Norwich City 1 Cardiff City 0. Match Report

CARDIFF CITY (0) 0

ATTENDANCE:
25,014

CITY TRAVELLING SUPPORT:
1,150 - a fantastic following on an uncompromising 550 mile round trip journey.

WEATHER:

Grey skies, rain and sun - long overdue but Autumn has finally arrived.

THE ‘You're The Man' AWARD to:
The trend this season is to say, the whole team stood out. For the first time, it's probably true to say that nobody stood out.

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

Luigi Glombard - you're not very good is some understatement for you. If there's sense at this club, you've made your last appearance on the bench, let alone the pitch..

ATMOSPHERE:
From City - 1st half subdued at times - little wonder with what we were witnessing, 2nd half excellent..
From Norwich - they are well supported at home, not as raucous as us but one of the few clubs who get close with their home backing.

PROGRAMME:
A 100 page special - when I get time to read it, I'll tell you if it's any good.

PHOTOS:
A selection can be viewed at >>> http://tinyurl.com/yhdm74

THE TEAMS:
CARDIFF- Chops got the chop with Michael Chopra serving a 1 match ban after 5 bookings in 11 games defending from the front ... and needlessly booting the ball away at Preston. The only change was therefore enforced. Most debate seemed to be whether Parry should play as a second striker or give Campbell a try but Dave Jones went for the obvious - so obvious that none of us predicted it - by giving Luigi Glombard, a bench regular with 3 sub shows and 1 Carling Cup start, a chance. James Chambers continues to deputise for Kevin McNaughton but his 6 weeks out has now turned into an apparent return to training next week. It may once again prove the CCFC maths equation - take the absence time reported by City and divide it by 2.

The only choice was who replaced Chopra. Parry moving inside (but sacrificing what he offers wide), Campbell (an uneasy alliance with Thommo) and Ferretti (liked by fans but clearly not-so-rated by Dave Jones) were amongst the options but he went with Luigi Glombard (a regular sub this season) but who was distinctly impressive in his only start - a Carling Cup game with Barnet - and 2 late sub showings.

The team was therefor Alexander, Gilbert-Loovens-Purse-Chambers, Parry-Scimeca-McPhail-Ledley, Thompson-Glombard. Sub goalkeeper Mark Howard was called to the bench for the first time in a couple of months with the now usual suspects of Campbell, Flood, Johnson and Kamara.

NORWICH- And so to that timeless terrace anthem (to The Adams Family), "Your sister is your mother, Your uncle is your brother, You all f--- one another, The Norwich family".

When City travelled to the hometown of "It's the quiz of the week, It's Sale of the Century" this time last season, it was widely reported that Nigel Worthington would be dismissed if he lost that encounter. We let them win late on - a freak Neil Alexander o.g. - which gave them another year of misery, sometimes it's not always bad to lose then!

They opened the season in reasonable form but 1 point out of 15 after hammering by Coventry (3-0), Plymouth (3-1) and Burnley (4-1 at home in a live Sky game) meant that Worthington's Best made them Bitter and Delia tossed him off.

They are recovering with a 3-3 draw at QPR (the home side having to grab a 90th minute equaliser) and then a great deserved 1-0 victory at Birmingham City in new manager, Peter Grant's first game. There is little doubt that this likeable club have been under-performing and can only be expected to improve, this win capped a great 1st week for Grant but still shows they have a way to go..

The Canaries played 4-3-3 with Ashdown, Colin-Shackell-Doherty-Drury, Safri--Etuhu- Robinson, Croft-Earnshaw-Huckerby. The only change from that midweek win was Jamie Ashdown starting in goals having signed on loan 24 hours earlier from Pompey. They contained a threat up front with Croft and Huckerby (both signed from Man City) and our little Earnie who, to me, still doesn't look the player he was a couple of years ago but still does a great job at this level - he's already got 9 this season and has 17 in 28 games for the Canaries. He'll wonder how he never added to that tally today.

THE DAY & THE MATCH:

It's stupid time and my ever annoying mobile alarm starts chirping barely a handful of hours after a City Road curry and pubs full of Cardiff's Hardest Men - all off to St Peter's to meet Sugar Ray Leonard who was in town.

The radio clicks into an alien from of life with the usual happy crappy d.j.. "That was In The Morning by Razorlight. Not going to win lyricists of the year are they? What sort of rhyme is 'the songs on the radio sound the same, everyone just looks the same. You're listening to Dead Dragon or Unreal Radio (or whatever bilge it was) and it's 5;55am. It could have been Norwich's finest, Alan Partridge belting that out, sh*t, Norwich, City are playing there, GET UP! Mind you, it was perhaps also a sign that I should have stayed in bed.

An hour later and I'm standing on the platform of the People's Republic of Cadoxton station in Barry. While we're top of the league, if it's good enough for City to fly there then it's good enough for me to let the train take the strain and have some style too. It certainly took the strain off my wallet, it cost double the coach price.

Little more than half-hour later, I meet Mike Morris and we're on the chuffer to Paddington. Caught the same train only a week before for Crystal Palace, that one was overflowing - it may as well have been a football special - this time it's more serene with about 30 City fans on it, more left on even earlier services. Early tinnies supped, we start to wake up.

The "convenience" of the train was tested on the tube when City and Hammersmith (which connects Paddington to Liverpool Street) and Central (the 2nd best option) were shut for maintenance. We made the connecting train to Norwich with minutes to spare - another 2 hour journey to follow - with Bluebirds and London Canaries on board.

6 hours after starting out, finally made Norwich, their ground less 5 minutes walk from the station but we headed to a classic real ale pub and packed it was. CHB is a fine pint, had to give up a cloudy local scrumpy as it looked like detergent, tasted like detergent - it probably was detergent! Rob Hughes drank it but he looks the type who'd drink battery acid and pavement puddles so no surprise really. Had a few chats with the locals who are the most friendly, welcoming bunch imaginable - a really high percentage of them wear their colours too. So much yellow and green, I could have done with sunglasses.

All too soon, it was time to head to the ground. Their 25,014 crowd was just about capacity and includes season ticket holders approaching 20,000 - it's an impressive set up. The ground is compact and traditional but a good all sealer - 4 none-too-large stands, the biggest being a double-decker behind one goal. We were to their left in the bottom corner of a pitch length stand which City attacked in the first half - the word attack being lightly used on this occasion.

As I walked into the stand, I bumped into Gwyn who shocked me with the news that the club were announcing a major restructure next day which was great for the club but sad in some ways. I didn't need to ask what that meant, it was obvious Sam was moving aside. The rumours quickly buzzed about. One of the fans had spoken to Sam early in the morning who had given nothing away. However, whilst unconfirmed, it was those who have remained closest to Hammam who were confirming that he had indeed sold his shares. The only confusion was who had he sold to and why.

By half-time, Milan Mandaric's name was being touted about (that appears to be a red herring). By full-time, gossip was that David Sullivan was resigning at Birmingham. The one consistent was that Peter Ridsdale was taking over as Chairman. Not until Sunday papers did it become apparent that Pistol Pete was running the show aided and abetted by City financing. Clearly, it can only help take us forward on and off the pitch and, hopefully, finally mean we get our stadium.

However the deal will not complete until Christmas, who's to say this one won't have a few twists and turns yet? It just wouldn't be Cardiff City if it didn't.

With that news buzzing around, and the away end was alive was gossip and rumour, the game kicked-off with a terrific atmosphere and high tempo but City were being more than matched by the hosts who certainly carried a big threat. Cardiff came close to scoring in the first 5 minutes as a trick of the eye and mind made us think Thommo had scored as he connected first time with a cross deflected to the edge of the box, his shot rippling the back of the net ... but it had narrowly missed as was running behind the goal.

Before it, Norwich fired their first effort - a shot that Alexander took at head height and broke at us with pace. That pace told as they took the lead on 7 minutes with a beautiful goal but questions should be asked about where we were. Taking a pass 25 yards out, nobody closed down DICKSON ETUHU or moved towards him as he was allowed time to trap the ball, tee up a shot and curl a beautiful 20 yard rising, curling drive across goal into the top corner, Neil Alexander was helpless getting there. Cardiff fans were behind it and knew it was in from the moment he connected with that shot, it was sublime. Etuhu stood still and took the plaudits, as much movement as he needed to set up his goal.

From the kick-off, Norwich broke again and Earnie was brought down by Loovens for a yellow card. City were now under the cosh, having a torrid time and there was no escape. The biggest problem - apart from Norwich being on fire and looking dangerous - was that our front partnership had no interplay and in Luigi Glombard, a player either completely out of his dept or suffering with "rabbit in headlights" syndrome. He was removed at half-time, it could have happened much earlier.

City tried to hit back, Parry was blocked, Loovens met a Parry far post corner and headed wide when he should have hit the target and Joe Ledley hit mightily high and wide but we were easily second best, this was a game both won and lost in the opening half and City could not get their game together and the home side exploited it to the full.

Back to the worse than awful Glombard, I commented after watching his performance against Barnet that Glombard must be French for horse glue, I'll now revise it to cat's p*ss.

It is no exaggeration to say he strolled at half pace, he seemed to be having a one man training jog out there whilst everyone was working their nuts off on a different level around him - 10 players and 1 stranger. So unbelievably one dimensional, he could not have broken sweat. So poor was Glombard's movement, work-rate and and desire that I only recall him having a couple of touches - he did win a corner with a deflected shot from deep and, after Paul Parry forced himself inside and put Glombard wide, he did send over a cross which Ledley headed straight at Ashdown.

Any remaining doubt that he could have appeared 2nd half was removed when his useless first touch backwards just outside Norwich's box dissected the entire Cardiff midfield and defence and, incredibly, sent Earnie racing clear on goal. He was denied by Neil Alexander but should have scored. He should, in fact, have had a hat-trick but was as wasteful for Norwich as he was in his last Welsh appearance against Cyprus last week.

With City is disarray, chance came thick and fast for Norwich. Alexander parried well from Huckerby, Doherty missing a far post head by inches, Earnie fired wide once and straight at Alexander once right in front of goal when he looked certain to score, Welsh international Carl Robinson fired narrowly wide, Huckerby was close again and several shots were blocked. Half-time was a relief, it also meant we could disappear underneath and swap notes on the Hammam story.

There really wasn't much to write about 2nd half so I'll save myself the detail too. Glombard was off, Parry went in the middle, Kamara came on and with that, City at least got some semblance of their passing game together. They controlled the game in terms of possession and territory but offered no threat in the final third at all. We just never looked like scoring, Ashdown certainly did not have anything of note to save. The closest chance early when Darren Purse ghosted to the far post to meet a Kamara cross but had to stretch for contact and sent the ball spinning in the air, Thommo had an air shot trying to connect as it came down whilst stretching too. Kamara fired one narrowly over.

Norwich were completely snubbed as an attacking threat, Loovens and Purse now bossing them out of the game. In the away end, the Michael Chopra effect was put down as the reason, some suggesting we're average without him but I don't agree. City's problem is that we had no adequate cover for him. Our limited squad has cover for Thommo, centre-halves, the wide men and midfielders to a certain extent but there is nothing for Chops. As he plays in the spine, a pivotal position, it asks for trouble. Nobody can be as effective as him but when he have nothing at all, we're in trouble. I'm sure Dave Jones will be looking to resolve that if we're to maintain our challenge.

City threw on all subs, Thommo was ineffective and replaced by Kevin Campbell, equally ineffective. Joe Ledley was replaced by Willo Flood who did well to cut inside two challenges but as things opened in front of him, his scuffed a shot to Ashdown. City finished with Purse thrown up front as a third striker and Scimeca dropped into central defence but it wasn't our day.

McPhail looked to have a serious injury, the City physio ruled him out of the game and called for a stretcher, it looked very worrying, then he got up and continued, taking the throw to restart the game. Quite strange. There was a silly ending and Gilbert and McVeigh tangled with each other deep into added time with the game going nowhere, McVeigh used his head on Gilbert who retaliated with a push - both had needless red cards. In Gilbert's case, we really can't afford to lose him and if McNaughton's unavailable for next weekend, it's going to give us a serious headache at the back.

Our 13th game, unlucky for us and the first time we've failed to score. Events off the field slightly overshadowed those on it - some day to remember, some game to forget. If our next showing like this isn't for another 13 games, it's no problem. City's bounced back after their last blip with 5 straight wins and it's time for the character of this side to be tested again. Derby at home next week presents a great chance to move on and put this behind us.

To end a poor day and experience, the trains gave us a final kick. All services in and out of Paddington were suspended for 90 minutes after a suicide jumper at Southall. The train subsequently made up time - Southall itself was lit up with thousands of fireworks with diwhali being celebrated - but those of us living outside of Cardiff missed our final trains home. Taxis were arranged for us but it was a 7 hour journey back. The joys of following City!



Report from FootyMad

The Canaries, undergoing a revival under their new boss Peter Grant, clipped the wings of the high-flying Bluebirds with a crucial 1-0 victory at Carrow Road.

The home side enjoyed much the better of the first 45 minutes and could easily have added to Dickson Etuhu's seventh minute goal by half-time.

As it was, Cardiff had a lot of second-half possession without getting the better of a well-organised Norwich defence.

The visitors started brightly and Norwich keeper Jamie Ashdown, signed on loan from Portsmouth on Friday, was nearly tested as early as the third minute only for Steven Thompson's shot to fly inches wide.

At the other end Etuhu's shot was firmly held by Neil Alexander. However, the Norwich midfielder found the back of the net in the seventh minute when he curled a right-foot shot inside Alexander's left-hand post from some 25 yards.

In the 20th minute Darren Huckerby 's shot was blocked by the keeper and eight minutes later Rob Earnshaw, playing against his former club, jinked his way into a good shooting position only to fire wide of the target.

Norwich's Carl Robinson was only inches away from making it 2-0 with a fierce drive before Huckerby set up Earnshaw who shot straight at Alexander.

Just before the break the Cardiff keeper again denied the Norwich striker in a one-on-one situation.

Bluebirds boss Dave Jones brought Malvin Kamara on for Luigi Glombard at half-time with Paul Parry moving from right wing to striker.

The visitors stepped up a gear in the second half and in the early stages both Lee Croft and Adam Drury were booked for fouls.

Huckerby made way for Paul McVeigh and Kevin Campbell replaced Thompson but neither side was able to fashion a worthwhile scoring chance.

Joe Ledley was replaced by Willo Flood and promptly got himself booked for a foul on Croft.

As the game went into five minutes of stoppage time Youssef Safri limped off to be replaced by veteran striker Dion Dublin and Kerrea Gilbert and Paul McVeigh were sent off for squaring up to one another in the dying seconds.


External reports
The Independent
Western Mail
Wales On Sunday