November
Newsfile

Newsfile Archive

My last news item of the 20th Century gives one last mention to the Cambridge 8. With Frank Burrows and the staff staying tight lipped about Tuesdays game its been left to Steve Borley to publicly praise the efforts of the 8 men left on the pitch.

The second report below focuses on the refereeing aspect.

Happy new year to one and all. The site will be off to a running start with the home game against Preston on Monday.

From The Mirror.
HAIL THE (GR)EIGHT ESCAPE

EIGHT-MAN Cardiff City were heralded last night as "heroes" by City chairman Steve Borley.

Borley defended his players, claiming the Bluebirds' performance in Tuesday's 0-0 draw at Cambridge United - when they had three players sent off - was "one of the best in the history of the club".

Central defenders Russell Perrett and Craig Middleton were sent off by Premiership referee David Elleray for two bookable offences - and substitute centre-back Lee Phillips followed in the 75th minute for pushing away a goalbound shot from United's John Taylor with his hands.

Manager Frank Burrows was still refusing to comment yesterday but Borley said: "It was an unbelievable performance.

"Every player showed guts, determination and pride in the club. The fans, too, were incredible and played their part in earning a fantastic result.

"It was a match that will go down as one of the best in the history of the club." Having three players dismissed in one match is not a League record - as Cardiff wing-back Josh Low knows only too well.

Low, 20, recently signed on a free transfer from Leyton Orient, was one of four Bristol Rovers players sent off during a 3-1 defeat at Wigan in December 1997.

One of the players banished in that debacle was former Cardiff defender Jason Perry.

That precious point at the Abbey Stadium left Cardiff in 18th in the Second Division and Burrows's men will be keen to improve on that when they host high-flying Preston at Ninian Park on Monday. Preston, on a 17-match unbeaten run, are second in the table, just two points behind leaders Wigan.

The game could give Burrows a chance to run his eye over Preston's Cardiff-born striker Kurt Nogan.

Although recently linked with a move to Hull, Nogan is on Burrows's shopping list as he seeks a full-time striking partner for Kevin Nugent.

Having called off the deal with Swindon for Iffy Onuora at the 11th hour last week, Burrows is keen to land a front runner to help his side move up the table.

From Total Wales.
FORMER Premiership official Keith Cooper last night warned of the dangers of ‘personality referees’ after David Elleray sent off three Cardiff City players at Cambridge.

Cooper said the decision to appoint an exclusive panel of referees when the Premiership came into being in 1992 had produced problems in English football.

It is only this season that top referees such as Elleray, Dermot Gallagher and Paul Durkin have occasionally come down from the Premiership to officiate at Football League level again.

“I’ve always thought it was the wrong decision to create an elitist band of 20 referees,” said Pontypridd based Cooper, the national referees’ officer for Wales.

“Referees are going to be more high profile because the game has become more high profile. But some of them are now more recognisable than the players.” Cooper’s comments come amid widespread concern that the whole issue regarding referees needs addressing.

One Premiership referee is known to have an agent and Fifa official Durkin, acting as some sort of trouble-shooter, was recently put in charge of a game at Brighton because the Third Division club had a poor disciplinary record.

“I was horrified when I read that two assessors said they needed to get a Premier League referee at Brighton,” said Cooper.

“Are they trying to say that games in the Premiership and Football League are refereed differently? If that is the case, it is wrong.

“Games should be refereed the same way if they are held in Ponty Park or at Wembley.

“I’m sure Frank Burrows would agree with that, having worked in the Premiership at West Ham and now at Cardiff.”

City manager Burrows refused to comment after the goalless draw at Cambridge on Tuesday when Cardiff were reduced to eight men for the first time in their 100-year history.

Russell Perrett, Craig Middleton and Lee Phillips were sent off as Elleray, who appeared correct with each decision, took centre stage.

“I can’t comment on David Elleray’s decisions because I wasn’t at the game.

“But I think referees would benefit from the system when I started out in the Football League.

“We used to get a booklet telling us where we’d be during the next month. It could be Chesterfield or Cardiff one week and a top Division One club (now Premiership) the next.

“That way we’d be able to keep our feet on the ground and not get carried away.”