Monday night misery turns into Monday night miracle for Cardiff
way, their performance below their best and Warnock given his marching orders, this was not Cardiff ’s night.
But then Bennett smashed home hope and, after the impressive Sol Bamba headed against the bar, Tomlin clattered himself even further into cult hero status.
It may only be a point – one to keep them four points off leaders Wolves – but it felt like more given the manner of it.
And it just feels that this side don’t know when they are beaten, which bodes well for the months ahead.
But, of course, they cannot rely on comebacks all the time. Cardiff cannot afford to be as sloppy as they were to start as the night slipped away from them.
There hadn’t been much of an indication of what was about to unfold on this freezing night.
In fact, with Nathaniel MendezLaing making some early inroads, there was every reason to suspect the 1,383 who had braved the temperatures would soon be wearing the warm smiles that has accompanied much of their side’s season so far.
Reading controlling possession and playing out from the back was to be expected, but the lack of stubbornness soon being offered by the Bluebirds was less so.
Playing with three centre-backs and wing-backs to try and engage with Reading’s flying widemen didn’t stop the attacks coming down the flanks.
And more and more did Cardiff’s midfield find themselves absent when the Royals broke, Stam’s side began to ask questions of a deeplying defence.