Smash ’n’ grab as cool Callum robs Kompany
VINCENT KOMPANY couldn’t hide his frustration after his Burnley side blew victory in the final minute at Cardiff City Stadium.
The Clarets were heading for victory through Nathan Tella’s 48th-minute goal and looked to be containing Cardiff’s sporadic threat on the counter-attack.
But a 90th-minute header by Callum Robinson, the striker’s first for the club since his move from West Brom last month, salvaged a point the Bluebirds deserved for their never-say-die approach.
Robinson rose to direct his effort into the bottom corner after a measured cross from right-back Mahlon Romeo.
Former Manchester City icon Kompany said: “We have to be able to finish games off, which we don’t.
“The lads ran a lot but were not quick enough or aggressive enough.
“We just didn’t have that edge today.
“These moments are bound to happen, but it is up to us also to nail things down.”
For Cardiff, meanwhile, the draw will be seen as a point gained.
Robinson’s late intervention ensured the first game in charge for caretaker boss Mark Hudson yielded some reward.
Hudson, the former Cardiff centre-half stalwart, is understood to be in the frame for the permanent role after Steve Morison was sacked a fortnight ago after winning just three of his side’s opening 10 league games.
Hudson said: “We saw fight and togetherness against the best team in the league.
“The players carried out 99 per cent of what I asked them.
“It’s been a tough two weeks and everyone has felt it, but you have to respond.”
It looked curtains for the Bluebirds after Burnley striker Tella, on loan from Southampton, gave the visitors the lead early in the second half.
Tella pounced to sidefoot home after a cross from Icelandic winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson was volleyed back across goal by Ian Maatsen.
But Burnley failed to press home their advantage despite enjoying most of the possession and Cardiff were always a threat on the break. Hudson’s men got their reward in the last minute of normal time when Robinson rose at the far post to send a welldirected header into the bottom corner.
The Bluebirds now face Blackburn at home on Tuesday night and Hudson will be looking for the momentum of consecutive wins, something so elusive under Morison’s command.
Hudson added: “I think the draw was fair and they will say the same.
“The substitutes gave us impetus going forward and the goal was just reward
“The reaction to going behind was superb, everything I asked.”
CARDIFF: Allsop 7; Romeo 8, Ng 7,
Kipre 7 (Simpson (79) 6), Nkounkou 7; Ojo 7 (Sawyers (79) 5), Wintle 7,
Ralls 6 (Rinomhota (64) 5), O’Dowda 5 (Whyte (72) 5); Harris 6 (Watters (72) 5), Robinson 7
BURNLEY: Muric 7; Roberts 6, HarwoodBellis 6, Taylor 7, Maatsen 7; Cork 6, Cullen 6; Gudmundsson 8 (Benson (64) 6), Brownhill 9 (Bastien (88) 6), Tella 8 (Zaroury (64) 6); Rodriguez 6 (Barnes (64) 6)
STAR MAN: Josh Brownhill. Combined hard work and quality passing.
REF: Gavin Ward 8