Goal for Cardiff
Report from NigelBlues.
Cardiff City (0) 1 Yeovil Town (0) 1
Nugent 84 mins Dale 54 mins
Pitch: Perfect but slightly muddy in goalmouths and greasy due to conditions
Weather: Overcast and intermittent heavy showers - appalling at times
When will it stop raining?
Attendance: 12,561
Yeovil fans: 2,400
Phew!!!
City got away with a draw when defeat looked likely and get another chance.
Yeovil, having come so close, must feel disappointed that they did not hold on
for victory but a draw was a fair result. Yet again, in testing
circumstances, the character of the side just about saved the day but it was
really worrying.
There was no doubting it was a big day when Ninian Park was busy with activity
two hours before kick-off. The Lansdowne was the busiest it has probably ever
been on a matchday too and it was great to meet and drink with some of the
Yeovil internet listers.
On arrival at the ground, more chaos ensued. City announced over the tannoy
15 minutes before kick-off that the game was a sell-out and told anybody
without a ticket to go home (sounds familiar?). However there did not seem to
be many locked out this time fortunately.
The big crowd also saw the return of hawkers by the railway bridges. Where do
these guys keep their City scarves and hats when we're crap i.e. for 4 seasons
in every 5!
More puzzles to ponder. All week, City announced that capacity for the game
was 14,000. So why, if every ticket was sold, was the crowd announced as
12,561? The Yeovil turn-out and volume of support was impressive but if they
brought 2,400, as advertised, there was a lot of room left on the Grange End
too. Also, why are no Grandstand seats reserved? It was only when I got to
the game that I realised all seats, even in the Grandstand, were first-come,
first-served. City must sort their administrative act out quickly or they
will lose their returning support.
Whatever way you look at it, the 'official' attendance was still mightily
impressive. It was half the attendance of today's 7 Division Three fixtures
added together! It was also larger than any Division Two crowd and larger
than the home attendance of some Premier and Division One home sides in F.A.
Cup action.
There were two changes from the side that started in the defeat at Brentford
on Monday. At the back, Jeff Eckhardt started in place of Scott Young whose
knee ligament damage could mean an absence of several weeks. Danny Hill, very
unlucky to have been dropped anyway, was back in the side but in place of
Richard Carpenter who became an overnight flu victim. Carpenter's midfield
bite and presence was sorely missed. It become obvious during the 90 minutes
exactly how influential a player he is for the team. John Williams also
played with flu and was withdrawn early having had a poor game.
As the teams came out, Carl Dale was given a huge reception by the City
faithful. It was well deserved but strange to see him in opposition colours.
City were slow starters but were putting their game together and creating the
early chances. John Williams had one effort blocked and another narrowly
wide, Jason Fowler was also close and corner kicks came at regular intervals
all afternoon. Yeovil however looked neat and confident in most things they
did, it was easy to see why they are unbeaten in 18 matches and unbeaten away
all season.
They perhaps should have opened the scoring shortly after 20 minutes when City
failed to clear a ball on the edge of the area. Their winger had a seemingly
clear sight of goal and was 12 yards out but his well hit shot, destined for
goal, was superbly deflected over by Mark Delaney who showed fantastic
covering to get in the way.
Danny Hill looked neat and inventive in midfield and was unlucky with a
surging run and diagonal shot which was just tipped around the post by
Yeovil's Jack keeper (reminded of his origins throughout the game!). Their keeper seemed
to be a
poor kicker which gave fans more encouragement, as if it were needed. Jason
Fowler again went close but the tactic to play him wide does not appear to be
working in my view.
As at Brentford, he frequently failed to produce good crosses and cause the
havoc that he can when used more centrally. Midfield was a concern all game,
arguably Yeovil had the better of it. City's passing often let them down and
clear chances were not being created.
Half-time City 0 Yeovil 0
After a quiet re-start with few incidents, Yeovil had their
moment of glory on
55 minutes. They won a corner and their soaking Grange End fans celebrated by
lighting a lovely red flare causing the City fans to go, "wooooooohhh".
Whether it distracted City, who knows, but there was shambolic defending as
the ball could not be cleared. Then tragedy as Graham Mitchell kicked away
from goal. I thought Carl Dale shot into goal as it came out but television
in The Napier afterwards clearly showed that the ball hit his knee and
rebounded into City's net.
Ironic that after years of dodgy knees at Ninian, Daley only goes and scores
with one of them! And, after all his interviews about not celebrating if he
scored against City, Daley went mental running along the goal line to the
corner flag and ending up on the ground in front of the Bob Bank. If you're
NOT going to his testimonial, clap your hands!!!
Yeovil fans understandably went mental. City fans however did not give up and
despite a few moaners, most continued to fully support the side and we were
easily the more vocal. Great to hear the Bob Bank in good voice today. The
Grandstand was quiet though despite my best attempts.
A minute after kick-off, John Williams, who had a very poor game was replaced
by Christian Roberts. Problem was, Roberts proved to be as poor as Williams.
He often looked a yard off the pace. A legacy of little reserve action or is
he just going backwards after promising so much last season? Whenever Roberts
has been given a chance this season, he has not taken it. To ask an old
question again, isn't it time that Earnie had a chance instead?
A couple of minutes later, Andy Legg was introduced in place of an unlucky
Danny Hill. This change had more effect as Wayne O'Sullivan moved in to
support Craig Middleton in central midfield and City totally dominated the
remainder of the match. The midfield, at last, were winning balls and kept it
simple by playing wide to Legg on the left or Fowler/Delaney on the right.
The final 20 minutes must have saw more crosses than exist in all of Wales'
churches! Despite this, good chances remained at a premium. City at last
were winning ball in the air in attack with Kevin Nugent battling hard and
extremely prominent by this stage but, frustratingly, they didn't seem to
throw enough players in Yeovil's area.
Every time the ball fell loose in the area, it invariably found a Yeovil boot.
On the rare occasions City won the ball on the edge of the area, opportunities
were wasted or passes were fluffed. Most notably, Craig Middleton hopelessly
spooned the ball over when clear from 12 yards.
Yeovil came so close to sealing victory when their striker ran clear on the
break. He hit a good shot which beat Jon Hallworth and was heading for goal
until Mark Delaney charged back to clear for a fruitless corner.
I have not given Yeovil enough credit so far. They were the equal of Cardiff
(who tried hard but were well below par today) and better than many Division 3
sides that City have faced. Few sides have performed better at Ninain this
season than Yeovil did today. They were worthy opponents and whilst the draw
was fair, nobody could have complained if they had won.
10 minutes from time, Dale was substituted. He was still applauded by all
City fans but it was definitely a few decibels quieter than his entrance at
3pm.
The final few minutes were also played out in appalling heavy run which
brought back memories of conditions during the epic victory over Oldham in
Round 3 last season. There had also been brief thunder and lightening before
the start and hail at times too.
City raised their game but just as a large section of the crowd were resigned
to defeat, the equaliser came on 86 minutes. A Jason Fowler corner was swung
to the far side of goal and met by KEVIN NUGENT. His looped header from 15
yards travelled back across goal and was missed by everybody to go in off the
post. The goal was credited at the time to Christian Roberts but 'Napier tv'
conclusively showed that he missed the ball and Nugent's header sailed in.
The roar was deafening and, moments later, City nearly won the game.
A classic outswinging Andy Legg cross was met by Kevin Nugent from 12 yards.
He placed his header over the Yeovil keeper but it was cleared off the line at
the last moment by a Yeovil defender when a goal looked certain. Anyone else
noticed that Nugent always places or cushions his headers? A powered header
would be nice sometimes Kevin.
The final whistle blew. Relief for City fans and players alike and no
doubting that Yeovil deserved the chance to take us back to their place.
Met Jon Morgan, the Yeovil lister, afterwards. We had both confided in each
other that we thought it would be a draw via mails before the game! He tells
me that Yeovil's ground holds 8,500 so should accommodate 2,000+ City fans.
See you there Tuesday week where it will be no easier but City surely will not
play that badly again. We will have more time and space and probably will be
better suited to hitting Yeovil on the break instead of all out assault as we
had to do today. We'll be o.k..
Report from Electronic Telegraph
FRANK BURROWS, the Cardiff City manager, admitted he was not surprised
that former Ninian Park striker Carl Dale had almost embarrassed his old club. "If I
was a gambling man, I would have bet that Carl would come back here and score against
us," he said. And that, of course, was exactly what happened. Dale,
released by Cardiff at the end of last season, returned with his new club and put them
within six minutes of another famous FA Cup giant-killing. Dale scored more than 70 goals
in 213 league appearances for Cardiff but none would have been quite as sweet as the one
he netted in the 54th minute yesterday. Yeovil won a corner on the right and when Steve
Thompson's kick came over Matt Hayfield outjumped the Cardiff defence to flick it on. Dale
was at the far post but he seemed to be surrounded by defenders and with little chance of
capitalising.
But with the style that made him such a big favourite during his seven seasons with
Cardiff, he somehow managed to force the ball over the line. Cardiff had earlier wasted a
wealth of possession, especially in the first half, although Yeovil could also thank their
Swansea-born goalkeeper Tony Pennock for keeping them in the tie. Pennock dived full
length to his right to push away a stinging shot from Danny Hill and also had to be alert
tokeep out efforts from Kevin Nugent and John Williams. Jason Fowler shot over the top but
it was not all one-way traffic as the gritty Conference side also had their chances.
Thompson thought he had beaten Jon Hallworth in the 20th minute with a rising shot that
the goalkeeper somehow managed to tip over the bar at the last second. Dale, though,
seemed to have made Cardiff pay for their earlier wastefulness but, with just six minutes
remaining, Nugent grabbed the equaliser that prevented the Third Division side becoming
Yeovil's 19th Football League victims in the FA Cup. It came in similar fashion to Dale's
strike. A Fowler corner was met by Nugent with a powerful header and it seemed teenage
substitute Christian Roberts had got the final
touch. The youngster admitted afterwards, however, that he had just failed to reach the
ball and the goal was later credited to Nugent. "Yeovil deserved a draw. They gave it
a real go and if you were a Yeovil fan you would have thought your team had done enough to
win," added Burrows. "Cardiff did not do enough to win but there is no real
reason we can't go back to their place to claim the victory
and go through to the fourth round. "It was exciting if you were a neutral and the
real winners were the supporters who came out in the appalling weather."
Report from the Observer.
A temptestous afternoon at Ninian Park, with heavy rain lashing the fans
and the field, ended in equality after the Cardiff substitute Christian Roberts grabbed a
late equaliser to ruin Yeovil's hopes of a fairy-tale result to commemorate the 50th
anniversary of their famous run to the fifth round in 1948-49.
Roberts, brought on after 57 minutes, shortly after Carl Dale had shot the
Somerset side ahead, forced the ball home after Nugent had headed back
a corner by Fowler. Ruined romantic dreams apart, the Welshmen just about deserved a
replay at Huish Parkon January 12.
Frank Burrows' team, befitting the team that sits on top of Division Three, were the
dominant force for long periods in both halves, without translating their superiority into
goals. A clearance in the last minute off the goal-line by Brown, for Yeovil, from a
strong Nugent from header just about summed up the match.
For nearly half an hour, it seemed that Dale, the 32-year-old who has a testimonial
against the Welshmen later in the season, was going to be the hero of the hour. After
hitting 102 goals in seven years for Cardiff, he was released last summer, but he
travelled back to Ninian Park with a vengeance and almost helped Yeovil claim their 19th
league scalp.
The muscular centre-forward struck amid rain-sodden, frantic excitement. Against the
unlikely backdrop of the effusions of a scarlet flare on the open terrace, which was
packed with Yeovil fans, he swept in a rising shot from 10 yards when a powerful header by
Warren Patmore, from a corner by Thompson, was blocked just six yards out.
Cardiff had most of the first half, with the leggy Delaney finding plenty of room on the
right, but Yeovil, unbeaten in 17 games in all competitions, played their way back into
the game and threatened an upset when Dale scored his goal and set up that frantic, sodden
finale.
Report from Soccernet
Carl Dale returned to haunt Cardiff as Yeovil rolled back
the decades at Ninian Park.
It was shades of 1949 in the Welsh Capital as The
Bluebirds so nearly followed Bury and Sunderland as
Yeovil FA Cup scalps.
Dale had struck nine minutes into the second half to send
nearly 2,500 travelling Somerset fans wild but glory was
snatched away from the part-time minnows as Kevin
Nugent cheated disaster six minutes from the final
whistle.
Cardiff, roared on by a sell-out crowd of over 12,500,
were keen to establish superiority early on and in the
second minute linkman Jason Fowler saw a right-footer
fizz past Tony Pennock's far post.
Two minutes later, though, Yeovil's 11-goal dangerman
Warren Patmore eluded Jeff Eckardt but sent David
Piper's raking ball over the top.
It was gripping stuff and a slick Wayne O"Sullivan - John
Williams exchange created a chance for the adventurous
Mark Delaney.
But on 20 minutes The Bluebirds were on red alert as
'keeper Jon Hallworth turned away a Steve Thompson
snapshot.
But on the half-hour the part-time Conference minnows
had a let-off when Pennock's diving frame fortuitiously
deflected a Danny Hill blast around an upright for an
unproductive corner.
Yeovil were belying their non-league status and in a
full-blooded challenge Cardiff's Nugent and the visitor's
Kevan Brown saw yellow - Portsmouth official Mike
Pearce acting quickly.
Division Three leaders Cardiff stormed forward after the
interval and on 50 minutes Craig Middleton saw his
goal-bound drive deflect agonisingly wide as Pennock
struggled.
Bluebird old-boy Dale flashed a shot over the top two
minutes later, but on 54 minutes he struck with a
vengeance.
Scrapping co-raider Patmore had his header blocked
after Thompson's right-side corner had caused mayhem
and former Cardiff hero Dale lashed a 12 yard right-footer
past the groping Hallworth.
But six minutes from time, Cardiff hauled themselves back
from the dead as Nugent netted.
The former Bristol City striker headed back Fowler's
right-side corner and with substitute Chris Roberts
dummying at the far post, the ball just trickled over the
line.
Goal for Yeovil
Report from Matchfacts.
Kevin Nugent struck six minutes from the end as The Bluebirds cheated an FA Cup
exit at Ninian Park. In front of a sell out 12,500 crowd Division
Three leaders Cardiff had trailed to a strike from Bluebird old boy Carl Dale on 54
minutes. Yeovil repelled waves of Bluebird assault in monsoon
conditions but with time running out Nugent met Jason Fowler's corner from the right and
with the help of a dummy by substitute Chris Roberts,
rescued the Bluebirds from oblivion |
