Cardiff City 2-3 Ipswich Town - Match Report

Robert Earnshaw netted his 100th goal in the Cardiff City jersey, and Peter Thorne headed home late consolation for the Bluebirds, but it was a poor performance from Lennie Lawrence's side and the Tractor Boys left Ninian Park fully deserving their victory.

The visitors started extremely brightly with a number of attempts on goal, and City were struggling to settle down against the fast paced Ipswich side. It came as no surprise that Town took the lead following half-an-hour of dominance.

The goal came from the penalty spot following Mark Bonner's needless foul on Westlake.. Tommy Miller stepped up and made no mistake with a neat penalty, sending the impressive away following from East-Anglia into ecstasy.

Ipswich doubled their lead only four minutes later, as Jermaine Wright's cross found George Santos, who drove the ball home well from close range. Joe Royle's outfit were showing some tremendous attacking play, making the City defence look sloppy at the best of times.

City perked up towards the end of the half. Peter Thorne, who returned to the starting line-up after a long lay-off with injury, went close with a header from a Richard Langley corner. Robert Earnshaw also wasted a good opportunity, but the Ipswich defence was proving hard to break down.

The floodlights had failed to work throughout the first-half, and there was a real threat the game could be abandoned, but the lighting returned during the interval to the disappointment of the 15,000 City fans in attendance!

City failed to start the second-half with the drive and determination the Bluebirds faithful would have hoped after such a woeful first 45 minutes, and the visitors could have easily put the game beyond doubt, with Chris Bart-Williams going close.

However, it was City who scored next courtesy of a mysterious penalty with nearly an hour gone. Referee Hall gave the decision against Fabian Wilnis for what looked like shirt-pulling, but it looked a very harsh call. Robert Earnshaw obliged from the spot with a well-struck penalty, his 100th competitive goal in the Cardiff City shirt.

The goal worked as a real wake-up call for the City fans who suddenly began to get behind the team, as the Bluebirds searched for an equaliser. Robert Earnshaw and Peter Thorne both went close, but Ipswich Town restored their 2-goal lead ten minutes from time.

Alexander failed to collect a corner from Westlake, and an sloppy marking allowed Chris Bart-Williams to slot the ball home. Once again all the noise in Ninian Park was coming from the visiting supporters, who to be fair were excellent throughout.

With full-time rapidly approaching, Peter Thorne gave City some hope with a header from a John Robinson corner, which had been flicked on by Tony Vidmar. Thorne's 5th goal of the season proved to be nothing more than consolation as the final whistle being blown moments later.

It was disappointing day for City, and our run of 7 games unbeaten has come to end. There can be no complaints, we were outplayed and the scoreline flatters us! Still, no great worry, we're still in 9th position, a slot we'd have all been happy with if asked during pre-season, and the play-offs are still only 3 points out of grasp.

Bluebird to the Bone Man of the Match - Peter Thorne
A pleasing comeback from Thorne, who held the ball up and took his late header well. Hopefully he can return to his best form in forthcoming games after getting his first full game under his belt since the injury.

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