MY VIEW/REPORT: NORTHAMPTON TOWN v CARDIFF CITY

A strange, typically opening day encounter between the two sides this afternoon, which saw a relatively tame opening period in which the Northampton defence swatted away and Bluebird forays. To their credit, Northampton pushed on up front and more annoyed the Bluebird defence than threatened.

However, as the half moved on, Northampton began to threaten a little more with good movements from Missy Lou and Smith. Northampton pushed and pushed and came close before they were awarded a penalty from which they scored

A booking to Leandro Bacuna and what looked like a firm ticking off to Sol Bamba saw the latter finish the first half an angry man

O stall, whilst the Bluebirds looked to enforce their game plan, it was Northampton that took advantage where it mattered and they went in to half-time with what I'd consider to be a slightly luck but just about deserved lead

Half Time: Northampton Town 1 - 0 Cardiff City

The second half started pretty much as the first and there was hope that the Bluebirds would impose themselves and get back into the game

This was not to be, as Huddersfield broke away and put the ball past Alex Smithies to make the score 2 - 0 withing a few minutes of the restart

Things didn't get better when Northampton then made it 3 - 0 to effectively end the game as a competition on the hour

I'm not too sure to make of this as we approach the start to the Championship season. Is it a measure of where we are or should we simply mark it down as s bad day at the office; one in which we were without a couple of sure starters and in a competition we have been notoriously lacking for a club that graced it's final so well a few short years ago? Neil Harris will have the answers

Questions will be raised but I'm thankfully, I'm confident it will be a different Cardiff City we see run out at Sheffield Wednesday a week today

A tad disappointing but better things/times to come, I'm sure

FINAL SCORE: NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3 - 0 CARDIFF CITY

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A strange, typically opening day encounter between the two sides this afternoon, which saw a relatively tame opening period in which the Northampton defence swatted away and Bluebird forays. To their credit, Northampton pushed on up front and more annoyed the Bluebird defence than threatened.

However, as the half moved on, Northampton began to threaten a little more with good movements from Missy Lou and Smith. Northampton pushed and pushed and came close before they were awarded a penalty from which they scored

A booking to Leandro Bacuna and what looked like a firm ticking off to Sol Bamba saw the latter finish the first half an angry man

O stall, whilst the Bluebirds looked to enforce their game plan, it was Northampton that took advantage where it mattered and they went in to half-time with what I'd consider to be a slightly luck but just about deserved lead

Half Time: Northampton Town 1 - 0 Cardiff City

The second half started pretty much as the first and there was hope that the Bluebirds would impose themselves and get back into the game

This was not to be, as Huddersfield broke away and put the ball past Alex Smithies to make the score 2 - 0 withing a few minutes of the restart

Things didn't get better when Northampton then made it 3 - 0 to effectively end the game as a competition on the hour

I'm not too sure to make of this as we approach the start to the Championship season. Is it a measure of where we are or should we simply mark it down as s bad day at the office; one in which we were without a couple of sure starters and in a competition we have been notoriously lacking for a club that graced it's final so well a few short years ago? Neil Harris will have the answers

Questions will be raised but I'm thankfully, I'm confident it will be a different Cardiff City we see run out at Sheffield Wednesday a week today

A tad disappointing but better things/times to come, I'm sure

FINAL SCORE: NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3 - 0 CARDIFF CITY

Chris we are not only championship club to falter fair few also gone out ! It wont effect next weeks game as sure Harris wont play same tactics disappointing as cups are best bet to do something with premier clubs playing even more weakened sides than normal thus season..

What's the point of entering the competition if you're not going to make an effort? If we wanted another pre-season friendly we should have got one and not used this game to play such lethargic garbage. Harris talks about blooding youngsters but now we have blown the chance to do that with a cup run. Just doesnt make sense to me.

Today is a massive concern. We haven't fielded a youth team or a reserve team. Apart from Osei-Tutu, we've fielded a team of experienced players who have all featured regularly in the Championship.

We should have put in a professional performance today with the team we fielded. Today makes me question the mentality and desire of some of our players.

We can't just put today down to the change of system to wing backs. Hopefully, good will come out of this defeat and Harris can be backed further to bring in a couple more players.

There can be no excuses for today's performance.

I didn't watch the game, just monitored the scores so thanks for posting a report Chris.

With the team we put out we should be winning games against teams like Northampton.

Harris said he takes cup games serious .

I believe and always have in winning every game that’s put in front of you, very disappointed.

The trouble is,we as cardiff fans have been telling the jacks it's a piss poor trophy to win, so even if we won it,we could hardly boast? ?
In no way defending the team today BTW. Only consulation is the jacks went out to a league 2 side.

I didn't watch the game, just monitored the scores so thanks for posting a report Chris.

Paul, it was dire stuff to watch with City out battled, so you dodged a (proverbial) bullet today!

What's the point of entering the competition if you're not going to make an effort? If we wanted another pre-season friendly we should have got one and not used this game to play such lethargic garbage. Harris talks about blooding youngsters but now we have blown the chance to do that with a cup run. Just doesnt make sense to me.

Great point. Both the League Cup and sadly the FA Cup are games where squad players and youngsters can get game time. Now we are out at the first round we have lost possibly a couple more games to try these players out.

I didn't watch the game, just monitored the scores so thanks for posting a report Chris.

Paul, it was dire stuff to watch with City out battled, so you dodged a (proverbial) bullet today!