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Wed 24th Oct 2001. |
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| Port
Vale Goodlad Carragher  Burton Ingram (Killen 37) Burns McPhee Brisco Dodd (McClare 62) Cummins Armstrong Brooker Subs not used |
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Cardiff
City Alexander Weston Prior Gabbidon Legg (Young 60) Boland Kavanagh Bowen Brayson Gordon (Fortune West 82) Earnshaw (Low 74) Subs not used |
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Every player contributed but, just like Sunday, it was the combination of an outstanding team display plus our extra individual quality that was the real winner and makes the real difference. The first half display especially was as good as Cardiff have played away from home in years. Port Vale were out performed, outplayed and outclassed wherever you looked, they were poor but were made to look poor. Vale kicked off with a 4 game unbeaten and on a high after drawing at rivals Stoke last weekend. City deserve all the credit, they are finally playing to their strengths and playing incisive football full of invention, quality, passing and pace showing they were a class above our opponents and most sides in this division. The drive to The Potteries was ultimately very worthwhile but a nightmare. Firstly, freak storms leaving South Wales left terrible visibility and an inch of water on roads. Cars aquaplaned as they hit mini lakes on the surface with no notice and covered in waves with lorries splashing up surface water. Having survived that, the notorious M5/M6 junction near Walsall was at its worst with nearly 10 miles of jams and slow moving traffic. This was City's first visit to Vale Park in 8 years but their ground, just 3 miles from Stoke's Britannia Stadium, was simple to find with its floodlights visible from some distance away and, then, the obligatory hordes of Staffs police lining roads towards the ground, not that they were needed. The ground itself is a good one but far from finished, less than half of it was open. City's 800-900 fans (magnificent travelling support for a Wednesday evening) were in a stand behind one goal, again nobody sat down. The away end was the type we like - bars, decent catering and, best of all, the goals were scored at our end making it a happy experience. The rest of the ground was a mix of old, new and ‘under construction’. Port Vale fans, just about seen but never heard apart from booing, were mainly in two areas on each side of the pitch. To our left was a split stand with seating at the front and rear but 2/3 of it was an unfinished concrete structure that has obviously been untouched for some time as clumps of grass growing though it. Vale fans were at the furthest end of it. On the other side, they were at the rear of a 10-12 row covered stand but, in front, was a large uncovered stand with a few thousand seats which was closed with police lining the aisles. They also had what seemed to be a family stand behind the opposite goal but it was sparsely populated. The pitch was huge, much wider than any pitch I’ve seen in a long time and even then. It is apparently the second largest pitch in all four divisions. And on top of that, there was about 5 yards of unused turf and a running area each side of the pitch. With Vale's 3,500 virtually hidden away in a 22,000 all seat stadium and such a large stadium, it was eerie but not in the City end which was buzzing with passion and noise as usual. Onto what really matters, City kicked off with two enforced changes. Michael Simpkins and Peter Thorne's injuries at Swindon are likely to keep them absent for a while but Gavin Gordon has been itching for the chance in attack while, to the majority of fans, Michael Simpkins is not the player that Andy Legg is. So the team were hardly weakened. The opening minutes were quiet with nothing much to report (just as well for those of us still in the pub!!) but once City settled, it was the most one sided away 45 minutes have produced for a long time as Vale were battered. They trailed off two goals behind, down and out, while City declared leading 2-0, it could have been double that. There was an early scare as McPhee, Vale's single threat on the night, took on Spencer Prior. As he tried to pass him, the ball struck his hand. Premiership ref, Steve Dunn, adjudged it to be ball to hand and waved play on, some would have given it. Prior was booed, the only noise we heard from the home fans, but not as bad as ex-Stokie, Kav, when he touched the ball. Isn't it good to know we have a chant for ex-Swans players when they are up against us! From this point onwards, it was all Cardiff. Vale themselves has a let off a minute later as City penalty appeals when turned down for handball which levelled things us. The opening goal came on 19 minutes yet again proving why Leggy is the better option in left sided defence. Firstly, after good link up play and a whipped left foot cross, the ball was headed behind under pressure for a corner. Leggy took it and hit a superb ball across goal for SPENCER PRIOR to nod home, virtually marked from close range, his header glanced from the near post inside the far post. By my reckoning, that's the third goal from a Legg cross in his last four appearances, two as substitute. I may be wrong but I don't recall anything from a Simpkins cross, because he doesn't push forward and when he does, he invariably hits a high aimless floated ball which is snuffed out too easily. Chances came thick and fast as Port Vale became spectators as Brayson, Bowen and Earnie had efforts blocked, Gordon met a superb Rhys Weston ball with a header back across goal that looked in all the way but somehow managed to go wide with City fans already celebrating it and then after a side step to lose his marker, Kav let go with a 25 yard smash shot that almost demolished the crossbar. Moments later, Kav let go again from 25 yards out but, standing 10 yards on, EARNIE purposely got his head onto the ball and deflected it past Goodlad who was diving in the opposite direction. City fans were mental with happiness chanting "it's just like watching Brazil" but I don't remember Brazil playing this well recently, and "cheer up, Swansea's worse than you to Port Vale. These are chants we don't usually sing until the last 10 minutes of won games, not the first half! It could have been more again as Goodlad made 2 brilliant saves from Paul Brayson, one tipping over a 25 yard dipping drive across the face of goal that looked in all the way and the other blocking a far post header from a Bowen cross. It was a travesty that City went in only 2 goals ahead, they were majestic. HALF-TIME Vale 0 City 2 The game was all over as a contest, City were happy and comfortable soaking up what little threat Port Vale offered. Vale weren't good enough to change the game or get back into it. Spencer Prior had to clear off the line early on and Alexander comfortably held a couple of range efforts and that really was it. City meanwhile should have scored a couple more as Paul Brayson had a clear shooting opportunity screwed wide while Jason Bowen had an even better chance when put clear by sub Josh Low but somehow missed too. The support loved it all, Men of Harlech blaring endlessly, anti-Robbie Williams chants goading the home support even more but like Swindon, many of the home fans had disappeared long before then end. Every player did the ayatollah and so did a beaming Sam from the dugout, it really was a party. City were class everywhere you looked. The defence were solid with Alexanader solid and comfortable and Prior having his best game of the season and finally showing why he has been a Premier player for the last 6 seasons. Gabbidon was outstanding and efficient. Leggy will stay in the same for some time, Simpkins may have to wait for his chance again, even when fit. And you have to admire Rhys Weston. He has been poor most of the season, he accepts that himself but he has never hidden and shows more passion and commitment than any other player. He is a good player though and finally seems to be adapting to the right back role, he was excellent. The defence lost Leggy with illness for the final half hour but Scott Young slotted into midfield and Gabbidon moved to left back, there were no troubles. Midfield overwhelmed Port Vale. Graham Kavanagh is finally doing what he's best at, pushing forward, rather than wasting everyone's time staying deep and pushing balls sideways or backwards. Willie Boland is a key figure, he runs a mile or two more than others in the cause and is central in everything. Jason Bowen is at his magical best, he tormented Vale. In attack, Earnie was quiet but his 3rd goal in 4 games shows his immense value, Brayson is out of position but nobody can stop him and even though chances didn't fall for Gordon, his work rate was immense. This is the stuff that play off/promotion sides are made of and we showed have the ability and bottle for it. Two away wins and five goals scored in four days is tremendous but City will be just as, if not more, delighted with two cleans sheets too. The final whistle saw the players get the long and deserved ovation, the fans hugged each other too because there's no doubt City have turned a corner in this season. We are now five league games unbeaten but the style in which we eased past opposition recently makes you believe City will soon be at the top where they should be rather than languish in mid-table obscurity. We didn't get home until the early hours. It was so good that we stopped over for a quiet drink and reserved celebration. These are heady days. Report from S Wales Echo After their Sunday stroll at Swindon, City spent most of the night in cruise control to register back-to-back league wins for the first time this season. The top half of the Second Division now beckons with two games in hand on most of their rivals and a bumper crowd should greet the visit of Tranmere Rovers on Saturday when City seek to end an encouraging week in style. There will be sterner tests to come than the one provided by this mediocre Port Vale side but City needed only an economy of effort to dismiss opponents through first-half goals from Spencer Prior and Earn-shaw. Prior was clearly thrilled to claim the first goal of his City career with a 17th-minute header but Earnshaw's instinctive finish was of greater value - the striker's third goal in four games indicating that he is back to his best after injury. The Wales Under-21 starlet also showed he does not listen to his manager Alan Cork when it comes to goal celebrations. Urged to cut the trademark somersault celebrations to protect a recent knee injury and threatened with a £50 fine to boot, Earnshaw will again be reaching for the chequebook today and this time it will be £100 as Cork said after the match that he has doubled the penalty. Earnshaw could not contain his joy and he raced towards the City fans before producing a backflip that both delighted the 1,000-strong following and added to Cork's fines kitty. As expected, Cork made two enforced changes from the side that dismantled Swindon. Gavin Gordon replaced the injured Peter Thorne for his first league start since August 18 and knee ligaments victim Michael Simpkins gave way to Andy Legg. Port Vale started brightly and referee Steve Dunn was the centre of controversy inside eight minutes. Stephen McPhee's progress was clearly halted when Prior blocked the ball with his arm but Dunn waved away loud penalty appeals - and City didn't look back as they proceeded to open the Vale defence at will. Prior, replacing former Stoke favourite Graham Kavanagh as the villain in the eyes of the Vale fans, was the City hero, meeting Legg's in-swinging corner at the near post and dispatching it across home goal-keeper Mark Goodlad. The goal settled City, Paul Brayson forcing Goodlad to tip over, Gordon almost scoring and Kavanagh shaking the crossbar with a 25-yard shot after 32 minutes. Two minutes later Earnshaw claimed his fifth goal of the season when Kavanagh again let fly from distance and the ever-alert forward put his head in the way to divert the ball past Goodlad. Goalkeeper Neil Alexander ensured City's second clean sheet in the space of four days and even as hard a taskmaster as Cork - who had criticised the attitude of his players after their Swindon triumph - must have headed for home in buoyant mood after Cardiff's first win at Vale Park for 55 years. Report from Port Vale Report from icwales After their Sunday stroll at Swindon, City spent most of the night in cruise control to register back-to-back league wins for the first time this season. The top half of the Second Division now beckons with two games in hand on most of their rivals and a bumper crowd should greet the visit of Tranmere Rovers on Saturday when City seek to end an encouraging week in style. There will be sterner tests to come than the one provided by this mediocre Port Vale side but City needed only an economy of effort to dismiss opponents through first-half goals from Spencer Prior and Earn-shaw. Prior was clearly thrilled to claim the first goal of his City career with a 17th-minute header but Earnshaw's instinctive finish was of greater value - the striker's third goal in four games indicating that he is back to his best after injury. The Wales Under-21 starlet also showed he does not listen to his manager Alan Cork when it comes to goal celebrations. Urged to cut the trademark somersault celebrations to protect a recent knee injury and threatened with a £50 fine to boot, Earnshaw will again be reaching for the chequebook today and this time it will be £100 as Cork said after the match that he has doubled the penalty. Earnshaw could not contain his joy and he raced towards the City fans before producing a backflip that both delighted the 1,000-strong following and added to Cork's fines kitty. As expected, Cork made two enforced changes from the side that dismantled Swindon. Gavin Gordon replaced the injured Peter Thorne for his first league start since August 18 and knee ligaments victim Michael Simpkins gave way to Andy Legg. Port Vale started brightly and referee Steve Dunn was the centre of controversy inside eight minutes. Stephen McPhee's progress was clearly halted when Prior blocked the ball with his arm but Dunn waved away loud penalty appeals - and City didn't look back as they proceeded to open the Vale defence at will. Prior, replacing former Stoke favourite Graham Kavanagh as the villain in the eyes of the Vale fans, was the City hero, meeting Legg's in-swinging corner at the near post and dispatching it across home goal-keeper Mark Goodlad. The goal settled City, Paul Brayson forcing Goodlad to tip over, Gordon almost scoring and Kavanagh shaking the crossbar with a 25-yard shot after 32 minutes. Two minutes later Earnshaw claimed his fifth goal of the season when Kavanagh again let fly from distance and the ever-alert forward put his head in the way to divert the ball past Goodlad. Goalkeeper Neil Alexander ensured City's second clean sheet in the space of four days and even as hard a taskmaster as Cork - who had criticised the attitude of his players after their Swindon triumph - must have headed for home in buoyant mood after Cardiff's first win at Vale Park for 55 years. Report from www.sports.com |
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