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After an immaculately observed 1 minute silence for City's legendary radio/internet commentator and fan's hero, Phil Suarez, the opening action saw Earnie chase Stockport's player manager, Carlton Palmer, who made the first of what appeared to be several hundred errors that afternoon by miskicking and conceding a corner.
City kicked off without a sponsor name on their shirts for the first time in years thanks to Ken Thorne's World of Debt, the shirts looked twice as good, against a Stockport side with the best defensive record in the divisions. They had only conceded 2 goals in their opening 6 league games but it didn't matter to City as Kav and Legg took a short corner, the ball was laid back for Whalley who clipped it into the area where EARNIE, the smallest player on the pitch, was first to react and nodded past Stockport's ex-Jack keeper and Porth lad, Lee Jones with just 55 seconds on the clock.
The perfect way to announce, I'M BACK!, Earnie made sure everyone knew it by charging towards the Bob Bank, somersaulting, remove his shirt and show off his ultra slim torso. Phwoaaar girls! Wait til you discover Brains Dark and Clarks Pies, Earnie!
City could, and should, have doubled their lead in the 3rd minute but Peter Thorne was guilty of a shocking miss. Clear on goal after some classy build up play, he drove his effort into the side netting. Five minutes later, Stockport had another escape as Rhys Weston (no longer Shaggy, he's shaven headed again) agonisingly saw his header cleared off the line.
City were overloaded on the left as Andy Legg played ahead of Whalley-Kav-Boland to supply service for Earnie/Thorne. With Whalley, Legg and Croft combining, it meant most of City's move and crosses came from that area although Boland and Weston did well on the right too. Stockport knew what was coming but could do little about it, Cardiff were too good for them.
With City in total control, you knew it had to go wrong, sure enough it did. Shortly after Willie Boland got a silly booking for a late unnecessary tackle on half way, Stockport smashed a hit and hope ball out of defence. Luke Beckett, the only Stockport player to have scored for them in the league this season, was well offside but an inept linesman was behind play and didn't notice. It was all compounded by SPencer Prior slipping and the rest of the defence being caught flat-footed leaving BECKETT to race clear to goal, toy a little with Neil Alexander, and slot home with some ease for his 6th goal of the season.
The same linesman missed at least 2 other offsides in the half by not staying up with play and even gave Stockport a late 2nd half corner when Luke Beckett clearly shot wide of goal, that one was over-ruled by the referee. He had a shocker but, fortunately, it didn't result in any more major scares.
At 1-1, Stockport looked a good footballing side, they passed it well and kept the ball on the floor, it was a style which probably suited City to play against. It also helped that Stockport had no cutting edge, Beckett - their sole threat, was well marshalled and I don't recall them having another significant effort all match. The only other minor flutter I
f play looked even for a spell, only City had chances with some outstanding attacking play.
Danny Gabbidon could have collected the Goal of the Season Award today if he had managed to finish a breathtaking 70 yard run from outside City's area through middle of the park and to the edge of Stockport's area but he leaned back too far as he shot so his effort intended for the top right corner sailed well over the bar. Another fantastic effort saw Thorne head a Croft far post ball back across goal for Earnie to fire narrowly over with a spectacular overhead kick. Another driving Earnie run, saw Carlton Palmer flail and grateful to see Earnie's shot fly over the Grange End roof before City deservedly regained the lead on 40 minutes.
Another attack down the left saw Leggy clip the ball in for Earnie on the edge of the area. He held off Palmer then laid the ball off to GRAHAM KAVANAGH whose 20 yard shot took a deflection and rolled into the bottom left corner of the net with Lee Jones wrong footed and helpless. Kav, who has been below par for a long while, celebrated as wildly as the crowd as he charged to the Grange End, jumped on the wall and almost toppled over the fence into the crowd.
City walked off at half-time to a standing ovation for the best 45 minutes of football at home this season, it had been hugely entertaining.
H/T: CITY 2 STOCKPORT 1
City had an enforced 2nd half substituion, Layton Maxwell replaced Gareth Whalley who presumably Whalley had a knock. No such joy for Carlton Palmer though who was still able to play! He entertained Ninian Park with a variety of miskicks, bad passes and generally being ripped apart by Earnie who added to his embarrassment by even beating him in the air. It's amazing to think that Sam and Corkie were considering brining him to City a year ago on obscene wages.
The second half never matched the first half for either quality or entertainment. Not really a surprise as it was a very humid afternoon with no breeze so the pace and zip of the game understandably suffered with it. What was beyond dispute though was that Cardiff were in total control. There weren't really any chances in the opening 15 minutes of the half then City had, and wasted, a flurry.
Earnie, in a tormenting mood, left Palmer and his fellow defenders again as a latched onto a simple Kav ball over the top. I felt he delayed his pass a little too long but it reached Weston who was so unlucky not to score for the 2nd time as Jones got down to make a great one handed stop.
The game should have been killed just afterwards by Earnie himself who ran through clear on goal from a superb Peter Thorne pass but his shot was poor and Jones got his body in the way which got 11,000 fans to put their hands on their heads in agony.
Layton Maxwell, who played on loan for Stockport last term in the First Division, was narrowly wide with one of the most powerfully hit shots I've seen in a long time, Kav was narrowly over with an edge of area free-kick which Jones seemed to have covered and then Peter Thorne was desperately unlucky too as he met a Rhys Weston cross and powered his header against the bar from 12 yards with Jones well beaten.
Most City fans were having agonies that Stockport would make City pay by grabbing an equaliser but they were either just not good enough to get anywhere near City's goal again or had no ambition other than settle for a narrow defeat. They were a well organised team but lacked ambition in the closing stages.
That however is probably testimony to a powerful City showing, they've struggled to make their extra quality count often enough this season, today the gulf was visible. Stockport came to Ninian behind City on goals scored only in the table, by the end, the knew the difference between the teams were considerably more than that.
Our defence were in total control. Neil Alexander hardly had a cross to take, never mind shot saving. Gabbidon was the pick and got sponsors man of the match but it was an easy afternoon for him, I thought Earnie deserved it.
Midfield looked far happier even though Leggy played ahead of them and we still lack balance, particularly on the right. It did however give Kav and Co options which they found limited in 4-3-3 and it's too good for most, if not all, teams at this level.
The system helped but there's no doubt that Cardiff are far more potent and dangerous with Earnie about, he gets it wrong sometimes but he makes things happen. He has much more to his armoury than Andy Campbell. Peter Thorne is not on top of his game currently but he worked well with Earnie. The two worked hard and carved chances for each other throughout and made the movement that helped others hit the ball forward.
Earnie went off to a deserved ovation with 5 minutes remain and he milked it, he must have taken 2 minutes to walk off! Andy Campbell is a confidence player, his demeanour and body language shows his attitude. Although it's difficult coming on in these circumstances, his brief was surely to run like the wind, chase the ball, close down defenders and keep it when he has it. He did none of those things as the game passed him by. He will be fine though.
Overall a good display which has left the Division Two table very congested. Most teams above Cardiff got a result so City remained in 8th place but only 2 points off current leaders, Wigan, with a game in hand. As City appear to be sorting out their early season problems and worries, it's suddenly looking very good for us. Roll on Brentford on Tuesday!
Report from FootyMad
Cardiff City got back on track with an impressive 2-1 victory over Stockport County at Ninian Park.
The South Wales club made a blistering start with Robert Earnshaw scoring after only 55 seconds. Earnshaw was making his first league start of the season for the Bluebirds and he wasted no time in getting on the scoresheet.
The Welsh International forced County player-manager Carlton Palmer into conceding an early corner and from the resulting kick, Earnshaw sneaked in on the edge of the six-yard box and planted a firm header into the top corner of the net.
Just two minutes later County who could have been further behind but ex-Stoke City striker Peter Thorne planted his shot into the sidenetting when it looked much easier to score.
With ten minutes gone The Bluebirds again almost furthered their lead, but Keith Briggs did well to clear Spencer Prior's goalbound effort off the line.
Welsh-born County keeper Lee Jones was then called into action moments later as he saved well at the feet of the lively Earnshaw.
But with 15 minutes gone County drew level through Luke Beckett. He latched on to a loose ball following a Prior slip and neatly rounded city keeper Neil Alexander to make it 1-1.
Just before half time City retook the lead through Graham Kavanagh. His 18-yard shot was deflected past County keeper Jones to make it 2-1.
After the break Cardiff had some further chances to increase their lead with both Rhys Weston and Leyton Maxwell both going close and just before full time Kavanagh almost grabbed his second and Cardiff's third, but his free-kick fell just wide of the angle.
Report from Manchester Evening News.
Stockport County slumped to their second defeat of the season going down 2-1 against Cardiff city at Ninian Park.
The South Wales club made a blistering start with Robert Earnshaw scoring inside a minute.
Earnshaw was making his first league start of the season for the Bluebirds and he wasted no time in getting on the score sheet.
He forced Stockport County player/manager Carlton Palmer to concede a corner and from the resulting kick he sneaked in on the edge of the six yard box and planted a firm header into the top corner of the net.
Just two minutes later County could have been further behind but ex-Stoke city striker Peter Thorne planted his header into the side netting when it looked easier to score.
With 10 minutes gone the Bluebirds again almost furthered their lead but Keith Briggs did well to clear Spencer Prior's shot off the line.
Welsh born goalkeeper Lee Jones was then called into action moments later as he saved well at the feet of the lively Earnshaw.
But with 15 minutes gone County did draw level through Luke Beckett.
Beckett latched onto a loose ball following a Prior slip and neatly rounded city keeper Neil Alexander to make it 1-1.
Cardiff's welsh international Danny Gabbidon almost put the Bluebirds infront but after dribbling the length of the field he placed his shot high and wide of Jones' goal.
Moments later county striker Luke Beckett almost grabbed his second of the game but Cardiff's goalkeeper Neil Alexander held his shot well.
On the half hour Earnshaw nearly made it two but his spectacular overhead kick was just high of Jones crossbar.
City did regain the lead though just before half time courtesy of Graham Kavanagh.
Cardiff's captain claimed his second goal of the season when his 18-yard shot was deflected past county keeper Jones for 2-1.
In the second half Cardiff city started where they had left off by dominating possession and producing chance after chance.
City midfielder Willy Boland saw his shot well held by Jones after 50 minutes and on the hour Rhys Weston was unlucky to see his shot sail wide.
Earnshaw could have made it three for Cardiff but the impressive Jones again saved well at the feet of the Welsh international.
The closest County came to equalizing was through Luke Beckett but his shot cum cross with 20 minutes left was well blocked by Spencer Prior."
External reports.
The Football Echo
BBC Wales (inc audio)
Wales On Sunday
The South Wales Echo