An astonishing game that finished well over 2 hours featuring three different referees, a host of talking points but when the hysteria died down, the reality that yet again we gifted a game. Incredibly, every goal City conceded was a free, unchallenged header in or around the 6 yard box (how many times has it cost us this season?). Each scorer getting their first ever Reading goal. At a time when football has been more about sex scandals than the sport, Cardiff City didn't want to miss out. Our defenders took dogging to extremes as they stood around watching Reading score to get a right roasting off Lennie.
Most supporters realise City fall short of the necessary quality and abilities that separates the main runners from the also-rans (that's why we're 14th). It's very obvious that our midfield and defence require major surgery this summer and there must also be a rebuilding of the Ninian Park fortress. This was City's 8th home defeat to a First Division side with 6 in the league (only 3 rivals fare worse) and 2 more in cup ties. The record has deteriorated over the past 4 months with just 3 wins in the last 13 appearances at home and 6 defeat. City are the equal 2nd leading scorers in the division with 57 but it's now 28 goals conceded in City's last 17 league games, no wonder we've fallen well adrift.
The club and support were boosted by the weekend's deserved victory over leaders Norwich but had to overcome a worsening injury list. With Scott Young newly retired, the treatment table was fully occupied with Paul Parry joining Kava (watching behind the dugout in the Lower Grandstand), Thorney, Weston and James Collins on the sidelines. Langley and Robinson however were fully recovered from a throat virus. Robbo's apparent hamstring pull at the weekend was nothing more than cramp whilst Gary Croft's had no lasting effects from his dislocated shoulder during the fantastic Norwich win. That'll teach Lennie to brag about having a fully fit and available squad a fortnight ago!
They therefore lined up with Margetson, Croft-Vidmar-Gabbidon-Barker, Langley-Boland-Whalley-Robinson, Earnie-Lee. Robbo moved from the right to the left covering for Parry whilst Richard Langley was called up from the sub's bench.
Reading had their own problems with illness and injuries too, most notably they lost their ever-present American keeper Marcus Hahnemann after a serious collision at the weekend and had to recall youth product Jamie Ashdown from a loan spell at Rushden for his first Reading appearance in 18 months and only his 4th in total. The rest of their line up was Murty-Brown-Ingimarsson-Newman, Salako-Sidwell-Harper-Hughes, Goater-Kitson. Graeme Murty was back in Cardiff a fortnight after his Scottish debut watching Earnie bang a hat-trick past him. James Harper once a City loan was there with what looked like no shinpads and rolled down socks and their strike duo of Shaun Goater and Dave Kitson were pre-season City targets.
They have hung around the play-off zone with solid rather than spectacular form, showing the sort of consistency that City are striving for but unable to find. They made the 108 mile journey on the back of only 1 defeat in their previous 7 games. Their away record is similar to City's but their home form is better, just like most of the rest of the division.
The crowd for a mild spring evening after a sunny day was 14,051. That didn't include all the referees but it did include a measly 400 or so making the trip from Berkshire. Great support Reading!!!
City made a fantastic start as they took the game to Reading. John Robinson won a free-kick on the edge of Reading's area in the first 15 seconds but Richard Langley has his first moment of woe in a very woeful display as he did a Kava and hit the first defender. The ball broke to the other end where Chris Barker mishit a back pass that caused a scare as it ran towards goal with Margetson nowhere near it but, fortunately, lacked pace and direction but that was the last time Reading got near City's goal, or even out of their half, for 20 minutes.
Alan Lee missed a golden opportunity on 3 minutes as Chris Barker broke forward and hit a glorious diagonal ball across 2 defenders, Lee took it down and past the last man but screwed his shot across goal with Ashdown beaten. Earnie was lively and shot wide, saw another blocked, Lee fired wide and City had all the possession and territory but never quite found the final ball despite some pleasing football and always carrying a threat.
City's high tempo play had to calm eventually but despite corners and crosses, they had nothing to show for their dominance and Reading were sneaking back into it. Salako fired just wide and Sidwell hit a superb curling 25 yarder, similar to his winner against City at Madejski earlier this season, but Margetson was equal to it as he tipped over. When he pushed a Newman drive wide for a corner, that seemed just as easy to catch, the surreal element of the night commenced.
Without any pre-warning, ref Mark Warren trotted to the dugout and asked for treatment. It became clear within seconds that he was unable to carry on, with City fans waving and chanting cheerio to the ref, but the officials help up play for nearly 5 minutes deciding who was taking over and the 4th official getting wolf-whistles from the Grandstand for his warm-up routine. They took far too long to sort themselves out but it was no excuse for what followed. The fattest, most unfit official, Habgood, took over but not before asking his linesmen to swap sides and swap ends (what was that about???).
35 minutes - City were literally cold caught at the corner as Salako swung a routine ball into the 6 yard box where INGIMARSSON was allowed to jump unchallenged and plant a firm downward header past a static City defence and goalkeeper. Sloppy and amateur, not a good way to mark the 100th league goal in City's matches this season.
Cardiff were rocked by events and the refereeing change and delay took some momentum out of proceedings too but levelled within 5 minutes with a scrappy goal but they all count. Out of nothing, a ball was played behind Reading's defence on the right, Richard Langley was first to react, possibly for the only time all night, got behind the defender and pushed the ball past Ashdown. It lacked power enabling a defender to clear off the line but only to Alan Lee who controlled, passed past Ashdown for EARNIE to push into an empty net fro 5 yards. Only slightly more difficult than Saturday but the second easiest of his 29 so far this term for club and country.
Lee and Robinson ran to Langley, the only City player not joining in the celebrations. He had a torrid evening but it's not his first this season. The player is obviously more suited to central midfield but getting no chance there. However you cannot excuse how poor he has been, easily the disappointment of the season. We've been told he'll come good, we've been told he was homesick but over it, we've been told we don't appreciate the role he is asked to do. I won't join those who boo him but it's clear to see Langley needs a rest. His best is barely competent, his worst is a like tonight when he gives the ball away time after time, doesn't go for any 50/50, won't put a foot in, crosses poorly and never looks like passing a player despite his skills and talents. He runs hard and doesn't hide, credit to him, but he should be so much better. In my mind, there is no doubt that Jason Bowen could do a better job than Langley at the moment.
Ninety seconds later, more high drama and a very lucky let off for Reading as Earnie took the ball 40 yards out and set off on a gasping run that saw Steve Brown catch him on the wide angle of the area. Undoubtedly a free-kick, the sort that earns bookings, then Brown totally lost it. It took a full minute and a half to calm down the out of control centre back. He verbally abused the linesman for a full 20 seconds, standing eyeball to eyeball with him, than having to be physically restrained by three or four team-mates and even then trying to get back for afters. "Off", "off, "off" chanted the crowd. I wondered if it was a straight red or two yellows - one for the foul and another for the dissent - making a red but the ref showed only a yellow making Brown a very lucky boy as few get away with such prolonged abuse of an official.
And the half finished on drama too - in the final action of the 3 minutes added time (figure that out when there was 5-6 minutes of stoppage with the refereeing and Brown incidents) - Reading regained their lead through more horrific defending. Sidwell took the ball 30 yards out in the centre of the pitch and did nothing more dangerous than lift a high and hopeful ball into the penalty area but it left City clueless. Martyn Margetson, who would have ironically been suspended for this game had City not have appealed over his sending off against Coventry a fortnight before - charged out when there was no need. His way was blocked by City defenders who stood and watched and DAVE KITSON simply nodded wide of them all into an unguarded net.
Half-time: CITY 1 READING 2
The opening 25 minutes of the 2nd period were dull and lifeless. The most notable incident on the pitch was Lee Bullock starting the half for his City debut with Willie Boland back on the injury list. The best piece of skill was a photographer in front of the Family Stand who managed to cleanly kick the ball 15 yards straight to Martyn Margetson whilst sitting on his stool and focussing his camera. The funniest moment as Lee swung an elbow narrowly missing a Reading player but getting a free-kick, his frustrations got him booked later anyway. The most noise coming from Block F of the Grandstand and all towards Scott Murray, the man we love to wait, warming up as a sub for Reading.
City were struggling to make headway. Danny Gabbidon being watched by Mark Hughes and Charlton's Alan Curbishley seemed to be wanting to impress them more than City fans and his team-mates as he set off on runs everywhere, often not passing when good options were available, but he hit a cracking 30 yard drive without backlift that flew over. Alan Lee made Ashdown save twice and Whalley once but they lacked the necessary power and direction to threaten a goal.
Then, on 72 minutes, with Alan Lee looking knackered and Gavin Gordon stripped for substitute action, it was 2-2 with a debut goal for LEE BULLOCK. Bullock did ok doing nothing special, his brief seemed to be "give it to someone else whenever you get the ball" which he did but well too. However when he took the ball 20 yards out in the centre of the pitch, his instinct made him shoot and he hit it arrow like right into the bottom corner, Ashdown failing to get across. It was bedlam again, Bullock loved it too as he danced towards the Grange End in celebration. Gordon dressed again in time to watch Bullock shoot narrowly wide moments later but he ignored crowd invites to ayatollah, someone needs to teach him!
Just as the game picked up again, there was another referee stoppage. This time Hapgood, the unfit looking one, came to the dugout and went down as though he had been shot. It was either severe cramp and a hamstring but again, the stoppage went on for far too long as the officials were far too slow sorting themselves out. The same thing happened to Hapgood at Ninian tow years ago, how fit is he?, and like before, Tony the steward helped out by running the line. The incident stopped play for another 5 minutes or more with some humour as two Reading players and John Robinson passed to each other to stay warm with the BobBank cheering when Robbo touched it then booing when Reading did. The Reading players then ignored Robbo who jumped between them to get the ball back. When he did, he smashed it to the City fans in the Bob Bank getting a huge cheer.
City should have took the lead straight from the restart as Vidmar and a Reading player had a nasty head clash on halfway but it took them both off the pitch in front of the dugouts so whoever was now in charge allowed advantage. Earnie found Lee and for the second time in the game, he beat Ashdown but also the wrong side of his far post.
The game petered into the closing minutes with both teams looking tired but Reading made the decisive sub as Dean Morgan came on for John Salako still looking fit and sprightly at 35. Morgan, brought from Colchester, was fast and dangerous running at the City defence and had one effort disallowed as he was flagged offside before shooting.
City came back through a magical John Robinson turn inside the penalty area, true class, he cut in and his low ball was destined for Earnie to turn home but Ashdwon was brilliant in getting down at full stretch and touching the ball off Ernie's boot.
Games are won and lost by moments like that and this was no exception as a minute later, in the 90th minute of normal play, Richard Langley gave the ball away in the wrong area of the field, a Reading player charged off, crossed, Gabbidon inexplicably got underneath it and MORGAN powered his close range header home.
More drama as the 4th official (or was he the 6th official by now?) came out with the board to show added time but whoever was in charge forgot to give him a signal. In the event, there was almost 10 minutes - the players finding out by asking, the crowd having no real idea until some saw him signal 4 more minutes well into added time. What was most surprising to me was that Lennie needed a result, there was nothing to lose, he had two strikers on the bench (Campbell and Gordon) and some players visibly knackered from a long evening but made no final change. Why Lennie, why?
In the very final moment, Earnie got the ball 35 yards out and put his head down charging at goal. He cut through Reading's tired defence and was one on one with the keeper and certain to score but he got it horribly wrong and shot wide from 6 yards. An horrendous miss but there was more chaos as players ran to the ref who, it emerged, had decided time was up moments before Earnie shot. However he never blew a final whistle, just waved his arms about. If it had gone in and been disallowed, it could have lead to serious trouble. The officiating was incompetent but not as incompetent as City's defending.
The final whistle blew at 9:50. Even those few optimists who talked play-offs won't anymore. The rest of us knew that, in reality, the stuffing had come out of our season at the same time it comes out of the average turkey - it's been all over since Xmas. The funny thing is we gifted Reading all 6 points this season. Had those results been reversed, it could all be so different. Whatever happens from now, it's still a great 1st season back at this level for 20 years. It's just that it's almost 15 years since we played a season out without the thought or a promotion, play-off or relegation battle. It leaves you feeling a little empty, doesn't it?
Report from FootyMad.
Reading finally dashed any hopes Cardiff had of making the play-offs after a match that saw three different referees.
Appointed official Mark Warren left the field in the 35th minute and it was when play restarted with Steve Hadgood in charge that the Royals opened the scoring.
Play began with a corner to Reading and Cardiff were caught cold as Ivar Ingimarsson nodded the visitors ahead in the 39th minute.
Robert Earnshaw quickly levelled the scores three minutes later, but in time added on for the referee's changeover another header, this time from Dave Kitson, put Reading in front.
Bluebirds debutant loan signing Lee Bullock levelled up the scored once again in the 72nd minute, but three minutes later Habgood was forced to leave the field with another muscle pull and Richard Smith took over the whistle.
In time added on for the second changeover Reading substitute Dean Morgan was given a free header at the far post to earn all three points for the visitors.
"We showed a lot of spirit particularly after losing two players through illness in the last 24 hours," said Royals boss Steve Coppell.
"I think the delays with the referees helped us as we scored the opener straight from the restart. It was important that we started well and kept the home crowd quiet."Cardiff manager Lennie Lawrence was dismayed at the way his defence allowed three headers to win the game.
"We lost because of a total inability to defend high balls in the area. It's a bit harsh to lose in that manner, but we looked shaky in our own box.
"We lost the game not because we are missing three regulars, but because we failed to deal with an aerial threat."
External reports
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BBC