City's Royal Show - Safety Next?

Big Win, Bluebirds!
By Chris O'Brien
April 23 2005

Football League Championship safety is nearly in the bag as Cardiff City put in one of their best performances of the season. Goals from Peter Thorne and Cameron "The Bullet" Jerome secured a 2-0 win over a very disappointing Reading side, still hunting a top six finish. Roll on Gillingham.

Cardiff City can secure their Football League Championship status at the Priestfield Ground next weekend after an impressive performance secured a fine 2-0 victory over a hapless Reading at Ninian Park. Any neutrals watching would have thought it was the Bluebirds pushing for a top six finish and not the Royals, with first-half strikes from Peter Thorne and Cameron Jerome securing a well-earned and vital win for Cardiff.

The City now sit in 17th and only a bizarre set of results could send Cardiff down now, although the gap is still only three points. A superior goal difference gives the Bluebirds an extra cushion, so Lennie Lawrence's men go to Gillingham on the weekend knowing their fate is very much in their own hands. Other relegation candidates all play each other, so the Ninian Park faithful are, for the first time in a while, feeling rather optimistic of survival this term.

Cardiff started brightly and were ahead after only twelve minutes. Good work down the flank from Neal Ardley saw the winger send a cross into Thorne, who nicely drilled the ball past Hahnemann in the Reading goal. The hosts were playing with confidence and never looked like losing their lead.

The advantage was doubled later on in the first-half thanks to the on-form Jerome. "The Bullet" took advantage of poor Reading defending to bundle home a corner and leave the visitors with a mountain to climb. The defeat is a huge blow for their play-off hopes, and 2,000 travelling fans from the Madjeski Stadium would not have been pleased with the quality their side showed today. Steve Coppell blasted his side after the full-time whistle.

Cardiff didn't let Reading back into the game and carried the initiative they had grasped so firmly into the second period. Willie Boland, re-called after a frustrating spell on the sidelined, nearly added a third and Thorne clattered the woodwork with an effort, but there was to be no third for the Bluebirds. It didn't matter - safety is now on the horizon.

Reading's frustration was evident with three bookings, with Cardiff remaining composed and securing a wonderful win. Whatever the destiny of the club off-the-pitch over the summer, this was an excellent performance and it looks like Championship football will be at Ninian Park for the 2005/2006 campaign. Let's just hope Sham Hammam doesn't ruin it.

There were few disappointments on the pitch with City serving up one of their best performances of the season to virtually secure another year in England's second flight. However, the attendance was shocking with little more than 12,000 home fans turning up despite the near 'give away' price offer for tickets. Also, the atmosphere was not great considering the magnitude of this victory. Still, a priceless win for the Bluebirds. Congratulations to the players and here's to safety next weekend!

Full Time - Cardiff City 2-0 Reading
Attendance - 14,821

Cardiff City AFC: Alexander, Vidmar (Williams 28), Gabbidon, Collins, Barker, Ardley, Boland, Langley, McAnuff, Jerome (Lee 79), Thorne.
Substitutes Not Used: Margetson, Parry, Ledley.

Reading FC: Hahnemann, Murty, Keown, Sonko, Shorey, Newman (Ferdinand 45), Sidwell, Harper, Brooker (Little 51), Forster, Kitson.
Substitutes Not Used: Hughes, Ingimarsson, Young.