Bluebirds Rule Britannia

Alas! Victory !
By Chris O'Brien
April 6 2005

Cardiff City did their Football League Championship survival hopes the power of good with a crucial 3-1 away win at the Britannia Stadium against a stuttering Stoke City. Two goals from Cameron Jerome and a penalty from former Potter Peter Thorne ended the play-off ambitions of the hosts.

Although the relegation zone is still only two points away, Cardiff City took a massive step to Football League Championship safety with a hard-fought 3-1 victory away at rivals Stoke City. Cameron Jerome, who was also booked, netted a brace and Peter Thorne converted a penalty to give the Bluebirds a vital three points in front of 12,785 at the Britannia Stadium.

A lively Cardiff seized on errors from the Potters to take full advantage of a below-par display from the hosts. Lennie Lawrence's side took the lead on 26 minutes courtesy of Jerome, who couldn't believe his luck as he stroked the ball home after a mistake from Stoke defender Gerry Taggart.

However, just like at Home Park, Cardiff surrender their away lead and the home fans were on their feet as Clint Hill levelled the scores on 40 minutes. A 25-yard thunderbolt restored parity and Cardiff went in at the break knowing they'd have to break the Stoke defence again in the second period. It could have been worse for the Ninian Park faithful, as Stoke hit the woodwork with only seconds remaining of the opening 45 minutes.

Travelling Bluebirds would probably have been fearing their team had thrown their good work away when Hill struck an impressive equaliser 5 minutes before the interval. Nevertheless, Cardiff started the second-half well and were back in front a quarter-of-an-hour in with Jerome completing his brace. The teenager bundled the ball home from close-range to net his sixth Cardiff City goal.

As Stoke pressed for a way back into the game, the result was put beyond doubt with Peter Thorne coming back to haunt his former club yet again. The man with the magic hat sent a penalty kick to the right of Potters 'keeper Steve Simonsen after Lewis Buxton had brought down Jobi McAnuff. Stoke may have been happy bankers when the Bluebirds forked out £1.7million for the former Blackburn Rovers forward, yet after a hat-trick at the Britannia Stadium last season, Thorne is not goal-sky against his former employees.

This was a key result for the Bluebirds. Any other result would have left City in the relegation zone, but a third away win of the league season lifts us to 17th as the financial struggle off the pitch continues. It is unbelievably tight at the bottom, with up to 9 clubs fighting between them to avoid 2 relegation slots. Rotherham were confined to relegation this evening with a spirited 4-3 defeat at promotion hunting Ipswich Town.

Well Done The City.

Full Time - Stoke City 1-3 Cardiff City
Attendance - 12,785

Stoke City: Simonsen, Buxton, Thomas, Taggart, Hill, Harper (Henry 77), Brammer, Russell, Neal (Asaba 65), Jones (Gudjonsson 76), Noel-Williams.

Cardiff City: Alexander, Barker, Gabbidon, Collins, Vidmar, McAnuff, Ardley, Langley, Ledley, Jerome (Boulding 83), Thorne (Lee 76).