BRENTFORD: 1 CARDIFF: 3
A MOTTO favoured by golfer Gary Player was: ‘the harder I practice, the luckier I get.’
If the South African, nine times a winner of golf’s major trophies, was right then Cardiff City must have been busting a gut in training of late.
And yet this victory, a record-equalling seventh in succession, owed just as much to the Bluebirds’ physical prowess as it did for a dash of fortune.
Neil Warnock’s side were undoubtedly lucky at times during a madcap first-half dominated by Brentford’s diminutive forward line. But their hard work and faultless work rate also bore fruit, particularly from set-pieces and counter-attacks on a vintage night for Kenneth Zohore, scorer of Cardiff ’s third goal.
A scorching Sol Bamba volley and yet another Callum Paterson goal had already clawed back a 1-0 deficit before Zohore’s 58th-minute strike put the game beyond Brentford’s reach.
The in-form Neil Etheridge had another outstanding evening in goal, but could do nothing to stop the Bees laying siege to the Cardiff goal and was powerless to prevent Neal Maupay’s fifth-minute opener.
The Bluebirds held on to create club history, extending their winning run to seven matches. It is the first time in almost 50 years, an achievement which eclipses Alan Cork’s class of 2000/01.
Not even promotion-winning Cardiff sides masterminded by Eddie May or Malky Mackay managed more than five victories in a row, with Cork’s side winning six in November and December 2000 – and Jimmy Scoular’s vintage going one better in the 1969/70 campaign.
Yet it was Brentford who started the game as if coming off the back of six straight victories, Etheridge making an excellent early stop with his feet to deny Maupay in the first minute after Cardiff allowed left-back Yoann Barbet acres of space.
Warnock had recalled his captain Sean Morrison for the Griffin Park challenge, the centre-back recovering from a groin injury to partner Bamba in Cardiff’s first-choice defence, with Bruno Manga shifting to right-back.
But Manga was horribly exposed during that opening salvo, Barbet given the freedom of west London to pick out Sergi Canos, who found the unmarked Maupay.
Three minutes later, Maupay would not be denied. Morrison gambled on playing the Frenchman offside, but instead allowed the elusive Canos to thread it through the Cardiff back-line after Marko Grujic dwelt in posession.
Grujic, partnered by Paterson and Loic Damour in a re-jigged Cardiff midfield – which was missing Joe Ralls, Aron Gunnarsson and Craig Bryson – had a mixed night. At times he looked hugely troubled by Brentford’s energetic press. At others, his physicality was valuable in front of the back four.
Central partner Paterson would later fire the Bluebirds ahead, but actually had a huge chance to level inside 10 minutes, after Zohore’s run and cross. The Scotman’s shot was neatly saved by Brentford goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.
The breakneck start appeared to unnerve both sides. Even the Bees’ attractive possession play was littered with unforced errors.
Cardiff’s defence once again creaked on the edge of their own box to concede a free-kick and a yellow card for Manga after just 19 minutes. Fortunately, Ollie Watkins wasn’t able to capitalise and struck into the wall, then over.
Despite all Brentford’s early dominance, Cardiff kept creating chances and they were soon level. Zohore was the initial creator, spinning down the left with a skilful turn and cross, earning a corner when Bentley palmed Hoilett’s effort wide; then Bamba volleyed home a beauty into the far corner after a skirmish in the Bees’ box.
Brentford’s first-half football might have merited a 3-0 lead after 25 minutes, but instead it was 1-1.
Etheridge continued to be the busiest man in Hounslow during that mad first half, sliding courageously at Canos’ feet to prevent the hosts restoring their lead.
Mendez-Laing then spurned a giltedged chance to clinch a shock lead for Cardiff, Bentley matching Etheridge with a sprawling stop to deny the winger his second goal in as many games after Damour’s threaded pass.
No matter, Cardiff would indeed forge themselves ahead before the break. Brentford’s players and fans rightly felt aggrieved, but it was ruthless forward play from goal-scorer Paterson, latching onto Hoilett’s ball to fire his eighth of the season.
The Bees players traipsed off at halftime looking visibly shell-shocked.
But if either side thought the tempo would drop after the interval, they were mistaken.
The Bluebirds almost profited from another set-piece as Paterson’s nod down was hacked away by the home defence with Zohore lurking.
Bamba, having atoned for one or two defensive errors in the first half with his sublime strike, suddenly looked his normal self, blocking three Brentford efforts early in the second period.
At the other end, the barnstorming Zohore got his deserved goal, shrugging off Bees centre-back Chris Mepham to poke home after Hoilett’s cross.
Despite a late surge from Brentford, the Dane actually had two further chances to extend Cardiff’s lead: first a looping header acrobatically saved by Bentley and then another one with his forehead cleared off the goalline.
The Bees can count themselves unlucky not to have reduced their arrears, with late chances for John Egan (twice) and substitute Alan Judge.
But Cardiff rode their luck and ground out an historic – and magnificent – seventh, which puts them seven points clear of Aston Villa in third. Brentford: Bentley; Clarke, Egan, Mepham, Barbet; Woods, Sawyers, Yennaris (Macleod, 68); Canos (Marcondes, 68), Watkins, Maupay (Judge, 75). Subs not used: Daniels, McEachran, Mokotjo, Ogbene. Cardiff City: Etheridge; Manga, Morrison (capt.), Bamba, Bennett; Grujic, Paterson, Damour; MendezLaing (Traore, 88), Hoilett (Wildschut, 81), Zohore (Madine, 76). Subs not used Murphy, Connolly, Halford, Pilkington.