MAUPAY TRIED TO BE ‘CLEVER’ – WARNOCK
CARDIFF City manager Neil Warnock had no sympathy for Neal Maupay after his glaring miss helped the Bluebirds keep up the pace with the Championship front-runners.
The Brentford striker had the chance to level the scores in front of an open goal but missed after Joe Ralls had given the hosts the lead.
Danny Ward then made sure of victory with the second, and Warnock believes Maupay got his just desserts for trying to be too clever.
He said: “I can’t blame anybody but the lad himself for that miss. I have no sympathy at all, he’s tried to be clever and give someone the eye rather than put it in. That’s for him too look at and it gave us respite. An equaliser at that stage, and the way they were playing, you think they could start to dominate.
“We had to be really well organised and resolute. It didn’t help that we had five injuries and two suspensions.
“I’m really proud of the lads today after a difficult week. Right from the first training session they have focused because we knew we’d be under the cosh.”
It took only eight minutes for Ralls to fire the hosts into the lead at a rain-soaked Cardiff City Stadium.
Bees goalkeeper Daniel Bentley failed to catch a Junior Hoillett corner but he recovered in time to block Sol Bamba’s fierce half-volley. The breakthrough came moments later though after Sean Morrison launched a long throw into the box. The ball fell to Ralls, who used his left foot to fire the ball into the back of the net.
Maupay’s shocking miss meant the Bluebirds retained their lead. Cardiff captain Morrison lost out to the Brentford striker with only himself between the goal. But instead of shooting into an open net, Maupay took his time to dummy and feint, before sending the ball wide of the post under pressure from Craig Bryson.
Cardiff rubbed salt into the wound two minutes later when Ward struck to all but seal three points. Bruno Ecuele Manga intercepted the ball and charged forward, playing a one-two with Loic Damour before crossing the ball for Ward to prod home.
Only Joe Bennett stopped Dean Smith’s side from getting a goal back after 67 minutes.
Substitute Sergi Canos first had a shot saved by Neil Etheridge, before the ball fell to him in the box for a second attempt. But left-back Joe Bennett got back on the goalline to prevent the ball from hitting the back of the net, and Cardiff coasted to victory.
Bees boss Dean Smith believed it just was not his side’s day.
He said: “It felt like it wouldn’t go in for us. Some of our buildup play was very good, but I’m disappointed with the manner in which our goals were conceded.
“Neal knows he should have scored and 999 times out of a thousand he does. He’s had one of those moments you don’t want to see on a football pitch.
“But he reacted after halftime and he got into some really good goalscoring positions, but was unlucky. It was one of those days for him.
“Only Neal Maupay will tell you if he’s been too clever. Centre-forwards live and die by goals and we didn’t take our chances today.”