BLUEBIRDS UNDONE AS LIONS MAKE STOPPAGE TIME COUNT
CARDIFF City left The Den empty handed after succumbing to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Millwall. Michael Obafemi and Jake Cooper struck either side of Yakou Meite’s header in the first half to hand the Lions the lead at half time.
It was a cagey affair for relegationbattling Millwall thereafter, but Duncan Watmore rounded off the scoring deep into stoppage time to ensure the Bluebirds suffered defeat on the road.
Millwall’s tactics were pretty clear from the beginning as they bombarded Cardiff’s back line with a number of balls in the air. And it didn’t take long for a crack in the Bluebirds’ defence to show.
A lobbed pass from Zian Flemming saw Obafemi beat Dimitrios Goutas to the ball before he raced into the box.
From a tight angle, the Republic of
Ireland international belted one past Ethan Horvath, who should have done better at his near post, to hand the hosts an early lead.
For much of the first period Cardiff were the better of the two sides, barring that goal which came out of nothing, and they deservedly restored parity on 24 minutes.
Rubin Colwill swung in a beautiful free-kick into a dangerous area, but Meite still had a lot to do.
Under pressure from two defenders, the Ivorian stuck a powerful header beyond Matija Sarkic to level the match.
The Bluebirds looked confident after that and The Den crowd grew tetchier as a result.
In truth, they should have gone into the break in front, but Nat Phillips missed a golden chance when a corner fell at his feet just 10 yards out. Under no pressure, the defender squeezed his shot wide.
Just minutes later, deep into the first-half stoppage time, Millwall grabbed a second.
Romain Esse put in a decent cross and Ryan Longman flicked it on to Cooper, who belted home from close range.
Millwall started the second half the better of the two sides. They pinned Cardiff backed and looked the most likely to score.
Indeed, Obafemi looked odds-on to double his tally for the day on the hour mark, when he hit a low shot from the edge of the box which looked destined for the bottom corner.
Horvath atoned for his earlier error by putting in a top-class save.
Cardiff just couldn’t get out of second gear – and credit to Millwall for keeping them in it – and were reduced to shots from distance, such as Joe Ralls’ stinging 30-yard effort which was well saved by Sarkic.
Erol Bulut rang the changes, Cian
Ashford, Ryan Wintle, Famara Diedhiou and David Turnbull were all tried, but they couldn’t make the difference.
As the game ticked into stoppage time, it started to open up as both sides chased a decisive goal.
Unfortunately for Cardiff, they were hit on the break and Watmore was found in the middle of the box, where he turned home Millwall’s third.