A DAY OF REGRETS AS LATE BLOW LEAVES CITY OUT OF LUCK

IF is the most overused and irrelevant word in football, more often than not used to divert attention from recurring deficiencies.

Yet on a day like this, after a game like this, what can you say other than, ‘My word, what if?’

Cardiff will be left with so many regrets that it will be difficult to know which one is the right place at which to begin the inquest.

Regret that they could not convert a plethora of glaring opportunities at crucial points in the game; Junior Hoilett and Rickie Lambert both spurning chances from close range.

Regret that the referee missed what looked to be a blatant handball in the Barnsley box with the game delicately poised at 2-1 to the visitors.

Regret, above all else, that it took so long to respond (if they ever truly did) to the relentless and obvious threat Paul Heckingbottom’s men posed on the counter-attack.

This was a priceless opportunity to put six points between themselves and the drop and above all else, the story of the day was Cardiff’s naivety in defence.

They created enough to win three home games, yet never at any point had a genuine grip on the contest.

The first goal was poor on their part but credit to Barnsley; immaculately executed.

The hosts should have got closer to both Conor Hourihane and Sam Winnall, but the weight of cross and the precision of the header were excellent.

The second was disappointing, players not spotting the danger early enough, not tracking runners, and as Warnock said, not being where they were instructed too.

There was an element of misfor- tune about the third, Peter Whittingham’s tackle falling perfectly into the path of Josh Scowen, but to be caught out so comprehensively so soon after the second was either naïve or a dereliction of duty.

The fourth was not so poor but there were countless errors, countless opportunities to cut out the danger missed. What if. A few words, however, on the other elements of this remarkable story.

First is that Neil Warnock has made games at the Cardiff City Stadium utterly unmissable.

There have been disappointing results, certainly. A poor defeat to Wigan, this woeful defensive display.

Yet there have been some truly memorable encounters, and the atmosphere in the final 10 minutes was electric as fans responded to the siege Cardiff City lay on the Barnsley goal.

They forced 22 shots over the game, many of which were golden opportunities to score, in an emphatic turnaround from the toothless showings that underlined a wretched start to the season.

Cardiff should have scored six or seven. Dependant on set-pieces they may still be but it is undeniable that their threat from open play continues to grow.

The 4-2-3-1 seen this week has brought numerous positives, a system in which Anthony Pilkington can exert more of an influence and Junior Hoilett can find the space to dribble.

Kenneth Zohore, too, has been superb.

Quick on the turn, good with his back to goal, denied only by some excellent work from Barnsley goalkeeper Adam Davies.

This is still a side which needs much remedial work but watching Cardiff at home gets the pulse racing these days, and that is something to savour.

Barnsley were also an impressive outfit, a team who may be unheralded in terms of their star power but with an excellent attitude.

Undeterred by going behind early on, they moved the ball quickly, were ruthless in attack and in Conor Hourihane they have one of the most composed and intelligent midfielders in the league.

Cardiff’s defending may well have made them look like Real Madrid at times but their proficiency on the counter cannot be denied.

So this defeat is one from which positives can genuinely be taken.

It was another stirring fightback from the jaws of defeat, another 90 minutes packed full of good openings.

It underlines the fight Neil Warnock has put in this team and why there is still little genuine fear of relegation.

That they can’t quite kick up the table reflects an inconsistency that needs more time to be solved.

There remain just too many ‘what ifs’, at both ends of the pitch.