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Championship at Ninian Park
- still the home of Cardiff City
CARDIFF CITY (1) 1
Scimeca 32
WEST BROMWICH ALBION (1) 1
Gera 3
THE ATTENDANCE:
A jam-packed 18,506
Baggies support: - 1,000, is that all you “boing” away?
THE WEATHER::
A balmy sunny but fresher than recently
THE MAN/MEN of the DAY:
This was a night when the whole team collectively performed and what a joy that was to see.
THE “you're not very good” AWARD
Harsh to do this to anyone on an outstanding night but it's Kevin Campbell if only because it looked like he forgot he was now with City as his every pass and touch in a late sub outing found a former Baggies team-mate.
THE CHANT(s) of THE DAY:
Not as outstanding as the weekend away selection but, of course, there was plenty of predictable stick for Hartson and Robson and electric backing for our boys on a night to savour.
THE ATMOSPHERE:
Electric, cup-tie like, good banter between the fans and general lapping up of a great performance and occasion.
THE GROUND
The stadium imperfect, the pitch perfect and except for new advertising hoardings, nothing has changed. Say what you like about a new stadium and its benefits but when you have terraces overflowing and an electric atmosphere, Ninian Park still offers an experience you just can't get elsewhere, especially in modern stadia.
THE PROGRAMME
New season, new start and, apparently, new style programme at the same price but once again sold out long before kick-off so I didn't manage to get one - some things never change!
THE TEAMS:
WEST BROM - You know the background. Relegated from the Premiership, favoured to go straight back despite the vile (in these parts) Bryan Robson as Manager, Ginger Jack Hartson up front and the Koumas transfer/strike saga gave the game a fantastic billing without the added spice of WBA being an unofficial CCFC feeder club as Inamoto, Purse, Scimeca, Koumas and Campbell have come this way permanently or on loan in the past 15 months.
They had a team packed with “name” players having kept most of their Premiership side intact and strongly adding to it. They started with Zuberbuhler, Watson-Perry-Davies-Robinson, Gera-Wuashie-Greening-Wallwork, Ellington-Hartson. Subs included Inamoto who got a good reception, reciprocated as Baggies followers applauded ex-players now with City.
Last season's keeper - the big Pole Kuszczak – is set to join Man United by the weekend so the Baggies got a big Swiss roller instead - Zuberbuhler or Zubi - between the posts. He never conceded a goal in Germany 2006 but his country were knocked out on penalties in the last 16 as they couldn't score them either. Defensively they looked strong with major Premiership target Curtis alongside ex-Wimbledon and Spurs man Chris Perry and also flanked by Newcastle player Steve Watson.
Midfield featured the Hungarian Zoltan Gera, a devastating player on his day and undoubtedly at this level with other known names in the pikey-looking, hairband-wearing Jonathan Greening , Nigel Quashie and Ronnie Wallwork and their uncompromising front line of Big John and Duke Ellington are the type to give opposing defenders pre-match nightmares.
CARDIFF - the excellent weekend result and performance at Barnsley on opening day always meant they would look to keep the same side but, in a major blow, Captain Darren Purse failed a pre-game fitness test on a foot injury and would have hated to have missed out against his former side, Roger Johnson therefore got his first full start for the Bluebirds. Riccy Scimeca was made captain for the night, Jeff Whitley came in from the cold for a seat on the bench.
Otherwise it was as you were with Chopra and Thompson having recovered from their knocks so it was Alexander, Gilbert-Johnson-Loovens-McNaughton, Parry-McPhail-Scimeca-Ledley, Thompson-Chopra. Subs were Howard, Campbell, Flood, Glombard, Whitley.
THE MATCH:
In a match and City performance that did justice to the over-used “breath-taking” cliché, The Bluebirds played the beautiful game in a beautiful way. West Brom are the toughest of opponents and promotion favourites but they went home relieved with their point in a 1-1 draw. Apart from a strong opening 15 minutes and a very late rally, they had been completely over-shadowed by a blistering Cardiff City side whose pace, movement, energy, quality and passing range were outstanding.
All this after Cardiff made the worst possible start, behind on 3 minutes having been static on a corner that Gera forced home. Once recovered, Scimeca produced a quality headed equaliser just after half-hour as Cardiff's football was so overwhelming that The Baggies changed their system and style to hold on. City fans were drooling, the boys earning standing ovations at half-time and full-time as our play off the ball - closing down and harrying opponents - was as excellent as our work with it. If there's been a better quality, more thrilling, high tempo sizzling all round home display from Cardiff City in recent years, it will only have been in your dreams or on your Playstations.
As kick-off approached, it was obvious that the crowd was big, very big. Baggies must have had a late rush as they brought a few more than expected, the Grange End and Bob Bank terrace seemed packed. There were pockets of empty seats but this was largely because hundreds of fans were still trying to pick up pre-bought tickets or trying to buy them so these generally filled too as the game progressed. Hopefully, lesson learned, everyone will buy their tickets now for Saturday‘s game and not have to queue outside.
It was inevitable that Robson and Hartson were be afforded a special welcome. Robson apparently indulges in solo pursuits with his wrist, Hartson hails form Swansea and might not know his parents.
The Baggies kicked-off towards the Grange End and won an early corner as Gera lofted a high hanging ball just beyond the far post which Alexander had to turn behind under pressure.
From that, disaster, it was sent to the near post where Big John does what he does best and flicked on, City were in disarray and a header hit the bar which may have come off a City player then GERA was first to react and bundled home the ball on the rebound cart-wheeling and somersaulting (or was it boing-boinging?) in front of the ecstatic away following. It had all the hallmarks of defending from previous campaigns and City's players seemed to be hypnotised and motionless.
It was a major setback and had an ominous feeling. There were of “here we go again” as City get a big crowd and fail to perform for them but after they took 10 minutes to settle and reorganise, they never looked back.
Confidence seemed to come from a couple of lightning moves of mostly one-touch football, it wasn't matched by efforts on goal as Scimeca, Chopra and Thompson all put well wide but the pattern of play, movement and varied passing were all starting to get the better of opponents. Throughout, City never stopped keeping the ball down. It was played on the floor, the visitors dissected time and again. Another sure sign it was hurting them was seeing Hartson dropping back to help out leaving Ellington isolated..
Things were starting to click for City. Parry and Ledley were starting to cause danger, Gilbert and McNaughton were working with them and overlapping, midfield were spraying the ball about, some of Chopra's flicks and lay-offs were sublime and Thommo were holding the ball and laying it off well. It was high octane football.
After moves not quite finding the final man, a couple of debatable offside and crosses either cut out or which found a Baggies man in the air as they were big at the back, West Brom almost doubled their lead on the break as Gilbert shows superb awareness to cut out Hartson bettered by Neil Alexander's brilliant stop to push an angled Ellington drive behind holding off Loovens.
Then City equalised in thrilling fashion on 32 minutes. Chopra was found and bursting forward but tackled for a throw. That was taken and sent to McPhail was ball into the box was met with aplomb by SCIMECA who guided a header into the top right corner, Zubi had to watch and admire. Ali called it as Thommo's goal, I thought it was too, who else could get in there and score a towering header like that? Scimeca? Until last weekend at Barnsley, I don't think I ever saw him in a penalty area before. He is a rejuvenated player on a mission.
The grand old lady that is Ninian Park was rocking and City were now devastatingly brilliant. How West Brom got in level at half-time, I don't think they will ever know either. Parry's 30 yard piledriver blocked, Chopra's awesome first time angled effort just over, Thompson‘s had two efforts beaten away or blocked and then Joe Ledley beat his man and curled a most fantastic effort for the opposite top corner that Zubi just kept out, any smaller a keeper would not have got near it, and Chopra just failed to turn home the loose ball.
City nearly had a penalty too as Gilbert was scythed inches outside the box. That came to nought but another edge of area free-kick saw Chopra put a fraction over the bar. In the middle of tidal waves of City pressure and attacks, Ellington limped off injured to be replaced by Darren Carter.
It was thrilling stuff and, when referees are so often criticised, some praise should go to Chris Foy who allowed the game to flow and only showed cards when absolutely necessary preferring to talk to players and calm them.
The interval came, City probably never wanted it but the crowd did to get their breath backed. West Brom did too, they looked shell-shocked in the closing stages of that half barely able to contain us. That was an outstanding, supreme effort and 45 minutes of football to savour.
Half-time: CITY 1 WEST BROM 1
There was a touching half-time tribute to John Kerr, the Academy Director who suddenly passed away over the summer, a kid's game, a new game where kids had to hit the crossbar from the edge of the area. One kid did it and won a Rhys Weston shirt which produced 15,000 laughs and 5,000 quips from City fans - mostly about it being a booby prize and great as a dish cloth. A City-supporting family also collected a £250,000 National Lottery winning cheque off Darren Purse - hope they got away safely!
The second half could never match the first period but, for the most part, it was never far behind. City carried on as they left off, bombarding the oppressed WBA players and causing them problems all over the park. This was light years away from an average home performance last season with those dullard drawn out yawnathons witnessed too often at Ninian Park.
Chances came thick and fast, West Brom surviving three sets of corner kick attacks with the ball pinballing and ricocheting about. Only sheer luck and all eleven men pulled back saw them survive those attacks. One incident saw Chopra so nearly turn home from close range, the mass of bodies collided and saw 18 players pushing and shoving, Chops and a defender were cautioned.
The Baggies' retaliation was little more than a couple of long range efforts comfortably taken by Alexander and, with great laughter all round, Hartson putting a shot on the Canton Stand roof. Any other attack was comfortably killed by Loovens and Johnson, both in commanding form. It was powerhouse stuff, Loovens muscling Hartson a few times to win the ball, Johnson improving with each minute and whose shouting was immense.
City's work ethic was never better shown than when Quashie found himself in a threatening position wide left until Gilbert and Parry closed him, cut off all options and made him turn back. He did to find Parry and Scimeca send him further back only to be hassled by Thommo when he got there forcing him to back-pass to his own keeper. How we loved that even it was briefly hair-raising, Loovens “doing a Gabbidon” to win a challenge off Hartson to get the ball, then come away with and go across his area beating another player. Terrific entertainment, the crowd were baying.
It was no surprise the tempo calmed late on as Baggies introduced subs – more midfielders to further kill the game. City left changes until late as Kevin Campbell replaced Thommo for the last 15 and then Flood had 5 minutes for Paul Parry. The occasion seemed set for Campbell to score against his former team and he had moments of danger too but his every touch found a Baggies man. Chopra, his movement, twists and turns causing chaos flashed another snapshot angled drive but Zubi was equal to it.
The final action, despite West Brom trying to mount a belated threat, was again from City. Deep into the three minutes added time, City got free on the left, Chopra cut into the area and found Flood who didn't quite get his feet right as he volleyed at hip height into the Grange End. On target and it would have been the outstanding winner a game like this deserved.
Final whistle saw the players get an outstanding ovation, players of both sides greet each other knowing they had been in a titanic battle and City players, lead by Johnson, going to all parts of the ground and still there was time to boo Hartson and Robson as they disappeared!
Pre-match, Bryan Robson went out of his way to further wind up Cardiff fans with unnecessary comments. Thankfully, the football won over bad feeling by some distance but one of those comments was that Hartson was a cut above Cardiff. He will never admit it but he knows that on the night, Cardiff were a cut above his side.
This was a fantastic team performance. It deserved to be rounded off with a win and, in many respects, it was two points dropped but you have to enjoy our boys putting on a quality display that bore no resemblance to the sort of dross or hoof-ball we've too often endured over the years. This was a display of the highest standard that would have done justice to the Premiership, let alone being a great advert for the Championship. Whether it can be maintained is another thing but they've raised the bar to a new level and have to be measured against this. . For now, the praise that will go to the club, the manager and the players for that showing is fully earned and so richly deserved.
THE COSTS:
Match Tickets: £84 - gulp! (Took the family - only porblem is, half of them now wnat to go again - eeek!)
Transport: £4
Programme: £NIL - as I didn't get one
Food/Drink: £10 - all on the kids snacks with no beer for me!
TOTAL COST £98
Report from FootyMad
Cardiff suffered a blow before kick-off when skipper Darren Purse was ruled out through injury. Roger Johnson replaced him to make his home debut.
West Brom were at full strength with former Wales international John Hartson leading their line.
Hartson's abrasive style brought two early free-kicks and he also forced Neil Alexander to palm behind an effort for a corner from which the visitors took a fourth minute lead.
When the cross came over it was flicked on and with the Bluebirds defence in a tangle, the ball rebounded off the crossbar and Zoltan Gera was on hand to side-foot into an empty net.
The Bluebirds were finding it difficult to make headway as the Baggies were quicker to the ball in the early stages and stronger in the tackle.
Steven Thompson did fashion a 15th minute chance for stand-in skipper Riccardo Scimeca but the midfielder sliced his shot wide.
The visitors could have doubled their lead in the 28th minute when Nathan Ellington broke free down the right before lashing a shot just inside the near post, but Alexander reacted brilliantly to club the ball behind for a corner.
Kerrea Gilbert came to City's rescue on the half hour when he hacked clear as Hartson was about to pounce.
The Bluebirds went straight back up-field to level with a superbly taken goal on 33 minutes.
Stephen McPhail swung a deep cross to the far post and Scimeca rose to head beyond Swiss keeper Pascal Zuberbuhler and into the corner of the net.
City were now well on top and both Thompson and Joe Ledley went close as the Bluebirds looked to go ahead.
Baggies boss Bryan Robson pulled off Ellington and put on an extra midfielder in Darren Carter three minutes before the break in an effort to stop free-flowing City but it was one-way traffic as the half came to a close.
City started the second period as they finished the first by sending waves of attacks against the Albion rearguard.
Hartson was left to fight a lonely battle up front as the Baggies tried to stem the tide of blue.
Kevin Campbell came on for the tiring Thompson and as the match drew to a close and Michael Chopra struck a first-time effort that whistled past the far post with the keeper rooted to the spot.
External reports
Western Mail
South Wales Echo
Birmingham Mail
The Guardian