Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
GLATZ HOW YOU DO IT
Bluebirds swoop early to keep play-off hopes alive
CARDIFF’S quickfire start condemned Sheffield Wednesday to a first home league defeat under Garry Monk.
The Welsh side went two up inside eight minutes courtesy of Robert Glatzel and Junior Hoilett.
And even though the Owls pulled one back through Tom Lees 10 minutes later, Cardiff’s win meant that boss Neil Harris has lost just once from his nine games in charge.
He said: “We’re still a work in progress but we’ve had four wins, four draws and only one defeat since I came in. I’m pleased with that.
“There will be ins and outs in January, but we won’t be spending money. We’ll just have to be clever.”
He added: “You’re asking a lot of the players but it’s a testament to their character. I’m really pleased with this group of players.”
The stunning start silenced a bumper Hillsborough crowd expecting their team to bounce back after their shock defeat at Stoke. Monk said: “To give Cardiff a two-goal lead so early made it doubly hard for us.
“It was two poor goals from our point of view. We lacked that final edge to get an equaliser. The effort was there but we didn’t help ourselves with the two goals against us.”
“We missed Steven Fletcher up front, but it was defensive errors that let us down at Stoke and here again. “I’ve told the players we’ve had our positives and highs and now a two-game set-back – but we are still in a good position.”
Cardiff scored with their first attack after only five minutes, Lee Tomlin the provider as he played in Glatzel, the German showing good strength to fire home.
Three minutes later, that man Tomlin took possession on the right and fired in a low cross for Hoilett (above) to slide home the second.
Wednesday managed to steady the ship and on 18 minutes pulled one back after a Barry Bannan corner was met by Lees.
But the Owls missed the power and punch of top goalscorer Fletcher, and with hitman Jordan Rhodes on the bench until midway in the secondhalf, replacement striker Sam Winnall struggled to fill the void.
Wednesday were reduced to longrange efforts, with one by Bannan being blocked and cleared by substitute Sol Bamba, while Cardiff ’s hopes were disrupted by a nasty clash of heads which Joe Bennett with a massive shiner.
But City still looked threatening on the break and Glatzel and Will Vaulks almost put the game to bed as Harris’ men boosted their own play-off hopes.