Jason Scotland’s second strike for Town and an Adam Matthews own goal saw the Blues to a 2-0 victory over Cardiff City and into second place in the Championship. After a slow start Town, who were denied what looked like a certain penalty when Wickham was felled in the first half, went aheadafter the break when Matthews headed past his own keeper , Scotland sealing the victory with 16 minutes remaining.
Roy Keane’s side lined-up with Tom Eastman coming in for Jaime Peters at right-back, the Clacton-born defender having operated in that position in the second half of the reserves game against Colchester in midweek. Darren O’Dea was OK to return at left-back after his knee injury.
As expected, the Blues switched to 4-4-2 with Luke Hyam dropping out and Connor Wickham coming in for his first start of the season up front alongside Jason Scotland. For Cardiff, Craig Bellamy, Seyi Olofinjana and Michael Chopra all missed out.
The early pressure came from the visitors and in the second minute Town keeper Marton Fülöp did well to punch a corner from under his bar when he appeared to be being shoved by Jay Bothroyd.
Town were denied what looked an absolute cast iron penalty in the 14th minute when Wickham was played in on goal by Townsend and was clipped by Gabor Gyepes. Referee Fred Graham, who had already annoyed the home fans with one or two earlier minor decisions, waved away the Town protests. It was difficult to see it as anything other than a penalty and one which would have seen Gyepes red-carded for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
Mr Graham continued to irritate the home support, giving a goalkick in the 23rd minute when David Marshall had deflected the ball wide after Andros Townsend had tried to stab a loose ball goalwards.
Just after the half hour, Wickham headed a loose ball after a long throw but failed to test Marshall with the game scrappy and neither side able to create too much. Moments later, Fülöp superbly saved Andrew Keogh’s shot from 12 yards on the left, but the Cardiff man was offside.
Andros Townsend curled a freekick just over in the 34th minute, the Sir Bobby Robson Stand having sarcastically celebrated Mr Graham’s decision in favour of the Blues. A minute later Stephen McPhail was booked for pulling back Scotland.
Carlos Edwards cut in from the right and hit a left-foot shot which was blocked Town with gradually starting to have the better of it. On 40 Wickham was yellow-carded for charging into Lee Naylor as the defender cleared.
Town continued to press and a minute later after good work from Townsend, Wickham’s shot from the edge deflected wide off a defender.
The Blues, still without a goal in an opening 45 minutes this season, ended the half the stronger side after a slow start and will feel they should have been awarded a penalty when Wickham was felled.
Town had lined up to sit back and catch the visitors on the break via the pace of Edwards and Townsend but had made little impact in an attacking sense until the penalty incident. The Blues had though won plenty of corners but all too often had failed to beat the first defender.
Cardiff made two changes at the break, Gavin Rae replacing Stephen McPhail in the centre of the midfield and Adam Matthews coming on for Kevin McNaughton at right-back.
Town started the second period the stronger, Scotland not far from McAuley’s flick on Wickham’s long throw, then Marshall saving first from Edwards and then with his foot from Wickham’s rebound from Townsend’s low ball in from the left. Jaime Peters replaced Andros Townsend in the 54th minute.
On 56 Wickham came close to putting the Blues in front when held off both Cardiff central defenders as they chased a long McAuley ball over the top, finding himself space only for his shot to hit the underside of Marshall and bounce over. Town could count themselves very unfortunate not to be ahead.
A minute after the hour mark they were. Edwards floated a cross from the right and Cardiff sub Adam Matthews inexplicably nodded the ball past his keeper. Jaime Peters was behind the young defender, but the Wales U21 international was under little pressure and seemed to needlessly panic.
The goal had been coming, however, and on 63 Leadbitter went looking for a second but failed to test Marshall with his 25-yard strike.
Cardiff had a good chance to get back on terms in the 70th minute when Naylor crossed from the left and Keogh headed straight at Fülöp, who claimed at the second attempt.
Town went two in front in the 74th minute when Tom Eastman sent a cross from deep on the right into the path of Scotland, who took a touch before slamming in his second goal from the Blues from eight yards out. As against Bristol City, the Trinidadian took his one significant chance very clinically.
Cardiff weren’t far from pulling a goal back within a minute. Bothroyd crossed from the right and Fülöp superbly tipped Peter Whittingham’s header over the bar.
On 78 Bothroyd was swapped for Jason Koumas, while the Blues replaced Jason Scotland with Colin Healy, the former Wigan man receiving a rapturous reception from his new fans as he left the field. Healy slipped into what was now a five-man midfield.
Jaime Peters was close to making it three in the 79th minute when the diminutive Canadian rose above everyone from Leadbitter’s freekick on the right and headed over.
On 81 Wickham was replaced by Priskin, the 17-year-old receiving a standing ovation as he left the field, having been Town’s outstanding player and having been unfortunate not to have scored at least one goal.
Late on, Peters almost got on to an Edwards cross six yards out, then Keogh shot over from the edge of the area seconds before referee Fred Graham blew his whistle.
After a quiet start, the Blues had deserved the victory with Cardiff having had trouble dealing with Town’s counter-attacking and in particular Wickham’s muscular front play. The Blues had been desperately unlucky not to have been awarded the penalty in the first half, an incident which should also have seen Gyepes sent off.
At the back, the Blues backline only allowed Fülöp to be tested rarely but when he was the Hungarian was solid and made one superb stop from Whittingham. McAuley and Smith continue to be the rocks on which Town’s success is built, while Tom Eastman will be pleased with his first full 90 minutes for the first team and his first assist, Scotland taking his opportunity superbly.
The win takes the Blues to second in the Championship table behind QPR with a very winnable game at Scunthorpe next week.
Town: Fülöp, Eastman, O’Dea, McAuley, Smith, Leadbitter, Norris, Edwards, Townsend (Peters 54), Scotland (Healy 78), Wickham (Priskin 81). Unused: Murphy, Hyam, Murray, Kennedy. Att: 22,599 (Cardiff: 700).
Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk