Sabri Lamouchi has lift-off as Cardiff City manager thanks to a stunning Perry Ng free-kick and a lovely Callum Robinson solo effort which helped down Birmingham City late on at St. Andrew's.
By Glen Williams
It's been three long months since the Bluebirds tasted the sweet nectar of three points, but this trip home from the Midlands will be sweeter than ever.
In an attritional match, for the most part devoid of any quality, it was Ng who provided the blockbuster moment when he burst the net with a fantastic strike from 20 yards out with just minutes on the clock.
Then, when the game was ticking down, and Blues throw everything at the visitors, it was Robinson who popped up at the top of the pitch before he jinked past three players and smashed it into the roof of the net. Fourteen games without a win, well, that clock can be reset.
Lamouchi will hope this is only the beginning, of course. They are 14 more cup finals left to play, remember.
The Bluebirds' bench was bolstered by the pre-match signing of Connor Wickham, who was announced just three hours before the match got under way.
But City's starting XI all pointed towards a drastic change in both formation and style. With Perry Ng coming in as the third centre-back and Kion Etete partnering Sory Kaba up top, Cardiff looked to be opting for the mist direct of long-ball tactics.
And it's fair to say, they did not disappoint in that regard.
The visitors, though, to their credit, looked the better of the two sides. They were hard to break down when Birmingham had the ball and Kaba and Etete worked the Blues' centre-halves over at times.
What it did mean, though, was that there was very little real quality on show and chances on goal. The strikers fed off scraps, really, as evidenced by Kaba's scissor kick from 18 yards out which dribbled wide of John Ruddy's post.
But while Cardiff were keeping Birmingham quiet, they looked the more likely to score. One Ryan Wintle corner found Cedric Kipre and the Ivorian headed across goal before Perry Ng was found in the box. Unfortunately for Cardiff, his low, drilled shot was cleared.
The half-time whistle blew and it felt like a half that had taken eternity, with the game so bereft of quality. If another 45 minutes like that meant City took home at least a point, though, Lamouchi would have bitten your hand off for it.
Lamouchi's men started the second half the better of the two sides, with arguably a little more intent. However, it was still tough going and chances were at a premium.
The rock-hard ground and primitive tactics made it difficult to get the ball under control, however Kaba, once again, used his ingenuity as he chested a cross up into the air and again went for the spectacular as he opted for the overhead kick. It was a better connection that that scissor kick in the first half, but, unfortunately for him, the same result.
Kaba did look like Cardiff's biggest threat. Indeed, one Wintle free-kick found the striker near the penalty spot and he smashed a volley just inches over the crossbar. It was Cardiff's best chance up until that point.
Cardiff then called the cavalry, bringing on debutant Wickham as well as Callum Robinson and Jaden Philogene with 20 minutes to go.
It almost had an instant impact, too, when Robinson flicked a ball around the corner and Wickham spun his defender with his first touch before lashing a low shot with his second. Ruddy was equal to it at the near post, though.
It just felt like Cardiff's night, though. With all the pressure they piled on, especially in the second half, the visitors deserved it. With just a tad over five minutes left to play, Callum O'Dowda was tripped after a lovely, mazy run, and it was prime position for an effort on goal. Ng stepped up and bang, top corner. What a strike, one worthy of winning any match.
But Cardiff weren't done there. After defending a barrage on their own goal, the Bluebirds broke. Robinson was implored by his bench to run to the corner flag, but there was no chance. He cut inside and rammed it into the roof of Ruddy's net.
The 845 travelling fans, so many of whom have schlepped up and down the country, begging for a win, in the last three months, went wild.
Is this the beginning of the survival run? Well, in short, it has to be.
Birmingham City XI: Ruddy; Colin, Sanderson, Dean (James 86), Trusty; Bielik; Chong (Longelo 72), Bacuna (Gardner 72); Hannibal (Hall 72); Jutkiewicz (Deeney 72), Hogan.
Subs: Etheridge, Friend.
Cardiff City XI: Allsop; Romeo (Philogene 73), Ng, McGuinness, Kipre, O'Dowda; Rinomhota (Ralls 86), Sawyers, Wintle; Kaba (Wickham 73), Etete (Robinson 73).
Subs: Alnwick, Simpson, Ojo.
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