minutes from his half-time introduction before levelling the scores, cancelling out Sean Morrison's 32 minute own goal.

Attendance: 6,592 (851 #Pompey fans)

mendez laing was awesone also pleased with Tomlin and ward both looked lively

Mendez-Laing changed the game as it gave them something to worry about on both sides of the pitch, thought Kennedy benefitted enormously by his introduction and had a great second
half. Dafour was industrious and Ward holds up play well and looks a good acquisition, although I wouldn't see him getting many goals if big Ken gets injured or his goals dry up.

I enjoyed that - at least second half onwards there was a real drive.

Kennedy was head and shoulders the best player on the pitch tonight - I just feel that Tomlin needs to be held back into more of a Scholes role and linger on that D abit more when we're attacking.

Ward was everywhere too worked really really hard.

Mendez-Laing for me should have played from the start I'd have dropped O'Keefe who for offered nothing and left Damour running around like a headless chicken half the night.

The overall fitness of the players was particularly good, with very little drop off in extra time. I was a bit worried with the game against Villa coming up on Saturday, but the fact that Villa have to play tonight and therefore one less recovery day should offset that.

not really ..villa have a much bigger squad and will play a totally different team