Bluebirds can soar
HOWE BACKS GUTSY CARDIFF
BOURNEMOUTH manager Eddie Howe is backing Cardiff to defy the critics and make a stab of staying in the Premier League — despite seeing his team beat them.
Goals from Ryan Fraser after 24 minutes and Callum Wilson in injury time gave the Cherries their first victory on the opening day of a Premier League campaign.
The fact the performance came on the 10th anniversary of starting a League Two season with a 17-point deduction for going into administration made it all the more sweeter.
And Howe (below) is adamant that the people who are already writing Cardiff off should take that story into consideration.
The Bluebirds are favourites to go down after winning promotion to the top flight and spending only £29million on new signings. But they gave it a go at the Vitality Stadium. Howe said: “This league is so tough, they will find that out. But they have unique things about them – a way of playing that they stick to and a really good team spirit.
“A very experienced manager too. I wouldn’t write anybody off after one game. We’ve lost our first game of the Premier League season every time until now and we’ve found a way of staying up.” Howe had special praise for striker Wilson, whose injury-hit career means he has never managed 10 goals in a season in the top flight for the Cherries.
But he was on the scoresheet this time and also missed a penalty. Howe said: “He’ll have his own targets but I’m just worried about what he does for the team – how he runs, presses and holds the ball up. He did all of those today.”
Cardiff ’s famously vocal boss Neil Warnock was surprisingly quiet throughout – even though the penalty awarded by referee Kevin Friend at 1-0 was dubious.
Maybe the fact that keeper Neil Etheridge saved Wilson’s spot-kick eased his ire.
“It was as soft as I’ve seen,” said Warnock. “But overall I have to be pleased with our performance. We went right to the end and we could’ve got a result out of the game.”
The fact Bournemouth could spend £25m on Colombian star Jefferson Lerma in the transfer window gave Cardiff a warning of how tough this would be.
The hosts went ahead when Josh King fed Wilson – and the striker’s excellent cutback was steered home by winger Fraser.
It should have been 2-0 when referee Friend pointed to the spot as Bruno Ecuele Manga tangled with Wilson in the area. It looked soft – but not as soft as Wilson’s low penalty which was comfortably kept out.
That gave Cardiff encouragement and they almost equalised when Sean Morrison had a close-range effort scrambled away by Cherries keeper Asmir Begovic.
Wilson grabbed a deserved second when he steered home after great work by substitute Simon Francis. Ratings & Stats page 18