Tough times for players

CARDIFF City players Danny Ward and Alex Smithies have been struggling since the death of former team-mate Jordan Sinnott.

Matlock Town player Sinnott, who was previously a team-mate of Ward and Smithies at Huddersfield Town, was found with a fractured skull in Retford, Nottinghamshire, last Saturday and subsequently died in hospital later that day. He was just 25. Two men have since been charged with manslaughter.

Ward and Smithies were known to be close to him, and Bluebirds boss Neil Harris has said both men have struggled since hearing the news of Sinnott’s passing.

Ward played his first game since the tragic incident on Friday and, after the full-time whistle, emotions began to spill over. The striker made his way to the home fans and simply stood there, crestfallen, and broke down in tears.

Will Vaulks and Leandro Bacuna quickly made a beeline for him and embraced him, Smithies joined soon after.

Before the game against Reading, Cardiff boss Harris said of Ward: “He’s a really good man. A really good professional and has had a really difficult week. We would really like him back in the group but it has to be the right time.”

Of Smithies, he said: “I’m extremely proud of him. It has been extremely difficult and I’ve spoken quite a few times at length with the two players. They’ve needed huge support from the club and myself.

“Take football out of it, take work out of it, they are just really, really good guys. It’s been difficult for Jordan’s family and his friends like Danny and Alex and for everybody within the game, it is really sad.”