Sat 5th Aug 2000.

Preseason game

Subs not used
Eckhardt
Hallworth
Nogan
Earnshaw
Jones
Legg

Subs not used

Report from NigelBlues.
Cardiff City gained a comfortable, deserved and committed victory against a poor looking Brentford side which will give Bluebirds players and fans alike more confidence ahead of the serious league business in 7 days time.

There was much to admire about the way City went about their business and bossed the game and a physical Brentford who second best over most of the 90 minutes and in most departments too.

City's starting eleven played the entire 90 minutes and barring new personnel, will surely be the starting line up at Exeter next Saturday.

Mark Walton has clearly become first choice keeper and undoubtedly deserves to be. John Hallworth, in my view, is the better shot stopper but on the rare occasions Brentford pushed forward, Walton totally commanded his penalty area and the confidence in his defenders was plain to see. A total contrast to Hallworth displays last season.

City's defence are going to be miserly this season, they will be the foundation of the side. It's hard to see them conceding too many over the season which can only be good news for prospects. They look as tight and organised as you could hope for at this level.

Dave Greene promises to be an outstanding acquisition. His size and strength intimidates the opposition, Sam Hammam will love him! Brentford's Lloyd Owusu was happy to drift out of the game rather than battle against him. Scott Young has been in superb form pre-season and probably had his best display of all today. His tackling, especially in the first half whilst the game remained tight, was immense. Here's hoping he stays injury free but with Russell Perrett in reserve, this is probably the strongest area of the side.

With Leggy suspended for the Exeter opener, Matt Brazier was utilised at left back and performed well. His pace is an asset and he won't let the side down in this position. I remain to be convinced about Andy Thompson, the trialist from Tranmere. He is one paced, on the short side (Sam won't like him!) and when he got forward into positions to cross, he let himself down. But he reads the game will and well do a job.

Midfield did well but are still missing a general like Paul Ramsey which will make the difference between a good, pretty side and a regularly winning side. Boland worked hard, Fowler looked good at times, totally disinterested at others (does any other City player have worse body language than him?) and lost just about every challenge he had in the game. Yet both goals and every good City chance came from him proving his worth.

Bowen drifted in and out of the game too and Low showed promising moments but also demonstrated that whilst he may be City's fastest player, he is sometimes the slowest in reactions to opportunities. When the midfield plus Thomson and Brazier got into crossing positions, too many were still being floated to the far post. They need to have more menace.

Up front, Paul Brayson looked excellent and could prove to be one of City's stars this season. He is going to cause problems and score goals, I'm sure. Playing off the shoulder of the final defender, he gave Brentford's back line a torrid time. Kevin Nugent played well, scored one, should have had another, and used his physique well although he would still struggle to beat the Queen Mother for pace over 10 yards. Although, to be fair, the Queen Mother is useless at heading, flicks and knocking central defenders about.

This side will perform well and do the club justice but I believe we are at least 3 players short of being an outstanding team. Sam will surely realise this too and there seems little doubt that this will be addressed in the coming weeks. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.

The opening spell was quiet with the outstanding moment being a City fan a few rows back in Grandstand Block A bulleted a header back onto the pitch from a Brentford clearance to earn a huge cheer and a few shouts of "sign him up". It was better than the City fan who headed back from the Grange End during one drab game last season. If only our players (and the Queen Mum), could head like this.

The first shots of woe were Brentford's. After a sweeping move, Ingimarsson lazily shot high and wide into the Canton Stand when clear 15 yards out and a tame effort from the same player then made Walton dive low to save shortly afterwards. The opening chance, and Brentford's early success with crosses were coming from the right, whilst Andy Thomson came to terms with the match.

Out of the blue, City carved a great chance on 15 minutes. Jason Fowler knocked a beautiful ball over the top, Brayson tore past the Bees defence and accelerated to goal. As he advanced into the area, a Brentford defender, chasing behind, clearly grabbed the back of his shirt at collar height taking Brayson to ground for a clear penalty. The ref (from Lllanelli) bottled it and looked to the linesman. The linesman (from Aberdare) bottled it altogether and play carried on.

Brayson however was not to be denied and opened the scoring on 18 minutes. A Jason Fowler through ball was flicked on by Nugent and Brayson again lost Brentford's statuesque central defenders then made no mistake drilling home a low right-footed effort into the right-hand corner from 12 yards. Brentford's keeper was well beaten.

Bluebirds everywhere loved it and then enjoyed the rest of the half as the team displayed great confidence and superiority to overwhelm their opponents. Brayson and Nugent were linking well and in one superb move of quick passes, they cut open Brentford inside the area before Nugent's effort was blocked.

On 32 minutes, more Brayson/Nugent work saw Brentford relieved to concede a corner. It was short relief as City doubled their lead. Fowler's corner evaded a mass of bodies at the near post and seemed to fall onto Nugent's thigh behind them. The ball held up for Nuge to smash high into the net with his second touch from 8 yards.

It could have been more by half-time. Kevin Nugent will wonder how he managed to graze the top of the bar meeting a Dave Greene near post flick from another Fowler corner not long after his goal. It seemed easier to hit the target from 6 yards than do that.

Then, almost on half-time, Josh Low, who almost burst through a minute earlier, got clear of Brentford's back line to go one on one against the keeper but his attempt to chip the keeper was thwarted.

A great half for the team and the fans.

Half-time City 2 Brentford 0

The second-half was fairly drab. But that was still encouraging for City.

The game was already in the bag. It was up to Brentford to make a game of it, they were unable to. They had no joy whatsoever with Young and Greene and were restricting to a couple of long range efforts into the Grange End. At least it gave their fans something to do. It's become rare to see City winning a game, then kill it and keep everything under control, but they did it well today.

Willie Boland harried in midfield but will probably prefer not to have chased one ball out of play towards the Bob Bank. Unable to brake, he had to jump on the Bob Bank terrace wall and grab the top of the fence to discover the joys of getting "hoolie paint" on your hands. The Bob Bank enjoyed the moment. For sale - one ruined City shirt which became Willie Boland's cloth. Wonder if he's managed to get it off yet?

There were little goalmouth action at either end, a curled Nugent shot outside the penalty area looked more threatening than it eventually was, Brayson continued to torment, Bowen threatened occasionally but his final ball never quite came off today and Low had his moments but it was a game going through the motions.

Even so, there were still heated moments. Brentford's players seemed to leave their studs out a couple of times and Brayson was taken from behind. Near the end, it nearly heated over as a Brentford player foolishly decided to clip Dave Greene on the side of the head. He probably regretted it the moment he did it as Greene stared back at him and 2 or 3 other City players converged on him. I like the team spirit boys.

Billy watched on without using any substitutes. Was this a continuance of his famed tactical genius seen last season of not bothering with subs, despite the game going nowhere for City and/or some players looking knackered? Or did he prefer to give the starting line-up a full 90 minute run out? We will soon find out but Billy did say before kick off that all players not used today would get a game at Newport on Monday.

Brentford looked a dispirited side. Owner/Manager Ron Noades was not present. Was he at Cardiff's Big Weekend bopping to Lolly, Scooch and Dum Dums with his mate Sam Hammam, who wasn't seen at the game either? There was some talk that he is giving up on Brentford and going to retire to Spain. He was probably scouting elsewhere but gossip's always better, ain't it?

I'd prefer to give Cardiff the credit for making their higher division opponents look ordinary. But poor value they were, this was reflected by the fact that 25% of their supporters (3 blokes) walked out with more than quarter of an hour remaining! As their support was now reduced to 5 men and 4 kids, Brentford must have had the highest ratio of junior away supporters in the land. Encouraging for their future, I'd say.

With 5 minutes remaining, Brentford gave themselves some hope. Willie Boland and Kevin Nugent were over elaborate inside City's half, Nugent tried to drag the ball back but was dispossessed by Lloyd Owusu. In a flash, he played the ball forward for Andy Scott to fire home inside Walton's near post from 15 yards. A simple goal.

It was possibly an effort that John Hallworth, class shot stopper that he is, would have kept out. Walton however gives City's rearguard so much more assurance as he dominates his goal area, organises his defenders and handles crosses (it's a novelty to see a Cardiff goalie doing this after last season) that he is undoubtedly the better of the two on form.

Brentford showed a bit of life and could have equalised late on when a snap shot was screwed across goal but Cardiff played the game out comfortably for a thoroughly deserved victory.

Roll on next Saturday as whatever the merits of pre-season games, they can never compare to league action where points have to be won and the result matters. City must strengthen but we look in good shape, confidence and form.

Report from Brentford FC.
The Bees pulled back a goal in the second half of today`s final pre season friendly but it wasn`t enough to avert a 2-1 defeat against Third Division opposition.

There was an early chance for Ingimarsson in the 4th minute. But he struck the ball over the bar after good work from Owusu. Six minutes later following a terrific long diagonal centre from Jay Lovett, Ivar again missed a chance to give the Bees the lead when he saw his far post effort saved by the keeper.

On 14 minutes a long clearance by Oli Gott was headed on by Pinamonte who found Owusu. The Bees number 9 went on to beat two defenders before seeing his well struck effort parried by the keeper.

But for all the early possession, it was Cardiff who took the lead three minutes later when the pace of Paul Brayson took him clear of the static Bees defence and he cooly fired the ball wide of the exposed Gottskalksson.

Midway through the half a screamer of a free kick from Paul Evans reached just wide of the left hand post. But come the 32nd minute and the Bees were two down! Lovett did well to clear the ball off the foot of a home attacker just yards from goal. But from the resultant corner Kevin Nugent cracked the ball home through a ruck of players.

The same player should have made it three nil seconds before the break with a similar effort which flew inches over the bar.

Rowlands was the first to show in the second half when he saw his shot blocked on the edge of the area.

A good move involving Lovett, Rowlands, Evans and Scott on the hour mark saw the latters centre met by Pinamonte`s knock down. But Evans ensuing piledriver was blocked.

Neither side really looked like adding to the scoreline, apart from an effort from Scott which was ruled out as the referee had already blown for a close offside decision. But with five minutes remaining Lovett`s perseverence paid off when he
played through for Andy Scott who calmly struck the ball home for the Bees first goal since last April!

This inspired the Bees into raising their game in the search for an equaliser. And indeed Rowlands went close twice in the dying seconds.

But the final whistle was blown with the Bees still trailing by the odd goal in three. Certainly there was little to inspire confidence particularly so up front where it matters. However good news was to see Danny Boxall stripped and ready for action even though he didn`t come on.

Report from TotalWales.
Cardiff City emerged from their final pre-season game at home satisfied with their performance against a Brentford team who struggled throughout.

Second Division Brentford looked a side destined for a long struggle against relegation this season.

Paul Brayson followed his last-minute winner against Bath City away with another goal and his strike partner Kevin Nugent was also on target.

By the time Brentford scored, after 85 minutes, City had created and spurned a number of other good chances.

“The pre-season programme has been encouraging,” said Ayre, “We have a good squad, but a bare minimum of play-ers. I haven’t met Sam Hammam yet, but I have spoken to him by telephone and I will be talking to the directors this week about the bringing in players of the right quality.” Cardiff City complete their pre-season fixtures by playing Newport AFC tonight and they send a youth team to Haverford-west tomorrow.

Brayson put Cardiff City ahead against Brentford, pouncing to shoot home when Nugent lobbed the ball over the last defender. Brayson’s pace took him clear and he finished superbly after 18 minutes.

Nugent hammered in the second, striking with a close-range half volley when goalkeeper Olafur Gottslalksson failed to collect a Jason Fowler corner after 32 minutes.

There could have been more goals as City dominated the first half and then held their own during a flat, lifeless second period.

Brentford, it seems, acknowledged that City had control and the home side were unable to maintain their flowing football of the opening period.

Willie Boland, again, worked tirelessly in midfield, while Dave Greene and Scott Young were a powerful unit at the heart of the defence.

Lebanese businessman Hammam, whose City takeover should be completed this week, did not attend the clash with Brentford.