Cardiff City 0 v Leeds 2 > A Stadium Rebooted

On the face of it, this was an opportunity wasted as Leeds shut down the Bluebirds recent run (one defeat in nine) and any efforts of edging into them elusive play-off spots. Walking into work on Wednesday, the cave dwellers I work with who bask in the glory of any CCFC failing were quick to gloat that the result of the night prior wasn’t ideal. They were right too, it wasn’t, but that wasn’t the whole story was it? Hell no... Hell no. 

Under the radar to some, things have been improving slowly at City for a while and off the back of the recent run, even the fans turned up last night - Not just in numbers (15k) but also in voice. For the first time in Russell Slade’s reign the CCS came to life and the volume was cranked up backing the team. 

Much of the outcome of this game was down to Marco Silvestri in goal for the visitors, a man on a mission to keep a clean sheet making insane mega saves all night with limbs you didn’t know he had. Cardiff playing with a man down after Fabio's 64^th minute red card, pummelled Leeds in the second half raining shots on Silvestri’s goal. The bar was shaken, the post clipped and Craig Noone’s pile driver free kick even appeared to be clawed out from the net.

Respect is due to Silvestri for this performance and it was City’s ambition to go forward that ultimately cost them late on as Leeds got their chance on the counter and killed the game with a cruel sucker-punch. After this first loss at our house in 14 games though City can take heart from their shift which deserved so much more. 

The recent run of form and solid home record went with the final whistle, but this time the default boos were replaced with applause for the team’s efforts. If Russell Slade didn’t know what to make of it all, the supporters certainly did. City fans are back and we’re up for these remaining ten games.

Shout out to the Middlesborough scout sat next to us during the game (see below). This boffin drew pictures on a pad of where goalkeeper’s goal kicks landed and took photos on an underpixelated ipad of where markers stood at set pieces (all for his report apparently). He did laugh louder than expected at my Slade v Guardiola next season gag mind.