Report by
Soccernet
 Cardiff City are looking forward
to Second Division football after holding Scunthorpe to a goalless draw at Ninian Park.
The lack of goals didn't mean a lack of action though as the 12,000 plus crowd were kept
in suspense for the entire 90 minutes.
A scrappy first-half saw City throw away several opportunities, including a John Williams
effort after just five minutes which went high and wide.
Kevin Nugent also failed to make the most of a golden opportunity after 22 minutes and
Williams gave a repeat performance of his earlier miss 13 minutes later.
But it was Scunthorpe's John Eyre who produced the first real opportunity six minutes
before the interval, his 22-yard blast whistling over the crossbar.
City's first shot on target came a quarter-of-an-hour after the restart when Wayne
O'Sullivan, deep in the danger-zone, had his powerful shot blocked by 'keeper
Tom Evans.
The visitors were reduced to ten men ten minutes before the end when Logan was dismissed
for a foul on Jason Bowen as the Cardiff player thundered towards goal.
Scunthorpe scrambled for the goal which would have denied City promotion, but their
desperation came to nothing and the final whistle was the cue for Cardiff's
celebrations to start.
Report from the Electronic Telegraph.
 SATURDAY'S promotion party at
Ninian Park had almost everything: balmy weather, a 12,000-strong Welsh choir, even a
trademark performance of "The Ayatollah", Cardiff fans' idiosyncratic
celebration inspired by self-flagellating
mourners at Ayatollah Khomeini's funeral.
Such was the good time had by all that it seems churlish to mention that there were no
goals, nor much goalmouth action to speak of. No matter. Cardiff secured the point they
required to guarantee Second Division football next
season, leaving Scunthorpe to the play-offs.
The blank scoresheet was largely due to Cardiff's reserve goalkeeper, Seamus Kelly.
Cardiff manager Frank Burrows, not a man prone to hyperbole, said that after one
particularly heroic save he "thought about running on and giving him a kiss".
Scunthorpe certainly had the better of the game, often deploying three up front, while
Cardiff were content to defend deep and play for a point.
Even when Scunthorpe's Richard Logan was controversially dismissed, Cardiff were reluctant
to venture forward. When they did, a lack of composure in
front of goal ensured that the home fans had to settle for cake without icing.
Cardiff's dearth of firepower may be a problem next season but Burrows was not in the mood
to dwell on the matter: "I want my directors to enjoy it. . . before I ask
them for money."
As he left to join the celebrations the man who has guided Cardiff to promotion twice
added: "I live in Swansea. If any of you find me tonight just put me on the
train."
Report by this seasons best ever Cardiff City
reporter NigelBlues.
Thank you Nigel for all your reports. They have provided much entertainment for
many.
Cardiff City are promoted and regardless of performance, and
match, that is
all that mattered and all we really cared about when the season started out 9
months ago. Perhaps the tension got to the players as it was amongst the
poorest games seen at Ninian all season but, THE BLUES ARE GOING UP!
Frank Burrows, Billy Ayre, the players and directors deserve credit for what
has been achieved this season. Let's hope that finally, City can move
forward this time. Bluebird fans have suffered more than most clubs in the
league, firstly, for yo-yoing between divisions and then for supporting a
club well below its level and potential for the last 25 years. Having never
been in the dungeon of professional league football until the late 1980's,
CCFC have spent 8 of the last 11 seasons there. I hope I never see it again
and let's hope the club match the ambition of the fans and ensure that too.
It is perhaps typical of City's season that promotion was secured with a
nil-nil and a game of so few chances. As with many games in recent weeks,
City rarely threatened to score - just 1 on-target shot all game - but rarely
looked in trouble either although we must be indebted to goalkeeper Shay
Kelly for a couple of great saves including one astonishing second half
effort.
Cardiff have failed to hit the net in 7 of the last 16 league games.
Contrast that to 6 blanks in the first 29 matches. Defensively though, the
record is outstanding with 8 clean sheets in the past 13 games and just 2
goals conceded in the past 7 matches.
However, as said before, it is all about what you do over 46 games and we
have been better than the rest of the division. With a proven front-runner
supporting Nugent, the title would surely have been ours some time ago too.
The game started on a slightly sour note as one minute silence for Sir Alf
Ramsey, descended into near farce with anti-England chants emanating from
pockets of the ground. The tribute was understandable but it was a surreal
situation for many to take supporting a Welsh side in a Welsh football
ground, even if we play in the English league.
In the first half, the game was tight as neither side wanted to concede the
first goal, or any goal come to that. For City, Wayne O'Sullivan and Andy
Legg were very lively and made sure the greater part of the game was in
Scunthorpe's half but there were few efforts. Shot were either blocked, went
wide or high for Nugent, Williams (who had a good opportunity) and O'Sullivan.
For Scunthorpe, City's defence were will on top. The league's leading
scorer, Jamie Forrester, was shut out of the game but they had the best
effort of the half when Eyre broke through and shot from 20 yards. The shot
was to the corner but at a nice height for Shay Kelly to parry the effort.
It was also noticeable how Kelly's confidence has improved in the first team,
his catching and organisation were exemplary and, at times, he looked the
most confident City player on the pitch.
H/T City 0 Scunthorpe 0
City knew that Scunthorpe would come at them more the longer the game stayed
0-0 and seemed to be gambling that they would break them down. It remained
very tense and nervy.
However the City support picked things up and the atmosphere became
tremendous as all parts of the ground, including the grandstand, sang as one.
City's only on-target shot of the half came when after a scramble, the ball
fell loose to Wayne O'Sullivan. He controlled the ball before firing a good,
low effort which the Scunthorpe keeper saved at stretch. Shortly after,
Jason Bowen replaced the injured John Williams. Not a bad move as Willo was
not playing well and Bowen adds an extra edge on the break.
In another substitution on the hour, Danny Hill came on for Middleton but a
key one took place, when Scunthorpe brought on their standard Division 3
giant striker, John Gayle.
Although City looked comfortable, Shay Kelly made a fantastic save to prevent
what seemed to be a certain goal and bring him more affection from City fans
- we always love our goalies, don't we? A corner was whipped in at pace and
Gayle charged through the defence to head goalwards. As he did, Forrester
flicked on to change the ball's direction from a couple of yeards but Shay
flew across goal to beat it away almost from the top corner of goal and the
ball ran behind after a scramble. It was as good as anything Hallworth had
saved all season and deserved all the applause it earned ... as well as the
huges sighs of relief!
City administration got stupid. It was tense but some idiot decided it would
help things if they played music over the tannoys. During a break in play,
Gary Glitter's "C'mon, C'mon, C'mon, C'mon" was blasted prompting a mass rush
to the toilets by supporters wanting to puke. Every time there was a break
in play, another shot of rousing music would come on despite a lynch mob
being formed who all wanted the head of whoever was doing that. We're
football fans, not ice hockey or basketball fans, please respect that.
On 80 minutes, the next key moment arrived as Bowen picked up a ball and tore
through. Set to break past him, Bowen was dragged back and Scunthorpe had to
play the final 10 minutes with 10 men. This seemed to convince City fans
that everything was going to be alright and the noise levels were incredible.
They were right as Scunthorpe never got near City's goal again whilst City
had efforts from Legg, Nugent and, best of all, Bowen but all fired high
and/or wide.
The standard City celebrations were in full swing as Bob Bankers went to the
front of the terrace and Canton/Family/Grange supporters were ready to invade
the pitch. The radio man told fans not to run on the pitch at the end of the
game which earned as big a laugh as his pathetic music interludes.
To keep things tense, the ref somehow found 4 minutes of injury time but they
were uneventful and the explosion of joy and celebration could not be
contained as the support charged towards the players tunnel, except for me!
I celebrated by doing a Klinsmann style dive full-length into the Canton
Stand goal. Stewards who tried to block it had to scatter as there was no
stopping me. THE BLUES WERE UP!!!
The celebrations were huge and the cheering was exceptional as the players
came out spraying champagne but the biggest roar all season was reserved when
Frankie appeared from the directors box. To say he looked happy was an
understatement! What a job that man has done in such a short time, I don't
think it's possible for anyone else to have done that. Give him the freedom
of Cardiff.
The scenes of joy continued as fans walked away from Ninian Park and were
further helped by news that Bristol City were relegated so play City again
from next season. HA! When the red, red robin comes bob, bob bobbing along
....
Not the greatest performance but those who saw City demolish Mansfield,
Brentford,
win at places like Halifax on a cold Friday night, Southend on a colder
Tuesday night and scrap for draws in recent weeks, it was our 5th in 7 games,
know it was fully deserved by a group of players who have never let us down
all season. The biggest praise that surely any squad can have. Roll on
Mansfield for a party! |
(Hill 65)