Wed Mar 22, 2023 8:27 am
Pundits brand Rotherham postponement 'double blow' for Bluebirds
Former Leeds United, Crystal Palace and QPR midfielder Shaun Derry has branded the postponement of the match against Rotherham United a "double blow" for the Bluebirds.
The Bluebirds had taken a 1-0 lead into the break after Jaden Philogene's well-taken early strike, but a monumental downpour during the interval rendered the pitch unplayable.
Sabri Lamouchi's side will likely have to go back to the New York Stadium and replay the match in some capacity, but having dominated the first half, Derry believes it's a big loss for Cardiff.
"[Lamouchi] would have been delighted by the first-half showing. I mean, the highlights suggested they were completely on top as we see Jaden Philogene's finish there," Derry, who was recently the manager of Cambridge United, said on ITV's EFL Highlights Show.
"But it's kind of a double blow, this, you've gone in half-time 1-0, you're talking about the second half and a continuation of a brilliant performance, and then not only can you not finish that game, you've got to make that huge travel back to Cardiff and you've got to play the game again at some point.
"Then you look at some of the teams in and around you and realise they've picked up points. It's a big, big loss for Cardiff."
Alongside Derry in the studio was Jamie Mackie, formerly of QPR and Nottingham Forest, who believes it will be tough for Cardiff to go back up to Yorkshire and repeat what was such a dominant display until the game was postponed.
"We were watching it unfold and from a Rotherham perspective, even though they were at home, being 1-0 down in the game, it was a better game to be called off for them," Mackie said.
"We saw Lamouchi on the pitch rolling the ball, I think he might have gone in for a slide tackle to see if it was all right! He was trying everything to get the game on. The Cardiff fans weren't happy because they were so on top.
"The psychology of it, going back up there, after being 1-0 up, it's very hard to go and repeat that first-half performance."