" Match report Coventry v Cardiff 22 Nov 2011 "

Winter is here now. Well it certainly felt like it as we made our way to the Ricoh Stadium. The annual gathering in the Hub pub where we talked about well everything Cardiff City nearly made us all miss the kick off. Even so the quick walk to the ground did not exactly warm us up.

Now I don't know if it is the change in weather or the atmosphere surrounding the ground that made it feel like one of the cold nights from the 80s. Certainly compared to last year the walk down that road was lacking the home supporters. Outside the ground the locals did not seem to enthused about what they had come to support. Their team can't buy a win at the moment, the fans are not happy as the talk of admin is the main topic and basically most of them have accepted league one football for next season. Three points in the bag it felt like for us but we have been down this road before.

Cardiff was forced to make one change from the side that played against Reading over the weekend. Hudson has received an injury so Gerrard was called for. Marshall remained in goal with Turner, Taylor, Gerrard and McNaughton being the defence line. In midfield there was Conway, Kiss, Whittingham, Cowie and Gunnarson with Miller up front on his own again. This team was supported by a travelling contingent of over 1,100 that made up a crowd of 12,300.

The game kicked off With Cardiff looking dangerous down the left wing as they attacked the goal opposite end to where the away fans watched. In the first 5 minutes Conway got in 2 crosses that were comfortable handled by the home defence.

The game then slowed right down and perhaps this was a reflection of the ground itself. Without doubt a magnificent stadium is the Ricoh but it does resemble a ghost town as when you look at the home support it is a question of spot the fan. An empty stadium just does not attract good football I suppose and as the game was now being played at a snails pace I just wondered if this was the reason.

However one 11 minutes that nearly changed as Whittingham with one of his special passes found Miller in space just outside the area. Running onto the ball Kenny fired over the bar for the first real chance.

Coventry then started to get into the game and moved the ball around the midfield quite well. They were allowed to do this as the Cardiff midfield seemed to go all defensive. This allowed the home side to try out the luck with their 2 big attackers with one of them making Turner look like a dwarf. Thankfully this Hercules had no quality about him. He was their target man and actually got good service from his wingers. He had no trouble in the air against Turner but was absolutely useless heading the ball. He had one chance that went well over the bar, another well wide of the right post and finally when he brought the ball down to his feet he lost it most times.

However there was one moment where he accidently laid the ball of to his striking partner to set up a great chance just outside the area. Fortunately this partner was at bad as him as he scuffed his shot that went wide of the left post. Only just wide but really should have hot the target.

After this period of pressure form the home side the game went into real slow mode. The only real thing to get excited about was down the Coventry left where McNaughton seemed to be given plenty of room. However although Kevin was fast getting up to the area his crosses were nearly as bad as the Hulks headers. The game was dying and this was reflected in the crowds. The home side support just about managed a boo when Gunnarson went to throw the ball in and the away support greatest effort came from a young lad, must have been about 9, shouting to everyone to do the ayatollah. Hate to say this but even the hooray Henrys at CCS would have made a better effort than us. This was a really strange feeling.

With 10 minutes to go before half time finally a goalkeeper was forced to make a save. Cardiff finally got back into the game with Conway holding onto the ball just outside the Coventry area where he found Whittingham in space who powered a shot low across the area towards the right post. The home keeper responded well and managed to get down too palm the ball wide.

Just before half time both teams has a chance to take the lead with Conway making his way into the Coventry area only to fire high and wide. Moments later Coventry had an attack down the left where a cross was met by one of their own who volley the ball onto goal. However the ball hit the Hulk square on his back and the ball rebounded off his and into Marshalls hands safely.

The referee blew for halt time and to be honest he did not need his whistle, we would have all heard him using his fingers.

The second half started of totally different to the first. Cardiff came out fighting and within the first minute Gunnarson was given the opportunity to launch one of his throws into the Coventry box. The home defence dealt with that easily but could only clear to Whittingham who was waiting on the 18 yard line. As expected Whitts had a go, caught the ball nicely on the volley and sent it towards the left side of the goal and into the net. The perfect start for the away fans and we had finally woke up.

From the restart Cardiff dominated and started to win more ball, They dominated the midfield with Whittingham having a free role. It was so much of a free role that he collected the ball from 30 yards, was allowed to move forward a few paces and from about 25 yards fired a fierce shot that was goal bound only for the home keeper to get his fingertips to the ball and direct it onto the cross bar.

As Cardiff looked for the second goal Coventry managed a break away. However the home side stalled and that allowed the Cardiff defence to get back and re-gather themselves. Coventry were forced to move the ball out to the left but managed to create space to send a dangerous cross into the Cardiff area. A Coventry head got to the ball on the 6 yard line and Marshall failed to get a palm to it and had to watch the ball hit the crossbar, bounce up of the line then hit the bar again before he could get to it. However the linesman signed that the ball had crossed the line and Coventry were awarded the goal.

From the restart the home side took the initiative but could not force a save out of Marshall. Turner did a last minutes diving tackle to prevent the Hulk getting through while McNaughton had to head behind from a cross.

As the game was going away from Cardiff MM made a substitution by bring on McPhail for Kiss. This seemed to do the trick and Cardiff took control. Miller picked the ball up on the left and dribbled across the edge of the Coventry area before sending a shot that went wide of the right post.

Cardiff were now controlling the game in midfield but got casual and lost the ball leaving the defence exposed. A neat one two opened up the defence and with only Marshall to beat a Coventry striker saw his shot blocked by Turner who raced across the area and flung himself at the ball. That was a goal saving block.

After this scare it was all Cardiff for the rest of the game. From the left Conway beat a couple of defenders and sent a cross to the back post that McNaughton guided the ball back across the area to a waiting Miller who in space volleyed the ball over the crossbar.

As the game went into injury time Cardiff looked for the winner and looked like they had it. As the ball was passed around in the Coventry half a pass found Miller who chest it down and from 6 yards with only the keeper to beat could only watch as his effort was blocked by the advancing goal stopper.

The referee soon brought the game to an end after that with the score one all.

Summing up. It felt like 2 points dropped but we were the team on the ascendency and one another day would have put some of the chances away. Anyway this was soon forgotten as there was a story going around that Lord Carl Curtis was being investigated at the game. For 60 whole minutes he was quizzed by some mysterious character from what we have been reliable informed was from the other board. However after this grilling Lord Carl had to tell this imposter to neck it in as he is here to watch the football. The guy agreed to stop the harassment but not before asking Carl who the expected loan will be this Thursday. What a scandal, someone from over there asking Carl for inside information. You have heard of Watergate and Irangate now we have our very own Saltergate.

Great report Ian, with a bit of a laughter at the end.

2pts def dropped in my opinion, same feelings as you Ian.

Great report as ever, spot on mate!!

I didn't feel the cold lol, also saw carl a few rows infront of me chatting to a guy, had no idea he was quizzing him for that long and from the other board!! Bloody joke!
Does Carl get peace anywhere he goes

I must say that the chap I was talking with or better described as having words with that led to talking was ok but needed pointing in the direction with some of his views regarding this board.

He had strong views on my updates and I accepted his right to criticise them but he also added that many have been informative for him too, he also noted that he prefers the updates of late but the funniest bit was when he whispered in my ear "Come on then Carl, who is the player?"

Ironic


Great report Ian, at least now I know what happened in the first half

Great report Ian, at least now I know what happened in the first half

LOL, u picked the right half to miss.

Nice one Ian, much appreciated ...I do think we should have had the 3 points but I'll take a point away from home, hopefully those misses by Miller won't happen to often

Cheers Ian, We look forward to the Forest match report.