Battling point’s a step closer to the top-six finish fans are dreaming of
CARDIFF City further strengthened their position in the Championship’s top six after earning a point in a goalless stalemate with Charlton.
It was a game of few clear-cut chances and, at times, a difficult one to watch.
But Neil Harris will be pleased to see another point added on to their total, even if they might have felt the win was there for the taking against the relegation-battling Addicks.
The Bluebirds started this one positively and produced some pleasing passages of play.
Joe Bennett and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing linked well down the Cardiff left, while Joe Ralls and Leandro Bacuna were proactive in driving the hosts forward in midfield.
But no matter how hard Cardiff tried, a sprawling Charlton defender seemed to keep them at bay.
A barrage of crosses from Mendez-Laing and Albert Adomah on the other flank were met by the towering heads of Wales international Tom Lockyer and Jason Pearce.
While City were building up a head of steam, however, Charlton broke down the other end on 16 minutes and Chuks Aneke slipped in his strike partner Andre Green, who danced into the box and let fly, only for a combination of Bennett and Curtis Nelson to do tremendously well to block it near the penalty spot.
But it was on the half-hour when we saw possibly the biggest flashpoint of the first half, when Alex Smithies pumped the ball up to invite an aerial duel.
Robert Glatzel and Charlton’s Sam Field went up and collided nastily in the air, with the two players going down and receiving lengthy treatment.
Field was forced off immediately, while Glatzel, who was clearly bloodied and bruisesd was bandaged up and allowed to play on. But he didn’t last too much longer and was hooked before the end of the half for Callum Paterson. A shame, really, because the German had been in form and had earned that starting spot.
The game entered into a little lull before the break, but, on the whole, it would have been a pleasing half of football for Neil Harris, who saw his side string together a number of encouraging moves which certainly provided positive signs heading into the second half. They just needed to find that cutting edge.
Cardiff picked up where they left off in the second half. They played some lovely, slick football, but there was very little threat on either goal, in fact, again, it was probably Charlton with the most clear-cut chance after the break.
On the hour, Lockyer did well to fashion some space in the box and whips in a fierce low cross. Jake Forster-Caskey steamed in and met it, poking it towards goal, but Nelson was there to block what looked to be a certain goal.
Cardiff needed to liven it up a little and sought to do that by introducing Lee Tomlin
and Junior Hoilett and it almost immediately brought results.
Tomlin flicked it out wide before a ball was sent over to Joe Ralls on the opposite flank. The midfielder cut inside and slid Adomah through before the winger swung a left foot at it, sending it towards the bottom corner, but Dillon Phillips’ big left hand denied him. The other substitute, then looked certain to put Cardiff ahead.
Adomah lofted a cross into Hoilett just yards from goal and the Canadian swivelled and hit it with his left, but it blazed past the upright as another chance was squandered.
And with that, their hopes of maintaining their 100 percent restart had gone. But it’s another point, the wheel turns again and, crucially, they remain in those play-off spots.
Cardiff City (4-3-3): Smithies; Sanderson, Morrison, Nelson, Bennett; Pack, Bacuna (Tomlin, 65), Ralls (Vaulks, 84); Adomah, Mendez-Laing (Hoilett, 65), Glatzel (Paterson, 45), Subs: Etheridge, Flint, Bamba, Smith, Whyte
Charlton Athletic (3-5-2): Phillips; Lockyer, Pearce, Sarr; Doughty, Forster-Caskey (Morgan, 79), Field (Pratley, 36), Cullen, Lapslie (Oshilaja, 63); Green (Purrington, 79), Aneke (Bonne, 63). Subs: Amos, Williams, McGeady, Davison.
Referee: Steve Martin