DERBY ......... 1 CARDIFF ...... 1
CARDIFF City are still yet to earn a win on the road this season after they drew 1-1 with Derby County, despite Robert Glatzel opening his goalscoring account for the Bluebirds.
The visitors went behind early at Pride Park after Scott Malone hammered home just six minutes into the tie. But, after Glatzel won, then converted, a penalty, it was game on.
But neither side could breach the opposition defences despite a number of opportunities to do so and they each had to settle for a draw.
Going into the game, it just felt like one Cardiff needed to win. It’s no secret that the first six games of the campaign were a little underwhelming for a team that was plying its trade in English football’s top flight just a few short months ago.
But supporters will have looked at the next three fixtures, Derby, Middlesbrough and Hull, seen how poorly those teams had started and will have harboured a real belief that these games could be crucial in kick-starting this campaign.
Of course, it doesn’t always work out like that.
Neil Warnock has tried to paper over some of the cracks and, to an extent, understandably highlighted the rotten injury problems which have plagued his squad so far this season.
The most recent of which is Lee Tomlin, who was omitted from the squad owing to whiplash after he was involved in a car accident earlier this week, another cruel blow for him.
It was not the ideal start, Pride Park was evacuated just half an hour before kick-off, reportedly due to flares being found on the concourse at the away end.
But if the pre-match was anything but smooth, the start to the game was just as rocky.
The Rams broke down the right and Cardiff just couldn’t catch up quick enough. Derby players flooded the box and all of a sudden the visitors were outnumbered.
Alex Smithies made a superb save to keep the first shot out, but the ball kindly fell into the path of Malone, who made no mistake in burying it in the bottom corner.
And, worse yet, it looked to be another one of those nights for Glatzel. He was presented with the first clear-cut chance for the Bluebirds when the ball bobbled to him just 15 yards out. But, as has been the case so far this season, he snatched at it, lashing a left foot at the ball before it meekly bobbled away harmlessly. A groan from the away end ensued.
To make matters worse, just a minute later there were penalty claims down the other end after Sean Morrison looked to have clipped Martyn Waghorn in the Bluebirds’ box. The appeal was waved away by Darren England and more groans came, this time more vociferous and from the home fans.
Then, in a crazy few minutes, it was Cardiff’s turn. A ball into the box seemed bound for Glatzel at the back post, but as he was set to latch on to it, just yards from goal, he was ragged to the ground and England pointed to the spot.
The big German atoned for his earlier, drilling home emphatically from 12 yards to restore parity.
Cardiff undoubtedly grew into at as the half wore on, Derby playing some mindless football at the back and putting themselves under needless pressure.
Nevertheless, the visitors took everything they could get. And while Cardiff looked the more likely, both teams went down the tunnel level at the break.
If the Bluebirds were in the ascendancy before the break, they certainly were not after it. The Rams were more like battering rams trying to hammer down the door. Firstly, Jack Marriot unleashed a thunderous, left-footed effort which rattled the crossbar, before Smithies made the save of the night. Waghorn was clean through, one on one, and poked it towards goal, but the onrushing goalkeeper made himself large and smothered it well to keep the forward at bay. But it was all hands to the
pump for the Bluebirds. Cardiff settled, however, and started to create their own chances, most notably when Glatzel went close with a header late on.
Leandro Bacuna put in a superb display. He had a late shot denied, as did Callum Paterson, who scuffed his effort wide of the mark as the Bluebirds pushed for a winner.