" Mackay surprised many "

Peter Whittingham remains heartbeat of star-studded Cardiff City

Mackay surprised many .

By Steve TuckerSep 3 2012
Cardiff City 3 -1 Wolves



They came out of curiosity to see the new faces, but left once again dazzled by the man every Cardiff City supporter knows the talents and virtuosity of already.

Peter Whittingham’s second hat-trick for the Bluebirds put the Wolves to the sword in a vibrant display which was a million miles away from the lacklustre fayre served up when they crashed to defeat at Bristol City last time out.

Whittingham began his display by stroking home an 11th minute penalty and then served up a delightful finish for his second three minutes after, before a blockbuster, trademark free-kick on 65 minutes completed the treble.

Matters were helped further for boss Malky Mackay by the fact he handed debuts to two of his newest signings and each put in excellent showings.

Striker Nicky Maynard worked hard going forward and providing a first line of defence, while wideman Craig Noone put in an electrifying display, full of pace, trickery and directness.

On the evidence of this, the Bluebirds are going to be a real force this season. When you consider Craig Bellamy was out injured and South Korean star Kim Bo-Kynug was an unused substitute, the possibilities are truly awesome.

Wolves have splashed £8m themselves this summer and still include former Cardiff favourite, Roger Johnson, in the centre of their defence, but they really had no answer as Cardiff controlled the game, pouring forward when they wanted to and taking the sting out of things once they had secured their two goal cushion.


' Mackay surprised many '

Mackay surprised many by reverting to 4-4-2 with Maynard up top with Heidar Helguson and it worked a treat, the main reason being that with Noone and Tommy Smith on the flanks Cardiff are finally getting some quality delivery into the box.

The match was an exciting spectacle virtually from start to finish, particularly in a first half.

The Bluebirds set about their task from the start, Noone and Smith probing down the flanks whilst Maynard and Helguson patrolled with barely concealed menace.

Noone forced the first of several good stops from Wolves’ keeper Carl Ikeme with a flashing shot on just six minutes.

So it was outside of the script when it was the visitors who took the lead with 10 minutes played. It wasn’t one to write home about for Cardiff when it came to set-piece defending, Bakary Sako’s 25-yard free-kick permitted to curl around the Bluebirds wall and nestle in the corner.

But far from deflating Mackay’s men it acted as some sort of catalyst to spur them to even greater exertions.

Within barely 30 seconds they were up the Wolves end. Noone sneaked into the box, poked the ball past Ronald Zubar and when the former Marseille defender stuck out a leg Noone went over it.

As clear cut a penalty as you are going to see. Indeed if you look up penalty in a dictionary then I bet they’ve got a little picture of it there.

It only required Whittingham to send the ball home from the spot.

Less than three minutes after Whittingham was in the thick of the action again to put the Bluebirds ahead and it was a simply beautiful goal.

Maynard did superbly to bring the ball down from out of the air on the right. The striker cut inside and laid the ball across the edge of the Wolves’ box, Jordon Mutch executed the step-over and there was the man of the moment to drill it into the corner with Ikeme this time left clutching at thin air.

It was incredible stuff to witness and the two teams, who will surely each be major contenders this campaign, were playing their part.

The Bluebirds had to be careful at the back. Ben Turner was still absent, but newcomer Matt Connolly looked much more secure next to Mark Hudson than he had on his debut at Ashton Gate.

Of the departments it is the defensive one which remains the most under-staffed for the Bluebirds. You wonder what a couple of injuries would do and Mackay will surely make decisive movement in the loan market.

But the Bluebirds coped well as the visitors attempted to slow things down and deflate the growing sense of euphoria surging through the Cardiff ranks.

A glancing header from skipper Kevin Doyle was dealt with by David Marshall, then a shot from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake flashed across goal.

The second-half didn’t match up to the first, but it couldn’t really. It did contain though a moment of absolute magic as Whittingham completed his hat-trick in champagne fashion.

The midfielder had already forced a brilliant stop from Ikeme from one set-piece when, on 65 minutes, the bustling Noone (who else?) was tripped outside the box and Whittingham got another opportunity.

This time Ikeme had no chance, as the Bluebirds midfielder got the ball up over the wall and sent it spinning into the top corner.

Some say Whittingham is the best player outside the Premier League, but, let’s be honest he’s better than half the players in the top-flight too according to some Cardiff fans!

Certainly on this evidence, anyway.

Whittingham had spoken in midweek about his wish to get further forward. He certainly did in this match... and how.

Cardiff saw out the game as Wolves realised they had been simply outplayed by their hosts. The only thing at was left was for Maynard to come off to a much deserved standing ovation, then Noone too.

Whittingham of course played the full game, as he always does. Goodness knows what kind of reception he would get from the crowd as he came off.

The man was magnificent and it looks like he will be permitted to sparkle in a Bluebirds side that, on this evidence, is starting to look inspirational too.

Roll on the Leeds game.



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Yesterday was like watching a completely different Cardiff City and that is no reference to the red shirts.

Firstly there was a tempo to our play as everything was done at pace, rather than the tired slow keep ball resulting in the inevitable pointless hoof up field we have been playing for most of 2012.

It just seemed that everything we tried came off including that amazing free kick from Peter Whittingham. I have to be honest and admit I have been slagging off Whitts for ages over his free-kick delivery but yesterday he rammed that criticism back down my throat.

I agree with the article that the centre of defence was miles better than at Bristol, but there was still some concern about the amount of headers won by the opposition.

That said we have so much attacking flair at our disposal we should be able to outscore any team we play.

Yesterday was like watching a completely different Cardiff City and that is no reference to the red shirts.

Firstly there was a tempo to our play as everything was done at pace, rather than the tired slow keep ball resulting in the inevitable pointless hoof up field we have been playing for most of 2012.

It just seemed that everything we tried came off including that amazing free kick from Peter Whittingham. I have to be honest and admit I have been slagging off Whitts for ages over his free-kick delivery but yesterday he rammed that criticism back down my throat.

I agree with the article that the centre of defence was miles better than at Bristol, but there was still some concern about the amount of headers won by the opposition.

That said we have so much attacking flair at our disposal we should be able to outscore any team we play.

I think we will be the new Peterborough.
Score loads and concede a few as well.
Hopefully get us near the top, but it will be exciting and get the fans in.

Until I read that article I'd forgotten what a brilliant game their keeper had!!

We could have had 5 by half-time if not for him.

The save from Noones run though...b*stard...that was goal of the season right there

Yesterday was like watching a completely different Cardiff City and that is no reference to the red shirts.

Firstly there was a tempo to our play as everything was done at pace, rather than the tired slow keep ball resulting in the inevitable pointless hoof up field we have been playing for most of 2012.

It just seemed that everything we tried came off including that amazing free kick from Peter Whittingham. I have to be honest and admit I have been slagging off Whitts for ages over his free-kick delivery but yesterday he rammed that criticism back down my throat.

I agree with the article that the centre of defence was miles better than at Bristol, but there was still some concern about the amount of headers won by the opposition.

That said we have so much attacking flair at our disposal we should be able to outscore any team we play.

I think we will be the new Peterborough.
Score loads and concede a few as well.
Hopefully get us near the top, but it will be exciting and get the fans in.

Good point the new Peterbrough Yea I can follow your thinking, loads of goals will bring the fans in.

Yesterday was like watching a completely different Cardiff City and that is no reference to the red shirts.

Firstly there was a tempo to our play as everything was done at pace, rather than the tired slow keep ball resulting in the inevitable pointless hoof up field we have been playing for most of 2012.

It just seemed that everything we tried came off including that amazing free kick from Peter Whittingham. I have to be honest and admit I have been slagging off Whitts for ages over his free-kick delivery but yesterday he rammed that criticism back down my throat.

I agree with the article that the centre of defence was miles better than at Bristol, but there was still some concern about the amount of headers won by the opposition.

That said we have so much attacking flair at our disposal we should be able to outscore any team we play.

To be honest, Wolves' team is quite tall. Some of the players were massive. If we can keep the ball on the floor and play football with flair like Noone and Smith did down the flanks we can go up.

I had only one concern and that is Taylor needs to learn to press more to stop crosses. The amount of times their players got in behind him and crossed was worrying to be honest but thankfully our central defence got rid of the ball any time it entered the box.

we keep palying like that and we will have sell out crowds,

must admit i thought we would struggle to gel together with so many new faces,

really enjoyed the game noone was fantastic.

I think Taylors job is tough. Aswell as Wolves were putting crosses in.. Taylor needed to make sure he doesn't sell hiself short by getting to tight then letting the winger beat him.
Like Noone winning the penalty.. the defender sold hiself short and got beat then got taken out.

To be honest, Wolves' team is quite tall.

I thought they were quite fat

To be honest, Wolves' team is quite tall.

I thought they were quite fat

i agree, i thought a number of their players looked out of shape and made easy targets.