Harris gets a reprieve
IF this is how Cardiff respond to the threat of
Neil Harris getting the sack Bluebirds fans can only hope owner Vincent Tan pokes his nose in every week.
Harris had spoken in the week of a ‘friendly chat’ with the demanding Malaysian, which must have felt like a turkey hearing from Bernard Matthews that everything would be just fine come the new year.
But after three defeats in five games, this was not so much as a turkey shoot for Cardiff as firing at fish in a barrel against a Luton team whose resistance was never more than occasional.
Sean Morrison and Mark Harris put Cardiff 2-0 ahead inside nine minutes.
Kieffer Moore and Sheyi Ojo rattled in two more goals in the second half.
Three of Cardiff’s strikes came from corners, where defending appeared to be just too much bother for the Hatters – much to the obvious fury of their Welsh manager Nathan Jones.
Bluebirds’ chief Harris appears to have a gem in namesake Mark, although quite why it has taken until the end of November of an underwhelming season to turn to the 21-year-old is something of a mystery.
The Swansea-born midfielder was sharp, composed and hardworking and took his goal expertly.
“We have talked a lot in the last 10 days about a manager’s job being based on results,” said boss
Harris. “I’m delighted we not only had the performance today but the result as well.
“The spotlight was on me, and rightly so. Now it’s about following it up on Tuesday. I thought it was a dominant display.”
Morrison volleyed in the first from a corner, before young Harris – who has had loans at Newport, Port Vale and Wrexham – showed quick feet and a good eye for the second.
Luton were just as slack in the second period as Moore headed in unchallenged and then Liverpool loanee Ojo drilled home a low shot after another corner was inadequately dealt with.
Luton’s Joe Morrell hit the post late on but boss Jones admitted: “I’m embarrassed if I’m honest, because of the level of performance. I wish I had made 11 changes, I genuinely do. We have to address that.
“We seem to be unable to handle three games in a week, so I’m going to have to make changes and freshen things up.”
They have shown flashes but it’s not enough. They need to turn into consistent Premier League performers