City 0 Cardiff 1
After a run of 5 successive victories, expectations were high as the Foxes entertained Cardiff at the Walkers, hoping for a win to take an advantage to the Welsh capital on Wednesday, and then meet Blackpool or The Forest at Wembley for the right to go up to the Premiership and all the hype and finances that now brings to the Championship’s promoted teams.
On a sunny afternoon, a crowd of nearly 30,000, with perfect conditions for good football, and the Walkers pitch looking immaculate, team selection, especially upfront, was critical, as the team the previous week against Middlesborough would inevitably show many changes. Weale, Berner, King, Waghorn and Dyer all returned to the starting line-up, Brown and Vaughan were missing from the squad with Fryatt starting on the bench. Also club skipper Oakley was on the bench.
Cardiff, naturally, also selected their strongest team having made 9 changes the previous week in their defeat at Derby. With the Championship’s top scorer, Whittingham, and Chopra and the lanky Bothroyd upfront, with an attacking mid-field, City’s defence would be tested to the limit…..
As with the first Championship play-off game, a Premiership referee, Alan Wiley, Fergies “friend” (stated he carried excessive weight), was appointed to the match, even with a full Premiership program of games taking place. This seems very unfair on the regular Championship referees, admittedly, some are very poor, but surely the League could select the season’s top 3 referees with the best marks to officiate in the semi-finals and also the final at Wembley as their reward for their season’s efforts. It “may” even raise the quality of the officials as an incentive during the season with officiating at Wembley the goal. (Sorry, ex referee getting carried away!)
The game started evenly with both sides playing somewhat cautiously. Bothroyd had an early effort deflected for a corner off Bruce and Whittingham’s shot was blocked. Burke’s cross was cleared by the ever reliable Hobbs. Dyer then had a good run down the left that came to nothing despite a good cross. The Foxes then had 2 free kicks from good positions as Wellens was fouled causing Mr Wiley to calm him down as he was having a spat with a Cardiff midfielder. Gallagher’s first effort hit the wall then Solano’s weak shot ended up in the keeper’s arms.
The dangerous Bothroyd then had a 25 yard shot that went wide but it was evident that Hobbs and Bruce were struggling against the lanky number 9 in the air. At the other end, the Cardiff centre backs were easily coping with City’s long balls, as Waghorn fails to jump to attempt to head the ball, always trying to chest the ball down to his feet to turn the defender. Sometimes it works but mostly the ball comes back into the midfield area. Perhaps that is the tactics?
A Cardiff attack saw Chopra shoot wide with Whittingham hardly in the game, only showing when taking free kicks and corners. Spearing then dealt with Bothroyd in a dangerous position but then worked well with Berner to put Wellens through, then King, who was having a quiet game so far, found Dyer, but he was crowded out and the danger cleared. Hobbs was then yellow carded for a foul on Bothroyd as he almost broke away.
Weale saved from Blake but then the speedy Burke ran down City’s left and his cross was smashed against the post by Chopra from close range and cleared much to the home fan’s relief. Then Weale was fouled in the box by Bothroyd who was surely getting the referee’s attention for his niggling tackles.
Waghorn won the ball on the goal line, Gallagher crossed but the visitors desperately cleared. Half-time arrived with the scores level. The Foxes hadn’t really created much upfront, Waghorn was trying hard and Dyer was drifting in and out of the game, as was Gallagher. Cardiff edged the midfield battle.
A good penalty shoot out at half-time with The Birch directing former City players (you could hear the bones creaking in the stands) and guests taking penalties against Kevin Poole (really 49?) who is still playing at Burton Albion and apparently received Man Of The Match the day before. There’s hope for all!
No team changes after the break, as City won the ball but Spearing’s shot was poor and went well over. Then McPhail’s hooked shot sailed over the bar. In the 48th minute, the Foxes had a lucky escape as a McNaughton cross on the right found Bothroyd 7 yards out but thankfully his powerful header went over the bar when he should really have opened the scoring.
Four minutes later, Wellens shot just wide from 25 yards. Then up the other end the “stroppy” Bothroyd mugged Hobbs. The Referee called over the Cardiff skipper and as the City faithful chanted “off, off…” only a yellow card was shown, his 13th of the season.
City seemed to be playing better with Wellens doing well, but King and Spearing were not showing at all. After 59 minutes, Wellens found Dyer on the right, who cut inside the full back onto his left foot but his shot screamed over the bar. Then Dyer left the action for Fryatt to come on with the expectation of the home supporters high.
The Foxes were then denied a penalty. A Wellens cross to the far post found Waghorn jumping with McNaughton. The grey haired defender seemingly pulled Waghorn to the ground viewed from the east stand, but the City fans behind were shouting for a penalty for a handball as the ball had clearly hit the defender’s arm. Immediate texts from home viewers confirmed this! Usual “Don’t know what you’re doing” aimed at the referee echoed around the ground.
A Bothroyd cross went over the bar, then Etuhu came on for Burke. A Ledley cross was headed out for a corner by King. With 15minutes to go, Waghorn was replaced by Kermogant, at least with some heading ability upfront. But then disaster arrived. Ledley received the ball on their right, and as he cut inside, Kermogant followed him and needlessly pushed him over from behind. The taking of the free kick was delayed as Whittingham tried to gain inches. Only Fryatt stood between the kicker and Weale’s goal, all other City players going to the far post expecting a cross. The Cardiff top scorer bent the ball from 25 yards with his left foot, it hit the near post and ended up in the net. The Cardiff fans went wild.
The Foxes crowd got behind the team, but Bothroyd then cut the ball back as Bruce headed over, Weale punching away the resultant corner kick. A City equaliser should have come in the 82nd minute. A long ball from defence found Fryatt who had 2 defenders with him, but they failed to stop Fryatt advancing into the box. As he tried to shoot with the outside of his right foot, the advancing Marshall saved well, the rebound going wide, but Fryatt retrieved the ball again, saw Spearing at the far post but his cross was too high, with 2 City players unmarked in the box.
The City went all out for the equaliser. Gallagher found Fryatt but a tackle went for a corner. N’Guessan came on for Wellens and a cross was headed wide by Hobbs. With 4 minutes to go, Fryatt found Gallagher, who went for a curler inside the far post but it went the wrong side. Then Berner went on a run, found Kermogant who was fouled by Etuhu. From Gallagher’s free kick, McPhail seemingly handled and again loud shouts for a penalty.
As the Foxes pushed forward, they became exposed at the back and Hobbs had to stop Etuhu with a great tackle. Another N’Guessan cross from the right and Fryatt headed the ball on. With one minute to go, McCormack replaced Chopra, and the 4th official showed 5 minutes additional time, due to Cardiff’s time wasting, that the referee had penalised with a yellow card.
McCormack raced into the box but Bruce made the tackle of the game to deny him. Then Fryatt was pushed in the box but the man in black was looking the other way. Kermogant shot from a narrow angle and was blocked, the ball found Gallagher who controlled it and it hit the centre back’s hand, but again claims for a penalty were denied.
Cardiff broke away as the game went end to end, and Hobbs made an excellent tackle on Bothroyd as the City skipper urged his players forward. With only a minute to go, an N’Guessan cross found Gallagher at the far post and his effort hit McNaughton’s hand, but only a corner resulted. Gallagher’s cross found King 4 yards out but his goal bound header was superbly saved by Marshall at full stretch.
After a frantic last 10 minutes, the final whistle blew and Cardiff take a one goal advantage into the second leg on Wednesday. Manager Pearson states it is now only half-time and there is a lot of football still to be played. Team selection is critical especially upfront. Waghorn tries hard especially when he is left on his own, but a number 9 is needed who can pressure central defenders. Made for Steve Howard? With Kermogant? Time will tell!
Go for it on Wednesday!!! Otherwise it’s Leeds next season – ouch!
City: Weale, Solano, Bruce, Hobbs, Berner, Gallagher, King, Wellens (N’Guessan 85), King, Dyer (Fryatt 61), Waghorn (Kermogant 75). Subs not used: Logan, Morrison, Oakley, Adams.
Cardiff: Marshall, MacNaughton, Kennedy, Hudson, Blake, Ledley, McPhail, Burke (Etuhu 74), Chopra (McCormack 89), Bothroyd, Whittingham. Subs not used: Enckelman, Quinn, Gyepes, Capaldi, Wildig,
Referee: A Wiley Crowd: 29,165
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation