Hogg’s red card is the only bright spot in dire draw

THERE was an argument for relegating this joyless stalemate from last slot on Match of the Day to whichever obscure channel it is that the EFL highlights are now housed.

For on the evidence of this tedious contest — brightened only by the colour of the red card shown to Huddersfield’s Jonathan Hogg — it is the Championship where this pair will be playing next season.

No goalless draw is particularly good — both teams having failed in the fundamental aim of the game — but this was undeniably dreadful.

The best performance of the afternoon was that of referee Michael Oliver, who, after taking guidance from his assistant, correctly dismissed midfielder Hogg when he used a combination of head and hand to force Harry Arter to the floor after a scuffle from a corner midway through the second half.

Arter was booked for his part, and the Cardiff midfielder said: ‘We came face to face and I felt there was too much force in his head. He doesn’t seem to be that sort of player but there was some force behind it.’

Presciently, a feature in the matchday programme saw Danny Williams list Hogg as the team-mate most likely to get sent off.

Huddersfield boss David Wagner said: ‘It was a gamechanger. We controlled it until this moment. It was a soft red card. But Hoggy has to solve this situation. There were two aggressive players in this moment, and my player was not the clever one.’

Neil Warnock’s Cardiff were unable to take advantage and the newly-promoted Bluebirds remain the only Premier League club without a goal this season. ‘We will score eventually,’ said Warnock, whose side now face Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.

‘We have three easy games to get that goal …We will be the underdogs, but that’s what we’re in the game for, let’s have a go.’

Hogg was dismissed in the 63rd minute and, belatedly, the visitors found reason to attack.

Former Terriers striker Danny Ward should have done better than fire straight at substitute goalkeeper Jonas Lossl when in on goal and, likewise, captain Sean Morrison was guilty of a glaring miss as he headed wide from six yards out.

Thankfully, that was that. A word of warning — avoid the lowlights of this game, whatever channel it is they are shown on.