" Match report Cardiff v Reading 2nd Jan 2012 "
Tue Jan 03, 2012 7:33 pm
The travelling Reading fans sang 3-0 in your own back yard. They must have felt confident as they brought a good contingent of about 1000 fans. What they did not take into account was that Cardiff were asking for doubles and getting them served, ask Forest.
Cardiff decided to revert back to the 4 5 1 formation with Rudy being replaced by Ralls for the midfield role. Marshall took to the post again with Blake keeping his starting position for the injured McNaughton. Hudson, Turner and Taylor made up the defence while Cowie, Whttingham, Gunnarson and Mason made up the midfield with Ralls. The goal winner at Forest Miller was to return to his job as the lone striker.
The game started off with both teams caucus as you would expect for two teams going for promotion. However and much to the pleasure of the Cardiff fans it was the home team, who were attacking the goal at the family end, that took the game by the scruff of its neck. Within the first 3 minutes Whittingham had a shot on goal from 20 yards that skimmed pass the left post. This was to set the tone for the first 25 minutes of the game.
Most of the game was being played in the visitors half and every time the ball ended up in the home half it was soon back in the other end. With 13 minutes gone a Reading attack broke down in the Cardiff half. Hudson collected the ball and picked out Miller half way in the visitors half. The forward tapped the ball down for Mason who looked like he used his arm to bring the ball to his feet. Mason from 30 yards skipped a couple of tackles as he entered the visitor's area. He tried to round his marker but slipped in the process. As his marker went to take possession of the ball Mason lying on his side seemed to get his foot to the ball first and poke it to the side of the marker. Before his marker could adjust Mason was put and around him. From 8 yards to the right of the goal Mason sent a shot across the 6 yard area into the net for the opening goal.
From the restart the rain lashed down but this did not deter Cardiff. They won a procession of corners that troubled the Reading defence. From one of these corners the reading defence stood still as the cross should have been dealt with by the goalkeeper on his line. Instead Gunnarson rose unchallenged and seem to knock the keeper into the goal as well as the ball for Cardiff second goal.
Reading tried to get back into the gamed but could not break down the Cardiff defence. Cardiff moved the ball around nicely in these wet conditions and enjoyed quite a bit of possession in midfield. With 36 minutes gone Whittingham picked up the ball half way inside the Reading half. With a wall of Reading players in front of him he directed a pass through them onto a waiting Miller inside the away penalty area. The striker took one touch to control the ball then another touch to place the ball into the net.
I bet the Reading fans regretted that song now.
Cardiff now playing with confidence moved the ball around the Reading half with ease. One move saw Ralls volley the ball over the Reading bar from 18 yards.
As Reading tried to get back in the game Cardiff gifted them a goal on the stroke of half time. Whittingham in his own half seem to pass the ball to Kebe. Strange that really as did that not happen in the first game against both team but the other way round. Anyway Kebe broke into the Cardiff area and picked out the Cardiff old boy McAnuff who in space placed the ball into
the net.
The referee from the restart brought the half to an end.
The second half started with the visitors looking for an early goal. From a corner they nearly got one as one of their strikers got to the ball first but could only head the ball into the side netting.
Cardiff decided to defend deeply allowing the away team to come onto them. However the Reading attack just could not break down the resilient Cardiff defence. As much as they tried the home side had an answer for them. The visitors on the hour mark made 2 substitutions to see if that would crack the stubborn home line. It had very little effect.
Eventually the hosts realising they back line was not going to be breached decided to do their own attacking. On a counter attack Ralls won a challenged in the Reading half. He picked out Mason inside the away penalty area. Mason could not beat his marker but found Ralls waiting on the 18 yard line. He squared the ball back for him and Ralls sent a powerful shot towards the Reading goal that the keeper did well to parry away.
Cardiff now had settled into the half and had not allowed Reading to gain the momentum. Hudson was having an awesome game and seemed to be breaking up the Reading attack. Taylor seemed to have done his homework on Kebe as he had practically taken held his own against the winger. Then Kebe had a chance to show his pace as he picked the ball up in his own half and this time had the better of Taylor. However as he sped down the line and crossed the half way a fantastic sliding tackle by Gunnarson brought his charge to a sudden end.
Cardiff made their first substitution with 15 minutes to go with Gestede coming on for Mason.
Cardiff were now in control of the game and were moving the ball around midfield nicely. One of these moves found Miller about 20 yards out. The Reading defence were all over the place and this allowed Miller to pick up Taylor running down the edge of the Reading area. Taylor collected the ball in space and sent a low pass into the 6 yard area where 2 Cardiff players were waiting. With the goal at their disperal the Reading keeper did well to get down and smother the ball.
Moments later another 251 pass move in midfield by Cardiff once again found Miller in space about 25 yards out. The Reading defence were split and Miller made his way towards the area. From the 18 yard line with only the keeper to beat Miller failed to connect properly to only shoot straight at the keeper.
With Reading now committed to trying to get something out of the game they were exposed to another break away. Blake found himself in space down the right hand side and from the edge of the box sent a tempting looped cross into the 6 yard area that was met by Gestede. Gestede did everything right by directing his header down and straight on goal. The away keeper made a great reflective save to deny the Frenchman.
Cardiff saw out the game with ease after that and made one of our promotion rivals look average. The referee brought the game to an end with no further score but plenty of confidence gained by the capital.
Summing up: Well I said once we were beaten it will be interesting to see how we bounce back. 2 wins and a draw………no complaint.
Cardiff decided to revert back to the 4 5 1 formation with Rudy being replaced by Ralls for the midfield role. Marshall took to the post again with Blake keeping his starting position for the injured McNaughton. Hudson, Turner and Taylor made up the defence while Cowie, Whttingham, Gunnarson and Mason made up the midfield with Ralls. The goal winner at Forest Miller was to return to his job as the lone striker.
The game started off with both teams caucus as you would expect for two teams going for promotion. However and much to the pleasure of the Cardiff fans it was the home team, who were attacking the goal at the family end, that took the game by the scruff of its neck. Within the first 3 minutes Whittingham had a shot on goal from 20 yards that skimmed pass the left post. This was to set the tone for the first 25 minutes of the game.
Most of the game was being played in the visitors half and every time the ball ended up in the home half it was soon back in the other end. With 13 minutes gone a Reading attack broke down in the Cardiff half. Hudson collected the ball and picked out Miller half way in the visitors half. The forward tapped the ball down for Mason who looked like he used his arm to bring the ball to his feet. Mason from 30 yards skipped a couple of tackles as he entered the visitor's area. He tried to round his marker but slipped in the process. As his marker went to take possession of the ball Mason lying on his side seemed to get his foot to the ball first and poke it to the side of the marker. Before his marker could adjust Mason was put and around him. From 8 yards to the right of the goal Mason sent a shot across the 6 yard area into the net for the opening goal.
From the restart the rain lashed down but this did not deter Cardiff. They won a procession of corners that troubled the Reading defence. From one of these corners the reading defence stood still as the cross should have been dealt with by the goalkeeper on his line. Instead Gunnarson rose unchallenged and seem to knock the keeper into the goal as well as the ball for Cardiff second goal.
Reading tried to get back into the gamed but could not break down the Cardiff defence. Cardiff moved the ball around nicely in these wet conditions and enjoyed quite a bit of possession in midfield. With 36 minutes gone Whittingham picked up the ball half way inside the Reading half. With a wall of Reading players in front of him he directed a pass through them onto a waiting Miller inside the away penalty area. The striker took one touch to control the ball then another touch to place the ball into the net.
I bet the Reading fans regretted that song now.
Cardiff now playing with confidence moved the ball around the Reading half with ease. One move saw Ralls volley the ball over the Reading bar from 18 yards.
As Reading tried to get back in the game Cardiff gifted them a goal on the stroke of half time. Whittingham in his own half seem to pass the ball to Kebe. Strange that really as did that not happen in the first game against both team but the other way round. Anyway Kebe broke into the Cardiff area and picked out the Cardiff old boy McAnuff who in space placed the ball into
the net.
The referee from the restart brought the half to an end.
The second half started with the visitors looking for an early goal. From a corner they nearly got one as one of their strikers got to the ball first but could only head the ball into the side netting.
Cardiff decided to defend deeply allowing the away team to come onto them. However the Reading attack just could not break down the resilient Cardiff defence. As much as they tried the home side had an answer for them. The visitors on the hour mark made 2 substitutions to see if that would crack the stubborn home line. It had very little effect.
Eventually the hosts realising they back line was not going to be breached decided to do their own attacking. On a counter attack Ralls won a challenged in the Reading half. He picked out Mason inside the away penalty area. Mason could not beat his marker but found Ralls waiting on the 18 yard line. He squared the ball back for him and Ralls sent a powerful shot towards the Reading goal that the keeper did well to parry away.
Cardiff now had settled into the half and had not allowed Reading to gain the momentum. Hudson was having an awesome game and seemed to be breaking up the Reading attack. Taylor seemed to have done his homework on Kebe as he had practically taken held his own against the winger. Then Kebe had a chance to show his pace as he picked the ball up in his own half and this time had the better of Taylor. However as he sped down the line and crossed the half way a fantastic sliding tackle by Gunnarson brought his charge to a sudden end.
Cardiff made their first substitution with 15 minutes to go with Gestede coming on for Mason.
Cardiff were now in control of the game and were moving the ball around midfield nicely. One of these moves found Miller about 20 yards out. The Reading defence were all over the place and this allowed Miller to pick up Taylor running down the edge of the Reading area. Taylor collected the ball in space and sent a low pass into the 6 yard area where 2 Cardiff players were waiting. With the goal at their disperal the Reading keeper did well to get down and smother the ball.
Moments later another 251 pass move in midfield by Cardiff once again found Miller in space about 25 yards out. The Reading defence were split and Miller made his way towards the area. From the 18 yard line with only the keeper to beat Miller failed to connect properly to only shoot straight at the keeper.
With Reading now committed to trying to get something out of the game they were exposed to another break away. Blake found himself in space down the right hand side and from the edge of the box sent a tempting looped cross into the 6 yard area that was met by Gestede. Gestede did everything right by directing his header down and straight on goal. The away keeper made a great reflective save to deny the Frenchman.
Cardiff saw out the game with ease after that and made one of our promotion rivals look average. The referee brought the game to an end with no further score but plenty of confidence gained by the capital.
Summing up: Well I said once we were beaten it will be interesting to see how we bounce back. 2 wins and a draw………no complaint.
Re: " Match report Cardiff v Reading 2nd Jan 2012 "
Tue Jan 03, 2012 7:58 pm
Cheers Ian, for your match report. 
Re: " Match report Cardiff v Reading 2nd Jan 2012 "
Tue Jan 03, 2012 8:16 pm
Cheers Ian, thanx for the update matey,
Just also watched the full first half on CC Player, awesome!
2 games in 3 days mate bet your fingers are hurting
Just also watched the full first half on CC Player, awesome!
2 games in 3 days mate bet your fingers are hurting
Re: " Match report Cardiff v Reading 2nd Jan 2012 "
Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:24 am
That was the first Home Reading league game I had missed in the last 4. Glad it was not a case of "GroundHog Day" again 
Re: " Match report Cardiff v Reading 2nd Jan 2012 "
Wed Jan 04, 2012 6:15 pm
Nice one Ian, cheers
Re: " Match report Cardiff v Reading 2nd Jan 2012 "
Fri Jan 06, 2012 5:38 pm
Thanks once again Ian.