Hibernian 2-1 Cardiff City - Match Report

Goalscorer
By Sean Wozencroft
July 31 2004

Hibernian's superior fitness shone through as City fell 2-1 at Easter Road yesterday. Tom McManus and Stephen Dobbie gave the home side a two goal advantage before Robert Earnshaw spectacularly pulled one back in the late stages.

Hibernian: S Brown, Whittaker, Caldwell, Murdock, Murphy [Smith 76 mins], Brown [Orman58 mins], Beuzelin [Shields 76 mins], Brebner, Glass [Nicol 70 mins], O' Connor [Riordan 62 mins], McManus [Dobbie 58 mins]. Subs: [not used] A Brown

Cardiff: Margetson [Warner 46 mins], Weston [Barker 76 mins], Gabbidon, Page [Collins 76 mins], Vidmar [Croft 46 mins], Langley, Kavanagh [Bullock 46 mins], Boland, Thorne, Earnshaw, Lee [Campbell 46 mins] Subs: all used

City started with what many people would consider to be their strongest available eleven. John Robinson and Paul Parry were both ruled out through injury, so Lennie Lawrence opted for a 4-3-1-2 formation with Lee, Earnshaw as the strikers and Thorne playing just behind. Martyn Margetson kept his place in goal with our new number one watching from the bench. Tony Vidmar and Richard Langley were back in action after missing the Chester game because of International commitments.

But the Scottish Premier League side were clearly the fitter of the two sides, unsurprisingly considering that their pre-season preparations are far more advanced than ours having already played Intertoto Cup matches. They were quick out of the blocks, Beuzelin firing over the bar from 25 yards after just three minutes of play.

Margetson then did well to halt Gary Caldwell's effort which was destined for the top corner after a Glass setpiece.

City, however, did manage to get into the game a bit more and Langley had a good opportunity to open the scoring on 10 minutes after Kavanagh did well to round Whittaker with ease, but the Jamaica International lifted his shot over the crossbar. The midfielder then tested the 'keeper again with a curling freekick.

It was the locals though who did make the breakthrough on the 21-minute mark, Tom McManus driving Glass' ball high into the net past the helpless Margs. Hibs were clearly in control at this stage and had a couple of decent chances to extend their lead before half time.

City made four changes at the interval, introducing goalkeeper Tony Warner, Andy Campbell, Lee Bullock and Gary Croft for Margetson, Lee, Kavanagh and Vidmar.

O'Connor spooned his shot wide before Whittaker dashed a right-footer wide of Warner's post. The Scots were just too quick for us and we were getting caught out time and time again.

But City did have chances to get back in the game, most notably Robert Earnshaw with 17 minutes remaining. Intercepting Whittaker's careless backpass, Earnie could only smash his effort against the bar with the net begging to be hit. Thorne and Campbell also had good chances and perhaps should have done better.

The game was sealed for Hibs when Dobbie touched home with some of the City defenders appealing for offside.

Earnshaw did grab a consolation for the Bluebirds with seven minutes remaining. The City striker smashed into the roof of the net from 25-yards. It has been described as an "outrageous goal" by some Hibs supporters.

Speaking after the game, City chief Lennie Lawrence told the Wales on Sunday: "I can see us making progress with every 45 minutes we play - we're certainly looking stronger.

"I left Chester last Tuesday after they'd beaten us 2-0 feeling flat as a pancake - it was difficult to feel positive about anything.

"But here we created five excellent second half chances. We should have got a draw out of this - it was just a pity that we didn't score when we had all the play.

"Our movement was good. I thought we put some really decent raids together.

"This is another defeat, but I'll be expecting my team to be performing as I want it when we play Santander and Lazio."

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