CARDIFF CITY 2-0 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Date 26/12/10 At the Cardiff City Stadium
Team
Westwood, Keogh, McPake, Wood, Cameron, Doyle, Carsley, Clarke (Eastwood 58), McSheffrey (Platt 58), King, Jutkiewicz. SNU Ireland, Thomas, Cranie, Baker
Cardiff
Marshall, McNaughton, Hudson, Naylor, Olofinjana, Whittingham, McPhail, Riggott (Gyepes 68), Bellamy, Chopra, A.Keogh. SNU Heaton, Rae, Koumas, Blake, Matthews,Wildig.
HT CCFC 1-0 CCFC FT CCFC 2-0 CCFC ATT 24,595
Referee G.Salisbury Booked Doyle, Bellamy, R.Keogh
Goals Seyi Olofinjana (20), Craig Bellamy (83)
Man Of The Match Keiren Westwood.
Although it was foggy, we made our way through the winter wonderland to the capital of Wales, a city had suffered two very heavy snowfalls, judging by the amount of the white stuff piled up on the sides of the roads, discussing the fact that it is high time that Coventry City started beating the sides around them.
As you would expect for a Boxing Day, it was a bumper crowd in the home areas of a now sterile stadium and the only spaces were to be found in the away end where there was around 600 City supporters including supporters from Surrey, Kent, London, Cambridgeshire, South Wales and the Midlands plus some Plymouth fans in fancy dress that included a bikini on a day when the temperatures were in the minus figures.
The England songs started as soon as the first announcement in Welsh at the Cardiff City Stadium was made and that set the tone for the afternoon in the stands.
There had been local concerns about the game going ahead due to the cold affecting the toilets amongst other things. Thankfully, it did not affect the pitch though, which although had snow piled around it's edges, was in good condition and on that pitch, Coventry manager Aidy Boothroyd sent out a Sky Blues side which saw Jordan Clarke at right midfield, with Lee Carsley in side him and Lukas Jutkiewicz upfront.
There was no Jay Bothroyd for Cardiff but Craig Bellamy started and the former Sky Blue, who, was booed at every opportunity by the Sky Blue support, was straight at the City defence from the start.
The poisoned dwarf as many City supporters know him as, exploited Richard Keogh's defensive frailities. And from the start. Bellamy got past Keogh after he was able to get past Jordan Clarke and it was only a cracking block from Nathan Cameron who stopped Cardiff from going ahead with just over ninety seconds gone.
Thanks to the City players still thinking it was Christmas and handing out presents of balls to the likes of Bellamy, Andy Keogh, Chopra and Treacle Towner Peter Whittingham, it was a full nine minutes before Coventry had any attack of note and that involved Marlon King who looked good out on the right flank put over decent crosses when he had the chances.
Unfortunately, Lukas Jutkiewicz, who was played up front with King, was totally ineffective and with no-one else willing to grasp the mantle, this meant that Coventry chances were always going to be at something of a premium.
The same could not be said for David Jones side who were allowed to attack at will. Keiren Westwood dived to his right in the 18th minute to make a blinding save when a Whittingham free kick was knocked forward but he could do nothing two minutes later when Cardiff blocked a Keogh free kick and won one which they quickly took, allowing them to break through Bellamy who picked out SEYI OLOFINJANA who scored.
The goal, to be honest was not a surprise the way the Sky Blues were playing and Cardiff would have been three up if it was not for Keiren Westwood, who, is it has been rumoured was the subject of a £2.5m bid which the City board have rejected.
The Republic Of Ireland international, brilliantly got to his right to deny Chopra and in the 31st minute, made a superb stop by using his feet.
You could sense the frustration amongst the City supporters at watching a Sky Blues side who were clearly second best in the match but there was hope that something could be snatched from the game.
There was no changes at the break and after many of the City support had lost their patience with young Jordan Clarke who let a ball run out, much to the amusement of the Cardiff fans, changes came in the 58th minute with McSheffrey, who could not get the touch he wanted from a King 49th minute centre and Clarke replaced by Eastwood and Platt.
Bellamy was given the job of taking corners right in front of where the City supporters were housed and as you would expect he was abused every time he took a flag kick and when he was booked for mouthing off in the 59th minute after committing a foul.
In the 61st minute, Clive Platt had City's first effort on target and a minute later, many of the City supporters were jumping up when a cracking King cross was steered into the net off Jutkiewicz. However, the assistant in front of the Cardiff fans to our right, had his flag up and the goal was chalked off.
King had two efforts and even Westwood tried his luck on goal with a long kick, that Marshall, his opposite number dealt with.
But in the 83rd minute, it was thank you and good night when CRAIG BELLAMY cut inside and hit a shot that took a massive deflection off McPake and flew in to the net, past the helpless Westwood.
There was a delayed reaction from the crowd and it was not until the goal was announced that the home fans started celebrating.
Some of the City support started to leave and missed the ovation Westwood got from both sets of fans as we left Cardiff happy to get away with only a 2-0 defeat.