Three Wise Men Steal Christmas Show
Heavy Loss
By Chris O'Brien
December 22 2003
In what was City's worst home performance of the season, Dennis Wise left Ninian Park with his first win as Lions player-boss following the 3-1 victory for his Millwall side. Peter Thorne was on target for the City, but his first-half equaliser wasn't enough for the Bluebirds.
| Three Wise Men Steal Christmas Show |
| Those Cardiff City supporters who
avoided the lure of the armchair and SKY television and made their way to
Ninian Park witnessed the worst home performance of the season from the
Bluebirds, who were comfortably beaten 3-1 by Dennis' Wise's hardworking
Millwall side. Dennis' three wise men were Andy Roberts, Tim Cahill and Peter Sweeney as the former Chelsea star celebrated his first win as player-manager of the Lions, fielding a team that was riddled with injuries and suspensions. 11 of the first team squad were out through injury and another courtesy of a suspension which made the defeat even worse for the City team and the supporters alike. The visitors took only six minutes to open the scorers, with Neil Alexander looking to blame from Roberts' goal that came directly from a corner. The Scottish 'keeper looked totally out of position as the corner swung over his head and into the back of the net. Willie Boland didn't help the situation by dashing off his line onto the edge of the penalty area as the ball curled towards the net. The Bluebirds struggled to get a grip on the game, and Robert Earnshaw had the first half chance for the hosts with his shot rifting wide just before the 20-minute mark. Millwall had looked the better side throughout, but a spell of excellent football gave City an equaliser after half-an-hour. Richard Langley picked up the loose ball in the midfield and ran towards the Lions defence. He found Rhys Weston on the right with an accurate pass, and the Welsh international ran into the box before playing a pass through to Peter Thorne who easily nudged the ball past former Liverpool 'keeper Tony Warner to restore parity. Robert Earnshaw should have put City in front when he was given the ball with only the 'keeper to beat. However his low shot was poor and was parried away by Warner. Millwall's top scorer Neil Harris also had a chance before the break, but the two sides went in at the break drawing with one goal each. City failed to take advantage in the second-period and in typical Millwall fashion, the visitors battled hard and went back in front just after the hour. Dennis Wise sent a beautiful chip over the defence allowing Cahill to head the ball past Neil Alexander, thanks to some shoddy 'keeping from the Scotsman and some woeful defending from the 'world class' Daniel Gabbidon. The tension on the pitch started to show on the terraces as the Cardiff City crowd were angered by a spat with Robert Earnshaw and Dennis Wise over the clearance of the ball after a Millwall player had been injured. Sadly, an object that looked to be a coin was thrown at the linesman and the game had to be stopped for several minutes until the disruption died down. With City creating few chances, the predictable Lennie Lawrence through on Andrew Campbell to replace the winger Gareth Whalley, but the extra attacking options proved ineffective and it was Millwall who scored next to secure a surprise away victory. Millwall caught City on the break, a move where the 'lion' share of their goals has come from this season, and Scotland Under-20 youngster Peter Sweeney gently pushed the ball past his fellow countryman Alexander from the edge of the box. City's 'keeper could have done better. The result sees City slip to 10th, and undoubtedly changes need to be made for the visit of Walsall to Ninian Park. Can City beat Colin Lees struggling Saddlers? Full Time - Cardiff City 1-3 Millwall Cardiff City: Alexander, Weston, Vidmar,
Gabbidon, Barker, Boland, Kavanagh, Whalley, Langley, Earnshaw, Thorne. Millwall: Warner, Elliott, Lawrence, Ward,
Livermore, Cahill, Wise, Sweeney, Roberts, Chadwick, Harris. |