MCCARTHY CONCERNS GROW OVER BLUEBIRDS’ POOR FORM
CARDIFF City boss Mick McCarthy admits the Bluebirds’ awful run of form is becoming a major concern – and admitted teams have likely worked out how to beat them.
The Bluebirds were dreadful at Ewood Park on Saturday afternoon. Their defence was all over the place and Rovers hit five past them, with Sean Morrison netting a consolation goal thanks to a cross from the only bright spark of the afternoon from a Cardiff perspective, Ryan Giles.
The Bluebirds have lost three in a row and four out of their last five in the Championship, a run of form which has seen a promising start turn into a very mediocre one.
When asked why Cardiff’s form had taken such a downturn in recent weeks, McCarthy said: “It’s not easy to put my finger on that because we pretty much have the nucleus of the team that we had last year.
“Maybe teams have worked us out a bit.
“They’ve changed, played against us, we’ve analysed everything and will continue to do so.
“I haven’t got an answer for you now, that’s for sure.”
The first goal conceded was one we have seen far too often this season – a ball played in behind Cardiff’s back three and a clinical finish from a striker.
Another ball over the top was City’s undoing for the second, too.
And in terms of attack, there was nothing to write home about in terms of the Bluebirds penetrating Rovers’ defence, with Cardiff’s set-piece – which they deem their greatest weapon – not yielding any results until Morrison nodded home Giles’ corner.
It was all too choreographed in attack and all too stagnant and disorganised in defence, but when asked whether he needed to change anything to put it right, McCarthy added: “We did (change our approach) today and I thought that first 25 minutes it worked well.
“Goals change the games, that’s exactly what it is and unfortunately we conceded five.”
Cardiff supporters are rightly concerned over the ugly run of results.
McCarthy himself admitted he had similar fears.
“Absolutely I’m concerned,” he said.
“I was concerned when we lost the first one.
“Then we came back and won (against Nottingham Forest) but I’m even more concerned now, by how we are playing and how we get back on track.
“That’s all we can try to do on Tuesday (against West Brom) because it’s coming thick and fast.”
The aim at the start of the season was to push for promotion. Morrison even said that with Kieffer Moore in situ, the automatic spots were not an
unreasonable target.
But when asked whether, after nine Championship games under their belts, McCarthy felt like Cardiff still had a squad capable of pushing for promotion, the Bluebirds boss replied: “When we started it looked like that and after the run of results it doesn’t look like that.
“That’s something we’ve got to change and we have to start trying to change it on Tuesday.”
The disquiet among supporters was vociferous following the final whistle. The 1,000-plus fans who had made the journey made themselves known in the corner of the ground at Ewood Park and, to their credit, the players fronted up and went to face the music.
And while emotions are running high, McCarthy’s message to supporters was that all he can do is continue to work as hard as possible to dig Cardiff out of this nasty slump in form.
“It’s really difficult to try to do that today,” the manager said when asked to give a message for the fans.
“All I can guarantee is that we keep trying 100 per cent to put our best in.
“We started well but when we conceded we got opened up.
“All I can continue to do is give absolutely everything.”
It doesn’t get any easier for Cardiff, though, with high-flying West Brom the next opponents at Cardiff City Stadium tomorrow evening.