OH YES HE CANOS
Striker’s quick treble stuns Cardiff
SERGI CANOS scored the kind of hat-trick strikers dream about and managers swoon over as Brentford capped a brilliant week’s work.
The Spaniard hit three second-half goals – all of them memorable and expertly taken in a 23-minute blitz – which must have triggered memories at Anfield of why he was once in their youth team.
His first was a marvellous hooked volley as the ball dropped out of a rain-sodden sky, while the second was a sharp run past two players and emphatic finish.
The third was either a piece of genius or a fluke as he curled the ball into the far corner over the outstretched grasp of Cardiff keeper Alex Smithies.
The goals blazed so brightly on a gloomy afternoon, they even outshone Will Vaulks’ opener for Cardiff, which was lofted from fully 60 yards after he spotted David Raya off his line.
Vaulks also scored with 16 minutes to go to give Cardiff hope of retrieving a point, but Brentford – and Canos – were a cut above as they stretched their unbeaten run to 14 Championship matches in the week they also reached the EFL Cup semi-finals after beating Newcastle.
Bees’ manager Thomas Frank said: “I am so pleased for Sergi Canos that he scored a hattrick.
“The first goal was an incredibly difficult technical skill. The second was another wonder goal, while the third one was maybe a cross but don’t tell anyone. e.
“He has come e back from a big injury and people should not doubt how difficult that is. But he has never r been fitter and better er than he is now and this will give him a massive confidence boost and hopefully take him onto the next level.
“It’s the end of a very good week for us, but what is really pleasing is that all the players just retain a focus on the next session and the next game.
“We showed a lot of character and our attitude is to be confident but humble. We showed hard work and togetherness.”
Cardiff displayed y their
THREE AND EASY Canos (second left) celebrates a goal with team-mates customary strength from set pieces, but they had no-one with the cutting edge of Canos.
Vaulks gave them plenty of industry and an unexpected lead with his moment of inspiration, and when he volleyed a second there was hope for boss Neil Harris.
But Cardiff have now lost five times at home already this season, the kind of record that does not norm n o r m a l l y mean pro promotion through w whatever route.
“Look, we are not going to make the top two, are we? L Let’s be realistic,” sa said Harris ( left). “The aim at the start of the season was to make the top six. That’s where we want to be.
“But it grew last year and we had to close the gap and go past teams and we will go past teams this year.
“We threw three goals in, that’s the bottom line of it.
“But we have to respond against Wycombe on Tuesday and Rotherham on Saturday, because we want to build momentum and consistency.” CARDIFF CITY: Smithies 4; Bacuna 5, Morrison 6, Nelson 5, Bennett 6; Ralls 6, Vaulks 8; Ojo 6 (murphy 73), 6), Wilson 7, Hoilett 6 (Harris 67, 5); Glatzel 5. Unused subs: Phillips, Benkovic, Bagan, Cunningham, Pack, Patten, Whyte.
BRENTFORD: Raya 6; Dalsgaard 7, Pinnock 7, Jansson 7, Henry 6; Janelt 6, Jensen 7 (Dasilva 89), Marcondes 8; Mbeumo 7 (Fosu
Henry 76), Toney 8, Canos 9 (Forss 89).
Unused subs: Daniels, Thompson, Dasilva, Ghoddos, Sorensen, Stevens, Haygarth.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Sergi
Canos. Exquisite hat-trick and a threat to Cardiff whenever he got the ball.
REFEREE: Dean Whitestone 6.