The only question I’ve been posing since final whistle is “WHAT THE **** WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?”.
COVENTRY were sent to Coventry celebrating as if they had won the Champions League, Premiership, F.A. Cup and Carling Cup simultaneously. It was Freak Football Night. Cardiff City faced an average but well organised Coventry team reduced to 10 men following an incident within the first 40 seconds. City missed a penalty, failed to ever seriously test Cov keeper, Shearer, and deteriorated to a level that had you wondering if our players even knew each other or whether they met up for the first time in the changing room, it was that woeful. The inevitable then happened, City completely self-destructed, gifted a penalty, had their own man sent off and lost 1-0 causing feelings of anger, humiliation and hopefully finally confirming to Sam and Lennie the players that need to depart this club over the summer.
Only Tony Vidmar, Danny Gabbidon (just), John Robinson and Paul Parry looked interested and competed whilst Martin Margetson had nothing to do ... until he was sent off, the way that the rest of them played defied belief.
Gary Croft made space but never lifted a cross past the nearest defender. Chris Barker never got forward and his passing - either behind players or into the crowd - leaves me completely lost for words. The game completely passed the anonymous Gareth Whalley by (can his footballing C.V. still describe him as a creative player who can pick a pass?).
Captain Kav played like a complete prima donna. He was like the little kid you wanted to smack when you were younger whom, because he brought the ball to play with, had to have everything. He wanted to take every free-kick, all were complete garbage. He wanted to take every corner (a couple of times running 50 yards across the pitch to take it off Paul Parry he prepared) but yet again never got one past the first Coventry defender, it still didn’t stop him taking them. He wanted to take every free-kick and did diddley-sqaut with them. He took the ball off Earnie to have a go at the penalty, you just knew that would be missed. His continual sideways and backwards passing on a night when City had an extra man and needed to spread play, something you expect leaders and class midfielders to do, was appalling. I am also still trying to remember if he managed to make a single tackle in the game. He was no leader for his team in this game, anything but.
Alan Lee after looking so forceful and dynamic in recent substitute appearances now looks lost and unhappy when he has had his chance. His unhappy demeanour seemed to run through the team. Earnie looked sharp early on, his first touch especially, but then disintegrated into a terrible show, he seemed to lose interest, and even missed late chances of the type he scores in his sleep.
The team were in complete disarray and a massive embarrassment. I didn’t agree with all of Lennie’s selections and I certainly didn’t agree with his substitutions but whatever your feelings about him, let’s make no excuses for our players. They were a sham, they let us down, they disgusted me tonight.
Just a week ago, Lennie talked up a play-off challenge after finally overcoming a "hoodoo" by beating a higher-place side for the first time in Division One and delighted with a fully, fit and available squad for the first time all season. It's been a long week. West Ham were a class apart leaving City still stranded in mid-table and clear daylight between us and those play-offs (which we don't have enough quality to be involved in).
The injuries are back too, James Collins and Gavin Gordon have slight knocks, Peter Thorne still suffering his foot injury, Rhys Weston is out for a month, despite no hints beforehand Willie Boland was missing (surely illness or injury?). The Echo gave a three page pre-game build up for Andy Campbell claiming he was suffering from his first 90 minutes in 6 months - reviving worrying memories of the Campbell/Earnie partnership that has never, ever worked - but he started ... for what it was worth.
City therefore lined up Margetson, Croft-Gabbidon-Vidmar-Barker, Robinson-Kavanagh-Whalley-Parry, Earnshaw-Lee. That meant 3 changes for the well beaten side at West Ham last weekend. Gary Croft had been in inspirational form prior to a dubious red card at Bradford last month so his return was welcomed in advance.
John Robinson’s first full start since in almost three months was even more welcomed. However Gareth Whalley was plunged into central midfield. Something presumably was wrong with Boland but even though he has been out of sorts playing wide this season, many believe it is partly because Richard Langley has been out of position. I would have plumped for him in the centre ahead of Whalley anyday but I’m not Lennie. The subs bench was Alexander-Bowen-Campbell-Langley and Prior.
Coventry have been making up the numbers this season. They fell apart against an injury-hit City at Highfield Road in a live Sky TV game earlier this season, after taking an early lead, losing 3-1. Manager Gary McAllister, who didn't endear himself to City fans with comments following a FA Cup clash last season, resigned last month for family reasons to care for his ill wife, we wish him well.
Assistant Eric Black (remember him from Aberdeen's "'ere we go, 'ere we go, 'ere we go" Euro success in the early'80's with Alex Ferguson?) and Coventry have transformed themselves. Starting with an incredible 6-1 win at Walsall, they've collected 13 points in their last 6 games, a run taking them one place below City and separated by goal difference only. A closer study of those 6 games though showed that 4 wins came against bottom 6 clubs, they took just 1 point in 2 games against better sides. They also lost to Colchester in FA Cup action during this run. This was a night to find out if they've genuinely improved or if their recent 'kind' fixture list was the real reason for their rise.
Their side were: Shearer, Deloumeaux-Clarke-Staunton-Davenport, Grainger-Doyle- Warnock-Gudjonsson, McSheffrey-Joachim Not too many names to strike fear into the heart. The best known Steve Staunton and Julian Joachim. The rest were journeymen, loans or youth products. Their starting line up cost not a single penny in transfer fees.
The crowd was pretty good at 14,376 for a midweek game on a school and a cold one too although far less cold than recent days, not sure how many will feel like coming back next game after this. That included just 300 or so from Coventry and, allegedly, one Midlander over the road - Stan Collymore flashing his headlights at the parked cars in the vain hope of finding some action in one of them. That boy has been 'dogged' by trouble all his life if you ask me!
The game got off to the most sensational start. Less than 40 seconds played, John Robinson took his first touches 35 yards out near the Grandstand touchline and was hit by the most diabolical, studs showing challenge of the type that break legs and threatens careers. It took more than two minutes to treat Robbo and for the ref to consult with the nearby linesman before Robbo’s assassin, Peter Clarke (on loan from Everton), was given a straight red card and although he complained, it was probably his disappointment for being such a complete idiot.
Robbo got up, to his credit, played on giving his all despite limping whenever play stopped. What an inspiration that man is. However not even he could influence several other spineless players out there tonight.
Ten days earlier, Sunderland lost a player early on and found City ruthless and up for it. Cardiff’s imagination, the way they moved and spread play to demolish the Mackems was a joy to see. It should have been the template for them to use against Coventry but they were, inexplicably, the total opposite instead. It made no sense.
City played as though half asleep. Knowing they had to win to keep the last flickering hopes of a play-off challenge going, they played as though they were involved in a pre-season friendly. No energy, no passion, no fight, no balls, just content to stroll around with short passes going nowhere. Completely clueless. The most animated, passionate one around was Lennie going absolutely berserk in front of the dugout - showing more of his feelings in the opening 45 minutes of this game than he had done in the entire previous 2 and a bit years! The only determined running came from the visitors.
The first crosses came from Coventry, both safely taken by Margetson, as Joachim now playing as a lone frontman, with Coventry employing a fluid 5-3-1 system that changed to 3-5-1 when they got forward. buzzing around and looking dangerous.
The first chance came from City with an excellent move down the left through Robbo, Parry and then Barker who put over his one decent cross of the night but Lee never got control of his header which seemed to bounce off his head and go over. He should have done better, I felt Peter Thorne would have taken that chance. Lee headed comfortably wide after 15 minutes too meeting a Whalley cross but the worrying signs were already there.
Although hardly in trouble, City were just so lethargic and lazy. Quite often through the first half, you actually wondered if it was Coventry who had the extra man as City were doing nothing with the ball, often giving it away so easily, and then sitting back allowing Coventry to knock it about and stand off their players allowing them the time and space they wanted. It was demoralising to watch.
The only light relief came from John Robinson trying his best to change fortunes, Paul Parry busts down the left and Earnie was looking sharp and threatening to reap havoc. The frustrations were there too. Croft booked, a little harsh, the ref seemed to be making amends for the red card and then City completely stood around the edge of their area, allowed Coventry to advance and McSheffery to skip Kav and unleash an edge of area drive that Margetson had to parry away.
It woke up City a little. Alan Lee dispossessed a defender and burst away with Earnie inside but he decided to shoot for himself and snatch the ball harmlessly wide. Danny Gabbidon hit a terrific 35 yard with no backlift of his leg but venomous power that Shearer tipped over and they then pieced a quick four man move together that saw Gabbidon burst behind the Coventry defence, tapped, sent to ground even though the best he could do was cut it back and a penalty was awarded.
Most clubs know their penalty-taker and change it permanently if someone misses one or two but not Cardiff City. We have a silly arrangement where Kav take them until he misses, then Earnie, then Kav again. Earnie picked up the ball but Kav ran to him, obviously reminded him that he missed the last one so took the ball off him to take it himself. Someone behind me joked Kav’s set pieces had been so crap that he was bound to out it over the bar but I disagreed because he hadn’t put any ball over the first man!
He placed in the far right corner but Shearer guessed the right way, the penalty reached goal at waist height, the ideal for diving keepers and he tipped it onto the inside of the post and had the luck as the ball ran completely across his goal and behind with Kav appearing slow to react following up. The agony went on.
A minute later, City won an edge of area free-kick. Kav wanted that too and looped a ball over the wall but straight at Shearer. Earnie showed smart play to twist and turn four defenders and create space for himself before attempting to lob Shearer, which went slightly wide. Kav met a far post cross under pressure and nodded wide but watched as Joachim burst away before hitting his 30 yard speculative effort well wide too. Kav had another free-kick which he put straight into the wall whilst Lee, Parry and Earnie had had shots before the interval but like so many before, all were not hit cleanly.
Near half-time, ref Armstrong who didn’t influence the result but certainly the game and was poor for both sides awarded an edge of area free-kick for a Croft challenge. City put 8 - eight! - players in the wall completely blocking Margetson‘s view, the ball hit Kav which seemed ironic after all his set pieces and corners hitting them.
It was bad, bad, bad. It was going to get worse.
Half-time - Bluebirds 0 Sky Blues 0 (14,000 of us got the Blues - you bet!)
I have no doubts whatsoever Lennie gave them the half-time rollicking that they fully merited. You expected them to come out fired up but, unbelievably, they just got worse and worse and 10 man Coventry were now on top and starting to assume some control. The visiting fans realised it too as they started chanting on their side and making most of the noise.
The tone was set as Kav took his first touch of the second half from kick-off, seconds into the period as thought of nothing else but turning it back to Martin Margetson to boot up the park. Another moment that summed up all that was wrong with City was an early Coventry corner. The visitors had a man less and keep 4 players back. Yet City had Earnie only up front and pulled 9 - nine! - men back into their area. How much of a no-brainer is that?
City’s passing and movement got worse and worse. You would only have understood it if they were a Sunday League side and not a very good Sunday League side either. Kav and Whalley were so, so poor in central midfield and exerting no influence at all over proceedings. The only idea City had was to give Paul Parry the ball but every time it was straight at him or behind him, not once did he get a ball played in front of him to run at. No surprise, Coventry soon had 2 or 3 on him and usually snuffed him out.
Coventry were now getting forward and firing in shots although mostly from distance and not causing danger. Alan Lee made a burst and had a go, his effort was ugly.
On 57 minutes, Lennie had seen enough and had to change. Richard Langley came on and Gary Croft went off. City adjusted to 3-5-2 but with Langley and Parry dedicated to causing problems and being options wide but the rest of the team failed to take advantage. When Langley had the ball, he tired but failed to get past his man or when he did, his crossing caused limited impact.
With 22 minutes to go, the inevitable happened and how City capitulated. The ball broke forward for Coventry, Julian Joachim turned to face goal 35 yards out and our three defenders stood off and let him run, an invite he didn’t need at all to punish them
It was inexplicable as he shot past Vidmar and Gabbidon and was in the area. He tried going wide of Margetson and was running away from goal and didn‘t appear in full control of the ball but Margetson dived, touched him lightly but enough and the player went down. The ref appeared to ponder for a good few seconds before pointing to the spot and after more time, strolled to Margetson and showed him red.
On came Neil Alexander as a sub, off came Kav (it could just as easily have been half of the team - I was pining to see the CCFC ladies team paraded at half-time given a go as they couldn’t have done worse). There are no prizes for guessing what happened next. Up stepped McSheffery who hit the penalty high to his left so Alexander, as always, dived completely the opposite way. One-Nil Coventry, their players and fans in football heaven.
I don’t believe any goalie in the land goes the wrong way as often as ours - only twice has he gone the right way in 20 or more faced at City, only one has been saved and the opposition scored from the rebound on that!
The remaining 20 minutes were like surveying the aftermath of a car crash as City were so dismantled, in a complete daze and full shock. There was exactly nil organisation about them. Gabbidon was charging off aimlessly with nobody filling in behind him, John Robinson was centre half, Whalley on the wing, the midfielders unable to put together any pass or than across the park or behind them. The passing had got worse and worse and even those players who did ok were now giving the ball away.
Lennie made his final change Campbell for Robbo that was booed by much of the ground. I felt that was a little unfair. It was Robbo’s first game for three months and he carried an injury that he had played through from 30 seconds into the game. Robbo coming off was no signal of the way he had played, we need to wise up sometimes.
Campbell’s first touch was to take the ball out of defence as the furthest player back. It was a night for headless chickens so he probably was the one who felt most at home.
The ground was emptying rapidly with supporters in complete despair and so was Lennie who realised he could do absolutely nothing and there was no point shouting at them because they weren’t listening and completely unable to react and deal with the situation in front of them.
It was an occasion where a full refund can be justifiably asked for. Drugs testers could have swarmed to the City changing rooms and had a field day. Nobody was performance-enhanced but they were so awful, you wondered if some were under the influence if you didn’t know better.
They were late chances for City. Both fell to Earnie. Both he would have converted in form. Both however were fired over the bar, one were Shearer was well out of goal and the ball only had to be placed over him.
City trudged off, there were boos but nowhere near as many as deserved for a completely abysmal and unacceptable show. John Robinson walked onto the pitch and applauded every part of the ground while the rest of his team-mates disappeared, some quicker than others.
This was yet another game to forget, they’re starting to come around far too often, aren’t they? We’re also lost 7 of the last 12 league games. Face the facts.
City are now 7 points from the play-offs, it may as well be 70.
There’s no City match this weekend. Halle - ****ing - juah
Report from FootyMad
Both sides ended with ten men and both were awarded penalties, but while Bluebirds skipper Graham Kavanagh had his 29th minute spot-kick saved, Gary McSheffrey made no mistake in the 70th minute to give the Sky Blues a deserved victory.
"We defended brilliantly and coped with the loss of Peter Clarke so early on very well," said Coventry manager Eric Black.
"Our mentality was spot on and I said to my players at half-time that we could go on and win the game.
"We showed a fantastic attitude and that was the best we have played since I came to the club.
"It was a great team performance and I hope the players take confidence from it for the rest of the season."In an explosive start Coventry defender Clarke was dismissed after a two-footed lunge on John Robinson with just 25 seconds on the clock.
Cardiff failed to take advantage of their numerical superiority and when Kavanagh's spot-kick was saved it looked inevitable they would go on to struggle.
Julian Joachim began making runs into the Cardiff danger area and when he burst thorough in the 67th minute, Martyn Margetson brought him down to earn a red card and give the Sky Blues the spot kick that won the match.
Cardiff boss Lennie Lawrence was devastated by his team's performance. "It was embarrassing and inept and I feel sorry for the fans and sorry for the club," he said.
"We have to get some pride back quickly because the supporters and the club deserve that.
"We created very few chances and I can't recall any other game where we gave the ball away so easily.
"This is the worst night since I came to the club and I hope the players are as ashamed as I am with the performance.
"I was halfway up a hill before tonight and now after that I am back at the bottom."
External reports
Official Coventry site
Western Mail