|
It is Burton's second season in professional league football and their first ever meeting with City. Son of Brian, Nigel Clough guided them into the big time but left midway through last season for Derby County, ironically Cardiff's next opponents this weekend. Mrs Karren Brady a.k.a. Paul Peschisolido took over the reins and led them to a highly respectably 13th place in last term in League Two. The Brewers overhauled their squad with 8 new signings over the summer and like City, opened the new campaign with a home draw last weekend (theirs against Oxford United). They arrived at CCS aiming to improve on their Carling Cup debut last season - a 5-1 pasting by Reading.
Their starting line-up was Legzdins, Boertien, Webster, Stanton, James, McGrath (C), Harrad, Penn, Pearson, Young, Bolder. :
Cardiff were aiming for a second win in the day having beaten the increasingly familiar team of Tax & Winding Up Order United away at their Law Court Stadium over lunch, victory set up by clearing the latest the HMRC debt for £1.3M last week but the embargo it caused during summer still leaves City playing catch up.
After naming just 4 subs last weekend, the limited squad was tested again Darcy Blake on Welsh duty (but withdrawing with injury on match day), David Marshall (who withdrew for Scotland), Kevin McNaughton nursing injuries from Sunday and yesterday's signing Seyi Olifinjana not yet ready.
It meant Cardiff made only 3 changes but 3 surprises as Martin John (an American (I think!?) who has been training with City for a couple of weeks) has been signed and started at left back, Jason Koumas was on the sub's bench and Michael Chopra was selected as captain.
City: Heaton; Matthews-Gerrard-Gyepes-John; Burke-Rae-Drinkwater-Whittingham; Bothroyd-Chopra. The full sub's bench was Koumas, McCormack, Quinn, Hudson, Taiwo, Wildig, Jarvis
On a mild, blue skied evening, only the two pitch length sides of the ground were open but the crowd was 6,088, less than 250 resplendent in Burton yellow. Before kick-off, Ali paid tribute to Cardiff City legend Brian Clark who so sadly passed away at the start of the week sending the stadium into spontaneous applause for a couple of minutes which continued after the game kicked-off. A full tribute however will be paid next home game in the league with the blessing of his family. For now, the players wore black armbands. If Clarkie was watching in heaven, I wondered what his thoughts were seeing Jay on the deck after every challenge, it's not the game he played or knew.
Those present were treated to a bright start by Cardiff with pacy attacks and some majestic touches and passes by Peter Whittingham. One ball over the defence almost saw Bothroyd lob the visiting keeper so it was was fitting when Whitts set up the opener as he beat the offside trap to meet a measured Drinkwater through ball and tee up JAY BOTHROYD to steer home in front of goal when he could possibly have run in on goal himself.
However City were stunned as Burton levelled within 4 minutes but it was more hari kari defending. The back four had already been guilty of misplaced passes and poor control and it magnified as Gavin Rae played a reckless high pass across the defence which was made worse by Anthony Gerrard's terrible touch and the ball fell perfectly for HARRAD to bear down on goal and chip past Heaton.
Cardiff were generally comfortable but rarely threatening much either and sloppy in their play with few highlights other than Jay Bothroyd's sizzling distance drive just over the bar and a laugh as Gavin Rae capped his very poor personal display with an audacious back heel attempt on the edge of the box that he fluffed totally and almost sent Burton racing clear on the break. Another funny was Jay heading a corner weoll wide but the ref awarding another corner ... what was he thinking?
Half-Time: CITY 1 Burton 1
Jay Bothroyd got his wish and was substituted at half-time after spending much of the first half moaning and looking at the bench who turned a blind eye to it, although he did take a knock in the half. A couple of minutes later, Adam Matthews was off too with an apparent groin problem. They were replaced by a pumped up Ross McCormack and Paul Quinn.
The game was poor with neither side threatening to score or overly worry the other and resembled a training ground match for chunks of a tedious second period. City fans wanted the win and to go home, nobody wanted extra-time.
Burton were quietly fancying their chances and almost went ahead as Paul Quinn got himself in a mess and almost turned the ball home. Cardiff used their third sub as it was Jason Koumas for the hapless Gavin Rae which earned a huge ovation, Koumas ayatollahing to the crowd within seconds of being on the pitch.
Cardiff were no nearer forcing the winner although McCormack had a far post header disallowed and, instead, should have lost with the last kick in normal time as a scramble saw the ball fall for Pearson in front of goal a couple of yards out but he somehow managed to hook wide and high. I can't even begin to explain how he managed to do that.
Final whistle blew and all City's catering staff had locked up and gone, some City fans decided to do the same and I was wondering why I hadn't as the opening period of extra-time saw Cardiff struggle and Burton, sensing their chances, put three efforts not too far wide.
Dave Jones, for the second game running, decided to change tactics - this from a man who rarely did it all last season. However anyone know what he was trying to achieve? John pushed high up in midfield, Burke dropped to left back.
Fans were resigning themselves to a penalty shoot out when, finally, Cardiff got their act together. A classy slide rule pass and ROSS McCORMACK fired low across the keeper and in off the far post. Two minutes later, even better as ROSS was 35 yards out and back to goal but he brought down a pass, turned his marker, made space and drilled home left footed into the corner from the edge of the box. Superb skill and finishing.
|
At final whistle, the players acknowledged the crowd but Ross McCormack came over, gave his own applause then removed the shirt and gave it to a boy at the front of the stand before waving again. Many City fans believe he may have been saying goodbye, we'll see.
Finally, at almost half past ten, we could escape. Burton should be proud of their efforts and had three of four very game players. For a league two side, they stuck at their game all night and were a footballing side. City, though, have quality in abundance and I am sure we will produce some exciting stuff. Whether it's winning football, only time will tell.