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Who Was Man Of The Match Against Portsmouth
 
 
28/08/10 Bluebirds Cruise To Victory At Pompey Print E-mail

 

Portsmouth 0 Cardiff City 2

 

The Bluebirds joined QPR at the top of the Championship after this comfortable victory at Fratton Park. Debt ridden Portsmouth are a shadow of the side that beat City in the 2008 FA Cup Final, whilst despite financial troubles of their own, Cardiff have shown their intent this season with some inspired signings.

 

Craig Bellamy returned to the starting line up after being rested for the midweek Carling Cup defeat at Peterborough, with City lining up in 4-5-1/4-3-3, with Jay Bothroyd supported by Bellamy and Burke on the flanks and Peter Whittingham pulling the stings in the middle of the park.

 

The home side started quite brightly, with skipper Mark Wilson, who reportedly is about to join Stoke, forcing Marshall into action as his 30 yard free kick was tipped over the bar after 12 mins. Cardiff though and in particular Bellamy looked dangerous on the break, his lighting pace causing problems as he flashed a ball from Chris Burke over the bar.

 

On 37 mins, the Bluebirds took the lead. Drinkwater, growing in confidence alongside Olofinjana in central midfield, winning posession before his through ball to Bothroyd was intercepted by Pompey defender Haydn Mullins, but his outstretched foot could only guide the ball past keeper Ashdown and into the corner of the net.

 

After the break, Cardiff started strongly, with Hudson going close with a header before another rather fortuitous goal on 49 mins put the visitors in the driving seat. As Bellamy chased down the left, defender Sonko put the ball into the path of Bothroyd, with keeper Ashdown also rushing out to clear. The City striker left with the simple task of rolling the ball into the empty net.

 

From that moment on, the result never seemed in doubt as the Bluebirds controlled midfield and always looked capable of stepping up a gear. In the dying moments new signing Andy Keogh came off the bench and looked to have put City 3-0 up with a well taken header, only for it to be ruled out for offside.

 

The large travelling contingent went back to South Wales having witnessed a very professional performance. If Dave Jones' team can keep this up, we're going to be very hard to beat this season.

  
 
21/08/10 Bellamy Helps City Cruise To Victory Print E-mail

 

Cardiff City 4 Doncaster Rovers 0

 

Craig Bellamy's Cardiff career got off to a perfect start at the Cardiff City Stadium this afternoon, in front of over 24,000 fans.

 

Doncaster took the game to City in the early stages, whilst the Bluebirds play was also disrupted after both McNaughton and Chopra were forced off with injuries.

 

On 36 mins, Bellamy broke down the left, his ball inside to Bothroyd, whose step over got a lucky deflection off a Rovers defender, left Bothroyd to slot home past keeper Sullivan.

 

Bothroyd doubled his tally after the break, after superb work on the right by Chris Burke, his cross finding City's number 9 unmarked at the far post, heading home convincingly to put the Bluebirds in the driving seat.

 

On 68 mins, Bellamy got another assist, as his long 60 yard clearance found Burke running clear of the Doncaster defence, coolly beating Sullivan at his near post.

 

With 6 mins remaining, the enthusiatic crowd got to see Bellamy put the incing on the cake, as he smashed home a 35 yard free kick past the hapless Sullivan.

 

It was a perfect day for City fans, many of whom celebrated in the local pubs long into the evening. It may be early in the season, but the 3 points puts the Bluebirds into 2nd place in the table and you get the feeling this really could be a season to remember.
 
14/08/10 City Grab All 3 Points At Derby Print E-mail

 

Derby County 1 Cardiff City 2 

 

The Bluebirds earned their first Championship win of the season at Pride Park this afternoon, thanks to goals from Michael Chopra and Chris Burke. Debutant Seyi Olofinjana was outstanding in central midfield alongside Danny Drinkwater and City really should have made the game safe. Instead the 1,000 travelling supporters had to endure a nailbiting final few minutes, as Derby threw everything at Cardiff in an attempt to find an equaliser.

 

City took just 14 mins to open the scoring. Chopra finishing superbly after receiving the ball from Burke in the box, before beating two men and confidently slotting home. The home side though were back in it within 10 mins, as Thomasz Cywka tapped home from close range with Cardiff's defenders guilty of ball watching. It was a sloppy goal to concede and the Bluebirds lost momentum because of it.

 

Kevin McNaughton found himself in the wars once again a few minutes before half time. After several minutes of treatement, the Scot was stretchered off with his neck in a brace. Adam Matthews taking McNaughton's place at left back.

 

After the break, Cardiff's dominance continued, but the visitors had to wait until the 76th min before they regained the lead. Peter Whittingham's shot was spilled by keeper Bywater, who then got into a tangle with one of his defenders, the ball running loose for Burke to put into an empty net.

 

David Marshall pulled off a superb save in the dying moments as the Rams launched the ball forward and caused problems from set pieces, but City hung on for a deserved 3 points. With Jason Koumas and Steve McPhail still to some into the squad, our midfield suddenly looks very strong and if Dave Jones can add a strker and a defender to his ranks before the end of August, City fans should be able to look forward to a really exciting season.