Bowen opens the scoring
Report from NIgelBlues.
Another quality performance by City who yet again proved that they can
live with any side in this division. But, not for the first time, despite looking a notch
or two above their opponents, the chances came and were missed. The quality and effort
could not be faulted and it was a cracking match to watch which will keep the fans coming
back. Ultimately though, it was still a feeling of disappointment that this was 2 points
dropped, not 1 gained.
The side was unchanged from the team who played Oxford off the park in a stunning away
performance but, in the first half, City looked a different team altogether.
Whether it was nerves, the atmosphere of an outstanding 11,168 crowd, the undoubted added
tension that comes with a Welsh derby, the fact that only 2 floodlights were working (what
was that about?) or maybe all of these, the team took a long while to gel.
There was little to note from either side except the class act and talent that is now
Danny Hill. He was running the show and in the best form of his City career. At last, he
is showing why he was a Premier player who could go back there if he shows consistency.
His runs at the heart of the Wrexham defence caused panic every time. Wrexham could not
cope with him.
City were disrupted early on as Eamonn Boland limped off in some pain after just 8
minutes. John Cornforth replaced him and although he played well, it caused City problems
as he does not yet seem fit enough for 90 minutes and is too similar to Mark Bonner so the
balance did not look quite right.
Wrexham's main (only?) outlet seemed to be to find Karl Connolly. He is a talented player
but City seemed to offer him time and space. Fortunately, little danger came from it
although Connolly exposed the lack of pace in City's defence a couple of times although
Jason Fowler had his best game so far in central defence.
City took the lead on 37 minutes shortly after their first spell of concerted pressure and
causing problems in the penalty area. Firstly Kevin Nugent was desperately unlucky with a
great header to an Andy Legg cross that bounced off the post. Then Nugent again came close
with a blocked effort after Dearden, Wrexham's tellytubbie keeper, dropped a ball.
The goal had calss written over it. Another Danny Hill marauding run from midfield saw him
spread the ball wide to Andy Legg. Legg beat his man and whipped in a high, far post
cross. This was met powerfully by Nugent to head back across goal for Jason Bowen to
finish easily with his head for 6 yards. The atmosphere lifted and it was great to see all
parts of the ground, including the Grange End, full of City fans.
This settled City and they started to produce some great moves, exploiting the wings more
but had to settle for just the one goal. Until this point, Wrexham had looked comfortable
with City very jittery.
H/T City 1 Wrexham 0
City came out with all guns blazing as Legg and Faerber at last pushed forward more but,
totally against the run of play, Wrexham equalised. This was shortly after their first
shot of the match when Hallworth made a good stop. The equaliser was their last shot of
the match.
Questions have to be asked about the defending as City went to sleep.A cross was headed
across goal to find Ian Stevens in free space. The finishing was exemplary as he produced
an overhead kick leaving Jon Hallworth stranded. Great finish but where were our boys? Six
goals conceded in league and cup this season, 2 penalties, 2 own goals and 2 overhead
kicks!!
This was the cue for City to play the last half hour in Wrexham's half.How they didn't win
the game, nobody can explain. Wrexham absorbed the pressure well but in two epic moves,
Jason Bowen was played in with free shots on goal from 10 yards or less. Both times, he
somehow rolled the ball wide when it was easier to score.
Bowen's pace and movement was yet again a feature of the game and he does find time and
space. He will undoubtedly score 20+ goals for City this season but how many will he miss?
I make that 5 genuine sitters missed so far.
City were also helped in the final 20 minutes after Gareth Owen was perhaps harshly sent
off for two yellow card offences. The second card was a foul on halfway when there was no
danger but that's the way refereeing has gone.
City laid siege to Wrexham but there was a felling that the winner wouldn't come. Anyone
who thought otherwise probably accepted it themselves when Jeff Eckhardt was so unlucky to
see a powerful header crash back off the bar from 15 yards. Shots were blocked or saved
but City did seem to fizzle out in the last 10 minutes. I was personally baffled why Matt
Brazier was not brought on to run at Wrexham. The Robins were tiring under pressure and it
seemed to be made for Matt but, sometimes, Frankie's substitutions are predictable.
It was disappointing not to win, which was deserved, and go top - even if it was just for
24 hours. However 5 points from the opening three games at a higher level and being the
much better side on each occasion continues to give optimism. And let's be honest, the
quality of play is truly outstanding, it just needs to be converted into more goals.
Finally, how about this? City have not lost at home in the league for 18 matches going
back more than 10 months (Cambridge 17/10/98) - a superb achievement. But looked at
another way, the Bluebirds have now only won 1 league match at home in the 7 months since
hammering Brentford last January!! Incredibly, 8 of the past 9 home league games have been
draws.
It is still early days in Division 2 and there's so much to be happy about but this record
must be put right if the club are to challenge at the top end of the table.
Great night, great game but not quite the result we wanted.
Eeport from Sportsline.
An Ian Stevens strike grounded the barnstorming Bluebirds at a packed
Ninian Park tonight.
A win would have made Cardiff kings for the night, but even after Wrexham's Gareth Owen
had seen red after the hour, they failed to batter The Robins into submission.
Jason Bowen had settled City's first-half nerves after the half hour, but the ex-Welsh
international was guilty of a clutch of misses late on.
Bluebirds chief Frank Burrows kept the side that
chalked up a maximum at Oxford last Saturday, birthday boy Jason Fowler continuing in his
new centre-back role.
The Robins fielded the 11 that sank Bury at the Racecourse last weekend as boss Brian
Flynn sought reward from the long trip to South Wales.
Cardiff, backed by a big gate, were into their stride early carving out a brace of chances
inside the first three minutes. Indeed it was Andy Legg's long throws from the left which
caused the North Wales outfit acute discomfort. Bowen and Jeff Eckhardt guiding the Welsh
internationals deliveries past the uprights.
Yet Wrexham had the home fans gasping on 12 minutes as David Ridler wastefully miscued a
Gareth Owen corner across goal.
Both Welsh rivals were struggling to construct anything worthwhile as the half elapsed,
but there was a rare moment of anxiety for City on 31 minutes as Faulconbridge drove over
from 20 yards.
Then Cardiff cursed their luck three minutes later. Legg had rescued a lost cause on the
left and the diving Kevin Nugent powered against Kevin Dearden's far post.
On 37 minutes though, the ground erupted as The Bluebirds stormed ahead. Legg again
excelled on the left, Nugent soared above Brian Carey, and Bowen swooped from six yards.
Cardiff swarmed forward again and Wrexham's Mark McGregor saw yellow as he clattered
midfielder Danny Hill.
Then in first-half stoppage-time Frank Burrows' men almost doubled their lead. City had
finally cleared some Robins pressure, the advancing Bowen released Mark Bonner, but the
ex-Blackpool link-man sliced his near post drive wide.
However, seconds after the re-start, Cardiff had 'keeper Jon Hallworth to thank for
preserving their slender lead. The former Oldham man twisted acrobatically to palm away
Carey's 15-yard chip.
On 55 minutes the ground fell silent as Wrexham drew level. Danny Williams returned Karl
Connolly's half-cleared corner, the loitering Carey glanced down and Ian Stevens netted
with an exquisite scissor-kick from eight yards.
Cardiff were so nearly back in front on 64 minutes though. Legg had sparked panic as he
split Carey and Ridler with a whipped delivery, but Mike Ford's thunderous header was
brilliantly parried onto the bar by the busy Dearden.
Wrexham were down to ten men three minutes later as Owen was sent packing by Hampshire
referee Robert Stiles for a horrendous challenge on Nugent - the ex-Welsh Under-21
international displaying petulance as he marched off.
The Robins immediately hauled off striker Faulconbridge for stopper Michael Ryan, but
Cardiff held their heads in disbelief as Bowen twice miskicked at the far post with the
goal gaping.
Report from Total Wales.
CARDIFF CITY passed up the chance to take over the Division Two leadership before
an 11,000-plus crowd at Ninian Park last night.
City manager Frank Burrows had warned that his Second Division new boys had much to learn
at this level - and one missing ingredient was blatantly obvious.
Cardiff created a host of chances in a hugely entertaining Welsh derby but a combination
of poor finishing and good goalkeeping from Wrexham’s Kevin Dearden prevented them
topping this division for the first time since 1983.
Wrexham lost a man for the second successive game when Gareth Owen was dismissed mid-way
through the second period, but Cardiff failed to make their advantage count.
Andy Legg was involved in almost every move as Cardiff swarmed forward from the start.
Mike Ford and Jeff Eckhardt both got on the end of long throws from Legg to shave
Dearden’s far post.
Legg’s cross almost set up Kevin Nugent, but he fired into the side netting and
Cardiff lost their early momentum when Willy Boland limped out of the action.
Wrexham were patient, but offered little attack until their genuine claims for a penalty
were turned down after 34 minutes.
Karl Connolly, an anonymous figure until that point, appeared favourite to reach Mark
McGregor’s deep cross.
Connolly was eased out of his position by Winston Faerber, who made no attempt to play the
ball.
Wrexham coaches, Kevin Reeves and Joey Jones, reacted instantly by leaping from the dugout
to protest, but there were few complaints from the visiting players.
The incident, however, stirred Cardiff from their slumber as Nugent headed against the
post from Legg’s cross.
The striker went close again after Dearden had spilled a corner, but moments later Legg
was given the freedom of Ninian Park to find Nugent unmarked eight yards out.
Nugent unselfishly headed back across the area where Jason Bowen stooped to score his
second goal of the season.
Wrexham couldn’t get any worse and Connolly forced Jon Hallworth into a
fingertip save within 50 seconds of the restart.
Their improvement was rewarded by a 56th-minute equaliser, Ian Stevens skilfully
executing a bicycle kick from 12 yards after Brian Carey had met Danny Williams’s
centre.
Nugent knocked on wood again when Dearden tipped his close-range header on to the bar and
Cardiff’s pressure was relentless after Owen had been sent off for a second bookable
offence.
Bowen mis-kicked twice in front of goal and a valiant rearguard action from Carey and
David Ridler ensured Wrexham a point. |
