 Report
by NigelBlues.
Attendance: 10,809 Swansea fans: 1,500
Weather: Cloudy, mild, light drizzle in 2nd half
Pitch: Excellent
Atmosphere:
From City Fantastic at times. Subdued at times too largely due
to game.
From Jacks: Probably very good but they were hardly ever heard in Canton
Stand - the lack of Grange roof doesn't help but their jump around looks
impressive.
Yet another game when the season long problems were obvious. It's now 4
wins, 9 draws and just 14 goals in the last 15 league games. The team played
well and were obviously a class above a poor Jacks side. However several
good chances weren't taken and Cardiff didn't really show enough for all the
possession and territory enjoyed. Quite simply, we were not good enough up
front to get the win we deserved. The game was shown live on Sky but surely
any neutral viewers switched over to something more interesting, like the QVC
Shopping Channel!
City had to settle for their 5th draw in the last 6 home league games and
whilst promotion grows ever nearer, this side should have gone up a while ago
and surely be champions...if only we had a goal pincher to play off Nugent!
Many fans are finding it disappointing that the season isn't being finished
in style and that we are going up mainly because there is nobody good enough
to beat us. The style of football is not so good lately but defensively, we
are too strong and that remains the strength of the side.
Swansea did not even get a single shot or header on target against Seamus
Kelly so could not even test a rookie goalkeeper. However neither did
Cambridge 2 weeks ago and Orient had only 1 shot on target with the last kick
of the match last week.
This was a game between the 2 best defences in the division but also two
teams who have scored the least of most sides in the play off/promotion
teams. That tells its own story and also explains why nil-nil was no
surprise.
After a well respected 1 minute silence for Hillsborough victims, the game
kicked off to massive passion but was it me or did that rarely show itself on
the pitch? The players never matched the enthusiasm or commitment from both
sets of fans - very unusual for a Cardiff/Swansea match.
The referee had a good game and showed he intended no messing about as he
booked 2 Jacks, including Alsop in the first 3 minutes. The game settled
with both sides looking nervy but the football, quality and moves were
Cardiff's. Swansea were happy to get a point and showed no attacking intent.
Their big striker, Alsop, was wasted as he had no centres, service or
anything to fight all game and their best players were thier goalkeeper and
defenders. Nugent on the other hand was getting service which he used well to
win headers and flicks but City not pushed forward into the area. It was
disappointing to see a couple of headers fly across the area with no other
City player in sight.
The only real chances City had in the first half was when Williams and
Middleton both failed to connect with Nugent downward headers, Middleton had
a shot blocked and Legg drove a couple of free-kicks into the Swansea wall.
Legg also had a good run and put a great ball into the danger zone only to
find no City player anywhere near it. Swansea's only efforts were 2 Bound
free-kicks both driven into the Grange End and in his defensive moment of
madness this game, Jeff Eckhardt let a ball run back dangerously leaving
Seamus to race out and just beat a Swansea attacker.
The Swansea penalty area was dominated by Roger Freestone who was impressive
all match but was helped by City whipping corners and free kicks too close to
him. He looked class and confident and, in fairness, took all the cracks
from the Canton Stand and turned to applaud us all at half-time. A nice
gesture but an awful first-half although City were on top.
Half-time Cardiff 0 Swansea 0The 2nd half
initially carried on as the 1st half finished. City on top,
looking good on the ball but not really creating any danger. Only Middleton
of the midfield trio pushed forward although Bonner (deputising for Carpenter
who was suprisingly not included at all in the 14) played well. Jason Fowler
didn't play so well and it was disappointing to see someone of his quality
have so little impact.
The chance of the match came 10 minutes into the half and should have been
taken. An horrendous slip up by a Swansea central defender left John
Williams advance on goal from 30 yards. The chance was there to shoot when
he got into the area but, temporarily thinking he was Ronaldo, Willo took the
ball around Freestone well and shot but the extra time taken allowed a
defender to block his effort and you just knew City wouldn't score after that.
The next passage of play was probably the poorest seen at Ninian this season
as midfield broke down as possession was given away to Swansea time after
time. Swansea though weren't good enough to cause any trouble and the ball
was soon recollected by Cardiff only to give it away again.
The spurred Frankie into substitute action as Danny Hill replaced Wayne
O'Sullivan. Cardiff woke up, looked better, created chances but missed a
series of them.
Firstly an excellent Danny Hill cross when met by John Williams but he got
underneath it and his effort cleared the bar. Bowen came on and shot wide
instantly as did Jason Fowler shortly afterwards before a superb Hill centre
again found Nugent lurking at the far post. His header had direction but
lacked power and was bundled off the line.
Nugent, normally so relaible with his head, fluffed a superb oppotunity
crafted by Jason Bowen and put a header over the bar when he looked certain
to score.
In the closing stages, two more excellent opportunities. Firstly, the best
moment of skill in the game saw Jason Bowen charge down the touchline beating
two defenders
easily before cutting into the area. He perhaps should have crossed but went
for goal and miscued his shot wide and slightly high. Then finally in injury
time, after another excellent move, Danny Hill charged into the area, shot
wide of Freestone but his effort was cleared off the line.
It was agony. For two games against Swansea this season, we have been much
the better side but only have 1 point to show for it. Swansea have had the
better of things recently as Cardiff have only won 1 of the last 8 derbies
and I didn't realise until afterwards, we have failed to finish above Swansea
for 11 years.
However the season is really about how well you do over 46 games, not 2
derbies, but this was 2 points dropped. So promotion agony rolls on another
week but if results go right, it is possible that it can be secured at
Scarborough on Saturday although maybe the Scunthorpe game is now most likely
to be the one, unless we blow it. I have no doubt Cardiff will get promoted
and very little doubt that Swansea
won't, even if they make the play-offs, their side is just not good enough.
Wahtever happens though, there seems little doubt several new faces are
required at both clubs if progress this season is to be maintained.
Report from Soccernet.
Plenty of muscle, but a shortage of fizz, in a rumbustious
Welsh showdown at Ninian Park. After an untidy first half,
it was The Bluebirds who so nearly stole it, with 39-goal
front-men Williams and Nugent chucking away a glut of
opportunities. Cardiff boss, Frank Burrows, restored
21-goal hit-man Kevin Nugent, as he sought to power
past arch-rivals Swansea. The Swans brought back giant
striker Julian Alsop and the midfield guile of Nick Cusack.
There was a frenzied opening to the match, referee Steve
Bennett of Orpington was quickly into the action,
cautioning the visitors' Alsop and Cusack in the first four
minutes.
Both teams bristled with nerves and a series of raids
capitulated to dreadful destruction. It was on the half hour
that The Bluebirds conjured the first worthwhile move.
Nugent set up midfielder Craig Middleton but he pulled
his shot wide of the far post.
The Swans, with 'keeper Roger Freestone in
commanding form, looked compact at the back and
threatened themselves as the interval loomed, with
Matthew Bound sending a couple of screamers into the
packed Grange End terrace.
Yet Cardiff stormed back after the break and should have
been ahead on 56 minutes.
A Bound error let in Swansea old-boy John Williams who
rounded Freestone, but his tight-angled blast cannoned
to safety off Jon Coates' lunge.
Then the ex-postman nearly delivered just 15 minutes
later, but he nodded over after substitute Danny Hill had
whipped in a vicious cross from the right.
Just six minutes from time, Nugent again raised Cardiff's
hopes, but he headed tamely over after substitute Jasen
Bowen had broken free on the right.
Then in stoppage time, the home side almost stole it. Hill
evaded Steve Jones, but his left-footer was hooked off
the goal-line by Swans skipper Cusack. |
