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 Tuesday 8th August 2006, Coca-Cola Championship, Ninian Park, Kick-Off 7:45pm
Cardiff City: Neil Alexander, Kerrea Gilbert, Roger Johnson, Glenn Loovens, Kevin McNaughton, Joe Ledley, Stephen McPhail, Riccardo Scimeca, Paul Parry (Willo Flood 85), Steven Thompson (Kevin Campbell 73), Michael Chopra. Subs not used: Mark Howard (gk), Jeff Whitley, Luigi Glombard
Albion: Pascal Zuberbuhler, Steve Watson, Curtis Davies (C), Chris Perry, Paul Robinson, Zoltan Gera, Ronnie Wallwork (Junichi Inamoto 81), Nigel Quashie, Jonathan Greening (Richard Chaplow 63), Nathan Ellington (Darren Carter 43), John Hartson. Subs not used: Russell Hoult (gk), Martin Albrechtsen
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)
Half-Time:
Cardiff City 1-1 Albion
Attendance: 18,506 Conditions:
Cool, calm and dry evening
ALBION
TEAM NEWS:
Baggies’ boss Bryan Robson kept faith with the team that beat
Hull City 2-0 at The
Hawthorns on Saturday. The only change came on the substitutes' bench with
Russell Hoult replacing the Manchester United bound Tomasz Kuszczak. CARDIFF
CITY
TEAM NEWS:
City made one change to the side that beat
Barnsley on Saturday with
Roger Johnson coming into defence for the injured Darren Purse. Former
Albion star Riccardo Scimeca started for the Bluebirds whilst another
ex-Baggie Kevin Campbell was on the bench. BAGGIES BATTLE TO A
DRAW IN CARDIFF
If anyone connected with West Bromwich Albion was unsure to
what the Championship was all about then tonight in
South Wales gave them a few
answers. A packed Ninian Park produced a red-hot atmosphere and with the
recent bad blood between the two clubs regarding Jason Koumas, the game took
on a feeling of a grudge match.
Baggies’ boss Bryan Robson kept faith with the team that beat
Hull at The Hawthorns on Saturday, the only change coming on the bench with
Russell Hoult replacing Tomasz Kuszczak. The Polish international’s absence
clearly indicating that his departure from The Hawthorns is imminent.
Albion started brightly and
took the lead on four minutes through Zoltan Gera. From a Jonathan Greening
corner John Hartson forced City defender Kevin McNaughton into heading
against his own bar, Hungarian midfielder Gera the quickest to react heading
the loose ball into the net from close range to give the visitors an early
lead. The goal also brought about the welcome return of Gera's somersault
celebration.
Bryan Robson’s men had started just as they had at The
Hawthorns on Saturday, unfortunately it wasn’t to last. Roared on by a very
vocal home support
Cardiff
gradually got themselves into the game and on 16 minutes former Baggie
Riccardo Scimeca had his team’s first effort on goal of the night but only
managed to fire well wide from 25 yards.
Despite the game now being end-to-end, goalmouth action was
at a premium, although
Albion came close to extending their lead twice in the space of a
couple of minutes. First a Greening cross was met at the back post by Paul
Robinson, Alexander pulling off a neat save to prevent the former Watford
defender marking his 100th start for the club with a goal. Then Ellington,
who had otherwise been largely anonymous, unleashed a vicious 20 yard effort
that produced another fine save from Alexander in the Bluebirds’ goal.
Albion were soon to pay for their failure to put the ball in
the net when on 33 minutes Scimeca got on the end of a Stephen McPhail cross
to head past a static defence from 12 yards. The goal certainly gave the
hosts confidence and Michael Chopra, Joe Ledley and Steven Thompson all went
close to putting City in front before half-time.
Two minutes before the interval
Albion suffered a huge blow
with the loss of Ellington through injury. Darren Carter replaced the former
Wigan man but with no other striker on the bench goalscorer
Gera was forced to partner Hartson up front.
The hosts continued their dominance after the break without
really threatening Zuberbuhler’s goal, Curtis Davies and Chris Perry once
again forming a formidable barrier in front of him. With the exception of a
Hartson effort that ballooned over the bar,
Albion didn’t really look
like scoring and City continued to look the better team with ex-Newcastle
United striker Chopra in particular causing the
Albion defence problems.
The introduction of former
Albion striker Kevin
Campbell, who was met by a mixed reaction from the travelling support,
seemed to end City’s threat as an attacking force. The barely mobile
Campbell was easily marked out of the game by Perry and Davies.
With City’s attacks becoming rare
Albion started to push
forward again, Nigel Quashie, Ronnie Wallwork and substitute Richard Chaplow
trying their luck from long-distance. Although the visitors were finishing
the stronger team they almost conceded right at the death, Chopra
volleying just wide from Ledley's cross.
A late winner for either side would have been unfair and
despite City perhaps being the better side on the night
Albion did just about
deserve a point for their battling qualities if nothing else.
Aside from the result, the most worrying aspect of the night
was the injury to Nathan Ellington. With just two experienced strikers at
the club we simply must sign at least one more before the transfer deadline
and failure to do so will cost us promotion.
ALBION MAN OF THE MATCH:
Curtis Davies
PLAYER RATINGS OUT OF TEN
Zuberbuhler
4 - Again looked unsure with crosses into the
area and communication appeared poor.
Watson 5 - Battled well but looked
off the pace.
SUBS:
REF
WATCH
Chris Foy 3 - Seemed way too keen to punish
Albion for the slightest thing.
FAN
WATCH cardiffcityfc.co.uk baggies.com wbaunofficial.com ccfcsleepinggiant.com Sporting Life
Bryan Robson: "It certainly was a competitive game and Cardiff threw everything at us in the first half. We were hanging on a bit. We didn't keep the ball too well and were dropping too deep. "But I thought we battled well and in the second half we came into the game more. By the end of the match, I thought we were the side who could score another goal. "There was a great atmosphere and I thought both sides put a lot of energy into the game." Source: wba.co.uk
Dave Jones: "I thought that was an excellent advert for Championship football. If that doesn't get the fans in then I don't know what will. If we can get over eighteen thousand on a Tuesday night then there's no reason we can't get that all the time. “I thought we had them at one stage tonight. "When we beat Barnsley on Saturday, people were saying it was only Barnsley, but they had a good win tonight and they've shown that they are decent side. "I think Bryan Robson will be glad to go home with a draw tonight. The more we play together the better we will get and I hope to add to this and get stronger. "Tonight was a big team effort that was power base football and very good strong play." Source: cardiffcityfc.co.uk
Albion extend their unbeaten record against the 'Bluebirds' to ten games. Albion's last defeat came in December 1960, a 3-1 loss at Ninian Park.
Paul Robinson makes his 100th start
for the club. |
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