Cardiff City 4 Wolves 0. Match Report

WOLVES (0) 0

ATTENDANCE:
19.915

AWAY SUPPORT:

1/600

WEATHER:

Grey day, heavy lunch showers but dry during game

THE ‘You're The Man' AWARD to:
You could make a case for most of the team but I'd pick Riccy Scimeca must be attaching jump leads to his gonads before every match lately. He's here, he's there, he's every effing where, working so hard, scoring goals and making it all look easy.

THE “You're Not Very Good” BOOT goes to:

It's very harsh but Chops, who by his own high standards, was off key at striking. He still had several shots, set up a goal, worked his bits off and caused mayhem. I've seen City strikers whose entire Bluebird careers didn't get near that!

ATMOSPHERE:
Bouncing, buoyant and beautiful. The feelgood factor is enormous as City, with big crowds watching, are truly turning on the style. There's nowhere better to be right now.

CHANT of the DAY:
Wolves only chant of the afternoon was "what a ****ing shithole" referring to Ninian Park in the opening minutes. I'd ignore that normally but coming from Wolverhampton Town, they would be technical experts on recognising what a ****ing shithole is. Few others are as qualified on the subject.

From City, I can't get bored of "We are top of the League" and nor can anyone else. "That's why we're top of the league" as we're banging in the goals is equally enjoyable and "Chelsea, Chelsea here we come" is always a dream but there are times when you feel there's a chance it could become reality.

PROGRAMME:
Sold out but I got one. Why did they sell out? I'm not saying the two events are linked but The Lone Gunman about City's 4-1 win at Molineux in '88 (I was there too), our biggest win against Wolves until today. Who did eye spy charging down Sloper Road away from NP with what suspiciously looked like a whole carrier bag full of programmes at 10am? Yep, The Lone Gunman! Have you read them all yet Dave?

THE TEAMS:
CARDIFF- Life has to be good when the only debate of the week was a near unanimous outcry to banish some fool's idea of playing goal music after City score. Don't need help, we make the noise. On the player front, Kevin Cooper - recovering from injury, unable to get football here presently - joined Yeovil for a month only, Kevin McNaughton outstanding early from was noticed by Scotland who recalled him after 2 years. He joins Neil Alexander, Joe Ledley, Paul Parry and Willo Flood on international duty after today. Good Luck to all of them.

Back to the game, no suspensions, a couple of players overcome minor knocks from last week's steam-rollering of Southend and We Are Top of the League so the team that picks itself is Alexander, Gilbert-Loovens-Purse-McNaughton, Parry-Scimeca-McPhail-Ledley, Thompson-Chopra. Subs, sill no goalkeeper, were Campbell, Flood, Glombard, Johnson, Kamara.

WOLVES - There are some similarities between Wolves and City. The visitors has a clear out and loads of new faces, they also lost their best players from last season - notably Joleon Lescott to Everton for £5M and Kenny Miller on a Bosman to Celtic. However they started the season unexpectedly well, arriving at NP in 6th, four points behind us..

They have lost at home to Preston and Derby and away at Barnsley but wins over Ipswich, Burnley, Luton, Leeds and Stoke compensate. Goals are scarce - 8 for and 6 against before kick-off made them the lowest scoring Top 10 team in the top 10 but they boasted the meanest defence in the Championship with 6 clean sheets out of 9 games.

McCarthy started with Murray, Mulgrew-Breen-Craddock-Edwards, Henry-Olofinjana-Potter- Ricketts, Johnson-Clarke. Matt Murray at 6' 4" is BIG in goals, a homegrown product - must have been good fertiliser behind experienced centre-halves, Craddock and Breen sharing 64 years. We know Rod Edwards on the right side of defence from Wales appearances Charlie Mulgrew on the left was taken from Celtic but although 23, never appeared to have played the hoops. Midfield featured Potter (on loan from Liverpool), Olofinijana (a Nigerian signed for £1.7M), Ricketts with the rare distinction of having played for Arsenal and Spurs as a youngster and Karl Henry, a summer capture from Stoke. Yank Jemal Johnson captured early season headlines after signing from Blackburn for £150k before the deadline and scoring in his first 2 games - he hasn't netted since with Leon Clarke, the youngster is his first full season.

THE MATCH:

What's that I can just about see on the horizon? **** me, it's the rest of the Championship!

Another emphatic home win with City again ruthlessly pulverising worthy opponents - who had to play three quarters of the game with 10 men - another 4 goals at home, another clean sheet and another display of passion, skill, passing, movement and sheer hard work.

Wolves were blasted - 4-0 and it could have been more - and on an afternoon where the rest of the Top 6 failed to win, Cardiff City stand proudly at the top of the Championship an incredible 5 points clear of the rest of the pack after 10 games and a goal difference better than the next 4 sides added together. You do have to keep asking others if it is a dream or reality - it's strange realising how brilliant we are (this was so unexpected), so brilliant that has a perverse scary feel too.

Pre-game, Brian Clarke was signing copies of his newly released autobiography in the club shop. He is, and always will be an idol to me. I first watched City at 6 from the back of the wooden Canton Stand. He was the player I admired most (along with Don Murray for his hardness). The man is still sprightly and smart and just doesn't look his age but he is almost a pensioner. The chant then was Car-Diff cha cha cha - things have moved on a bit! It's incredible to think I've had to wait until now to see City as good as they were when he played. For those of us who suffered the lows and the dross in-between and never gave up, it's hard to describe how fantastic this payback is but I'm sure we can enjoy more than most, if that's possible.

It was just about a full house - the only space where Wolves didn't take up their full allocation but they brought a far bigger support than most. The away end capacity has been slightly increased by some alterations in the Grange End, the no mans land was filled by coppers who could have put a few hundred more on the gate had they paid!

The roar and anticipation was spine-tingling, Wolves mocked for going into one of those pre-match huddles (that is so yesterday), City players content to just "high five", shake hands, bump shoulders or clench fist and shout at each other.

And off we went. The opening exchanges were cagey as Wolves came determined not to be intimidated and allow us freedom. In Ricketts and Johnson, they also put two men wide playing with pace and it was an even game for the opening exchanges. The pitch was greasy too after a lunchtime downpour which made for one or two slips or passes that zipped away on the turf. Pre-game expectations of a tougher game than recent assignments were very evident especially when the livewire Johnson side-stepped two challenges outside the area but shot straight at Alexander before 90 seconds had passed.

Wolves also won a couple of corners in the first 10 minutes but City threatened danger on a couple of occasions, the final ball letting them down but they had the game's best early chance when Paul Parry ghosted into the box to meet a Gilbert cross but failed to get the right contact and looped a header to Murray. Johnson almost broker through again but hit over, a corner was headed over the Canton Stand by McNaughton before Chopra brilliantly turned Breen and was clear on goal, his first dipping volley was straight at Murray - either side of him and City would have been in front.

The game remained closely-contested, City were now getting more of the ball and territory but were overplaying in the final 30 yards or missing that final ball, a succession of crosses were met by Wolves defenders but they carried a threat when they got over halfway too, chiefly on the flanks rather than anything worrying the commanding Purse and Loovens in the centre. It was intriguing then came a couple of flashpoints.

Flashpoint one saw Mick McCarthy stamping his feet, throwing his toys out of the pram and very animated as a decision rightly went against his side. The Grandstand jeered him, McCarthy played the panto villain role perfectly by turning and pretending to square up to all of us. The Grandstand retorted with, "There's only one Keano" in reference to Keane storming out of his World Cup and subsequent comments. McCarthy, to his credit, turned and laughed away with us.

Then came a a moment of Madness, madness they call it madness by Gary Breen. Thommo and Breen tangled and jostled going for the ball 35 yards out near the Grange Lower Grandstand, Thommo possibly fouling but as they separated, Breen saw Green and put an elbow into Thommo's face and then saw Red. Thommo shook hands with Breen and appealed to the ref but the sending off, given after consulting the lino about 3 yards from the incident, was never in doubt and Breen got first use of the shampoo, his walk of shame accompanied by 18,000 cheerios.

Wolves didn't change immediately and carried on with 3 defenders, Riccy Scimeca almost taking advantage as he intercepted in midfield, strode into a huge gap and blasted from 25 yards just wide and high. A second ball disappeared as someone caught it in the Bob Bank terrace but decided to keep it for a souvenir as Wolves shuffled with Jamie Clapham going left back and Leon Clarke the forward removed.

Then a blow for City as Jemal Johnson closed down McNaughton in the Bob Bank/Canton Stand corner and nudged him, a City free-kick but McNaughton's fall seemed to tweak a hamstring. Joe Ledley dropped back, Parry switched right to left and Kamara came on, immediately making his mark with a burst down the right. Johnson finally got the yellow card that had been in the making all afternoon. After a handful of personal fouls, he was booked for needlessly throwing the ball away at a City throw-in and, to be honest, that was the last we saw of him as he faded right out of the match.

Cardiff were being patient, passing and moving the ball, Wolves were containing City but it was hard work for them and you had the feeling it would eventually tell. Five minutes before half-time, we were on the way. Another sizzling run by Kamara and a hard cross. It seemed easy for Murray to catch at his near post but panic set in as he dived and punched behind. The goal was similar to the penalty award that left Luton with 10 men a fortnight earlier, Paul Parry lofted his corner to the far post, SCIMECA peeled off his marked and found himself rising unmarked with a free header on goal from 8 yards, he planted it firmly downwards.

The party was now in full swing, We are top of the league and Chelsea, Chelsea'ere we come echoing from all sections, you got to enjoy the moment. Chops threatened to double the lead with an angled edge of area drive on half-time but hit it straight at Murray again.

Half-time: CITY 1 WOLVES 0

The half-time entertainment was a bit special. No, I'm not about Captain Rich and his fellow Bluebirds Down Under from Australia trying the crossbar challenge and looking like they'd never kicked a football before! Good try Rich. There was a stunning display of Urban Football by a kid who has managed keepie-up for 13 hours (the missus is chuffed if I manage 3 minutes ... sorry, different sport!) and produced 101 tricks with every part of his body ending with balancing the ball on his head from halfway to the 6 yard box and smashing home. Pursey would have sorted him out had he tried that in a match.

Chops had the 2nd half's first chance but snatched wide. However, just over four minutes into it, the contest was over in comedy style that had us rolling in the aisles as Wolves set up the move, provided the assist and scored it ... all for us!

The origin was Thommo and a Wolves player challenging for the ball in front of Mick McCarthy, it ran loose and another Wolves player, to stop it rolling out, perfectly back-heeled it to Joe Ledley. Thank you. His pass down the line was precision itself for Paul Parry whose beautiful cross behind the defenders saw Edwards head it across the 6 yard back where it hit Captain JOEY CRADDOCK on the chest and flew past the helpless dive of Murray. Did we love that!

From that point onwards, it was a second period of total dominance. City passed it through and around Wolves, I lost times of the number of oles that went out. When Wolves had the ball, even in added time, at four behind, there were closed down and confronted by City players. If they tried to get us through the middle, Purse and Loovens dominated, Loovens looks bigger and stronger with each passing game. Ledley and Gilbert flooding forward time after time. Kamara showboating at times, Scimeca and McPhail showing some incredible touches and passes orchestrating it all. It's almost a football equivalent of watching the Harlem Globetrotters at times.

Malvin celebrates with Kerrea Gilbert

The third came on 70 minutes, another terrific move underling how we are playing the beautiful game in the most beautiful way. Alexander took a back pass and slotted the ball between two Wolves players for Loovens, he stroked it wide to Purse. The skipper strode forward, dummied one player and then placed it for Gilbert who had advanced ahead. Kerrea looked up, sent the perfect ball between another two players to put MALVIN KAMARA through on goal and he powered home his first goal for City, a first time stab into the bottom corner that Murray wasn't near. A load of Wolves fans started drifting away, more cheerio waves then.

78 minutes, it was 4-0 and a beautiful finish. Chopra had drifted wide, was found by McPhail, he cut into the area and found PAUL PARRY who, in one move, slipped Rob Edwards who fell to the floor and blasted a rising drive into the top corner safely past Murray. Chopra joined with hands clapping to the Easy, Easy, Easy chants banging around.

In between all that, Chopra narrowly missed on three occasions latching onto through balls, the alertness of Matt Murray avoiding further humiliation. Chops should have got a 5th too late on when Joe Ledley made a terrific run and found Paul Parry, his cross sailed over defenders for Chopra who had time to control first but screwed his effort wide. It just wasn't his day in front of goal today.

Wolves had chances too. With Jay Boothroyd and Wales stray Craig Davies brought on as subs, the former narrowly missed connecting with a ball across the face of goal. Olofinjana brought out a terrific save from Neil Alexander, he needed some work at the back to get paid! When Davies headed wide, perhaps he should have scored, it sparked some ugly scenes in the away end with Wolves fans confronting and fighting stewards while the keystone cops took some time to get amongst them. Who'd be a steward putting up with that in the away end for a few quid?

It mostly stopped before they got there, maybe with the embarrassment of the entire City support singing "sit down and behave yourselves" to them. Times have moved on. There were past days when that would have been a signal for some of our number to want to respond to that in other ways.

The final stages were celebratory and party-time, passes cheered and applauded, City playing down the clock with total comfort and anthemic chants of "You are my Cardiff", "We are top of the league", "We're the greatest team in football" as the hums of Men of Harlech and Ring of Fire resoundingly triumphant. Truly stirrings sights and sounds which carried on long afterwards in the various watering holes around the ground and elsewhere. No fan in the country can be enjoying their football and having as much fun as us right now.

I can't begin to imagine what it'll be like if we're still there a few months from now. I only hope we all get to find out. It's becoming a great habit but congratulations to Dave Jones and his team, you continue to do us so proud. Whatever happens, the past few weeks have been the most memorable times watching us play football for decades. Enjoy the fortnight's break lads.


Report from FootyMad

Cardiff City crushed promotion rivals Wolves to extend their lead at the top of the Championship table.

City's goals came from Riccardo Scimeca, Malvin Kamara, Paul Parry and a Jody Craddock own goal but the visitors were reduced to ten men midway through the opening half when Gary Breen was dismissed for striking Steven Thompson.

The Bluebirds were unchanged for the third successive match while the visitors also kept the side that beat Stoke City on their last outing.

Both teams were prepared to attack from the opening whistle and Parry sent a tame header straight at Wolves keeper Matt Murray while at the other end Leon Clarke sliced a shot wide from a good position.

The nippy Jemal Johnson was finding space down the right and twice he tested City keeper Neil Alexander before Michael Chopra restored some balance with a volley that was safely held by Murray.

The visitors were rocked in the 21st minute when Breen was shown a red card by referee Pat Miller. He went up for a challenge with Thompson and appeared to strike him in the face as they jostled for the ball.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy sacrificed Clarke and brought on Jamie Clapham who took up a position at wing-back.

Kevin McNaughton picked up an injury on the half-hour and had to be substituted to put his place in the Scotland squad in jeopardy.

City went ahead in the 40th minute when a pinpoint Parry corner was firmly headed into the net by the unmarked Scimeca.

Chopra went close straight from the restart as City went looking for a second goal but it eventually came in fortunate circumstances, three minutes into the second period.

Parry swung over a cross and Charlie Mulgrew's header struck the unfortunate Craddock on the back before flying into the net.

McCarthy's response was to throw on two strikers in Craig Davies and Jay Bothroyd in the 53rd minute.

But City made it safe in the 70th minute when Kamara, who had come on for McNaughton, raced onto a pass from Kerrea Gilbert and slotted his shot beyond the diving Murray.

Eight minutes later and the rout was complete as Chopra fed Parry and the Wales international's right-footed shot hit the roof of the net before Murray could move.


External Reports
The Observer
The Independent
The Times
Wales On Sunday
South Wales Echo
Birmingham Mail