SLADE IS BOOED DESPITE VICTORY
NOT even a win can endear Russell Slade to Cardiff’s fans as the Bluebirds boss faced chants calling for him to be sacked after this victory.
Two penalties from Eoin Doyle and a Joe Mason goal earned the Welsh club all three points and condemned relegated Blackpool to a full season without an away win.
Andrea Orlandi’s goal had given the Seasiders hope of pulling off a comeback from two goals down, but Doyle’s second penalty killed the game off before Peter Clarke’s consolation.
However, the Bluebirds faithful were still unhappy and chants of ‘Slade Out’ rang around the ground as the players took a lap of honour after the final home game of the season.
“It doesn’t hurt, I think it maybe showed a lack of understanding,” said the former Leyton Orient boss.
“It has been a disappointing season so I do understand that, but going forward we have a lot of work to do.
“I think a lot of it is down to the frustration of the season more than today.”
Mason’s strike, his first for Cardiff in two years, came after the Blackpool defence failed to clear a Doyle cross, and the 24year-old swivelled to send a deflected shot past Elliot Parish.
The second came in the 31st minute after a howler from Henry Cameron, who dallied as he dealt with a stray pass and ended up tripping Aron Gunnarsson as the Cardiff midfielder closed him down, and Doyle made no mistake from the spot.
The visitors desperately needed a response and they got one from half-time substitute Orlandi, who after just 128 second on the pitch cut in from the right to curl a left-footed shot into the net.
Cardiff began to look nervous, as Charles Dunne had a shot deflected just wide, while Clarke’s volley was blocked by Bruno Manga.
But those nerves were settled when Mason went down after contact with Miles Addison, and Doyle again sent Parish the wrong way, leaving Slade delight- ed the Irishman had beaten down his door to ensure he took the spot-kicks in the absence of Peter Whittingham.
Slade said: “Eoin was banging on my door in the week saying he wanted to take any penalties.
“He was one of three candidates, along with Craig Noone and Joe Mason.
“But came up with the biggest enthusiasm to take them so delighted he took them in confident mood.
“I thought Eoin and Joe looked good today and that partnership with Joe is only going to continue to improve.”
Clarke slid in a late consolation but it was not enough to end Blackpool’s winless run, which now extends to 17 matches, and they need to avoid defeat against Huddersfield or end up posting the lowest points total in Championship history.
“The goal that has ended up winning the game was not a penalty, and it certainly would not have been given down the other end, that’s for sure,” said manager Lee Clark.
“It was not a foul, those are never given in any football, even in my little boy’s academy football that would not be given so we are disappointed that ends up being the winning goal.
“But we did not play well in the first half, we were very laboured in our play.
“The first penalty is just ridiculous from our point of view, to think you have that much time on the ball, and we did not defend properly for the first goal.
“The lads had a go second half but it was not to be.
“They are trying their best but the table does not lie and our season does not lie when we have gone the whole year without winning an away game and that’s disappointing.”