 Report
from The Observer
Delight for birthday boy Burrows
By Chris Hatherall
Saturday January 30, 1999
Birthdays are special for Frank Burrows. He signed his first
footballing contract on the day he turned 15, and yesterday, exactly 40 years later,
watched his Cardiff City team demolish Third Division promotion rivals Brentford with an
awesome display.
Four decades of soccer history have unravelled since the Cardiff manager
first signed schoolboy forms for Raith Rovers in 1959. But Burrows was rolling back the
years again as his side completed their eighth home league victory in a row.
Even at the age of 55 he is irrepressible, and on one occasion leapt to his feet, ripped
off his trademark cap and threw it to the ground in an animated display of
passion that would make Martin O'Neill look relaxed.
But that moment of anger was a rare low point, because Burrows's anniversary was
celebrated in style, beginning with tributes from Kevin Keegan (for whom he was a mentor
at Scunthorpe), John Hartson (who worked under him at West Ham) and Bobby Gould (the man
he marked when Swindon beat Arsenal 3-1 in the 1969 League Cup final), and ending with
goals from John Williams, Jeff
Eckhardt, Jason Fowler and Kevin Nugent. 'It's been a wonderful birthday. There won't be
many better,' said Burrows.
'I even won £10 on the Lottery on Wednesday, so I knew it would be my week. But I think
we won this game in the dressing-room after our 4-1 FA Cup defeat at Sheffield United. We
talked sensibly about it and the directors paid for the players to stay in a hotel so we
could prepare properly for Brentford.'
Cardiff always looked in control of a match in which they were stronger, more experienced
and more organised than their big-spending rivals. Williams, whose pace was a key feature,
put them in front from a wonderful Delaney cross, and it was 2-0 when the talented Fowler
provided an even more exquisite centre for Eckhardt to finish emphatically.
Cardiff fans were already singing Happy Birthday to their manager by the time Fowler added
a clever, angled chip from 25 yards, and even after Brentford replied through Boxall there
was still time for Nugent to deflect an off-target Fowler effort into the net.
The result means Brentford have won only one of their last eight away games in Division
Three, although Ron Noades refuses to panic. 'If we win our next match we will have
averaged a point a game away from home, so I'm not going to get over excited,' he said.
'We are still in the top seven and it was four individual
errors which lost us the game today. I think Cardiff will win the division anyway.'
That was a prediction Burrows refused to concur with. 'It's only January and there's a
long way to go,' he said. 'I'm just looking forward to tonight. My wife is taking me out -
and she's paying.'
Middleton celebrates Jeff Eckhardt's
goal in front of a packed Grange End.
 Report by NigelBlues.
Cardiff City (2) 4 Brentford (0) 1
Williams 20 Boxall 57
Eckhardt 28
Fowler 52
Nugent 76
Attendance: 11,509
Brentford: 500
Weather: Overcast
Pitch: Perfect (as always)
In the biggest match of the season so far, Cardiff City
steam-rollered an unconvincing Brentford team aside to recover from a 4-1 F.A. Cup defeat
with the perfect reply, a 4-1 win. Just like the challenge of other promotion rivals
Mansfield last month, City scored four goals, each being a different scorer and with goals
of quality too. In the eyes of many fans, we were "owed" this after the
disappointment at Sheffield in midweek and the unhappy experience at Brentford last month.
The punters were delirious (all except 500 anyway!). Credit to the players for recording
their 8th successive home league win.
The starting line-up was the same as at Sheffield with Hill,
Legg and Bowen as
the substitutes, Bowen replacing Dai Thomas on the bench.
After an excellent session in The Lansdowne which was bursting at the seams
with City fans, Canton Stand season ticket holders were greeted with the
ultimate in customer service - our own turnstile entrance. Was I impressed?
Only for a moment as when I got there, the charming lady turnstile operator
gave me a ticket and said if I didn't sit at the seat number shown on the
ticket, I would be thrown out. Short-lived customer service skills then.
However by one of those quirks of life, the seats that they had allocated to
Leon, Blueloaf and myself was in the area I love to be in anyway. Hooray!
Then it was boo as other City fans were sitting in them because once inside,
the stewards, of course, told everyone they could sit where they liked and not
to bother with the seat numbers allocated on the tickets! Communication is a
wonderful thing amongst City employees, isn't it? In time-honoured fashion, I
had a short exchange of views, they moved and I got my seat. Hooray!
It was a quiet start with no chances for either side as they battled to earn
superiority. The only incident of note was a booking for Kevin Nugent. A bit of a strange
one as the referee appeared to be happy giving a free-kick until the Brentford player
started holding his face a short while after the challenge, complaining of elbows. It was
only after this happened that Nuge was booked. To even it up, Brentford's Porky Aspinall
was booked in the second half quite a while
after a free-kick had been given. Perhaps the ref (Phillip Dowd) is a drama
queen.
The tragedy of the Nugent booking is that it is his 5th of the season so a one
match suspension is imminent. Wayne O'Sullivan and Craig Middleton also
collected their 5th bookings so will be suspended too. The opportunity for
Bowen, Legg and Hill to show what they can do will therefore happen soon.
Brentford won 4 successive corners in a minute attacking towards the Canton
Stand. Canton Standers didn't mind though as it gave them the chance to let
Warren Aspinall, who was taking them, know how much we admired his overweight physique and
immense footballing skills! It also gave us the opportunity to say "hello" to
Darren Freeman who turned down a move to City in favour of Brentford last summer. On his
performance today, I am glad the Michael Bolton lookielikie chose them. He did not seem
the relish the battle and was largely anonymous. Amazingly, his hair was eclipsed by
another Brentford player who had 2 fluffy pony-tails so was regaled with chants of
"he's got a pineapple on his head". Not sure of his name he'll surely never want
to face Mark Delaney again in his career. Delaney tore past him time and again all
afternoon.
Nothing came of the corners although one was a vicious in-swinger that
Hallworth had to tip over.
City opened the scoring on 20 minutes with a wonderful goal largely due to the
individualism of Mark Delaney. The play was played wide about 40 yards from
goal. Delaney was second favourite to win the ball as Brentford's Hreidarsson,
scorer of their winner at Griffin Park last month, was ahead. Delaney however
showed his speed and skills to challenge, touch the ball away, leave
Hreidarsson for dead, and charge towards the corner. As he got there, he hit
the perfect cross to find John Williams in the centre of goal, 10 yards out.
Williams planted a low header wide of Brentford's keeper and Ninian went
bonkers.
The ground was roaring City on and 8 minutes later, it was two-nil. A free-
kick on the halfway line in front of a full Bob Bank was played into the
penalty area. It found John Williams who played the ball out to Jason Fowler
just outside the edge of the penalty area. Fowler looked up and placed
another quality, curling centre to the far post. This time, Jeff Eckhardt
moved in to powered his header wide of Brentford's new keeper, Andy Woodman
(more on him later) into the corner of the net.
City were not playing fantastically well but it was too good for Brentford
who, apart from that flurry of corners, didn't have sight of City's goal. The
chance was there to make it 3-0 before half-time as John Williams dashed away
but crossed straight into the arms of Woodman when Nugent was clear in the
centre.
Mad Frankie Burrows wasn't happy and charged out of the dug-out, pulled off
his cap and threw it to the ground in annoyance. The whole ground loved it
though and applauded the man. It was his 55th birthday today and his 40th
anniversary in the game. Ninian Park sang Happy Birthday to him, the first
time I have ever heard that chanted at a football ground. Frankie
acknowledged it in the second-half by doing a one-handed Ayatollah. That's
twice in 2 games that he's acknowledged us, the man is going soft!
The other first half 'highlight' is that Ninian seemed to have a new police
chief on duty. He took exception to fans standing up at the back of the
Canton Stand. Although nobody complained and we've done this all season,
stewards moved in and told us we had to sit down because it was F.A. rules and
they had to act on police orders. A stand-off followed as fans refused to sit
and the stewards were unhappy. So what do you do when faced with this dilema?
Easy - just start chanting, "stand up if you hate Swansea". Within seconds,
the whole ground was standing up! The stewards had to laugh, give up and move
out.
City went off at half-time with the ground booming to 2-0 to the Sheepshaggers
and we are top of the league towards a very quiet and anonymous section of the
ground housing the Brentford fans. They probably sung a few times but I didn't
hear them. Amazing that they complained about their ticket allocation but
couldn't sell what they had anyway.
If City were the better side but not convincing in the
first-half, the second
half was all about domination as we outplayed, outfought and outclassed our
opponents. Some of the football was superb as Brentford were torn apart and
it was patently obvious that they are not as good a team as City. Wonder if
we'll hear from their fans now telling us how good they are and that we should
be worried because they have 2 games in hand?
On 52 minutes, City effectively killed the game with their 3rd goal and it was
absolute class. Nugent strode forward again leaving Hreidarsson in his wake.
The obvious pass was inside to a galloping John Williams but Nugent showed his
superb touch and vision again by flicking a ball outside to find Jason Fowler
clear in space. Fowler was outside the penalty and wide and produced an instinctive,
magnificent chip to clear Andy Woodman from 25 yards and land in the far corner of the net
and take your breath away. It was stunning and made all the better by seeing Woodman fall
to his knees in agony as he helplessly watched it sail over his head and behind him.
City fans have long memories and how well we recall Andy Woodman, strutting
and posing in goals for Northampton a couple of seasons ago, holding his
fingers to indicate they were winning 1-0 in the play-offs and looking smug.
This time it was our turn but Woodman didn't want to play anymore. No smiles
today, no fingers held up to indicate the score, nothing. The crowd got to
him as he started fluffing kicks and looking dodgy. Awwwwwwwww! Fair dos to
Aspinall though who was holding up 3 fingers when he was asked what the score
was.
It really was party time but 4 minutes later, Brentford pulled one back. The
origins was that City were down to 10 men as Mike Ford went off for treatment
for a leg injury. The ball was worked wide and found their no 2, Boxall, who
hit a fantastic drive from 25 yards across Hallworth and into the opposite
corner. It was a great shot but perhaps it wouldn't have happened at all if
Ford was still on the pitch.
Somewhat bizarrely, Boxall went into a frenzied celebration and obviously had
forgotten the score. I'm still trying to work out whether he was celebrating
the goal or Brentford having their first and only on-target shot of the match!
Either way, Brentford never got close again apart from one shot that cleared
the bar by a fair margin.
Ford was substituted and holding his right leg, limped down the tunnel forcing
a reshuffle. Delaney moved inside, O'Sullivan played right side and Andy
Legg was introduced on the left. Legg produced a decent show with some good
runs, crosses and a couple of long throws.
Shortly after, Brentford introduced substitutes including ex-City star and
jailbird, Charlie Oatway. He must like playing for Brentford as he's used to
wearing a striped outfit!
City created more chances and shots but did not score until the 81st minute.
Woodman fluffed a John Williams shot in comical fashion and then lost out on
the ground to Kevin Nugent as he tried to grab the ball. Nuge played the ball
across the area where a Bees defender panicked and succeeded in scooping the ball into air
and clearing it 5 yards. It landed at the feet of Jason Fowler.
Jason quickly hit a low pass to Kevin Nugent who turned the ball high into the
net from 8 yards past the bemused Woodman.
The ground erupted and partied away to the final whistle. All hail the
mighty Leon who seemed to start about half the chants that went around Ninian
during the final 45 minutes.
In the final minute, City were oh so close to making it a 5-1 demolition when
John Williams played a fantastic one touch lay-off to Kevin Nugent and he
rasped a first time volley form 25 yards to produce a great save and tip over
from Woodman. However because we were suffering another incompetent referee, Mr Dowd
awarded a goal kick! It didn't matter though as City were home and dry although a couple
of the bookings were undeserved.
City have now scored 14 goals in their last 4 home league games and cruised
past their opponents with ease. For a side who were 10-12 goals behind all
promotion rivals, three months ago, only 3 sides in the division have now
scored more goals than us and, of course, no side has conceded less.
Not that he wants it but perhaps Frankie could pick up manager of the month
this time. Twice he's been denied when City have had the best performance
record in the division.
It's now time to get the show on the road. City have played 16 at home and 12
away but of the 4 scheduled games in February, 3 are away including the next two weekends
at Plymouth and Barnet. There is nothing to fear as we are the best side in the division
and although we have lost the last 2 aways at Barnet and
Peterborough, it's easy to forget we only lost once away all season before
these games. Watch us keep picking up those points!
Report by Michael Morris
City served up a five star display to reiterate to the footballing world that
they are a class act. The first goal, a header by John Williams on 20 minutes, was
provided by a pin point cross from Mark Delaney. Bobby Gould, who was sat in front of me,
would have been very impressed by the speed of Delaney's run and acuracy of his cross.
Delaney won the Ball from Hreidasson who scored Brentford's winner at Griffin Park.
Justice indeed. The second goal was again the result of a perfect cross from Jason Fowler,
Jeff Eckhardt met the ball at the far post to make it 2 - 0 on 28 minutes. City were
playing some glorious football and it was no shock when the third goal came. This one from
Jason Fowler took the crowd's breath away. He picked up the ball 30 yards out took two
steps and chipped the most delightfully weighted ball over the keeper. The 11,509 crowd
were ecstatic. Brentford got their consolation after Boxall ran onto the ball just outside
the box and fired an unstoppable shot into the bottom left hand corner. To put the icing
on the cake Kevin Nugent got his foot to the ball after a goalmouth scramble and Super Kev
was celebrating his 15th goal of the season. City now go 10 points clear of Brentford and
stay 5 points clear of second placed Cambridge.
Report from Sporting Life.
Cardiff strengthened their Third Division championship credentials with a
4-1 victory at home to Brentford.
John Williams put the Bluebirds on their way with his 15th goal of the season in the 20th
minute, and Jeff Eckhardt added a second eight minutes later.
Jason Fowler made it 3-0 just after half-time before Danny Boxall pulled one back for
Brentford five minutes later.
Kevin Nugent was on hand to complete the rout with Cardiff's fourth as the Welshmen,
knocked out of the FA Cup at Sheffield United in midweek, chalked up their eighth
successive home league victory.
Report from Soccernet.
The Bluebirds shrugged off the cup blues to spark off the mother of all
parties at a packed Ninian Park. A couple of strikes in each half gave Cardiff boss Frank
Burrows a perfect 55th birthday gift as Ron Noades' Bees again wilted on their travels. It
was table-topping City's eighth successive home League win as they tightened the grip on
the Third Division summit.
Cardiff fielded the side that crashed out of the FA Cup in midweek at Sheffield United -
John Williams and Kevin Nugent continuing a 28-goal partnership up front. The Bees,
looking to lift away-day headaches, installed the steel of Warren Aspinall in midfield and
dangerman Darren Freeman to the attack - Tony Folan and top marksmen Lloyd Owusu being
relegated to the bench.
The nerves jangled in the opening moments but there was no lack of commitment. The
temperature rose when Cardiff's Mike Ford and Brentford's Andy Scott clashed on 11 minutes
and on 13 City's Nugent saw yellow for felling Hermann Hreidarsson.
The Bees were quick to push forward and a cluster of Aspinall corners had the Bluebirds on
the backfoot but on 20 minutes high-flying Cardiff edged ahead.
Bluebird's wing-back Mark Delaney brushed aside a weak Hreidarsson challenge on the right
and crossed for Williams to power home his 15th goal of the season at the far post.
Eight minutes later, the Londoners buckled again as Cardiff struck with a vengeance. The
Bees paid the full penalty for not clearing effectively and Jason Fowler's pinpoint
left-side cross was flicked home by the marauding Jeff Eckhardt from six yards. And, after
Ijah Anderson had muffed a glorious three-yard chance for the Bees, the Bluebirds added a
breathtaking
third on 52 minutes. Nugent had slipped the back-pedalling Hreidarsson and
the advancing Fowler brilliantly chipped 'keeper Andy Woodman from the right edge of the
penalty area.
Referee Phil Dowd of Stoke cautioned Cardiff's Wayne O'Sullivan and Brentford's Aspinall
as tempers frayed, and on 57 the Londoners grabbed a lifeline as Danny
Boxall swept home right-footed from 18 yards. But 16 minutes from time, Nugent's 15th goal
of the campaign prompted a mass exodus of travelling Bees fans - the ex-Plymouth hitman
netting from eight yards after Fowler had again caused havoc. |
