It was the very least that the Bluebirds deserved at Walsall for twice as many goal attempts and three times as many on target as the home side and easily being the better side for the final hour in another rip roaring, entertaining, incident packed and controversial clash - two sent off, a penalty given for the home side, a clear cut denied for City - it's almost becoming normal with us!
After brushing aside the East Midlands challenges of Nottingham Forest and Derby County in some style last week, City fans, players and management set off for our "local derby" in the West Midlands. At 107 miles from Cardiff, it is our shortest trip of the season. It should be the quickest too but Bescot Stadium is situated within a couple of hundred yards of the notorious M5/M6 junctions which had half-hour delays both ways. Those who tried short cuts also found themselves caught in other football traffic heading for Wolves v Portsmouth and Aston Villa fans were trying to get to the north side of Birmingham.
Our curtailed plans saw us shelve plans for a pre-match drink north of Walsall and head into West Bromwich and a pub with the glorious sign "Topless Barmaids Back, August 1st". Unfortunately the barmaid inside wouldn't show us her back or front - shame really! - but we did get the watch the Everton v Liverpool derby with Baggies fans (still sulking over their 4-1 hammering at Walsall 3 weeks ago previously). Funnier still was when GTFM phoned asking if I would do a pre-match, half-time, full-time chat with them. At 20 to 3 for the pre-match preview, we were still in the pub but ran outside to blast Men of Harlech out of the car cd player. The dumbfounded presenter was convinced that not only were we inside the ground but that there was also a Welsh band marching up and down the pitch and put it down to Sam Hammam!!
When we got to Bescot, it felt like a home game too. Even if you've never been there, you can hardly miss the ground on any journey north. It was the first of the modern stadia built in the late 80's/early 90's, 4 small rectangular stands but one of them behind a goal has been extended into a double decker stand sponsored by Purple Loans and, naturally, dubbed the "Purple End". Ooh eer.
City fans were packed into the opposite end defended by Neil Alexander & Co with stewards and police opening a gate to let us overflow into a side are too. At £16 admission and £2 for a programme, it's as cheap as it gets at this level but put into context when you think it's only £1 more for the true value of an Italy vs Wales ticket in San Siro Stadium, Milan next weekend! The crowd was 8,974 including 2,500 or so Bluebirds, an above average crowd for the home side although their opening crowds were slightly larger but they were for real derbies with West Brom (5 miles away) and Stoke (40 miles). Funny to think that crowd is only 1,500 less than the Welsh contingent heading for Milan.
Their programme was interesting with a programme of facts about Cardiff including a gem that Noel Gardiner founded the NHS (bet Aneurin Bevan will have something to say about that!), the myth that Phillip Schofield has been known to do the ayatollah with City fans and that Shakin' Stevens is a big City fan too - where do they dig up this crap?
Cardiff were unchanged from the side that hammered Derby on Monday. James Collins, after his sparkling display, kept his place as although Danny Gabbidon has trained the past couple of days, he was saved . for Milan next week!
Walsall are best described as Merson and the Mercenaries as they lined up with a mini foreign legion. The star name, of course, was Paul Merson but alongside him was Vinny Samways, now 34, who has plied his trade in Spain for a few years. The remainder included a Spaniard, Australian, New Zealander, Portuguese and a crew of players at their 8th or more club. Just one of their players started at the club they now play for.
With Bluebirds still on a high with Division One performances and providing fantastic vocal backing turning the feel of the clash into a home game, City kicked off to a quiet but nervous opening. The only excitement of opening stages were a Paul Merson handball giving City fans an early opportunity to abuse the former drug taking alcoholic and the tannoy announcer entertaining our support with his plea for 2,500 of us to sit down.
The first corner fell City's way after Richard Langley surged into space but his shot was deflected wide. James Collins showed signs of early nerves, Tony Vidmar had to rescue a situation after he underhit a pass across the area and Vidmar indeed showed calmness and assurance every time he was on the ball that undoubtedly helped Ginge.
Walsall were exerting pressure. Their first attempt came just before 10 minutes as Merson lobbed over quickly followed by a Corica effort going the same way then Roper fired high too meeting a Merson corner.
Merse, at this stage, was certainly influential on the game. No pace, slightly overweight (by professional player rather than City supporter standards!) but his first touch, flicks and general play was pure quality, if anything his speed of thought and passes were too good. The way he effortlessly always found space underlining what a great player he was, and still is. The other big threat to City came from Spanish left back Zigor Aranadle who got forward at every opportunity to hand Rhys Weston a torrid time, Weston's confidence appearing to take a knock as Aranadle passed him tow or three times, City fans close by applauding him and shouting encouragement as his head dropped a little.
While talking of Weston, what is it with his socks?? Has anyone else noticed he is wearing unofficial no logo socks that look more like a standard pair of schoolboy socks as they barely cover his calf and don't get anywhere near or over his knees like others? He also doesn't appear to be wearing shinpads, surely not?
Having ridden the early stages, City started to show their footballing abilities with some good passing and movement in what was a frantic game that felt more like a cup tie and with the atmosphere to go with it.
Alan Lee forced himself forward and was brought down by a lunging tackle. Kav's goalbound free-kick brought the first of many great saves by small in size but big in stature James Walker who, at times, seemed to be the entire Walsall defence. Earnie fired over before City had a major let off.
From a goal-kick, the ball quickly swept downfield and found its way to Leitaio clear on goal, Tony Vidmar produced a superb tackle falling to the ground but the ball ran clear to give Leitaio a lucky second chance. He spun 10 yards out but his luck ran out as he mishit the ball which weakly rolled to Alexander when he really should have scored.
The closing 10 minutes of the half saw City slowly but surely getting on top and Walsall on the backfoot, the tide had turned with the home side relying on away style breaks. Collins rose high meeting a Kav corner but Walker took his header comfortably but City themselves should have scored near the interval as Alan Lee burst down the left channel and fired over for Earnie in the clear at the far post. Instead of shooting home first time, the little fella uncharacteristically took a touch to control the ball which proved fatal as his goalbound hit that looked in all the way was blocked at the last moment, that touch cost him and City.
It was an even half but City ended it looking the dominant force, defence comfortable, Kav and Langley's quick feet looking better than the Merson-Samways combo and Lee and Earnie making life very uncomfortable for The Saddlers. As the Black County folk would say, from a City viewpoint, it was Orr-roight!
Half-time: WALSALL 0 CITY 0
City started the second period exactly where they signed off at the end of the 1st half. Kav tested Walker who produced a good save to take a Kav blistering 40 yard free kick under his bar and a minute later, just about get down and scramble away another Kav free-kick fired low to his left which took just about everyone by surprise.
Cardiff looked likely to score at any moment but were hit by an disaster and moments of fate. Fifty minutes in, Darren Bazely made progress on the right and hit a 'nothing special' ball across the very edge of the penalty area where a few players were lined up.
Inexplicably, and although unclear to City fans at the opposite end, it was handled, ref
Joslin having little hesitation in pointing to the spot. Cardiff fans were confused whether Barker or Langley and whether it was ball to hand or there was genuine intent, given there was no danger at all, but it turned out to be James Collins' handball and that was it.
Players protested, not that greatly though, and Aranadle stepped up. As we all know, Neil Alexander - for all his greatness - has never saved a penalty for City and only once ever gone the right way so fans accepted their fate and, so it seemed, did the players too. Aranadle hit a blaster to Alexander's left but, incredibly, flinging an arm out, Alex got the ball, deflected it onto the ball and sent it 50 foot or more into the air. City fans cheered wildly as it deceptively looked as it had gone behind but the ball dropped under the ball and LEITAIO bundled it in from all of 1 yard, City's defenders too slow to react.
It was rough justice on City but only served to give them even more grit and character and there appeared a one way sign heading towards the Walsall goal and a no entry sign prohibiting Walsall getting anywhere near City's.
They did shortly afterwards and with even greater tempo, tempers and frustrations evident, Leitaio squared up to James Collins after Ginge got a great stop on him. As they did, Alexander charged out and squared up to Leitaio too. A decent comedy moment and a yellow card for Alexander too but good to see the passion and fight in all of our players, every team needs that side to them.
It was around this stage that ref Joslin started losing control of the game, really not helped at all by Walsall play-acting and strongarm antics that of the sort that you expect from contintental rather than English sides but best explained by them having more continental than English players and Samways turning from the flair player he was at Spurs into the thug he became renowned for in Spain. The several decisions Joslin got wrong also annoyed and frustrated both teams equally as City pressed and Walsall fought hard to retain their lead under continually increasing pressure as Weston broke clear but put his cross behind then made Walker save hitting straight at him from 25 yards and two corners were cleared in scrambles.
Another flashpoint seemed inevitable but nobody predicted a double sending-off. Alan Lee who had tolerated some stick from Walsall's uncompromising centre-halves found that they didn't like getting it back as he set off on another bustling touchline run to be impeded by Ritchie who then theatrically and ridiculously threw himself to the floor and rolled over too for good measure. Little wonder Lee found it frustrating but got involved with a handbags at 10 paces with Aranadle over-reacting. It was staggering to see Joslin show Lee an instant red but almost a full minute later with many thinking City had to carry on with a man less, the Spaniard took the walk of shame too with City fans waving cheerio. Richie, surprise surprise, made a miraculous recovery, got up and sneaked away.
With 10 against 10, Merson found himself isolated up front but while his passing remained supreme, he was already being upstaged by Kav who ran the show for the remainder of the game but the star performer of all was James Walker.
A Walsall legend who has an autobiography out later this year, he can probably write an extra chapter of how he kept the Men of Harlech at bay on his own. He made a routine save from Weston, a great save from Robinson, a fantastic save from Earnie and an astounding save from Langley who burst through three defenders and hit a piledriver.
Walsall's solitary response, and possible only occasion into City's half, saw Merson fire away, the siege quickly returned to the opposite end with Weston blasting narrowly wide from 30 yards and also heading over at a corner, the player pushing forward with his first half tormentor back in the changing room.
City made changes with Thorne and Whalley thrown on for Robinson and Boland and still they came forward with Kav and Vidmar shooting wide, Kav making Walker save and Merson enjoying a rest on halfway watching all the play at the other end but even he must have been embarrassed to be announced as their man of the match - a real insult to the incredible Walker goalkeeping display.
Still, City came and when Kav played Earnie through, the wee man was brought down by a defender making a desparate challenge from behind. The ref waved play on. Now it was either a clear cut penalty, as it looked to those around me, or Earnie should have been booked for his dive but Joslin did neither.
That felt like our last chance had gone, we were resigned to defeat and thinking Bradford was the best ever 2-0 home loss performance and Walsall as one of our best away performances in defeat too and it just wasn't our day as our defence did little wrong, Kav and Langley stood out in mdifield (Langley's work rate almost matched John Robinson and Willie Boland) but we didn't get the goals we deserved. So credit goes to our team for one final throw, battling to the very end and never giving up themselves.
Weston got forward, crossed long, Thorne chested down on the left edge of the area and WHALLEY took a touch and passed the ball right inside Walker's far corner, perfection for his first ever City goal and a celebration to end them all.
City fans and players alike went absolutely mental, it was real pandemonium as our end eurupted. The mass jumping and pogoing in sheer joy of 2,500 City fans probably gave Bescot stadium a six inch slope towards the away end!! Those Walsall fans still inside the ground - many had already made their exit - must have felt gutted but even they will admit they hardly deserved the win. Indeed, it was debatable if they even deserved the draw.
Ref Joslin still had a sting in the tail as he booked Kav and Chris Barker for what could only be time wasting but no sooner did the game restart and two touches later, he blew the final whistle. Some time wasting that was! The final scenes were ecstatic, City had produced another display to be proud of and whilst not the highest quality, the entertainment and sheer thrills on offer were exhilarating.
City now lie 10th with 8 points from 5 games and have already shown enough to show they should have no problems at all consolidating. Those 5 games have produced fantastic entertainment and the buzz surrounding City will roll on, these are special times to follow this club.
No City game for a fortnight as 6 City players head for international duty. Good Luck to all but from a purely selfish point of view, show'em the way James, Rhys, Danny and Earnie. C'mon City and C'Mon Wales . Milan here we come . we are the self preservation society!
Report from FootyMad
Gareth Whalley pounced three minutes into injury time to earn Cardiff City a deserved share of the spoils in a hard-fought encounter against Walsall at the Bescot Stadium that saw both sides end the game with ten men.
Super-sub Whalley fired home a low drive from a Peter Thorne cross to finally break the resistance of Walsall and their goalkeeper James Walker.
Walker had starred for Walsall as they sought to protect the advantage that Jorge Leitao had given them with his third goal of the season.
Leitao reacted fastest to turn home the loose ball in the 50th minute after Zigor Aranalde's penalty had been saved.
Aranalde then saw red along with Rotherham striker Alan Lee after 65 minutes - sparking Cardiff's successful late push for a point.
Cardiff boss Lennie Lawrence said: "I have to say that I did not think the goal would come.
"But it was no more than we deserved from our performance. We kept going and finally got our reward."Disappointed Walsall boss Colin Lee admitted: "That is very hard to take so late in the game.
"The sending off affected us more than it did Cardiff because losing a defender is always harder than losing a striker.
"But it is clear that we need to strengthen our squad and I am doing all I can to sign a new striker."Cardiff could easily have been well in control of affairs by half-time but their finishing failed to match their build-up play.
Walsall did threaten in the opening stages through their influential skipper Paul Merson and the Australian international midfielder Steve Corica.
Merson and Corica both saw efforts flash across the face of goal while Merson also fired into the side-netting.
But the clear-cut chances fell the way of Cardiff. Skipper Graham Kavanagh forced Walker into a smart save with a 25-yard free-kick in the 21st minute.
Three minutes later, a mix-up between Walker and Walsall central defender Danny Hay let in Rob Earnshaw, but he volleyed over the bar.
The pacy Earnshaw and Cardiff's new £825,000 marksman Lee posed constant problems for Walsall and they should really have combined to break the deadlock three minutes before half-time.
Lee whipped in a left-wing cross and picked out Earnshaw at the far post only for the Welsh international to see his close-range shot blocked by central defender Paul Ritchie.
Cardiff continued to press at the start of the second half when Walker needed to produce two smart saves to deny Kavanagh from well taken free-kicks.
The failure to convert their chances then came back to haunt Cardiff as Walsall broke the deadlock five minutes after the re-start.
Cardiff central defender James Collins was adjudged to have handled a cross from Darren Bazeley and referee Phil Joslin had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Aranalde's penalty was saved by Cardiff keeper Neil Alexander who knocked the ball into the air, but Leitao reacted quickest to bundle home a header on the goal line.
Tempers became frayed after Leitao's strike and both Lee and Aranalde saw red in the 65th minute after they clashed on the touchline.
Cardiff made a determined bid to try and force their way back on to level terms, but could not find a way past the inspired Walker - until Whalley struck.
He continued to frustrate Cardiff with stunning saves from Richard Langley, Kavanagh and John Robinson and but was helpless to prevent Whalley striking deep in stoppage time.
Extrenal reports
IC Wales
BBC
Wales On Sunday
The Times
Western Mail