The focus and fury of fans will revert to Lennie Lawrence whose frustrating negative tactics, decisions and passionless style and stance seems to transfer into his team. The only passion and commitment at Cardiff City matches these days seems to comes from supporters who pay handsomely, rather than get handsomely paid, who showed their total frustration at the inadequacies with prolonged boos at final whistle of yet another inept performance.
I was so hurt by what I saw in the 2nd half that I cancelled plans to go to town after the game (can't tell you how angry I'd be if I hear about any of our players being there which a few have done after other recent flops). I sat down to do the match report last night but was still too angry so left it. Now, having slept on it, I am remain bitter and can hardly find a positive.
Plymouth are a typical, inconsistent mid-table side with a mid-table inconsistent away record too and little or no chance of getting into the play-offs - the sort of team that City have to stamp their authority on and put away to show their promotion bottle and convince the supporters.
What did we see? City perform increasingly well in the first half and take a priceless lead but then, when they should have gone on the win the match, they defended it instead, unbelievable, and got the punishment they deserved. Out-performed in every area of the pitch, the visitors had twice as many shots at goal, City's goal was one of just two serious on-target efforts all night while Neil Alexander won man of the match for a series of stunning saves in another stuttering penalty area performance.
Criticisms of the manager are now, in my honest opinion, justified. Lennie is losing his bottle in the battle. While fans were looking for City to attack and seal the win in the 2nd half, Lennie's uppermost thought was ensuring we hung on to our 1 goal lead. In the last month alone, I have seen his selections and tactics cost City 7 crucial points (3 lost at Huddersfield for his inept selections and tactics, 2 lost against Oldham at Ninian Park 3 weeks ago when Lennie had City defending deep for the win and made late substitutions and showing he doesn't learn any lessons, exactly the same thing happened against Plymouth.)
Cardiff have only won 2 league matches in 2003, against the "might" of Cheltenham Town and Northampton Town respectively but, even then, we have seen City defend bitterly to hold onto 1 goal leads in the closing stages.
City's form and displays are now so average, and have been since November, that it's a miracle we can still talk about automatic promotion. City collected their 50th point of the season with a snatched late home draw against Swindon in late December. Nearly 2 months later, we're still waiting the collect the 60th, says it all. Cardiff City's stats and performances have been no better than mid-table for too long.
Last 7 home games = 2 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss = 10 points. Is this really the same team who won 8 consecutive home games at Ninian Park before that?
Last 8 aways = 4 wins, 4 losses. Each of those losses have been dismal in the style (Blackpool, Barnsley, Luton and Huddersfield).
Lazy fans and commentators will tell us that Cardiff have 59 points from 31 matches and how excellent that is. Those who know better can literally think of 20 (yes, 20!) points we have thrown away this season. It's those points lost, not win, that could ultimately seal our fate.
This is not an overnight blip, it's now lasted over 3 and a half months! There are no excuses. The only debate should now be whether it's under-performing players or a manager hurting City or whether it's both. In my view, it is both - key players are not performing as they should, Lennie seems powerless to prevent it, influence and inspire.
Worryingly, unless Lennie throws away his lifetime habits and stubbornness which mark him as a steady rather than outstanding manager, I have lost confidence and can't see any way out of it. Mind you, Danny Gabbidon getting miraculously fit and new faces could change things but we even seem to be stalling on signings.
In front of a big expectant crowd, 931 visiting fan made City concede that more than the standard 13,000 and something spectators were in the ground for only the third time this season but, even then, it just scraped into the 14,000 barrier, we came in hope.
The big screen was out of focus, gave a distorted image or wasn't working at all, it seemed to mirror Cardiff's performance on the pitch. Lennie's plan to name an unchanged team for the 4th successive match was rocked as Alan Mahon withdrew before kick-off with illness or injury (depending on who you believe). Andy Legg deputised, his crossing and wing play have waned and he can't touch Mahon in that department but he lead by example with his commitment and desire, chasing and harrying.
Plymouth, one of the biggest teams I've seen in a while, playing in gaudy orange shirts looked powerful from first whistle. A couple of early shots flew wide. City were staring slowly again, there was no fluency, the tactic seemed to be balls played sideways or backwards. There was no pace or intensity in the team, it was ominous.
Gradually however, their composure and better skills started to make headway although Jason Bowen, playing one of his half-asleep games, was frustrating from early on as he got the ball in promising positions several times but failed to beat his man, cross and always wanted several touches too many.
It took City 15 minutes to get near the Plymouth goal, Earnie, playing in new shiny silver boots, blazed over with a wild shot. City only looked effective going forward when Kav pushed on, why don't wee get him to do it more often? Part of the problem in City's safety first approach was that Earnie and Thorne were often the only players in and around Plymouth's area whilst the visitors defended in numbers. Every City cross for the entire evening was either poor, taken without any challenge whatsoever by the French goalie, Larrieu, or headed away by the defence, we didn't win a single ball.
The Peter Thorne critics will be out in force again, it's increasingly impossible to defend him. He had another poor night, fluffed the only chance he had, he did flick on for Earnie's goal but he may as well have been the Invisible Man otherwise. The team's overall pattern didn't help but we should still expect much more. Earnie has now notched up a magnificent 24 league goals but Thorne, 2nd best scorer, lags woefully behind on just 6. No wonder we have problems. To think we could have had hometown boy, Simon Haworth, for the give-away of £125,000 not so long ago who publicly stated his desire to return. He notched his 17th of the season for Tranmere in midweek and has been in outstanding form.
Around the half-hour mark, City finally stepped up a gear and threatened to take control but the final third let them down, the referee (Mark Warren) was having a stinker (but I'm fed up complaining about them) and Plymouth knew how to disrupt the game, their players were very good at getting injuries in the rare times City found extra desire.
In the 36th minute, Ninian Park witness ed what will surely be the save and miss of the season ... within 2 seconds of each other!
Warren awarded Plymouth an edge of area free-kick after Kav fairly won the ball. City's defensive frailties have rarely been more embarrassing as our defensive wall split allowing Wotton's drive to deflect through the middle, Alexander reacted superbly to stop that, Evans followed up and Alexander made one of the most breathtaking reaction saves I have ever seen, he had no right to make it, but the rebound fell to Ian Stonebridge in front of an empty net from 3 yards with Alexander helpless on his knees. Stonebridge only needed to touch home but unbelievably blazed over, I still don't know how he did it.
The ground broke into spontaneous applause for Alexander's heroics and were double-up in laughter at Stonebridge's miss. If you weren't there but saw Ryan Gigg's miss last weekend, think 5 times worse and you're getting close! When it settled though, there was only one question to be asked, where the hell were City's 9 defenders while Plymouth were allowed these unchallenged free shots???
City's let off turned to unadulterated joy 5 minutes later as they took the lead. Willie Boland, the shining light of the first half, having a magnificent opening period as he ran the midfield on his own, made the difference again. Firstly, his tracking back won City a free-kick from nothing near halfway. Quick thinking too as he got up and knocked the ball forward, Thorne flicked on and EARNIE broke clear. His finish was magnificent and he coolly placed the ball over Larrieu and into the far corner of the Canton Stand net. Magnificent.
Earnie's celebrated his 28th goal of the season (4 in cups) with a somersault, jumped onto the Bob Bank wall and Jason Bowen wiped his boots clean with a ball boy towel. The crowd loved it, it was 90 yards away from the Plymouth fans, but Warren ruined the moment by booking him, presumably for crowd incitement. Ridiculous but not as ridiculous at the night Warren made us play a FA Cup game at frozen up Crewe. Warren also booked a Plymouth defender for complaining Earnie was offside, looking at half-time replays in the bar, they were inconclusive but he may have had a point.
City improved as the half progressed and looked the better side by the interval. We all expected them to build on it, how wrong we were.
Half-Time: CITY 1 PLYMOUTH 0
The second half was awful. We went Cardiff to impress but they depressed. Their approach was to play like the away team and they handed over advantage to Plymouth. Struggling to cope defensively, midfield dropping deeper, Bowen especially doing nothing wide as an outlet and Earnie/Thorne isolated but not making enough runs and going wide for the ball, I couldn't believe what I was watching. City dropped further and further back and were clueless.
Why is that that every single time teams put us under pressure, Lennie and his players are so powerless to do anything to stop it or change the game?
To my mind, the main problem defensively is Scott Young although Alexander, despite his magnificent saves, hardly inspires either. We all know Young lacks pace but, as much as I love him, he remains a shadow of the player he was before the latest in a series of injuries which inevitably take their toll. Never doubt his battling qualities but he struggled, looked tired. he timing was off. City will always struggle unless Lennie pulls all the stops out to bring in a leader of a centre half, our failure to act long ago (with Prior also failed and Gabbidon injured) has hurt us badly. Just 1 clean sheet in the last 10 league and cup matches sums it up.
When Plymouth put a big centre forward in Alexander's face at every corner and free-kick, where were our players to do something about it. The worst point came when Alexander came through the crowd, flapped and missed the ball, and Gary Croft headed off the line to prevent a goal direct from a corner. Barker was working hard and did well again but Kav was now deep and starting to become an extra centre-half too.
City had their chances, all on the break against the run of play, but again weren't ruthless to take them. On the hour, Willie Boland put Earnie clear wide right with a piercing through ball but Earnie hit it straight at the on-rushing Larrieu. Five minutes or so later, Weston's great run and far post cross was met by Andy Legg at the far post, he did well to nod it downwards but it gave Larrieu a routine save. Then 5 minutes after that, Jason Bowen beat his marker for the only time all night, his cross was excellent but Thorne got the ball stuck under his feet trying to turn home from close range and it ran to Earnie who recklessly fired over. Larrieu collected every cross with ease, much like a barman collects glasses after all the drinkers have gone home.
Other than that, it was one way traffic towards the City defence in front of the Canton Stand. Shots were blocked or went wide, defenders were making tackles to keep Plymouth at bay and Alexander atoned for his deficiencies for his uncertainty in the area and some poor kicking with great saves including one to deny Bent, a chunky lookalike for Edgar Davids, who hit a rising 20 yard drive.
City needed change. Thorney wasn't in the game at all so why did Lennie never even consider Gavin Gordon whose strength, willingness to work and enthusiasm could only have helped. Bonner replacing Bowen was predictable, I thought it should have happened earlier but rather than adjust the team/formation, we unbelievably asked Bonner to play the Bowen role, it made no sense at all.
Then the one that caused most unrest. After Kav hit two no-hoper shots, how desperate are City when we think Spencer Prior coming on will help the cause? He played my favourite position for him tonight, on the bench where he can do no harm.
City's defence, although not comfortable, seemed to be riding the storm. Not only did we bring on Prior but we adjusted the team for him, Barker was pushed wider, I was staggered. Worse than that, of all the players to remove, we took off Andy Legg, the one forward player working and chasing down everything ahead of our overworked back-line. A chorus of boos went out, partly for Legg coming off, partly for Prior going on. Can't condone that but I do understand it.
With that, City's defence were suddenly at sea, they didn't seem to know their positions. Plymouth almost walked one goal into the net as they carved through our defenders, now bunched together, and were only denied by more outstanding Alexander reflexes and he got down to superbly deny Norris, now clear on goal.
It was temporary respite. As Plymouth charged again, going right, Prior was not quite in position and lunged to needlessly bring down Hodges. WOTTON, a centre-half, but set-piece specialist who is Plymouth's skipper and leading scorer whipped an inviting ball into the area, defenders went to sleep again, the ball bounced up and rose inside Alexander's far post. Wooton's 9th of the season, a freak in some ways, inevitable in others, terrible defence again but you can trace the problems right back to the substitution.
Plymouth had settled for the draw, there were effectively 8 minutes left with added time. Surely a good promotion chasing team would go for the win? Bring on Gordon, put 3 in attack? Wrong, Lennie's decision was to push Prior on a little more. We never got close.
Final whistle brought massive boos from all parts of the ground and a significant proportion of the support present. Supporters are shocked, hurt, upset, angry, frustrated and, ultimately, helpless. If Lennie and the team matched the passion and belief of the fans, we would have few problems. The most worrying aspect of all is I'm starting to think the fans have got more tactical knowledge that Lennie and his players too!!
City have 15 games to go, only 6 at home, Crewe have an easier run in with the same games remaining, 8 at home, 2 points advantage and another positive of hosting us on the last day of the season. We should never have got into this mess, Lennie and his squad need to look at themselves. Post-match, Lennie moaned yet again about poor defenders and players wilting. Lennie, you've said the same things for months. What have you done about it?
The message is simple but must be clear - you got us into this position, now you'd better earn your money and get us out of it. Anything less and you're all failures. It's pressure but that's life at Ninian Park and for Sam Hammam.
Report from FootyMad
Cardiff City conceded a late goal for the second successive home match and their hopes of automatic promotion are now hanging by a thread.
Leading scorer Robert Earnshaw put them ahead in the first half with his 24th league goal of the season and with Neil Alexander making several superb stops they held their lead until four minutes from time.
But with time running out a Paul Wotton free kick drifted through a crowded goalmouth and into the corner of the net for the equaliser.
Plymouth boss Paul Sturrock was delighted with his side's performance, claiming: "I feel justice was done tonight and it would have been a sin if we had come away with nothing.
"In fact on chances alone we should have collected all three points. I am very pleased for them but they are all disappointed in the changing room.
"If we had belief in ourselves we could achieve more in this division and tonight with their keeper as man-of-the-match it shows just how unlucky we were.
"To get anything out of Cardiff at Ninian Park you have to play with the right attitude, commitment and with a lot of hard work.
"Cardiff were a bit nervy and didn't play with the confidence they showed against us earlier in the season."Man-of-the-match Alexander was disappointed The Bluebirds didn't hold out for victory.
"We should be beating teams 1-0 and not conceding late goals but we are still there or thereabouts, and despite this setback still aim to win promotion automatically, he said.
"We are giving away silly goals and making it really hard for ourselves. We don't seem able to capitalise on being in front and it means that even the slightest mistake makes us drop points."Cardiff boss Lennie Lawrence was frustrated with a performance that saw his side pushed further and further back as the match progressed"We are a bit brittle and lightweight in defence and find it difficult when we are bombarded by the opposition, said Lawrence.
"We are having problems and cannot dominate games for long periods, as a result we are not keeping clean sheets.
"Our defending was too deep and in the end Plymouth deserved a draw but it was a dagger to the heart to concede so late.
"We need back to back wins pretty soon or we will be out of the automatic promotion reckoning."