IN LIKE FLINT
McCarthy hails derby day big man Aden
MICK McCARTHY saluted his battling Bluebirds for the kind of victory he loves – rough, tough and full of pain for the neighbours.
It was the Cardiff manager’s first taste of a South Wales derby and he savoured a spicy dish laced with a winning goal from Aden Flint.
The 6ft 6in centre-back scored with a powerful header in the eighth minute and was then part of a resolute rearguard effort that absorbed and finally blunted everything their rivals could throw at them.
Cardiff’s players celebrated noisily at the end – and pointedly in view of their rivals, according to McCarthy.
He said: “When Swansea won at our place, they celebrated as if they had won the league so
you might say that was Welsh capital earlier in the retribution. I think the players season, but Morgan Whittaker wanted to prove a point and spurned a great chance to why not? equalise late on.
“They earned the right as they Andre Ayew was also unlucky won with a performance full of with a header that hit the post determination and resilience. with 20 minutes left. But Cardiff “This gives us back deserved their
VITAL STATS our momentum and victory – which was we deserve it CARDIFF CITY in the image of their because the boys 1 ......... Shots on Target ......... 7 boss. Flint’s goal,
9 ........ Shots off Target ......... 2 have worked their 11 ................ Corners ................ 0 however, was socks off. 7 .................. Fouls .................. 14 enough to revive
“And I’m really 2 ............... Offsides ................. 3 Cardiff ’s play-off pleased for Aden. I’ve 81.4 ...Passing Success % .... 51.9 charge and damage always really rated 614 ....... Total Passes ......... 216 their neighbours’
74.6 ..... Possession % ..... 25.4 him as a centre-back 53.9..Territorial Adv %...46.1 hopes of clinging on and I was surprised to Watford and to hear he had gone Norwich in the out of our club on loan. He’s automatic promotion slots. been fantastic for me.” McCarthy had transformed
The victory maintains a Cardiff’s season with six strange Welsh voodoo with successive victories, but one win neither club having ever in five games going into this completed a league double since match had stalled their charge. fixtures began back in the 1930s. After eight minutes they were
Swansea had won 2-0 in the ahead. Swans keeper Freddie
SWANSEA CITY
Woodman denied Marlon Pack from a long throw, but could nothing to stop Flint’s thrusting header.
Swansea created plenty of openings, but time and again they were denied by a blue shirt.
Boss Steve Cooper said: “It’s a tough one to get over, I won’t lie and I won’t hide away from that.
“We’ve got to come back stronger. But the bigger picture is we’re in a really positive league position and one that will be envied by everybody below us.” SWANSEA CITY: Woodman 6; Naughton 6 (Lowe 76), Bennett 7, Guehi 7; Roberts 6, Fulton 6 (Dhanda 80), Grimes 7, Bidwell 6 (Manning 76); Hourihane 6 (Smith 18, 6); Whittaker 7, Ayew 6.
Unused subs: Hamer, Routledge, Latibeaudiere, Cooper, Cabango. CARDIFF CITY: Phillips 7; Sang 7, Flint 7, Morrison 7, Brown 6, Ralls 6; Bacuna 6 (Murphy 66, 6), Pack 6, Vaulks 7; Wilson 6 (Ojo 84); Moore 6.
Unsed subs: Smithies, Williams, Watters, Harris, Hoilett, Colwill, Bowen.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Aden Flint. Towering header and equally lofty display in the centre of defence to deny Swansea.
REFEREE: Paul Tierney 7.