Mccarthy lucky to maintain run in 1,000th game

When Mick Mccarthy tried to sign Yaya Sanogo, he scarcely expected to be celebrating the striker’s misses, but the Frenchman’s woeful penalty meant he could enjoy his 1,000th game in management.

Mccarthy had tried to recruit Sanogo, but was told by the Football Association of Wales that he could only get 13 points, rather than the 15 required for a work permit for foreign players after Brexit, and was surprised the English FA granted him clearance to join Huddersfield.

And so, when Aaron Rowe was fouled by Curtis Nelson and Sanogo, making his first Huddersfield start, was on spot-kick duties, Mccarthy said: “I thought it would be sod’s law that he would score, so I was even happier when he missed it.”

Sanogo’s miss means he has yet to score a league goal in England, and it extended Mccarthy’s unbeaten start with Cardiff. “We had to scrap it out,” he said. “But if you can’t win, don’t get beat.”

That attitude has served him well over 29 years in management and helped earn him a new two-season contract on Thursday.

His side’s only threat came from centre-backs Sean Morrison and Aden Flint, while Huddersfield’s Pipa and Fraizer Campbell missed late chances to seal only a second win in 14 matches.

“It is a pity we didn’t get it today,” said manager Carlos Corberan.

Huddersfield Town (3-5-2): Schofield; Edmonds-green, Keogh, Sarr; Rowe (Stearman 90+1), Bacuna, Vallejo, O’brien, Pipa; Sanogo (Phillips 78), Campbell.

Subs Pereira (g), Holmes, Duhaney, Mbenza, Crichlow, Brown, High.

Cardiff City (3-4-2-1): Phillips; Morrison, Flint, Nelson; Sang, Vaulks, Ralls, Bagan (Brown 38); Wilson (Pack 86), Murphy (Ojo 58); Moore. Subs Smithies (g), Bacuna, Williams, Harris, Hoilett, Colwill.

Booked Morrison, Vaulks.

Referee Tim Robinson (West Sussex).