TOMLIN TICKS THE BOX
CARDIFF City tasted their first defeat of pre-season as they were beaten 2-1 by League One outfit Shrewsbury Town at Montgomery Waters Meadow.
It gave the players another much needed run-out while they were also given a stark reminder of just how clinical they will have to be next season to stand any chance of gaining promotion into the Premier League.
IAN MITCHELMORE runs through the key talking points from the match in Shropshire...
Creativity encouraging, but sharpness was lacking in front of goal
The Bluebirds dominated the opening stages of the match and showed their superior league status throughout the course of the first half against Paul Hurst’s side.
But for all the opportunities they created, they had just one goal to show for their domination which came courtesy of Nathaniel MendezLaing’s tap-in on the stroke of half time after Kenneth Zohore’s persistence paid dividends for the visitors.
Neil Warnock admitted his side should have been four or five goals up by the time they were stunned by Shrewsbury in the early stages of the second half when a Shaun Whalley penalty and Louis Dodds’ strike saw the hosts come from a goal behind to lead in the blink of an eye.
And it served as a timely reminder that the Bluebirds need to be much sharper at the top end of the pitch if they are to genuinely challenge for a top six spot next term.
Warnock will be delighted to see his team are creating as many chances as they are, and it’s down to Zohore and co. to make sure they can put games to bed when the opportunity arises.
Lee Tomlin can be Cardiff’s heartbeat
The No.10 started the match by supporting Zohore, and it took just three minutes for the former Bristol City man to show he could forge a blossoming link-up with the Danish striker.
Tomlin played a neat through ball to the forward who was unable to keep his effort on target early on, but the signs of promise between the two were there for all to see right from the outset.
Out of possession, the 28-year-old buzzed around the pitch and it was his pressing that helped to peg Shrewsbury back for the majority of the opening half in Shropshire.
He’s already stated that he wants to contribute 10 goals to the cause next season as well as adding between 10 and 15 assists, and there’s no doubt that on his day Tomlin can be a matchwinner for the Bluebirds.
And with a pairing consisting of two of Joe Ralls, Aron Gunnarsson and Greg Halford sitting behind him, Tomlin will be given license to run riot further up the pitch and provide Cardiff with the creative spark they’ll need to take them to the next level.
Sol Bamba and Bruno Manga epitomise how Cardiff need to play
Captain Sean Morrison was forced to come on for the final minutes of the match as Loic Damour was withdrawn as a precaution having picked up a knock late on.
But Sol Bamba and Bruno Manga occupied the centre-back berths throughout the game in Shropshire, and it was their sharpness and ability to remain calm under pressure that ensured Neil Etheridge was untroubled for the opening 45 minutes.
Lee Peltier’s foul on Shaun Whalley handed the hosts the opportunity to get back on level terms early on in the second period, a chance they grabbed with both hands, and it momentarily stunned the Cardiff defence who looked devoid of confidence for a brief spell.
Etheridge was guilty of booting the ball out of play on more than one occasion while a few others around him showed one or two signs of nerves having largely coasted through the opening half.
But Bamba and Manga particularly in the first half - remained on red alert even when danger seemed least likely, and showed composure that should rub off on the rest of the team.
Fortunately as far as the mini capitulation was concerned, it was done in a pre-season friendly and not in a crunch Championship outing.
And if others in the Cardiff squad can play with the confidence that runs through the veins of both Manga and Bamba, the Bluebirds will be able to cope far better as a unit when the pressure is on.
Zohore can be one of the stars of the Championship
The Dane’s impressive form for both the Bluebirds and Denmark’s Under-21 side in 2017 has seen him attract interest from the likes of Hull and newly-promoted Brighton this summer.
But Warnock and the Cardiff
hierarchy have insisted that the striker is going nowhere.
And having netted 12 league goals between December and May last season, the Cardiff faithful will be desperately hoping Zohore can hit the ground running from the off this time around.
His form in the second half of the 2016-17 campaign proved he can be the 20-goal-aseason striker the Bluebirds so desperately crave, and he had numerous chances against Shrewsbury, largely through the creativity of Tomlin and as a result of his own tremendous work-rate.
So while he was unable to find the back of the net against Paul Hurst’s side, there were plenty of signs that Zohore can build on his efforts last season and carry the expectation of the fans on his shoulders in the forthcoming campaign.
The central midfield dilemma
Aron Gunnarsson won last season’s Cardiff City player of the season award by a landslide and is sure to be an ever-present once again in the Welsh capital next season.
But the second spot in the centre of the park remains well and truly up for grabs.
Greg Halford started in Shrewsbury and will hope to have a greater impact on proceedings in his first full campaign having suffered with injuries during the opening months of his time with the Bluebirds.
But Warnock also has Joe Ralls and Loic Damour at his disposal, and the trio look like they are set to be locked in battle with each other for the vacant starting berth alongside their Icelandic warrior next season.
It remains to be which of the three Warnock will go with, but there’s no doubt it’s one of the key decisions the Yorkshireman will have to make this summer.