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Tues 5th February 2002. Bournemouth 1 - 3 Cardiff City. Match report. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| February Headlines |
City moved to within 2 points of a play off place with 70 minutes of superb football at Dean Court. The final 20 mins were a bit backs to the wall as Bournemouth rallied but City had already won the game by then. Jason Bowen, a livewire all game, broke free on the left and crossed for Graham Kavanagh to head home unchallenged on 15 mins. It was Kav's 12th of the season. 5 minutes later Bowen again assisted. This time he flicked on an Andy Legg corner and Earnie, back in the starting line up after injury, gratefully nodded home from 3 feet to make it 2 - 0 with his 13th of the season. It was also the first goal scored by a forward since Earnie scored against Reading on Boxing Day. City were playing some great football and if not for Stewart in the Bournemouth goal the lead could have been more. Scott Young was denied when a header appeared to be creeping in at the far post for Stewart to dive and tip it around the post. The game was effectively over in the 52nd minute. Earnie broke free and went down under a challenge from the Burnemouth keeper. Now it happened right in front of me and I'm not sure if the free kick Earnie won was for a foul, a backpass or a handball. Whichever it was Earnie stood up, and while Bournemouth tried to regroup for the incoming free kick, the young striker rolled the ball for Willie Boland to fire into the far side of the empty net. It was brilliant opportunism and something we usually see going against us and not for us. City were in total control and every pass was cheered "It's just like watching Brazil" was being chanted. As expected though City came under pressure. This time the 3 goal cushion was enough to keep us safe but when Holmes got the last touch to send the ball into Alexanders goal on 74 mins it set up a frantic finale with Bournemouth increasing the pressure. Alexander had hardly touched the ball all game but found himself in the thick of the action making some crucial saves. City were restricted to breakaways and if it were not the over zealous linesman who waved his flag like his life depended on it City could have pinched a late goal. City started the game with the smallest strikeforce in the division, Earnie and Bowen. But using width we scored two goals from crosses with Bowen setting up a header for Kavanagh and ironically the two small forwards both getting a headed touch for Earnie to score his goal. Can I congratulate Bournemouth on a very friendly and superb football ground. It has a 12,000 odd capacity and is only three sides complete but they are all brand new stands and the pitch is the best I have seen for some time. It was like a billiard table and made for a great football game. The Queens Park pub before the game was packed with City fans and there was free mingling with the locals and all was well. The win for City keeps then in 10th place but its getting tighter. 6th place is now only two points away. We have games in hand still and the new way of looking at our form is to say we have now won three from the last four games, that's 9 points from 12. Much better than the previous 9 points from 24 available before tonight's game. City must take this form into the home game on Saturday. A win over Swindon would put us right into the play off mix and make it 4 wins in 5 games. Brighton carved out another 1 - 0 home win to move to within 4 points of leaders Reading. Brighton are second with an 11 point lead over City. saturday's opponents Swindon were beaten at home by Huddersfield. Top of the table
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Copyright Michael Morris 2002.
