| Pos. 13th (12pts) | SATURDAY 21 SEPTEMBE 2019 | Pos. 15th (9pts) | ||
| Cardiff City | 1-0 | Boro | ||
| Fletcher (2 o.g.) | 46% 9(1) 3 9 |
POSSESSION SHOTS (on target) CORNERS FOULS |
54% 11(0) 8 12 |
|
Blue day at the Bluebirds
This afternoon in the Principality sunshine saw a reunion of sorts with Boro for Lee Tomlin, Joe Bennet and Aden “one season” Flint and of course Rudy Gestede. Prior to Kick Off both sides had amassed nine points each which was a statement of mid table mediocrity and nothing like the auto promotion or play off places fans of both clubs had been harbouring hopes for back in August. That man Robert Glatzel who demolished us with a pre-season friendly hat trick has since struggled since joining the Bluebirds and up until kick off at least had all the hallmarks of a “Typical Boro” non scoring signing.
Jonathan Woodgate’s disclosure beforehand that he still wants to play exciting attacking football but realises that the Championship is a grind and sometimes performances and tactics have to be employed to reflect that was perhaps a warning to the travelling army not to expect gung-ho football this afternoon.
Friend and Coulson were still recovering for Boro but surprisingly Howson had made the bench after his hernia operation. When the Teams were announced Glatzel was missing for Cardiff due to illness but Lee Tomlin bravely made their bench despite a midweek car accident and Joe Bennet starting. Bola and Wing had made way for Ayala (Captain) and Saville with Boro going with the back 3/5 that finished the last game. Neither can have any complaints about being dropped as one seemed somewhat below par in his last game whilst the other just seemed to let the Reading game simply pass him by.
The Game started with a brilliant glancing header from a corner in the second minute from Ashley Fletcher, deftly across the front of goal to score. Unfortunately, it was his own goal as Randolph’s first involvement was in picking the ball out of the net. Ashley was defending in the front of the six-yard box but inexplicably attacked the ball when heading it up, backwards or even out seemed easier.
The Bluebirds sensed blood in those early minutes and then went on to test Randolph a few times as they broke with relative ease to put balls into the danger area as Boro struggled to clear their heads. In response Shotton collected the ball out left and fed Dijksteel in the centre who fancied his chances with a long-range drive that Fletcher tried to attack but the opportunity was cleared by the covering Morrison as Boro now looked to be finally trying to get back into the game.
On eleven minutes Fletcher, desperate to make amends, played in Britt who seemed to stumble into Flint when he looked through on the Cardiff eighteen-yard box. Sixteen minutes gone and the game had now settled which was probably good from a Boro head clearing perspective. A Johnson ball flew down the wing to an imaginary white shirt that as both winger and defender wasn’t there as Boro were guilty of some very poor decision making. McNair had an opportunity that was well wide but Cardiff broke from the resulting goal kick and a scuffed “mis shot” from Ralls in the middle of the Boro box saved our blushes. Saville then cleared the ball out and up the pitch which eventually found Fletcher wide right who played it into Britt in the box who in turn laid it back to the advancing Dijksteel but he just couldn’t connect cleanly and his effort was charged down.
The late afternoon heat seemed to be taking the sting out of the game (not that there was that much sting to begin with). A Penalty shout from Omar Bogle had Boro hearts in mouths as he went down in the Boro box. Almost immediately Bogle again had an opportunity from distance on twenty-nine minutes resulting from a poor Ayala clearance with thankfully Randolph collecting easily but the warning signs were growing if Boro didn’t get a grip. A hefty challenge from Clayts on Patterson out on the left wing had the Cardiff player rolling over in agony and requiring treatment. I thought Clayts was fortunate not to receive a yellow as it looked to me like he had a second nibble at Patterson as he was going down. A thirty third minute Boro corner from Saville was far too easily headed clear. Two minutes later and a free kick for a challenge on Saville was taken by McNair. The effort from the Northern Irishman sailed over the Blue wall but also Smithies crossbar from 25 yards out. A well worked Boro play down the right involving Fry and Fletcher saw a perfect slide rule pass into the Cardiff box for Britt but he was too slow off the mark and the alert Smithies collected.
A clumsy challenge on 40 minutes saw Cardiff awarded a free kick which saw Omar Bogle smash a thirty-yard drive off the Boro wall. A powerful driving run from Dijksteel saw a backheel from Fletcher to Britt but the attempt was smothered as Boro showed lightweight feint flickering promise. Two minutes added time were held up but a goal kick from Randolph was hit directly out of play summing up Boro’s first half, frustratingly lacking in belief drive and quality. We had no attempts to speak of on target and any set pieces we did have were totally lacking imagination it was reminiscent of a training ground knock about. Britt and Fletcher hadn’t offered a threat of any kind to the Cardiff defence. Had it not been for that sickening opening it perhaps could have been classed as a good solid away performance but that crazy own goal changed the perspective for Boro and we were subsequently found lacking.
The hope was for a vast improvement in the second half. Junior Hoilett came on for Murphy for the Bluebirds at half time with Boro surprisingly remaining unchanged. Almost immediately Bogle nearly embarrassed wrong sided Ayala to put Cardiff two ahead but his effort hit the side netting. Boro had started the half sleepwalking. Saville had our best chance of the game after a Johnson won corner but he side footed his attempt too centrally and in any case over Smithies bar. Britt went down on 49 minutes after a challenge from Flint but it seemed fairly soft to me and more indicative of Britt’s overall hunger or lack of it in the game. Three minutes later Cardiff had a penalty claim after a Blue shirt went sprawling from an over hit cross that Dijkstell was “shepherding” out. The introduction of Hoilett had inspired Cardiff while Boro still looked flat, devoid of ideas. The comparison on Britt’s contribution compared to Bogle and last week with Meite were light years apart, a complete lack of drive and energy
A clever cut back from Johnson to Britt led to a Boro corner on 57 minutes but the McNair delivered corner was lofted in and headed clear for a Boro throw in on the far side which eventually went out for another corner which was then floated to the far side of the Cardiff box but it was headed aimlessly out for a Goal Kick to the home side. Minutes after being brought down in the box and claiming a penalty the lively Bogle then met a cross which hit Randolph’s crossbar with 60 minutes gone. Two minutes later Shotton headed clear and in doing so set up Johnson but his run was cut out with a clattering challenge just over the half way line as Boro’s lack of a threat continued.
Boro were looking totally toothless with zero realistic threat to the Cardiff goal. Defensively we were battling and showed solidity but attack wise we were completely inept and it was long overdue for a change from the Boro bench. Meanwhile Warnock was preparing his second change of the game as Randolph pulled off a one handed save for Patterson to head over the follow up. It was then Bogle who made way for Danny Ward much to the relief of the Boo defence.
Woodgate eventually made a change with Browne coming on for Saville who had flattered to deceive all afternoon but he wasn’t the only one. Fletcher and Assombalonga can consider themselves lucky to have remained on the pitch. This second half was worse than scrappy for Boro with any semblance of shape or tactics very difficult to recognise. Browne looked like he was playing centrally behind the two strikers when he came on but it would remain to be seen if he could provide them with any service.
Marvin Johnson entered Ref Darren Bond’s book for a frustrated foul after being caught out. Meanwhile Lewis Wing came on for Clayton on 76 minutes. A ridiculous throw in by Dijksteel in the general direction of Ayala resulted in a mix up and a free kick awarded 35 yards out for Cardiff as the throw in had totally eluded the Spaniard and in doing so effectively setting up a Cardiff attack. Johnson then went off for Tavernier as Woodgate tried to inject some fresh legs as he endeavoured for his side to get a shot in on target.
Morrison went down after a sniper had seemingly removed his right arm as the clock ticked down on 86 minutes. Ralls then took one for the team as he scythed down Browne. Ayala played a ball out to the right wing for Dijksteel to run onto but even Usain Bolt would have struggled to get even half way to it and in doing so summed up Boro’s second half. Three very short minutes of added time went up as Boro tried vainly to rescue a point. A last ditch Shotton long throw went out for a corner to Boro which in turn was punched clear by Smithies and then returned with venom by Tav near the half way line to go out for a Cardiff goal kick extinguishing any remaining hopes that the travelling army may have had tucked away in the corner behind the now dawdling Smithies goal awaiting the Refs whistle.
A dour Championship game that Boro never really looked like getting anything out of. Its easy to blame the early set back but there was nothing from Boro at all offensively. There should have been changes at half time but they would have had to have been bold ones. Britt was a passenger, partly as a result of a lack of service undoubtedly but also in part to his own immobility. Johnson having the dual duties of a wing back may have taken some of the crosses away that he normally delivers but he was on the left and not the right where some of his best spells of late have been. Clayton, McNair and Saville just didn’t spark collectively in the middle. Fletcher unfortunately needs to toughen his game up as I keep repeating if he is to make it at this level. Prancing around without end effort or aggression will see him likely sinking down to league one or lower in his future career. The lad needs to up his mental toughness as much as his languid playing style. He has something deep down in his locker but infuriates with his lack of attitude. Man United, West Ham, Middlesbrough and then what comes next for him? He can stop that slide and rebuild but he has to do it quickly and nobody can do it for him.
Looking for a MOM was almost impossible, Shotton was one of the better performers and a contender but for his attitude and despite lots of disparaging grumbles I’m going to give it Dijksteel who despite a few howlers at least looked like he was putting in a determined effort. It also has to be remembered that he was (like Johnson) playing as a wing back and as a consequence by design would be caught out occasionally.
A very unflattering performance overall from both sides from which apart from a solitary Britt attempt that may have vaguely counted as “on target” I’m struggling to recall any Boro attempt on target. No denying it or dressing it up, it was a rank bad performance and there were far too many Boro Players who instead of hugs and confidence building need a massive boot up the backside. We can’t depend on Mrs Assombalonga having a baby every week for him to play with a spring in his step and we can’t have a midfield that offer nothing going forward.
Our Strikers don’t strike and whilst we don’t have anything in reserve, I’d rather see Tav and Bowne given a run up there with Wing behind to at least move and stretch opposition defenders. It was very warm out there today on the pitch but there was no excuse for not breaking sweat. Woodgate, Keane, Leo and Co. need to get to the bottom of the apparent apathy and lacklustre showing. Going behind in the manner we did was disappointing but there were 88 minutes to get something out of this match and we never ever looked like doing so. Woodgate made the right choices in dropping Bola and Wing after last weeks below par showing, he now needs to do the same with his Jaffa frontmen. “But we have no Strikers” I hear from some, my view at the moment is that we simply “have no Strikers” or at least any that fit the job description so why play them?