Cardiff City 0 v QPR 0 > Keeping Up With Wednesday

Quite how Cardiff City’s play-off dream is still alive I do not know. After a season of dropped points from winnable situations and snatching draws from the jaws of victories, it’s always looked like a tall order to reach the top six.

The Bluebirds finished the day in the same state they were in before kick-off, five points behind sixth place Sheffield Wednesday and still in with a chance… but another game has bitten the dust and just four remain. With Wednesday only managing a limp draw themselves though, another opportunity for Cardiff to claw back ground was let by but City fans do cling onto the fact that Wednesday face a trip to Derby on Saturday where points dropping is very likely.  

With 12 points left to play for, Cardiff need every single inch of them.

Saturdays game was a dire non-event with both teams happy to spa and cancel each other out in the first half but City did up the levels of huff and puff in the second.

The home side crafted a few precious opportunities, but again lacked the nous to finish (A common theme this season). Headers from Anthony Pilkington and Sean Morrison came closest and Kenneth Zohore (& his huge legs) saw a reluctant effort hacked off the line after trickling the ball under the QPR keeper agonisingly. Lack of creativity aside though, the Bluebirds should have been awarded a penalty when Grant Hall appeared to wrestle Pilkington to the floor WWE style in the box late on to which the referee chose to ignore. It was that kind of frustrating afternoon where you storm out of the ground in a strop upon full time. 

Cardiff are not losing out on a top-six finish because of now really, If they do miss out its down to wastefulness, a lack of creativity and the poor recruitment which has littered the entire campaign like pollution. Still, at this stage last year the whole season was over as City drifted aimlessly into mid table abyss – it is mild fun for games to still matter. Is there hope? Yes, there is still hope. 

Below: Kenneth Zohore's big legs (side view).   

Cardiff City 2 v Derby 1 > Ruthless Bluebirds Grind It Out

Cardiff City are slowly sorting their s**t out.

After a well-documented dark period over the last 3 seasons, with supporters enduring the owners complete disregard for the fan-base, soap opera style politics and a relegation, the club are clawing their way back to the light - both on and off the pitch. This latest bridge rebuilt by the club this week saw a successful ticket giveaway prior to the match seeing supporters flood back to the stadium – 28,000 of them (13,500 more than the last attendance against Ipswich).  

It was a far cry from the drab atmospheres fans have become accustomed to in recent times too, even seeing the new Ninian stand extension in use and in full voice. Russell Slade said before the game that the record crowd could get his team over the line, and in the end, they really did.

(Shout out to my father-in-law John and sister-in-law Charlotte who each made their full debuts at the Cardiff City Stadium - below). 

A clinical, ruthless Cardiff, controlled the first half against one of the division’s most dangerous (and expensively assembled) sides. After going in 1-0 up after a cagey first half though the crowd came to life in the second half offering thunderous support not seen at this ground for way too long. It was Derby who equalised with a scrappy goal but the Bluebirds dug deep, tightened up at the back and grinded out a few chances.

The stadium upped the noise switching from mild encouragement to vein bulging support and City responded deservedly bundling home a Peter Whittingham curling corner for a 2-1 lead. 

It was surprising, but entirely fitting, that Stuart O'Keefe was the man to pop up in the box and nick Cardiff's crucial winner. He may not have a rep for being a poacher, but he’s developed a knack of being in the right place at the right time. Saturday he was all over everything, breaking up Derby attacks, flying into tackles and generally bringing the ruckus with every inch of his being. No one symbolises Cardiff's transformation in recent months more than O'Keefe. This may not be the most talented side in the division, but their confidence is growing and the desire and commitment is there for all to see.

(Respect to O'Keefe for getting in the mix at this ruck - below)  

So, this vital victory keeps City in contention for a play-off finish and drags both Derby and Sheffield Wednesday that bit closer in the table (just 2 points now). Before Christmas this kind of run was unthinkable to the City regulars and credit must go to Slade and the team for building this momentum. 

A degree of chill is advised though as a bitch of a match away at Burnley awaits tomorrow night and plenty more twists and turns lurk ahead in the next month. City may drop points along the way but so will their rivals and ultimately it looks like it could go down to the wire and those final two colossal AF games up at Sheffield Wednesday and at home to Birmingham.

I was pleased the first time fans got treated to not only a win but a classic Peter Whittingham scissor leg smash tackle slam whereby Whitts halts an opposition fast break by wiping out a player. That was cool. 

With more beastly home games on the horizon, it wouldn’t surprise us if the club ran more offers for tickets to bring as much of this crowd back. We’ll see.  

Also shout out to the Cardiff City Hospitality resident magician Adam James Reeves who twisted our minds pre-game with some sickening close-up magic.  

But mostly, kudos to Stuart O’Keefe. He wants your ball.