" Match report Portsmouth v Cardiff City 27 Aug 11 "
Sun Aug 28, 2011 12:39 pm
Over 1,800 Bluebirds made the trip to the South coast of England for what is turning out to be quite a grudge game since both teams played each other in the cup final in 2008. Although the Pompey won that day I don’t think any of us Bluebirds envy their situation since then. Administration saw them relegated to the Championship and their high profile squad dismantled. This has resulted in their famous stadium looked ragged and to say the least not very well supported. In contrast we have avoided administration, have a modern stadium (ok you can’t beat character but you don’t survive on that) and bigger crowds. Pompey fans, what is left of them, love reminding us of Wembley but you get the impression they wish they were in our shoes these days.
It is a different team we put out these days compared to when we last played these seasiders. Gone are the high profile failures, yes as far as I am concerned they failed us, they could not come up with the goods when the business required it. Gone is the high profile manager who one day will take responsibility for what turned out to be a massive failure last season. In is a hungry young manager who has brought in hard working players and has brought a togetherness with the passionate Bluebirds supporters. Yes it is a different team because now it includes those faithful followers of the club.
It is safe to say the part of the team that plays on the pitch, the players that is, are under construction. With so many changes from last season .The other part of the team, the fans, are showing patience which is the least they can do. The familiar name of Marshall has made the No 1 goalkeeping spot his. Returning from his surgery last season he has performed well but still there is a lot of work to be done on the crosses coming his way. The defence saw the even more familiar and supporters favourite MacNaughton starting at right back with the new boy Taylor on the left. MacNaughton goes without saying about his hard work although if we are honest he has not quite been up to his high standards this season yet. Taylor seems to have settled in well and looks OK but is that because everyone is comparing him to last seasons weak links Naylor and JLS? In central defence was the return of
Hudson and Gerrard as partners. Gerrard returning from his long season loan from Hull was welcomed by most but there were apprehensions about his partnership with Hudson. Those fears have not been squashed yet this season so far.
Midfield is where most of the changes has been made. The start of the season saw 3 new boys join Whittingham there, Cowie, Conway and Gunnarson. However Blake replaced Gunnarson due to injury so the rare occasion of him partnering Whittingham again was a concern. Upfront another new face could be found in Miller. His partner however is certainly not classified as that as the Cardiff legend Earnshaw made up the starting 11.
Overall not the top quality side we are use to seeing but that has been replaced by a hard working ethic that is ever so pleasing to the supporters.
The game kick off on time and Cardiff took the initiative. It become evident that their work rate was going to be a problem for the home side. From an early attack Blake nearly gave Cardiff the lead as his snap shot from outside the area hit the post and went out to safety. For the next 20 minutes Cardiff had the initative but just could not open the Pompey defence. Pompeys real first chance came from a mistake by Gerrard that allowed the Portsmouth attack to go close with a shot inside the Cardiff area. This gave the initiative to Portsmouth as they started to get themselves into the game. They then went close again from a specualtive cross halfway inside the Cardiff half on the touchline that Mashall miss read as the ball hit the corner of the crossbar and post.
After that close scare Cardiff regained the initiative with Earshaw going close on 25 minutes and them on the 30 minute mark Miller nearly repeated his West Ham goal with a similar chance from the 18 yard line. What was pleasing to the away supporters was that the away team were winning most of the 50/50 balls. This was in total contrast to last season and this can only be put down to the fitness levels being a lot higher this season which should see Cardiff through. Adding to that Whittingham passes were creating a few problems for the host.
However it was the home side that went close to scoring as the game approached half time. A gifted chance for them on the 40th minute mark saw a shot go well over the bar and not worrying Marshall. It was Portsmouth that ended the half the stronger team. It was a bit of a yo yo half.
The second half started with Cardiff dominating again but failing to test the Pompey goalkeeper. Whittingham went close again from a Cowie cross that saw him head over the bar. Failing to take advantage usually leads to the other team going close or scoring. Fortunately it was the later that happend as Portsmouth hit the post as they once again got back into the game. From this scare they had 3 quick session corners . This period of pressure the home side created a few chances that saw Earnshaw clearing off the line.
Moments later another chance fell to Portsmouth and they should have scored but a last minute ditched tackle by Whittingham saved the day. Cardiff then made a substitution bringing on another new boy in Gestede for Miller.
If you dont take your chances you sometimes pay for it and the home side did. Cardiff started to get back into the game and a pass from Cowie left Whittingham in with a chance. His shot was cleared but from the resulting move Taylor found himself in the clear on the left as the away team attacked. Earnshaw picked him out just inside the Portsmouth area and Taylor coolly slotted his shot home on 70 minutes.
After the restart it was all Cardiff as they went to secure the game. Although they never trouble the home keeper they looked like they could see the game through. Unfortunately this did not happen as Portsmouth brought on the thorn in the side to Cardiff Kanu, the guy that got the winner at Wembley. On the 80th minute he was on the end of a cross that he managed to head pass Marshall.
The rest of the game saw Cardiff hang on and one moved produced a double block in front of the Cardiff goal. The game ended all square.
Summing up. We would have taken a point before kickoff but I would say most of us felt disappointed we did not return with all 3. The disappointed was there but at least it was reframed. Still under construction.
It is a different team we put out these days compared to when we last played these seasiders. Gone are the high profile failures, yes as far as I am concerned they failed us, they could not come up with the goods when the business required it. Gone is the high profile manager who one day will take responsibility for what turned out to be a massive failure last season. In is a hungry young manager who has brought in hard working players and has brought a togetherness with the passionate Bluebirds supporters. Yes it is a different team because now it includes those faithful followers of the club.
It is safe to say the part of the team that plays on the pitch, the players that is, are under construction. With so many changes from last season .The other part of the team, the fans, are showing patience which is the least they can do. The familiar name of Marshall has made the No 1 goalkeeping spot his. Returning from his surgery last season he has performed well but still there is a lot of work to be done on the crosses coming his way. The defence saw the even more familiar and supporters favourite MacNaughton starting at right back with the new boy Taylor on the left. MacNaughton goes without saying about his hard work although if we are honest he has not quite been up to his high standards this season yet. Taylor seems to have settled in well and looks OK but is that because everyone is comparing him to last seasons weak links Naylor and JLS? In central defence was the return of
Hudson and Gerrard as partners. Gerrard returning from his long season loan from Hull was welcomed by most but there were apprehensions about his partnership with Hudson. Those fears have not been squashed yet this season so far.
Midfield is where most of the changes has been made. The start of the season saw 3 new boys join Whittingham there, Cowie, Conway and Gunnarson. However Blake replaced Gunnarson due to injury so the rare occasion of him partnering Whittingham again was a concern. Upfront another new face could be found in Miller. His partner however is certainly not classified as that as the Cardiff legend Earnshaw made up the starting 11.
Overall not the top quality side we are use to seeing but that has been replaced by a hard working ethic that is ever so pleasing to the supporters.
The game kick off on time and Cardiff took the initiative. It become evident that their work rate was going to be a problem for the home side. From an early attack Blake nearly gave Cardiff the lead as his snap shot from outside the area hit the post and went out to safety. For the next 20 minutes Cardiff had the initative but just could not open the Pompey defence. Pompeys real first chance came from a mistake by Gerrard that allowed the Portsmouth attack to go close with a shot inside the Cardiff area. This gave the initiative to Portsmouth as they started to get themselves into the game. They then went close again from a specualtive cross halfway inside the Cardiff half on the touchline that Mashall miss read as the ball hit the corner of the crossbar and post.
After that close scare Cardiff regained the initiative with Earshaw going close on 25 minutes and them on the 30 minute mark Miller nearly repeated his West Ham goal with a similar chance from the 18 yard line. What was pleasing to the away supporters was that the away team were winning most of the 50/50 balls. This was in total contrast to last season and this can only be put down to the fitness levels being a lot higher this season which should see Cardiff through. Adding to that Whittingham passes were creating a few problems for the host.
However it was the home side that went close to scoring as the game approached half time. A gifted chance for them on the 40th minute mark saw a shot go well over the bar and not worrying Marshall. It was Portsmouth that ended the half the stronger team. It was a bit of a yo yo half.
The second half started with Cardiff dominating again but failing to test the Pompey goalkeeper. Whittingham went close again from a Cowie cross that saw him head over the bar. Failing to take advantage usually leads to the other team going close or scoring. Fortunately it was the later that happend as Portsmouth hit the post as they once again got back into the game. From this scare they had 3 quick session corners . This period of pressure the home side created a few chances that saw Earnshaw clearing off the line.
Moments later another chance fell to Portsmouth and they should have scored but a last minute ditched tackle by Whittingham saved the day. Cardiff then made a substitution bringing on another new boy in Gestede for Miller.
If you dont take your chances you sometimes pay for it and the home side did. Cardiff started to get back into the game and a pass from Cowie left Whittingham in with a chance. His shot was cleared but from the resulting move Taylor found himself in the clear on the left as the away team attacked. Earnshaw picked him out just inside the Portsmouth area and Taylor coolly slotted his shot home on 70 minutes.
After the restart it was all Cardiff as they went to secure the game. Although they never trouble the home keeper they looked like they could see the game through. Unfortunately this did not happen as Portsmouth brought on the thorn in the side to Cardiff Kanu, the guy that got the winner at Wembley. On the 80th minute he was on the end of a cross that he managed to head pass Marshall.
The rest of the game saw Cardiff hang on and one moved produced a double block in front of the Cardiff goal. The game ended all square.
Summing up. We would have taken a point before kickoff but I would say most of us felt disappointed we did not return with all 3. The disappointed was there but at least it was reframed. Still under construction.
Re: Match report Portsmouth v Cardiff City 27 Aug 11
Sun Aug 28, 2011 1:01 pm
Nice one dude, glad ur back with the write ups 
Re: Match report Portsmouth v Cardiff City 27 Aug 11
Sun Aug 28, 2011 1:35 pm
Nice write up Ian and i hope your Daughter has made a full recovery
Re: Match report Portsmouth v Cardiff City 27 Aug 11
Sun Aug 28, 2011 3:19 pm
Nice one mate. I just got back from holiday so couldnt go yesterday. This helps fill the blanks.
Re: Match report Portsmouth v Cardiff City 27 Aug 11
Sun Aug 28, 2011 3:52 pm
good report on the game, wasnt able to go yesterday as was working , but in the end a draw is not a bad result...
Re: Match report Portsmouth v Cardiff City 27 Aug 11
Sun Aug 28, 2011 6:31 pm
great post m8
Re: Match report Portsmouth v Cardiff City 27 Aug 11
Sun Aug 28, 2011 7:33 pm
Good read up thanks!
Re: " Match report Portsmouth v Cardiff City 27 Aug 11 "
Mon Aug 29, 2011 1:24 pm
Glad to see the matchday reports back ....cracking write up as usual. Nice one Ian
....cracking write up as usual. Nice one Ian