" Match report Cardiff v M'Boro 17 Dec 2011 "

What have they done to the Ninian pub? I've got been in there for a while so when I entered the lounge I was surprised to see a pool table, in fact 3 pool tables. What is that all about?

I was amused to see Annis being interviewed at the entrance to the pub and even more so when he stopped the interview to greet forum members. Must have been one long interview.

Phil Dwyer was there selling his book which looked like it was going well. A Cardiff legend who I remember once at Portsmouth when he ran onto the pitch with the team only to look at us travelling away fans and point his finger at his wrist. For those not in the know this was referring to the Portsmouth clock that us Cardiff lot redesigned a couple of seasons before. Portsmouth has never been able to fix it since.

I made my way to the stadium in a rain storm. Actually it could have considered been considered a hail storm but you don’t get wet much in one of those. Well not as much as a heavy rainfall that soaks you. So was it hail or was it rain? No one around me knew when I asked the question. The only thing we agreed with was that it was cold.

I was glad to get to my seat, well it was actually someone else seat. I decided to sit with Premier One for this game but I was not too sure it was a good move as it was rather near the front and with that black cloud appearing just over the roofline well my official seat with Lord Carl at the back seemed more tempting and comforting.

Anyway I decided to stay put and concentrate on the game. I looked at the away support which must have been around 500. I was quite surprised at that especially with their team on the same number of points with us. 3rd against 4th should have attracted a lot more form the North. Although it is a long way to come I would be confident if the game was held at their place we would take at least double what they brought. Very disappointed with their support I was.

Marshall took his position between the goalpost with McNaughton, Hudson, Turner and Taylor in front of him. Joe Ralls had managed to keep his starting place with Kiss, Conway, Cowie and Whittingham. Once again we went one up front with Miller as the lone striker.

A crowd of over 23,000 took their seats for the kick off and the feeling were positive for this game although I will confess I felt if anything our bubble will burst today. I just had one of those feeling it has got to burst soon and today against a team in form well it would not be such a downer if it did.

Cardiff started lively with some cutting runs at the Boro defence. The visitors though were up for it and dealt with the early pressure well. Cardiff looked to huff the ball up front to Miller which was reminiscent to last season and you could feel the atmosphere did not approve of this. The Boro picked up on this and started to take control as they put their authority on the midfield. The visitors basically crowded out the play for the ball in midfield and moved it around nicely once they one possession.

The first chance fell to Middlesboro as they attacked the Cardiff left side. Taylor seemed to back off as he was not getting any support from Conway. This allowed a Boro player to send in an inviting cross that was met on the 6 yard line by one of their tall strikers. This striker could only head the ball over as Hudson got a telling challenge in. However the signs were there that this side could attack.

This early scare woke Cardiff up and the home side started to get back in the game. Cardiff attacked down the Boro left with McNaughton joining the attack. One attack saw McNaughton just inside the Boro area near the by line found himself confronted by the Boro keeper off his line. McNaughton got to the ball first, toed the ball pass him and was brought down by the momentum of the rushing keeper. The crowd bayed for a penalty but to every ones surprise gave a corner. The Cardiff players demonstrated with the lines man who shook his head for no. unbelievable decision that was to cost Cardiff dearly.

Within a minute from this incident the visitors took the lead. From the corner Boro cleared their lines and were soon on the attack down the right side. McNaughton seemed to get caught just outside the area therefore allowing a free shot. To add to the pain the shot was deflected wide of Marshall and into the goal. The home crowd responded 1-0 to the referee which was apt for the occasion.

The visitors as expected took control of the game from the restart with the home side a bit stunned. It was not long before the home side got back into the game. A determination showed as they look at a way of getting back on terms. A number of corners were won and an equaliser looked on the cards. This came from a Whittngham corner that has knocked on from Miller at the near post. Turner was not picked up by the visitors and calmly headed the ball into the net for his first Cardiff goal.

Cardiff were now on there ascendency and looked like the side that would score the next goal. Whittingham was testing the keeper with some difficult corners to defend against. Then from a free kick a dipping shot from Whittingham caught the goalie offline. However the keeper got a hand to the ball to push it onto the crossbar and then managed to recompose to collect.

It was now all Cardiff as the game approached half time. They then took a richly deserved lead when Miller picked the ball up halfway inside the Boro half. He seemed to have the beating of his 2 markers but they managed to force him wide. When it looked like they had done their job Miller then produced a clever back heel across the penalty area that left Gunnarson one on one with the keeper. The keeper rushed of his line but could not prevent Gunnarson clipping the ball over him for the goal.

The referee soon brought the half to a close with the advantage to the home side of 2-1.

The visitors started the second half the stronger with some good work down the Taylor side. Taylor seemed a bit over awed by this game and was leaving himself exposed. He seemed to not get much support from Conway and this showed as the Boro attacked with speed at him.

However it was Cardiff who had the first real chance of the half when Whittingham broke free on the right and sent a low pass across the area to a waiting Miller who would only have to tap the ball in. Unfortunately the pass was intercepted and perhaps Cardiff chance of making sure of the game.

The visitors then applied the pressure down the Taylor side and one move brought them their deserved equaliser. Taylor as expected was left exposed as he was left standing. With space and time on his side a Boro winger sent a perfect ball into the 6 yard area that was met by one of his colleagues who tucked the ball into the net.



Cardiff never really covered from this and struggled to get back in the game. The home side made a couple of substitutions with Mason and Gestede coming on. It was obvious they were going for the win but the visitor midfield was winning everything and it seems the ball would just fall to one of them.

With them on the up they were soon in the lead. From a telling cross from the right the ball fell to one of their striker just yards from the goal. With the easiest of efforts he tucked the ball away.

Soon after the restart the visitors should have sealed the game. As they moved the ball around with ease in the Cardiff half another of their strikers found space near the goal but could only watch as Marshal got down to parry the ball away.

This seemed to kick Cardiff into life as they managed to start getting a grip of the game. However the nearest they came to equalising was a 30 yard free kick from Whittingham that looked wide from the moment he kicked it, especially were I was sitting.


Cardiff applied the pressure in the closing minutes and but could not get the telling touch. Gestede went close on the last attack but a cross from outside the area aimed for him as too high for him to bring down.

The game brought the game to an end with all 3 points heading up North.

Summing up: Good effort from the team. I was disappointed but expected our bubble to burst for this game. However I was very annoyed that I felt the referee help more than anything to burst the bubble. I just hope these things balance themselves out through the season as I do believe 3 of our 4 loses have been down to referees.

Ha ha Cheers Ian, Yes the interview did go on for some time.

Great report once again Ian.

Nice match report. Can't wait til the next one!

Good report Ian as always!!!!

Cheers for the write up.

Can't quite believe u asked someone if the weather was hail or rain

See u next Monday mate

nice one mate

Good report Ian as always!!!!

Cheers for the write up.

Can't quite believe u asked someone if the weather was hail or rain

See u next Monday mate

I asked Premier one and he could not work it out either.

See you Monday.

Ha ha Cheers Ian, Yes the interview did go on for some time.

Great report once again Ian.

Cheers Annis, where will this interview be shown?

Ha ha Cheers Ian, Yes the interview did go on for some time.

Great report once again Ian.

Cheers Annis, where will this interview be shown?

Ian on here and utube this week.

Same old Cardiff . BIG hyped up game and we come up short and 2nd best yet again and Conway really is just not good enough and need to be replaced in the Window.

Nice one Ian ...gutted by the result and thought the ref was dodgy to say the least.

Cheers Ian for a great report, looking forward to the Watford report.