Cunning plan did not work

CARDIFF defender Greg Cunningham insists they tried to play firm but fair against Manchester City.

Bluebirds midfielder Joe Ralls was fortunate to avoid a red card for a late high challenge on man of the match Ilkay Gundogan in first-half stoppage time.

It was the second successive meeting between the clubs featuring a controversial challenge.

City boss Pep Guardiola called for more protection for his attacking players, after slamming an awful tackle by Cardiff’s Joe Bennett on Leroy Sane in the 2-0 FA Cup win in January that kept the German winger out for a fortnight.

Cunningham, 27, said: “There was a bit of talk about that leading up to the game.

Upset

“But it’s a game of football, there’s going to be tackles going in and with the pace of the game you know some of them are going to be ill-timed.

“We weren’t going easy. We were trying to get in their faces as much as we could to try to upset them.

“I felt that we started really well on that front and they just turned the screw.”

Former City trainee Cunningham, a £4m summer signing from Preston, believes the hosts felt the full force of City’s shock Champions League loss at home to Lyon in midweek.

Sergio Aguero, Bernardo Silva and Gundogan netted in the first half before sub Riyad Mahrez grabbed a brace.

Cunningham added: “There was always going to be a backlash.

“They put out a strong team and they are worldclass opposition.

“We frustrated them for half an hour but when they scored it was bang, bang.

“We’ve just got to dust ourselves down and look at Burnley next – that will be a big one.”