Bluebirds on collision course with the Swans
CARDIFF City could yet face bitter rivals Swansea City for a place in the Premier League after a sensational finale to the Championship season last night.
The Bluebirds finished fifth in the table after a comfortable 3-0 win over Hull City, a result that relegated the Tigers to League One.
Meanwhile, Swansea won 4-1 at Reading and sneaked into sixth place on goal difference ahead of Nottingham Forest, who imploded with a 4-1 home defeat to Stoke.
It all means the Bluebirds will face Fulham in the play-off semifinals while Swansea face Brentford, who were edged out of the second automatic promotion place behind Leeds by West Brom.
Goals from Junior Hoilett, skipper Sean Morrison and Danny Ward proved more than enough for Neil Harris’ men, who started the night needing just a point to be sure of a play-off berth.
The picture was far less clearcut for Swansea, as Steve Cooper’s men needed to win and for either Cardiff or Forest to lose.
When it became obvious it wouldn’t be Cardiff who obliged, attention turned to Forest, who knew that even if they lost, the Swans would have to turn around a five goal difference to overhaul them.
Goals from Rhian Brewster, Liam Cullen and two from Wayne Routledge, the second in the 93rd minute, gave Swansea an unlikely success after Reading had pegged them back to 1-1 at halftime, despite having Yakou Meite sent off.
While the Swans took full advantage against the ten men after the break, the almost unthinkable was happening at the City Ground as Michael O’Neill’s Stoke, playing with the freedom of a side who has already secured their Championship place for another season, pulled off a remarkable result.
CARDIFF City booked their place in the play-offs to face Fulham with a resounding 3-0 win over Hull City, who were relegated from the Championship in the process.
Given the Bluebirds were 14th when Neil Harris took over back in November, this is nothing short of a brilliant feat. It was always the aim, but it is now the reality.
An early Junior Hoilett strike took a bit of the sting out of the tie before Sean Morrison’s thunderous header not long after calmed the jitters. Danny Ward’s emphatic third in the second half was enough to completely kill the contest.
The job is not done, of course, but given the swagger with which Cardiff tamed the Tigers, the momentum will doubtless be coursing through this squad in the post-season.
The Bluebirds had their bit between the teeth from the off, with Robert Glatzel testing George Long early with a thumping effort from 30 yards within the first minute. The goalkeeper just managed to claw that one over the bar.
The German started well and dragged another chance from close range wide of the far post, but the hosts looked the more likely in the opening exchanges.
Hull solidified their defence slightly after the initial barrage, but the pressure soon told when Hoilett picked the ball up on the left.
The winger drove into the Tigers box and, on the angle, lashed a low effort across the face of goal. Long attempted a sprawling dive, but it nestled comfortably in the bottom corner to put the Bluebirds ahead just 20 minutes into the clash.
Given Rhian Brewster had just put the Swans ahead minutes earlier in their own clash, there would have been countless nerves settled across the Welsh capital. But there would have been a sharp intake of breath just minutes later when Hull looked to counter through Malik Wilks.
Wilks turned Joe Bennett inside out and the left-back stuck out a desperate left leg in an attempt to stop his man, but made clear contact.
Wilks hit the floor for what everyone permitted to be inside the stadium thought was a stonewall penalty.
Referee James Linington waved away the Tigers’ claims and the Hull bench were apoplectic with rage. And their incandescence, you could say, was justified. Cardiff definitely got away with one there.
But Neil Harris’ side were rewarded for their control of the game and when Morrison scored the second, you had to say it was a fair reflection of how the first half had gone.
After 35 minutes, Joe Ralls floated a delicious, inviting cross and the skipper, like he did against Middles
brough, powered a free header past Long to double the lead.
Shoddy defending from the visitors, yes, but an emphatic header nonetheless.
If Cardiff thought Hull would just lie there and take it, though, they were mistaken. Grant McCann gave his men licence at the break and they came out all guns blazing.
One particularly threatening passage of play saw Morrison dive in front of a James Scott shot before it fell to Wilks, who swivelled and volleyed from close range to force Alex Smithies into a very sharp save low and to his left.
Cardiff did bring control back to it, even with Hull fighting for their lives, and it resulted in the third goal.
Lee Tomlin was brought down by Jon Toral on the corner of the box before Joe Bennett hammered the resultant free-kick at Long, who could only parry it to Ward.
The striker took a touch back inside and drilled it home into the corner.
It’s been exhausting to this point. All season Cardiff have fought and battled to make their way into the top six and defend their place.
It’s strange, then, that last night’s performance was about as close as you could get to cruising into the playoffs as you will ever see.
They even ended up in fifth in the end, owing to Nottingham Forest’s calamitous defeat by Stoke City and Swansea City’s victory at Reading.
Cardiff City (4-2-3-1): Smithies; Bacuna, Morrison, Nelson, Benentt; Pack, Ralls (Paterson 85); MendezLaing, Tomlin (Smith 85), Hoilett (Vaulks 63); Glatzel. Subs: Etheridge, Sanderson, Flint, Bamba.
Hull City (4-2-3-1): Long; Da Silva, MacDonald, Tafazolli, Elder (McLoughlin 76); Batty, Stewart; Wilks, Honeyman (Toral 59), Scott (Lewis-Porter 59); Eaves (Samuelson 59). Subs: Ingram, Burke, Bowler, Pennington, Magennis.