City End Losing Run with Comeback Over Millers
City 3-2 Rotherham
By Chris O'Brien
January 10 2004
The Bluebirds have ended their losing streak with a 3-2 victory over Ronnie Moore's Rotherham. In a topsy-turvey game, City came from two goals down to take the points with Peter Thorne putting in another outstanding performance. Paul Parry made his debut, playing about 70 minutes of the game.
| City End Losing Run with Comeback Over Millers |
| The Bluebirds have ended a woeful run
of 5 consecutive defeats with a 3-2 victory over Rotherham United at Ninian
Park. The Millers, managed by former Bluebirds Ronnie Moore, were two goals
to the good after only 9 minutes and things were looking ominous for the
hosts, but City produced an impressive comeback which saw them lead 3-2 at
the half-time interval. Lennie Lawrence made only one change from the side that lost to Sheffield United in last weekends F.A Cup tie. Paul Parry was given his debut on the left side of the midfield replacing Gareth Whalley. Overall, it was a pleasing debut from the £75,000 man. The opening goal was conceded only minutes into the game and once again very slack defending was to blame, with the goal coming from a corner-kick. After three minutes of constant pressure from the visitors Chris Sedgwick sent in a fine corner which was not dealt with by the City defence, and Stewart Talbot was on hand to toe poke the ball home from close range. The lead was extended only 6 minutes later, with further errors from the disappointing City defence to blame. Richie Barker took the ball past Daniel Gabbidon, the 'world class' defender we're supposed to have, before sending a lovely cross over the head of Spencer Prior. The ball landed at the feet of the unmarked John Mullin who powered his shot home. The Lawrence out chants begun, and City's confidence looked shot at as boos and jeers echoed around Ninian Park. However, you always got the impression that if City got one, they had every chance of winning the game, and fortunately the Bluebirds did get that one! Peter Thorne brought Cardiff back into the game and raised the spirits of the supporters with his 9th goal in 9 games. City's record signing got on the scoresheet through a trademark header courtesy of a cross from Australian international Tony Vidmar. Through poor Milers defending Thorne was left unmarked in the opposition penalty area, and he took advantage with an excellent header. The home support really started to get behind the team, and an element of confident begun to appear amongst the City ranks. An equaliser looked likely before the break, and it came through a close range effort from skipper Graham Kavanagh. Rhys Weston's cross was superbly headed down by Peter Thorne, and the ball found it's way to the Irish midfielder who slotted past Pollitt from only a couple of yards out. There only looked one winner at this point. Rotherham, who could face Manchester United in the F.A Cup fourth round, were all at sixes and sevens and the goal that completed a dramatic comeback was only minutes away. Poor goalkeeping saw Pollitt unnecessarily run off his line to attempt to gather the ball from the feet of Robert Earnshaw, but the Zambian-born forward skipped past his challenge and put the ball home from an acute angle. The goal ended a huge drought of 9 games without a goal from open play from Earnshaw. Recently, he has served up some poor displays, but this goal may be the confidence booster he needs to leave the disappointing December behind him. His celebrations earned him a yellow card. The momentum stayed with the Bluebirds into the opening exchanges of the second-half, and Peter Thorne had chances to increase the advantage. However, Rotherham huffed and puffed throughout the final 45 minutes and had chances to pull level. When you get a game that has had such an exciting first goal, you rarely get such entertainment or the number of goals in the second period, and once again that was the case today. Ronnie Moore was even forced to bring on disgraced left winger Andy Monkhouse has he searched for that illusive equaliser. Monkhouse had been left on the bench due to comments he made about wanting to join Cardiff on-loan, and his arrival onto the Ninian Park pitch was met by ironic cheers from the home crowd. City held out to gain three valuable points after the recent slump in form. The aerial tactics used by the visitors proved ineffective in the second-half, and the Bluebirds finished the game the stronger of the two sides. Next up for the City is a visit to Bradford, to face Bryan Robson's side who bear league leaders Norwich City today. Can the Bluebirds get another positive result at Valley Parade? The result takes City up to 11th in the table, with the relegation zone fortunately way out of sight for now! However, a reverse in Yorkshire next weekend could see Lennie Lawrence's side fall into the bottom half of the table. Bluebird to the Bone Man of the Match - Peter
Thorne Full Time - Cardiff City 3-2
Rotherham United Cardiff City: Margetson, Weston, Prior,
Gabbidon, Vidmar, Langley, Boland, Kavanagh, Parry, Thorne, Earnshaw. Rotherham United: Pollitt, Shaun Barker,
Swailes, Branston, Hurst, Sedgwick, Talbot, Mullin, Warne, Richard Barker,
Byfield. |