Report from
NigelBlues.
Last Sunday night, many Cardiff City fans rocked to a blistering Gene
gig
featuring Bluebirds loving lead vocalist, Martin Rossiter. One of their
chart hits, "This is as good as it gets" featured on the night. It's an
"anti"-song to Tony Blair's election anthem, "Things Can Only Get
Better"
and a comment about the nation buying his "dream and vision of moving
forward" when many believe the reality is that it's nowhere near as good as
promised.
I'll leave the politics to others but are there two more appropriate songs
to describe the hype (Things Can Only Get Better) and reality (This Is As
Good As It Gets) that is Alan Cork's and Cardiff City FC's 2001/2002 season?
The people who have bought the dream will rightly continue to point out that
Alan Cork has taken Cardiff City from 14th in Div 3 to 8th in Div 2, we have
only lost 1 game out of 11 and we remain in contention for the play offs and
even promotion. With some justification, they can therefore shoot down
anyone who is critical, even if it is constructive. They may also be guilty
of not being honest or naive just by sticking to that line.
Those who have been here before (and even with Sam and his millions, we've
still seen it often enough to realise it), it doesn't mean we have to accept
what's going on or what we're seeing with our own eyes. Just because it's
better than where we were, it doesn't make it alright or that it's good
enough or acceptable enough. The hype doesn't match the reality of what is
going on.
After the Chesterfield game, I asked were this team fit, coached and
motivated enough as performances and results continue to give evidence that
it isn't. It would take a brave (maybe foolish) man to say yes after, yet
again, we witnessed a display by the team collectively and certain key
individuals that didn't start that well, deteriorated throughout and then
fell totally apart.
It's so blindingly obvious - Cardiff City's 2nd half league performances
this season have won them 2 points but now lost 13 points compared to their
half-time position. It can't be right and it tells a story that not even
Cork fans can really defend.
Let's be honest, Colchester were a bad side, as poor a team to visit Ninian
for some time (that includes Rushden who lost 7-1 here this season). They
looked dispirited, came with one man up front and seemed reluctant to do
that. Yet they were good enough to snatch a draw and stay 1 point behind
City having had £1 to spend. If that doesn't tell you that it's not going
right at Cardiff City, I'm not sure what will.
And I'm sorry Alan Cork fans (and the number seems to be dwindling), whilst
you have to look at the players, you really have to look at the manager too.
His post-match comments, whilst very honest, are also dismal listening and
reading. Yet again, he heaps all the blame onto his players, saying they
aren't listening to him and not doing things right. How can someone who
gets that depressed and negative possibly lift and inspire our squad?? I
believe the comments he makes but doesn't it also suggests that the players
really don't have the necessary respect for him, they certainly aren't
motivated by him.
As sad pre-game news filtered that Paul Brayson would be absent with a
hamstring strain, we discussed who would be a natural replacement for him,
the smart money going on Layton Maxwell or Josh Low starting with the side
adjusted. It would still allow us attacking pace and some width. Walking up
Sloper Road, my mates and myself were horrified to hear Ninian's tannoy
announce Cork's solution was to start with James Collins (the white man's
answer to Leo Fortune-West and a youngster City are trying to convert from
centre-half to centre-forward) alongside Leo himself. We honestly cringed
and even discussed turning away and having a drink and chat in the pub
instead for better entertainment, wish we had now.
Cork's rationale was undoubtedly because Colchester were a small side and it
would hand City aerial power. Fair enough but this side have so little
width, partly because Cork persists with a front 3, and as the two pivotal
players are unable to hold or control the ball, it spelled trouble. I could
never agree with two big immobile strikers but if it had to be done, surely
Kevin Nugent should have been considered, he may be slow but at least he has
the intelligence and skills to hold, lay off and bring others into the game.
A bigger crime was Cork's other attacking decision. To accommodate our lofty
slow motion attack, Cork took our best hope of a goal, the one man with pace
and the one true predator in the team, Rob Earnshaw, out of front line
attack. Earnie was designated what appeared to be a free role right or left
to feed Collins and Leo and hopefully break through himself.
One other change was enforced but welcome, Daniel Gabbidon went to right
wing back replacing the suspended Rhys Weston (a move that may well have
happened regardless) and Scott Young made his 300th City appearance
alongside Spencer Prior in central defence.
During the first-half, City weren't brilliant but at least they were playing
football. The problems were, as usual, a visiting team packing defence
against a Bluebirds team not playing with enough width and, at times, too
much football, to break them down leading to congested play. But credit
City for trying to get it right, the ball was kept on the floor but too
often, moves broke down or the passing let them down. Des Hamilton,
Kavanagh and Earnie all went on storming runs at the heart of the Colchester
defence but with few options wide, they often opted to go it alone. It was
crude and they'd always be stopped eventually.
Slowly, but surely, Graham Kavanagh started to produce one of his better
halves for City - not that he's had too many in my opinion - and was making
things tick with some crisp, neat passing and good vision. With so little to
do defensively, Legg, Gabbidon and even Spencer Prior were trying to make
things happen wide but their crossing too often was blocked or overhit or
underhit and Prior's distribution down the line left a lot to be desired.
The possession and territory were one way as nothing whatsoever was seen of
Colchester outside of 30 yards from their goal. They were so poor, it
defied belief. Whilst City lacked the guile, know how and penetration to
breakthrough, they did have a series of half chances. Scott Young hit a
tame effort, Collins looking very nervous and slow to react to anything put
a header well wide and Kavanagh put a shot over the bar and a couple of free
kicks into walls before he connected with a venomous 25 yard effort which
Colchester's Woodman just about held.
The only way City looked like making a breakthrough was going to be via a
moment of individual magic or a scrappy goal, it was in keeping with the
game that it was the latter.
In the 33rd minute, Earnie attacked some space before trying a left footed
curler on the edge of the area. It looked on its way to the Grange End but
caught a Colchester player and went for a corner. In a crowded area, the
presence of the 2 big strikers worked for the only time all night, as Leo
got to the ball in the 6 yard box but managed only to dink the ball in the
air. As the ball dropped around various home and away players, JAMES
COLLINS swung and stuck a foot out, the ball going past Woodman from all of
4 yards. It was the first goal for the Newport-born youngster, a relief for
him and City fans who have seen him miss 5 or 6 open goals in his previous
first team appearances. The Ninian crowd were heard at last as the noise
and atmosphere was more in keeping with a FAW Premier Cup game apart from
The Grange End's Alan Cork's chants, they weren't doing that by the end.
The goal lifted City and Collins, who suddenly looked a yard quicker, more
alert and was starting to win flick ons. Collins nearly got a second goal
with a close range header but he nodded straight into Woodman's grateful
arms while Leo flicked wide and was blocked on a rare burst towards goal.
It wasn't a viewing pleasure but City were totally in control yet they
almost committed suicide on half-time. A rare attack saw Colchester whip in
a low ball, Prior stopped and nodded the ball straight to an unmarked
Colchester player in the area. He was slow to react and City gathered
quickly with Prior making amends.
Half-time: City 1 Col Utd 0
The second-half opened with Des Hamilton rasping a drive narrowly wide
before an incident occurred which only highlights the frustrations within
the squad. Willie Boland challenged for the ball, Leo shouted at him and
Boland squared up to Leo and gave him a smack full in the face. Willie was
booked and, for a few minutes, had lost his head totally. Luckily, he never
caught anyone badly or he may have gone.
The smack seemed to liven Leo who for the next 5 or 10 minutes looked up for
it totally. He chased balls down wings, won a corner or two and even sent a
couple of headers to other Blue shirts. Perhaps giving Leo a good smack
every game is a tactic that should be continued.
That apart, and a few moments of inspiration, City's game was deteriorating
in a fashion seen far too often. They were still comfortable and in control
but never, for one moment, looked like killing off poor opponents. They
became lazy, scrappy and then inept. At least they tried to pass first half
but, how often does it have to be pointed out?, Graham Kavanagh went for a
second half rest. The longer the half progressed, the deeper he dropped.
His crisp passing of the first half reverted to the stereotype we have seen
for much of this season, looking effective by giving the ball sideways or
backwards when it takes City nowhere.
With a vital midfield to forward link disappearing, the favoured attacking
option changed from passing style and ball on the ground to Route One hit
and hope high balls. We were going nowhere fast, a couple of Des runs being
the only real highlights. Earnie briefly looked as though he would finish
things off as he latched onto a woeful backpass but taking the ball wide of
Woodman, he also ran out of room and a goalkick resulted.
The main hope now was that we could hold out and with Colchester showing nil
threat, it looked likely. But this is City, a team who can't keep clean
sheets and who have fallen into the nasty habit of giving away late goals.
As City dropped deeper, allowing Colchester to play more and push forward,
one substitute I would have consider was Josh Low. He may be short of
confidence, his crossing must improve but with his pace, he would have
pushed City forward again, he would have been double marked and he could
have beaten the defenders in front of him.
Instead, City introduced Maxwell for Leo and Bonner for Kavanagh (an
acknowledgement that Kav's fall back was causing the problems or was it to
give Bonns a run out with Kav suspended this weekend?). Colchester
introduced more pace and more forwards and the tone was set.
We laughed when they finally had their first shot, a feeble effort for 25
yards that floated harmlessly wide. That wasn't until the 80th minute. A
couple of minutes later, they had another go, this time, the ball crawled to
Alexander. Then, it happened and in a style we have seen too many times
recently.
Colchester got the ball wide and the game opened in front of them. The ball
went into the middle with two City defenders and a Colchester player moving
in for it, the ball bounced off them. One of the challenging players was
Leggy who yet again was sucked in which was crucial as the ball dropped for
Dunne, totally unmarked, 12 yards out. He took it well as he got his body
over the ball and his right footed drive bounced in off the underneath of
the crossbar with Alexander helpless. It was a sickener, a goal which
Colchester didn't really deserve for their minimal efforts but maybe
deserved, suitable punishment for Cardiff's woeful second half efforts.
With so little time left, Colchester suddenly looked keen and could even
have snatched it but a 20 yard power drive went flying into the Grange End.
The final whistle blew and another disturbing night on the pitch was matched
by disturbing events off it as an elderly City fan had a terrible fall and
injury falling in the Grandstand, someone was also badly injured by the
Ninian Park pub (with conflicting accounts of him being in a hit and run
incident, others saying he was attacked), but, funniest of all, a police
woman smashing into the back on a car at a red light on Cowbridge Road
which, naturally, got no sympathy whatsoever from fans.
City fans know that things aren't right. The crowds are dropping. I
appreciate it's the 2nd of 4 home games in quick succession but it does
suggest some are starting to vote with their feet at just 3 home wins in 9
starts this season and performances that are not acceptable. Less than half
were in the ground at final whistle and the chorus of boos from around the
ground, first time I've heard it that bad for many many months, also tells
its own story. These should be good days for the club, instead they are
fast becoming dark and troubled times.
The players and manager may not like the criticisms but there again, they
are the best (over)paid and looked after in this Division. Expectancies are
high but they knew that when they signed and it's the price they have to
accept in return for getting the contracts and £2-£6,000 wages a week that
most of them are on. The fans expect it, Sam undoubtedly does too and we
both have every right to.
So do you blame play the players or the manager? (Assuming you're not
stupid enough to say it's a home jinx or we shouldn't moan). I personally
blame both, but crucially, I have no doubt the players are capable of so
much better, can be better organised, can be better motivated. I'm sorry
but I have seen enough to know that I honestly can't say that about Alan
Cork, his comments and despondency afterwards only enhance that.
Some fans will be aware that Steve Day now sends Alan Cork a bottle of
champagne if City win, a can of lager if we draw and a P-45 when we lose.
Steve apparently has also started sending him copies of these reports.
Enjoy your lager Alan. If you've read this, I'm sorry if it made
uncomfortable reading. But thanks to you and your players, I don't think
more than a handful of the 8,000 can say they enjoyed their evening visit to
Ninian either.
Report from
Colchester.
The U's stole a point at Ninian Park today as a late Joe Dunne volley
rescued
a point from a game that the U's didn't even deserve to get a mention from.
It took the U's 76 minutes to win a corner while Cardiff's tally was in
double figures, but at the end of the game, the goal tally was level!
Not surprisingly, although his hand was admittedly forced, manager Whitton
made some changes to the side that failed to beat York City on Saturday.
Bobby Bowry and Joe Dunne returned to the side with Kem Izzet forced out with
injury. Kevin Rapley made way as Joe Dunne took up a position in the middle
of the park. Thie meant a 4-4-2 formation for the U's with Duguid,
Fitzgerald, and the two Johnson's in defence, Dunne, Bowry, Keith and Pinault
in midfield, with Mick Stockwell alongside leading scorer Scott McGleish. For
Cardiff, record signing Peter Thorne was among many missing for the
Bluebirds. Their attack was led by Leo Fortune-West who started his career at
Tiptree United some five miles from Colchester, while Spencer Prior who had
spells with Southend and Norwich marshalled the defence.
It was the U's who made the brightest start with Scott McGleish jumping for a
Gavin Johnson cross, but just failing to make contact with the ball. From
then on it was Cardiff all the way, as their slick passing, aligned to a
tough physical presence up front beat the U's almost to submission. It took
until the forty-fourth minutes before the U's came close to Neil Alexander's
goal. On that occasion, Bobby Bowry and Joe Dunne combined, and when Dunne's
cross took a slight touch off a City head, the ball arrived too quickly for
Micky Stockwell to so anything with.
In between that, City showed why they were the bookies favourites before the
season started, completely dominating the game. To be fair the U's defended
stoutly at times with Scott Fitzgerald and Ross Johnson getting their bodies
in the way of many a shot. James Collins had an early chance at the far post
with a header with Fitzgerald booted away, while Graham Kavanagh, headed over
from Daniel Gabbidon's cross.
Joe Keith, the U's left-sided midfielder then gave the ball away, as the U's
did on numerous occasions throughout the game, giving former Newcastle man
Des Hamilton a chance, but he was well tackled by Ross Johnson, with the ball
going out for a corner. Fitzgerald was the next to block, this time from
Collins, as the blue shirts continued to swarm forward.
On the halfhour mark, Graham Kavanagh hard hit shot stung the hands of U's
keeper Andy Woodman, but he was able to get tot he ball before the enrushing
forward to stop any danger. The goal had to come, and it was no surprise that
it came from a Cardiff set piece. Andy Legg took the Bluebirds sixth corner
of the match, left-footed into the near post where it was flicked on by a
combination of Fortune-West and Spencer Prior, enabling Collins to bundle
home from close range at the far post. It was Collins' first ever goal, on
his full League debut for the club and was no more than Cardiff deserved.
The highly-rated youngster Robert Earnshaw then drove in an effort across the
face of the goal but again Fitzgerald was in the right place to clear before
Woodman had to save Fortune-West's long-range header from yet another Andy
Legg corner. Another header, this time from Collins, almost caught the former
Northampton goalkeeper out, but he was able to backtrack enough to claim the
ball from under the posts. Halftime, and though the Cardiff fans will have
been happy to have gone in ahead, they will have felt they should have been
leading by far more.
The second half started the same way the first ended, with Cardiff on top.
This time Des Hamilton had a shot deflected away by the U's defence, but from
then on the game failed to live up to expectations. Whether this was down to
U's manager's tactical change at the start of the half we'll never know, but
Cardiff didn't produce the same kind of football in those second forty five
minutes. Whitton had changed the side to a 4-3-3 formation, matching Cardiff
man for man. Joe Dunne, moved to central midfield to right-back, while Karl
Duguid joined McGleish and Stockwell upfront.
Cardiff did still create chances but they didn't come as often as in the
first half. A misplaced pass from the U's allowed the dangerous Kavanagh to
run at the defence but his shot was always going wide while Fortune-West's
downward header was saved by Woodman, though it looked to be going wide
anyway.
The U's were more in the game, but we're still having to drag themselves into
it, as opposed to exerting their influence into it. Indeed to it took until
the 73rd minute for the first serious shot on goal which McGleish put over
the bar. A blind backpass from Ross Johnson almost allowed the Zambian born
Earnshaw the chance to score City's second goal, but his control was
surprisingly poor, and the ball rolled out for a goalkick.
The U's travelling army of fans were delighted in the 76th minute of the game
though when their favourites won a corner, but their joy was shortlived when
nothing came of it. Ross Johnson was lucky to get away with a bad challenge
on James Collins when he went in from behind, but referee Wilkes only
cautioned him when Cardiff fans were after red.
With time running out, the U's started to create a few more chances, with
Gavin Johnson's cross being knocked on by Scott McGleish, but Alexander (who
probably won't have to wash his kit tonight, so little did he have to do)
claimed before Duguid could get there.
Whitton made two changes as the game progressed. Kevin Rapley appeared in
place of Joe Keith while youngster Dean Morgan came on for veteran Stockwell.
Morgan had been criticised in recent weeks for the lack of progress he has
made at this level. He has come on a substitute in most U's games this
season, but is yet to hit the net, and bar a few good things, has
disappointed. However, he answered his critics in fine style as he twisted
and turned, getting to the by-line before crossing for Joe Dunne, appearing
from nowhere, to strike a volley into the net, off the underside of the bar.
It was Dunne's second goal of the season after having scored the first of the
campaign at Chesterfield, and none would have been more welcomed than this.
With time running out, the U's had the best chance to take all three points
but Scott McGleish shot from 35 yards, when Duguid was in a much better
position.
It was classic smash'n'grab, though you have to feel some sympathy to Cardiff
who fully deserved to take all three points from this encounter.
Report from
www.sports.com
Teenage striker James Collins scored
his first goal for the club but it was not enough to give Cardiff City all three points
against a Colchester United side that grabbed an 86th minute equalizer though Joe Dunne.
James Collins, 18 years old and in the side
only because Paul Brayson was ruled out by an hamstring strain, put Cardiff ahead in the
33rd minute but the Bluebirds again paid the price for failing to make the most of their
opportunities.
Cardiff , looking much sharper than they had
done against Tiverton in the FA Cup on Saturday, might have gone ahead in the fifth minute
but Des Hamilton stumbled as he shaped to connect with a ball in from the left from Andy
Legg.
Scott Young, making his 300th first team
appearance for Cardiff, headed tamely straight at goalkeeper Andy Woodman and Graham
Kavanagh shot over the bar as Cardiff continued to push forward.
Colchester were finding it difficult to get
out of their own half as their defence came under increasing pressure and Ross-Yorke
Johnson and Scott Fitzgerald had their work cut out to keep their rearguard intact.
When Hamilton found Leo Fortune-West with a
deft flick into the penalty area it needed a tremendous saving tackle by Johnson to
prevent the Cardiff striker getting in his shot and in the 31st minute, Woodman did well
to hold a powerful 25-yard strike from Kavanagh.
It was one way traffic at that stage and the
goal Cardiff had been seeking finally arrived two minutes later. Robert Earnshaw's shot
was deflected for a corner and when Fortune-West back-headed Kavanagh 's flag kick Collins
was there to force it over the line.
Fortune-West and Collins both had
half-chances to increase Cardiff's lead before colchester launched their first genuine
attack of the night through Mick Stockwell. The midfielder found Joe Keith wide on the
left and his center towards the far post was headed weakly across the face of the goal by
Spencer Prior .
But, as the Cardiff defence froze, so did the
Colchester front men and the ball rolled gently over the line for a goal-kick.
Colchester played with more purpose at the
start of the secnod half but when Cardiff's Willie Boland headed a Gavin Johnson throw in
straight to Scott McGleish on the edge of the penalty area, Daniel Gabbidon was quickly
across to snuff out the danger.
Cardiff had lost their early edge but
Hamilton tried to spark them into life again in the 62nd minute with a powerful 40-yard
run through the middle but he lacked support and he eventually ran out of room.
But at least Hamilton's inspiration woke up
Cardiff and they started to push forward as confidently as they had done before the break.
When Dunne underhit a pass back to his
goalkeeper, Earnshaw was in like a shot but the young striker was unable to control the
ball and it ran away from him for a goal-kick.
It still seemed that Cardiff had done enough
but, as has happened so often this season, one moment's loss of concentration proved their
undoing.
An uncharacteristis mistake by Cardiff
defender Young set Colchester up for a point. The ball rolled out to Duguid wide on the
left and his cross was met by Dunne, who drove powerfully into the roof of the net, from
just inside the penalty area.
External match reports
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