' BLUEBIRDS LABOUR TO LACKLUSTRE DEFEAT '

Reading 3-0 Cardiff City: Bluebirds labour to lacklustre defeat after George Puscas double
WalesOnline 18/08/19

Cardiff City laboured to a 3-0 defeat against Reading after a tremendous double from the Royals' impressive summer signing George Puscas.

Luton boss Graeme Jones last week bemoaned the fact that a transfer target of his own, Isaac Vassell, condemned them to defeat, well this time it's Neil Warnock's turn to feel that pain.

Warnock admitted Cardiff were in for Puscas this summer and it will make it all the more agonising that he was the man who architected the Bluebirds' downfall at the Madejski Stadium. And it was a rout.

Puscas's first was a piece of individual brilliance, he turned Will Vaulks down the right wing, ghosted into the box and fired a stinger past Alex Smithies into the far corner.

The second was a real striker's goal. Some neat work by John Swift, who was a thorn in the Bluebirds' side all afternoon, resulted in a whipped cross across the face of goal and Puscas managed to get a toe end on it which sent it fizzing between Smithies' legs.

Swift then rounded off the game late on with a well-taken chance of his own to complete the convincing triumph for Reading.

What will most frustrate Cardiff fans, however, is how well their team started. Joe Ralls, back to full health after his fitness troubles last week, and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, back after his hamstring issue, looked bright in attack, but the end product was missing.

But it wasn't to last - and the warning signs were there early on. Leandro Bacuna, filling in for Lee Peltier at right back, had a torrid time keeping the likes of Ovie Ejaria and Omar Richards at bay. When Marlon Pack hobbled off midway through the first half and Curtis Nelson, on debut, slotted in at right back, Bacuna was relieved of his duties and went into midfield.

But as the half went on Cardiff looked increasingly short of attacking options and Reading sensed blood and went on the offensive.

Once the Royals' confidence grew, it appeared to be only a matter of time before the Cardiff defence was breached. And it was, twice.

The visitors were crying out for half time and when it came Warnock rung the changes. Isaac Vassell and Callum Paterson bolstered the attacking ranks, but it made little difference.

The build-up play was laboured, there were gaping holes between the midfield and attack and it all looked a little too fragmented. Mendez-Laing appeared to tweak his hamstring but was forced into staying on after the half-time changes and it meant the Bluebirds lost even more of that much-needed zip.

Cardiff threw more bodies forward but it just afforded the hosts more time to attack. Swift gladly took the opportunity and slotted past Smithies to make it three. Indeed, were it not for Smithies, it would have been four. Sean Morrison's clumsy challenge on Andy Yiadom resulted in a penalty but the Bluebirds keeper was equal to Meite's spot-kick.

In truth, it was an abject display. It was bereft of spark or creativity and the Royals took full advantage, Puscas the main beneficiary.

While many of another generation will have regaled loved ones with tales of one Puskas, Cardiff fans will have chuntered the name of this Puscas all the way back down the M4 after this performance.

Reading (3-5-2): Rafael; Morrison, Miazga, Moore; Yiadom, Pele, Richards, Swift, Ejaria (Rinomhota 85); Joao (Meite 80), Puscas (Boye 82)

Subs not used: McIntyre, Virginia, Adam, Barrett

Cardiff (4-3-3): Smithies; Bacuna, Flint, Morrison, Bennett; Pack (Nelson 24'), Ralls, Vaulks (Paterson 45); Mendez-Laing, Hoilett (Vassell 45), Glatzel

Subs not used: Day, Nelson, Whyte, Murphy, Bogle

Referee: Andy Davies

Attendance: 14,252 (1,701 away)