|
Championship at Oakwell
BARNSLEY (1) 1
Howard 31
CARDIFF CITY (2) 2
Ledley 19
Thompson 22
THE ATTENDANCE:
City support: 1,678
(the tannoy man said so)
THE WEATHER::
Tropical Barnsley - It was humid, muggy and sticky
THE MAN/MEN of the DAY:
Take tour pick out of Ledley, Loovens and Scimeca
THE “You weren't very good” AWARD
Kerrea Gilbert - A baptism of fire
Paul Parry - a left footer on the right, good attacking but struggled on his wrong side and Dave Jones let him know it
THE CHANT(s) of THE DAY:
Ring of Fire - sung all second half, seems to have taken over from Men of Harlech
We are Top of the League, We Are Top of the League - and we were after 22 minutes
Cheer Up, Swansea's Worse Than You - also aired to Barnsley at 2-0
Thank You Very Much For Beating Swansea - sung by our coach going up
… And finally, to the Automatic's Monster ...
Who's That Shooting Over The Bar?, It's Akinfenwah, It's Akinfenwah
(sung by our coach going home including a megamix version with Ring of Fire and Peter Crouch robot dance actions)
THE TRIP OOP NORTH
It took some getting into. Maybe because many of us went out Friday night - as you do over the summer - not really thinking we had to be at The Lansdowne for 7am. Maybe because it was the first time we'd done this for 3 months but it was great to see all the old faces again and we setoff about ripping the pee out of each other and everything, quite a few jokes about having a whipround for Jason Koumas instead of the coach driver.
Best laugh was the coach doing an emergency brake as a caravan swung wildly in front of us. That wasn't funny but Kev emerging from a stand up pee in the toilets as it happened with light brown p***-stained shorts was hilarious. By the time we stopped en route for refreshments, things were looking up until, about 40 miles from Barnsley, we hit a horrendous M1 traffic jam and crawled all the way to town. It was too late to be taken to our pre-match pubs so we went to the ground.
Next to it, uphill, was a Metrodome, a modern leisure centre where away fans could drink. However they didn't bank on 3 coachloads of City fans steaming in past the swimming pool, squash courts and gym heading for the quiet upstairs balcony bar. In panic, they pulled the shutters down and shut off the main doors. Just as well yours truly was sharp enough to find a short cut into the centre through a back door that saw John and myself walking around the edge of the pool past startled swimmers and in the bar before the madding crowd! Once they'd gone, the bar reopened, a lovely pint, a great view of the ground and a good chat with City and Barnsley fans on the terrace. Perfect!
THE GROUND
I liked it. An old football ground mostly revamped but still showing how old it was in some parts. Terraces had been completely modernised into stands offering excellent views all round but the money had run out when it came to changing gates, turnstiles and exterior walls. Probably what was their only stand in the pay is now the shabbiest looking part of the ground and was not occupied. City were behind a goal in a large stand - our 1,700 made an impressive sight and there was still plenty of room. There was no bar inside for us but, for once, nobody seemed too bothered by that.
THE PROGRAMME
An average read at a better than average price. 64 pages for £2.50 including 8 standard pages on City. Pen pics, club history and our best ever 11 in the opinion of some historian who trots out the same article a few times a season in our away programmes. I did learn Alan Lee scoring our winner 75 seconds after coming on at Brighton last season was the quickest by a Championship substitute, I should be thankful.
THE TEAMS
BARNSLEY know they have a very tough job. Success will likely be measured by finishing 21st and not getting relegated - they're aiming for the proverbial 50 points. Finishing 6th in League One last term, they took the final play-off berth. We all know the story from there, they made the final, came up against Swansea and were generally overran and outplayed but The Jacks blew it and gave us the biggest laugh of the summer losing on penalties. Over the summer, Barnsley have unable to do much to improve their squad and lost their best player in Steve McPhail to ourselves of course. For this encounter, their leading striker Daniel Nardiello was absent with shoulder injury.
They started with Colgan-Hassell-Reid-Kay-Heckingbottom-McIndoe-Howard-Togwell- Devaney-Richards-Hayes, all household names ... in their own homes. Best known to us were keeper Nick Colgan simply because he saved a penalty from Alan Tait in that play-off final, Marc Richards who was briefly an ex-Swan and skilful winger Michael McIndoe who was linked with City in the past.
CARDIFF - It was all change last summer and it was all change again. Fourteen out, twelve in and we're probably still not finished .. we'd better not be either as the Jason Koumas transfer/strike/war of words which has gone on all summer and still has not been resolved was, perhaps, the only downside of an exciting and positive summer of activity at NP Towers.
A couple of those at the club who were regulars last season - Barker (an ex-Barnsley man), Weston and Whitley - look set to be on borrowed time or frozen out of the main squad. Incredibly, 7 players had their Cardiff City debut before the game finished - just 3 (Alexander, Parry and Ledley) were at Ninian Park before Dave Jones took over only 14 months ago. On paper, there's little doubt we look much stronger and much younger too - the average age has been brought down from 30 to almost 23, something that was noticeable in the game as City were able to move the ball about at more pace and look fluid at times. Although we still carry a small squad, it's best signified by our bench was full of attractive alternatives - no way did we have that last season.
City started with Alexander, Gilbert-Purse-Loovens-McNaughton, Parry-McPhail-Scimeca-Ledley, Chopra-Thompson. Subs were Howard, Campbell (Kevin not Andy!), Flood, Glombard, Johnson.
THE PHOTOS:
A selection can be found at >>> http://tinyurl.com/o7m8x
THE MATCH
What a superb, entertaining opening game and three outstanding goals - thankfully two were ours and it was a three point start, our first opening day win for 4 years which was celebrated wildly in the City end.
City's high tempo start showed a gulf between the sides - we played controlled football, Barnsley relied on spirit and passion. The Tykes looked down and out as City were two up in 22 minutes, 1,700 rabid Bluebirds going mental as Ledley and Thompson scored excellent goals within 3 minutes of each other. Barnsley looked lost at that point by a Howard stunner brought them back into things just after half-hour.
That was the end of the scoring. City deserved their win and will look back on missed chances, a post hit and Colgan saves including a Darren Purse penalty that should have killed the contest early without argument. Other than the goal, Alexander didn't have to make a save but Barnsley after that penalty miss, the home side give it everything for the final half-hour and will point to near misses and an effort that came off the underside of the bar but the better side deservedly took all three points.
City had a mighty ovation, Barnsley must have had a good reception too but the only thing heard from them for the first quarter was booing anytime Steve McPhail had the ball …. and that was drowned by City fans taunting them by hailing his name in song along with a few regulars and one in praise of Christiano Ronaldo of course.
The difference on the pitch was as noticeable too, at times the gulf was large. City played some stylish one touch on the floor football, imperfect at times but when it was good, their composure, control, passing and movement was very, very good indeed. Barnsley's play was limited by comparison. Clearly well organised, the quality wasn't as good, they tried to make up for it in passion and commitment, clearly determined to get a first day result. These contrasting styles made for an excellent contest.
The home side – who lost just once at Oakwell last season – fired a couple of early shots but from the distance wide of goals was almost as far as they distance they shot from. Cardiff looked in control at the back although the shaven headed Kevin McNaughton look as though he didn't have a left foot. Once he settled, he never looked back. City showed better as two good build ups firstly saw the impressive Steve Thompson find the livewire that is Michael Chopra in the box but he fired wide, that was swiftly followed by Joe Ledley finding space on the left and firing a rising drive just wide.
The Bluebirds' slicker football exposed Barnsley in devastating style with two stunning passing goals within three minutes, both an absolute joy to watch. The first a fantastic move, the other a brilliant finish.
If City put together a better move than they did for the opening goal, it'll have to be on a par to better with the Argentinian 24 pass World Cup goal. This one was 7 passes between 5 or 6 different players, mostly one touch, starting deep in City's own half. The speed of passing and movement carved open Barnsley, Thommo and Scimeca swapped passes but the latter fed Chopra wide who hit a low ball with pace across the area and JOE LEDLEY was right to cue to steer home at the far post. Time for male bonding as hundreds of hetro blokes hugged their mates and perfect strangers in ecstasy.
The chanting had not subsided when City broke through midfield again and fed the left. Joe Ledley the provider as he crossed low to the edge of the box where STEVEN THOMPSON had drifted off his marker and, first time, hit a glorious volley on the turn with the ball behind him into the bottom corner. Barnsley boss, ex-Man United striker Andy Ritchie, would have admired that.
The male bonding had now become a mass orgy, City fans jumping and bouncing almost out of control in excitement. And didn't we sing about it. Dave Jones was ayatollah as City broke into “David Jones My Lord”, a chant we used to do for his boss. City were now totally dominant but a setback on 32 minutes changed it. Alexander rolled the ball to McNaughton who passed to Parry on halfway. Parry took too long to control the ball, lost it and then stopped as McIndoe sped away. In clear space, he found BRIAN HOWARD whose must have hit goal of the week as he chested, then launched into an edge of area scissor kick that flew into Alexander's top left corner in front of us. Barnsley fans went mad, “We forgot that you were here“, our lot retorted.
City responded and before the interval, Thompson made Colgan save, Glen Loovens charged 70 yards out of City‘s back line with Barnsley‘s defence parting like the Red Sea in front of him. It was set for him to go all the way but he lacked the confidence and fed Chopra instead, his effort snatched. Chopra looked set to score in the final action of the half too, his effort snuffed out.
Half-time was needed. Several first half stoppages saw water bottles flying all around the pitch, fans were hot and clammy in such humid heat but there was no bar. City Stewards laughed swearing they‘d never seen with a soft drink before. Cheek!.
H/T: BARNSLEY 1 CITY 2
Attacking towards us, we were relishing City killing off the hosts and they started on fire. Barnsley blasted one effort wide before Cardiff went through the gears. Joe Ledley got the ball, cut inside two challenges and shot at the near post with Colgan helpless. The ball smacked off the inside, Chopra and then Thompson denied as they tried to bundle home the rebound.
Two minutes later, penalty. The hugely impressive Riccy Scimeca did the same as Ledley as he ghosted past the final defender, he was caught. Darren Purse did little wrong, his low shot was heading for the corner but we briefly knew what it felt like to be a Swans fan taking a penalty against Barnsley as Colgan made a magnificent stop, Purse blocked by a defender with his follow up shot. Just after that, it could have been another penalty as Michael Chopra brilliantly beat the same defender in the box but got up to shoot and was blocked. Had he stayed down, he may have got the award.
Then back came Barnsley with a simple ploy. Identifying Kerrea Gilbert they loaded up that side and sent down long balls and high balls. Gilbert got an early second half yellow card and had a torrid time. Anything Barnsley did for the rest of the game was down his flank, Paul Parry looked good going forward but didn't seem to be there to help and their link-up wasn't the best.
With City fans in full war cry as Ring of Fire took resounded for the final half-hour without a break, it was a battle. . I wasn't sure about using that song but have to say it did make a cracking atmosphere. The only time it stopped were our few moments of panic. A McIndoe cross headed just wide with our defenders beaten, another cross that looked goal bound from our end but it hit Loovens and, after Parry again lost the ball on the right, a ball over saw ex-Jack Marc Richards free but his touched loop shot caught the underside of the bar and was blasted away.
In between, Barnsley had escapes too with the game swinging wildly from end to end. Chopra beat Colgan but his effort lacked pace and was cleared off the line, Colgan made a great save from Scimeca again popping up in the box.
The battle got tougher as Barnsley threw on a third striker, City lost Darren Purse, Steve Thompson and Chopra with knocks. Last year, with the bench we had, it could have been costly but this time, on came Roger Johnson, Willo Flood and Kevin Campbell - all of whom played their part. You did worry at 2-1 in the closing stages but, great credit to City, Barnsley did not carve a chance of note in those final minutes.
Final whistle scenes were as if wed won a cup final, what a great game of football and a top way to start the season. The players, manager, Sam and everyone were applauded as they matched to the tunnel in a corner of our stand. A job well done.
Alexander was assured and it again made you wonder why City spent all summer with rumours of changing him, the defence looked uncomfortable against a limited opponents. Gilbert will learn from his experience out there but he also needed better help than he got at times. Midfield was as fluid and passed very well with McPhail, Scimeca and Ledley all showing strong but Parry was off key on the wrong side and, in 90 minutes, Thommo and Chopra looked better for each other and the team than anything Thommo and Jerome offered.
With games coming up against West Brom, Coventry, Leeds and Birmingham in the next 3 weeks, the tests will be far tougher but the fans loved it and the team have to get confidence from their performance. There's no pint in getting excited yet.
Still, only 80 more points for promotion and 70 for the play-offs!! We may not be good enough for either but, on this evidence, we donut have to worry about 50 points to stay up as most of us were this time last year. Amen to that.
THE WAY TO GO HOME:
The journey back was eventually better than the one there but why did it take so long to get away? Sam Hammam stood next to his car ayatollahing to all the coaches as we left, this was a good 45 minutes after the game.
That hold up was compounded by a police escort that insisted of taking us on the longest possible route to get out of Barnsley and then on a snail-like escort down the M1 until we exited Yorkshire. Hammam shot past us in a blur.
After that, we made good time. The on-board partying and singing was suitably celebratory and then some. With Eddie (local band Selfish Kings lead singer) on the mic and 101 assorted songs about Andy Campbell, Roger Johnson and the Ring of Fire/Akinfenwah megamix amongst others. A "fuel" stop at a regular haunt of ours on the way home was in order and, after that, the singing got worse and louder. My voice went, it pleased many, took me until Monday to get it back.
We got back to Cardiff at 10:30 - at the very moment that the Big Weekend fireworks display started. We thought it was to greet our arrival of course. A long day but a happy, happy day - here's hoping it's the first of many this season.
THE COSTS:
Match Ticket: £21
RAMS Membership: £ 7
Coach: £17
Programme: £ 2.50
Food/Drink: £30
TOTAL COST £78
Report from FootyMad
|
Cardiff went ahead in impressive style with two goals in three minutes to stun Andy Ritchie's play-off heroes.
Ironically it was midfielder Stephen McPhail, one of Ritchie's stars of the May play-off victory, who helped create the opener.
McPhail , who controversially quit Oakwell in the summer for a move to Ninian Park, flicked a deft ball for Riccardo Scimica and his angled pass sent in another ex-Barnsley hero Michael Chopra.
The former Newcastle striker slid in an inch-perfect pass for Joe Ledley whose pace put him into space and he had a simple finish from point-blank range to easily beat Nick Colgan.
Barnsley had barely got their breath back when Ledley, wide on the left, crossed a low ball that fell perfectly for striker Steve Thompson who met it with his left foot and smashed a low volley just inside Colgan's right-hand post as the keeper dived at full stretch.
The setback sparked Ritchie's side and Paul Heckingbottom's downward header triggered a 22-yard drive from striker Paul Hayes who smashed his shot wide of the target.
On the half-hour a cross from Bobby Hassell found new signing Michael McIndoe but his header was a tame effort straight at the keeper.
A minute later though Barnsley were back in the game with a bang when Brian Howard pulled one back in a style to match the Cardiff strikes.
Heckingbottom crossed from the left and Howard, who had found space, chested down and unleashed a fierce left-foot shot that gave Neil Alexander no chance.
After the break Paul Hayes went close with a 25-yard free-kick that dipped over the bar after he squeezed it over the Cardiff wall.
Cardiff threatened again after 53 minutes when Ledley hammered an unstoppable 20-yard shot that hit the post before follow-up efforts from Thompson and Chopra were blocked.
And a minute later Scimeca went down in the area after a rash challenge from Hassell but Darren Purse's shot from the resulting penalty was well saved by Colgan. His follow-up was blocked.
Marc Richards should have levelled for the home side after 73 minutes but when Hayes crossed Richards lifted his shot over the keeper but hit the bar.
A late shot from Scimeca brought a great save from Colgan.
External Reports
Wales On Sunday
Cardiff City Official Website
South Wales Echo