That second successive clean sheet defensively will please but Cardiff still appear to be lacking clinical firepower - 5 league games and 5 goals is not good enough. City's summer dealings buying variable potential and no tried and tested on no or low fees instead looked very telling today with 4 clear cut first half openings that should have put the game to rest did not even give Wurzels keeper Basso a save to make. Put simply, the Bluebirds have the foreplay but lack the climax and ability to finish in the box. Familiar tale, isn't it?
It may be so close but so far away and certainly contradictory. The Bluebirds remain unbeaten, a noteworthy achievement, but have only have one win. That was on opening day against the 23rd placed team, it's been 4 successive draws since. That's hardly play-off form, promotion form or inspiring. The optimists were openly excited to proclaim City 7th in the table, the pessimists pointing out almost half the Championship share their points tally of 7 going right back to Doncaster in 14th, the realists note we're already 6 points behind the top two after just 5 games.
While the older boys were disappointed we didn't turn over the Wurzels and remain behind them, the younger generation are chuffed Swansea lost and we're above them again. I'm afraid I remain firmly in the City to provide mid-table obscurity camp and going nowhere for the 6th successive season on the evidence to date - and I've seen every kick - so perhaps having bragging rights over the Jacks will be the highlight of what may be a wasted year and opportunity. The caveat being it remains very early days and I'd love Dave Jones and the boys to prove me wrong. If they can somehow add goals, they will but on the players he's brought in, they almost certainly won't.
Curtains opened in the morning and there was a strange yellow object in the sky. Some people must have reported a UFO - it was the sun. Its appearance in Cardiff almost as rare as Paul Parry showing up for Wales.
Popped into town intending to have a fairly regular lunch drink, kids in tow, at the Queen's Vaults but the place was packed, the result of a nearby book launch about what the lads got upto following City. What can you say when double the numbers of City followers appear for that than the well attended in itself Cardiff City Supporters Trust launch? There were almost as many law there than at the game too, filming anyone and everyone. so we retreated for a quieter lunchtime bevvy elsewhere and onto NP Towers.
The international break did give some players to recover, enable Thommo to be sold and the club turn down big bids for Joe and Roger. City made no move in the transfer window, save Smertin showing no interest in us, which had Peter Ridsdale and his trusty sidekick Dave Jones indulging us with talk of a Premiership loan man for midfield. True to form, it's didn't happen - Jones now declaring "we'll hold on until January". Any doubts that our squad remains threadbare and ill equipped for a season long challenge exposed by a sub's bench containing an Academy player, with respect, essentially there to make up the numbers.
Gavin Rae was available although not fully recovered from a chipped bone while - wahey! - but Ross McCormack had to watch from the dugout due to a knock while away with Scotland - boo! City lined up: Heaton, McNaughton-Purse-Johnson-Comminges, Whittingham-Rae-McPhail-Ledley, Parry-Bothroyd. Subs were Enckleman, McCormack, Gypes, Johnson and Aaron Morris. Pre-match talk was that Paul Parry would be booed for the immature shameful way he walked out on Wales last weekend but that was never going to happen. There were a couple of muffled boos but, in general, he was applauded as much as anyone other player announced ... got to admit, I didn't applaud as I lost respect for him as a person although not as a Cardiff City footballer of course.
This was a battle of the Championship's Wembley losers. City lost the F.A. Cup Final in May, The Wurzles lost the Premiership play-off final at Wembley. Some thought they may have 2nd season syndrome at this level but they've started well again with 2 home draws but 2 away wins (at Blackpool and Coventry). Arch-villain Lee Trundle has yet to be appear in the league this term and was believed to be coming to South Wales with a 24 hour police escort as they stayed Friday night but he pulled out anyway after (convenient?) effects of dental treatment. Always knew he was all mouth!
Their side was Basso, Orr-Fontaine-McAllister-Carey, Wilson-Skuse-Johnson-McIndoe, Adebola-Maynard. Brian Wilson only lasted 25 minutes, those years with the Beach Boys have taken their toll!, and replaced by City fan Gavin Williams. The boss' son was in midfield but any worries that Adebola and Maynard (a rumoured summer target from Crewe until Bristol paid £2M for him which was £1.7M more than we were willing to pay for anyone!) would worry Johnson and Purse subsided as our centre halves were in imperious form, Purse got away with a couple of early fluffs but, credit where due, he settled into a Man of the Match display. It's not great though that your centre half stands out in a home match.
The temperature was just over 70 degrees but the real heat was around Parc Nin. 1,400 Wurzles bussed in early bravely decided to launch an anti-Welsh repertoire while few were about but once the ground filled, the 18,000 Bluebirds in the 19,312 crowd soon returned magnified verbal volleys and support for the team that didn't stop all afternoon creating a superb atmosphere that I fear we just won't match in the all mod cons sit down bowl across the road next season. More's the pity.
It was a blistering 100mph opening, City winning a corner in the first 20 seconds and buzzing as they seized general control in a hard fought contest.
They really should have gone ahead inside 10 minutes with two outstanding chances but completely wasted both. Bothroyd firstly found himself clear on goal but never looked confident and shot at the advancing Basso, then Paul Parry and Ledley linked superbly, Parry's deep cross took out the whole Bristol defence but having bust a gut to be there, Gavin Rae decided to take a touch before shooting and was blocked when he had clear sight of goal. Basso decided to buy time and relieve pressure by acting pole-axed as Bothroyd squared up to him.
City's intensity was relentless. They were bombing forward giving Parry and Whittingham opportunities on the ball and creating pressure. Ledley and Whitts were blocked, corners were cleared and then McNaughton almost caught out Basso with a cross-cum-shot that landed on the top netting then Six Million Pound Man Ledley, on top of his game, raced away onto a Parry flick but his shot grazed the outside of the post - quite a few Grandstanders celebrated for a moment thinking it had gone in as the net rippled ... on the wrong side.
Before the interval. the tempo had subsided but City still carved two more clear openings, again neither resulted in a shot on goal. The best had to be a superb threaded pass from McPhail really putting in a big shift but Bothroyd wasn't reacting to it. Bothroyd worries me. He is working hard, has no mean skill and has settled but he seems to be totally one paced and just not producing any end product. There doesn't appear to be any change of pace in him whether he's in midfield, in the channels or the box. Maybe it's deceptive but City somehow need to get a lot more out of him than they are and he needs to produce more than he is.
Sod's law, after all that dominance and all those wasted openings, it was Bristol who came closest to scoring as Maynard's 20 yarder smacked the Canton Stand crossbar with Heaton well beaten. Maynard looks a good acquisition but Darren Purse was at his combative best and had Adebola in his pocket ... or should that be Purse? Purse looks more confident and was stepping up and winning ball constantly, probably benefiting from a run know a start is his until he messes up compared to last season when he knew he only played while Johnson or Loovens were out injured or suspended. I still worry about him but he's playing as well as he has ever done with City currently.
Half-time: CITY 0 WURZLES 0
The half-time question was "What is Robbie Fowler's middle name?". If this was Family Fortunes, the most popular responses screamed out by 15,000 voices were C***, T***, Judas, F*** and A***hole. They all seemed right to me.
Second half turned into a more even battle without so many chances. The sides nullified each other and long ball became the order of the day. 0-0 was the only likely result. However ref Walton, yet another whistle happy frustrating inconsistent one, did his best to change that by allowing Maynard to bear down on City's goal after clearly fouling and flooring Comminges 40 yards out, Heaton made a magnificent save which was justice while howls of derision from the dugout and around the ground boomed.
McCormack came on for Parry for the final 25 minutes, Paul going off to big applause. N word yet on whether he'll now quit City after being taken off! Bristol brought on Big Bob, Big Bob, Big Bob, Big Bob, Big Bob! (Brooker) who worried City a little.
Williams was narrowly wide with a chip for them, City indulged in their familiar game of "let's pass instead of shooting" as McNaughton shunned a clear opening, Bothroyd did likewise and Ledley was blocked when someone finally shot but the best moment from City came from Bothroyd sending over an excellent ball, Rae heading down perfectly and the oh so quiet Whittingham rasping a waist high volley that Basso matched with a flying save and hold.
Cardiff tried putting in a storming finish to try and get close to the tremendous noise now coming from all parts of the ground but it amounted to little more than a few corners creating nothing, Rae hit the Canton Stand roof while Whitts and Bothroyd hit fairly tame efforts at Basso.
City had the most goal efforts but a draw arguably was a fair result, we simply didn't do enough where it mattered. Bristol were well organised and although well patrolled today, I'm afraid they carried more threat in attack which is why they're above us in the league so far.
The boys have their first taste of midweek league action this week at Barnsley (they're 22nd) then Derby next Saturday (they're 20th) so there's a good chance for them to really show if they can climb this league ahead of a massive test home to Birmingham in a fortnight. There's also the minor matter of an away cup game in Jacksville on Tuesday week. Come through that lot unbeaten with a win or two and some goals and maybe we can then talk about them having ability to live with the high flyers.
Report from FootyMad
Cardiff and Bristol City shared the spoils after playing out a goalless draw at Ninian Park.
Gavin Rae was a surprise inclusion in the Bluebirds starting line-up, while leading scorer Ross McCormack was on the bench nursing a slight groin strain.
Paul Parry fired high and wide on the turn in the sixth minute and, in the next attack, Jay Bothroyd went clean through only to have his half-hit shot blocked by Robins keeper Adriano Basso.
The visitors fought back after that early Bluebirds onslaught and Michael McIndoe almost went in on goal but Darren Purse made a timely tackle.
In the 24th minute, Bradley Orr brought Joe Ledley down just outside the area but Stephen McPhail's deep free-kick was cleared by the overworked Robins rearguard.
The Bluebirds kept up the pressure and Parry was just wide with a header, before Ledley had Basso scampering out of goal to hack another attack clear.
Just before the interval, Cardiff had a fright when Nicky Maynard hit a cross-shot against the woodwork with Tom Heaton stretching to save.
Maynard should have opened the scoring in the 52nd minute after Miguel Comminges appeared to have been fouled, leaving the former Crewe striker free to run on goal.
His low shot seemed to be on its way into the corner, but Heaton brilliantly palmed behind for a corner.
Roger Johnson and Peter Whittingham both went close as the Bluebirds returned to the attack.
In the 64th minute, Johnson threw himself in front of McIndoe to prevent a certain goal as the Robins upped the tempo.
Bothroyd then swung at a headed pass from Johnson only for Basso to dive full length to save.
The Robins were looking dangerous in attack with sub Steve Brooker up front and Ledley had to be sharp to clear as a long ball from McIndoe evaded Heaton.
Basso made a flying save from a Whittingham strike as both sides looked for the one goal to settle the match but a draw was a fair result.
External Reports
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