PATERSON’S BLUES GIVE O’NEILL A LIFT
MICHAEL O’Neill insists Stoke still have much more to do to secure Championship football next season, despite this dogged victory.
Callum Paterson’s unfortunate 25th-minute own-goal and Joe Allen’s first goal since December was just the trick as O’Neill’s charges deservedly triumphed.
It was their first league home win over Cardiff since February 2008, and moved them further away from the relegation zone.
O’Neill said: “From a cosmetic point of view the league table looks better, but equally we’re well aware we’re only three points above Wigan.
“We’re dragging more and more teams into it all the time, which is good.
“It’s a big win, but we’re still in a precarious position. However, we’ve been in a precarious position since I came in!”
O’Neill took pride from his side’s performance, adding: “We showed a lot of resilience in our performance, that’s probably something which has been questioned on a number of occasions this season.”
The hosts were the brighter out of the blocks and striker Tyrese Campbell was denied a sixth-minute opener after a smart point-blank block by keeper Alex Smithies.
Winger Sam Clucas provided an inch-perfect pass for Campbell to latch on to, but an alert Smithies raced off his line to avert the danger.
At the other end Danny Ward shot straight at Stoke keeper Jack Butland with Cardiff ’s first chance of the contest.
Tom Ince lost his marker with some trickery but rifled just wide with a powerful leftfoot shot.
But then the breakthrough came in fortuitous circumstances for O’Neill’s side.
Jordan Thompson’s inswinging corner from the right wing evaded everyone but Paterson who, unluckily, saw the ball cannon off his back and into the empty net.
Campbell had an excellent chance to double the lead shortly after the half-hour mark, but his left-foot shot close to the penalty spot was deflected wide. Campbell then curled a left-foot shot inches wide before proving a nuisance for the second goal.
Smithies did well to twice thwart him, but Wales international Allen pounced to seal the points.
Campbell so nearly scored after a superb solo run, but Smithies tipped his fizzing left-foot strike wide of his lefthand post.
Butland had to be alert to tip Albert Adomah’s left-foot chipped effort over his bar and sub Robert Glatzel had a shot on target blocked in the box.
But the Bluebirds lacked a killer finish and the Potters claimed only their second win in five games.
Frustrated Cardiff boss Neil Harris admitted: “I was disappointed from the first whistle to the last.
“That’s nowhere near the levels we’ve set this season. We’ve set the standards individually and collectively.
“We’ve given two poor goals away and I pride my teams on being really tough to beat.
“If you can’t win games you’ve got to make sure you don’t lose them and today was not good enough.”