Played on: Monday 9th April 2012
It definitely feels like a case of two points dropped following Cardiff’s one all draw with Watford yesterday. It was a rubbish game and a horrid rainy day, but thankfully I was in the press box. Free ticket, programme, Clarks Pie, hot drinks and a very good view far enough back to avoid the rain made the game far more enjoyable for me than the majority of Cardiff fans in the stadium.
I was also sitting next to City legend Nathan Blake which was a good laugh to say the least. I asked Blakey how he didn’t have some kind of free season ticket from the club but his response was: “Complimentary season ticket? I’m lucky if I get a complimentary cup of tea around here anymore!” Good to know we look after our greats…
The teams come out on a rainy Cardiff afternoon
There were a few surprises when I was handed the team sheet with recent bench warmer Craig Conway starting along with Kenny Miller, the Scottish international passing a fitness test prior to the game after going off injured against Middlesbrough last time out.
The home side started strongly with McPhail ticking things over and Watford barely touched the ball in the first 15 minutes. Ben Turner headed just wide of the goal from a Peter Whittingham corner and Conway’s low drive from 20 yards just went wide of the post.
Craig Conway was a surprise inclusion but started brightly against the Hornets
Jonathan Hogg was fortunate to stay on the pitch following a foul on Conway just after the half hour mark. The winger was forced off and Mackay revealed in the post match press conference that Conway will have an x-ray to see if his ankle is broken.
However, Conway was forced off injured after a poor challenge from Watford's Jonathan Hogg
Apart from the opening 15 minutes, this was a poor game of football and the game was in desperate need of a goal. Thankfully this came in first half stoppage time and put the Bluebirds in front. A long ball up the right wing by Kevin McNaughton found Don Cowie. The former Watford man wriggled free of his defenders to cross for an unmarked Miller to score a great headed goal. Yes Kenny Miller. This was the strikers first goal in 16 appearances and hopefully now he’s ended his barren spell he can go on to score a few more.
Cardiff just about deserved their lead at halftime and Miller nearly doubled his tally soon after the break. Liam Lawrence, Conway’s replacement, whipped in an inviting cross that Miller headed goalwards but on-loan Manchester United keeper Thomasz Kuszczak tipped his effort onto the post.
The team celebrate with Miller after breaking his scoring drought
This appeared to be the turning point in the game as Watford suddenly sprung to life. First Martin Taylor’s powerful header was pushed over his bar by David Marshall in the Cardiff goal. Sean Murray then had a shot blocked before John Eustace fired over during a strong spell for the visitors. The pressure eventually told when poor marking from a Murray free-kick let Nyron Nosworthy knock the ball in to draw the Hornets level on 82 minutes.
Watford deserved their equaliser after dominating most of the second half, but Cardiff will be frustrated that yet again they couldn’t hold onto all three points and were stung by the Hornets. And it could have been even worse for the Bluebirds had substitute Chris Iwelumo scored with the last kick of the match following a three on two Watford breakaway.
Watford celebrate their equaliser
Fortunately for Cardiff, most of the teams around us also dropped points so we remain in that final playoff place with four games of the season left. Maximum points from those remaining fixtures will guarantee us a playoff spot, however I’m pretty certain that we won’t get 12 out of a possible 12 points so hopefully those around us will slip up a bit too, I’ll be very grateful if they do.
Here are the quotes from the post match press conference.
Cardiff manager Malky Mackay:
Cardiff midfielder Don Cowie:
Watford manager Sean Dyche:
Cardiff City
- 01 Marshall Booked
- 02 McNaughton
- 03 Taylor
- 05 Hudson
- 25 Turner Booked
- 07 Whittingham
- 08 Cowie
- 11 Conway (Lawrence – 38′ )
- 17 Gunnarsson
- 37 McPhail (Kiss – 56′ Booked )
- 09 Miller
Substitutes
- 22 Heaton
- 04 Kiss
- 13 Lawrence (Earnshaw – 79′ )
- 27 Harris
- 10 Earnshaw
Watford
- 35 Kuszczak
- 03 Dickinson
- 05 Taylor
- 12 Doyley Booked
- 33 Nosworthy Booked
- 04 Eustace
- 19 Buaben (Iwelumo – 78′ )
- 22 Murray
- 26 Assombalonga Booked (Garner – 46′ )
- 32 Hogg Booked
- 09 Deeney
Substitutes
- 01 Loach
- 17 Bennett
- 24 Whichelow
- 10 Iwelumo
- 25 Garner
A Bluebird's Eye View 
Great – enjoyed reading this 🙂
Thanks 🙂
Can’t believe that result but if you don’t take your chances at this level I suppose ….. Is Conway really out for the rest of the season 😦 that’s a big loss he’s been great I reckon this year ?
Oh an nice touch with the photos 😉
He is out yeah. It was originally feared that he’d broken his ankle but it’s been confirmed since that it’s ligament damage.
Malky actually said in the pre Barnsley press conference that Hogg apologised to him after the game for the bad challenge.
Photos are great.
Got Jon Candy to thank for them.