Bluebirds show grit to battle right back
CARDIFF’S character sent Russell Slade home happy after they came from behind to secure a first win in three games.
Karlan Ahearne-Grant put Charlton ahead in the 49th minute but goals from Joe Mason and Sean Morrison gave the Bluebirds all three points.
It was a deserved victory for a Cardiff side that dominated large periods of the game and Slade paid tribute to his players for their response to falling behind.
“The most pleasing thing today was that we went a goal down but showed a great response,” he said.“We showed character, we didn't panic.
“In many ways we found that extra gear when Charlton scored, we played with more intensity and purpose.
“We certainly deserved the goal that gave us the three points. We’ve shown a nice resilience and a nice togetherness to get the result.
“We felt we’d been a little bit unfortunate in the last two games but in the Championship it’s important to dust yourselves down and go again,which is what we did.”
It was a lightening start by the home side and Morrison saw his goalbound header cleared off the line by Jordan Cousins after just seven minutes.
Anthony Pilkington, Kagisho Dikgacoi and Mason also went close for Cardiff in the first half but it was Charlton that had the best chance of the first 45 as Tony Watt’s header was superbly saved by Simon Moore.
The big talking point towards the end of the first half came when Mason rounded Nick Pope in the Charlton goal and went down – but the Cardiff striker was booked for diving.
The Addicks introduced Ahearne-Grant at half-time and he took just four minutes to put them ahead, collecting Watt’s pass and firing home.
Cardiff were unfortunate to be behind but four minutes later Mason evaded his marker to control Scott Malone’s cross and drag Slade’s side level.
The home side were in the ascendancy from that point onwards and the winning goal came in the 76th minute as Morrison rose to head home Peter Whittingham’s cross.
Addicks boss Guy Luzon said: “Every game we seem to score but we’ve been conceding too many goals lately so we need to go back to basics and start keeping clean sheets.
“I think when you lead away from home you need to show character and organisation to keep that lead. If you can stay ahead then you’ll have space to counter-attack as the game opens up.
“Our problems started in the first half with set pieces. Every set piece from Cardiff they won the first ball, wanted to score and that continued into the second half.
“We need to work on the training ground to stop that happening.”