ROCK SOLID CITY SECURE DRAW WORTH TOASTING
THERE were times when this felt like the kind of day that Cardiff City are desperately trying to consign to history.
A sparse crowd, not a great deal of excitement. A flat game, a flat atmosphere.
Yet the quiet satisfaction that met the final whistle told you that this was a more than creditable result for the Bluebirds.
That Neil Warnock told his team they could go on a night out tells you that he saw this, understandably, very much as a point gained.
As he said, the visitors were a team who can tear teams apart.
They went with 4-4-2, as is their way, with Glenn Murray and Sam Baldock an in-form partnership who have hurt far stronger and more confident sides than this current Cardiff line-up.
Yesterday afternoon, they barely had a sniff.
Neither did Cardiff, admittedly, making for a turgid afternoon in the December cold.
Nevertheless it is a point that keeps Cardiff in the relegation zone but more importantly, keeps them in touch with the pack of sides just above them.
Above all else, too, a clean sheet that shows the defence they are capable of cutting out the errors that have hurt them so dearly.
Having pushed Junior Hoilett up front in search of added firepower in recent weeks, it was back to basics here with the talented Canadian tucking back into the left flank.
Brighton had most of the ball but virtually no opportunities.
Cardiff stood tall and even when Anthony Knockaert came on and began to drive at them with his impressive dribbling, the floodgates never really threatened to open.
There was only one moment of real panic, when Joe Bennett was caught in possession.
You suspect the grilling he got for that is still ringing in his ears.
He quickly recovered, however, and was part of a solid display.
Aron Gunnarsson gave a display of trademark excellence, the quality of which leaves you scratching your head as to just how he could have been relegated to a fringe role for so long before Warnock’s arrival.
They were stretched in the final stages, undoubtedly.
Watching on from the opposing dugout, Paul Trollope must have wondered whether he was about to witness the kind of game that hallmarked his troubled tenure in South Wales.
One in which Cardiff offered little in attack, to be picked off in the latter stages on the counter.
That he didn’t is testament to Cardiff’s discipline and commitment as they put bodies on the line late on.
Now they can breathe and look ahead to a fixture list that looks rather less daunting than Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield Town, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion.
All have been presented with a stern test by Cardiff, which bodes well for the long slog ahead.
There was talk of a play-off push when Warnock came in but truly, to stay in touch and not be cut adrift like Rotherham really was the best that they could hope for.
That has been achieved, and Warnock seems satisfied.
He has for some time been planning changes to his team and it’s shape, looking to find more spark and creativity in attack.
Yesterday was never going to be the day for that, a struggling Ipswich Town a destination more likely to bear fruit.
Then, two games of real magnitude against Wolves and Barnsley.
If he can eke out some positive results from those ties, Cardiff will head into January not just in touch with the troubled pack but right amongst them.
Add some quality to the squad, and he will be confident he can build a head of steam.
A head of steam that means Cardiff can go toe-to-toe with anybody, that will mean the drama and excitement that has come with home games against Huddersfield Town and Bristol City is reproduced on a weekly basis.
Yesterday was pragmatic, an occasion perhaps not to be savoured.
A defensive display well worth toasting on a night out.
It has steadied the Bluebirds, and that is something to be thankful for.
CARDIFF CITY BRIGHTON PHIL SMITH Football writer philip.smith@walesonline.co.uk 0 0