All Gunns blazing for Bluebirds
ARON Gunnarsson left it late to score what could prove to be a defining goal in the race for the Premier League.
The Cardiff midfielder saved the day with 15 minutes remaining to snatch a 2-1 triumph over Nottingham Forest, which lifted the Bluebirds back into the automatic promotion places with three matches remaining.
It looked as if the hosts would cruise to victory when Sean Morrison headed in his fifth goal of the season but Liam Bridcutt levelled things up five minutes after the break.
Just when Cardiff needed a hero, there was the Icelandic star to rifle home a loose ball in the box to put Cardiff two wins away from promotion.
Delighted boss Neil Warnock said: “We’re all together. We’re up against a team like Fulham who are 22 games undefeated and must think ‘what the hell is going on with that team?’ because they cannot get rid of us.
“We’re enjoying it and you can see we’re enjoying it. I thought we deserved that, though we don’t do anything easy.”
Joe Ralls returned to the heart of the Cardiff midfield after missing eight matches with a knee issue but Sol Bamba was only fit enough for the bench after suffering a groin injury in the defeat of Norwich last week.
Forest made three changes as they aimed to prevent the hosts from re-establishing themselves in the top two with Eric Lichaj, Bridcutt and Matty Cash coming into the starting XI.
Aitor Karanka’s men almost dealt Cardiff ’s promotion hopes a hammer blow in the opening ten minutes when Joe Lolley pounced on some lazy defending but he could only send his shot over the crossbar.
Warnock’s nerves were jangling when the winger robbed Morrison of possession and charged downfield to send Bridcutt through on goal.
Neil Etheridge rushed out to smother the ball and Forest were punished for their wastefulness moments later.
Tobias Figueiredo stabbed the ball behind for a corner and then could not recover in time to stop Morrison rising above the defence to head home Ralls’ inchperfect cross.
It was the 25th time Forest had conceded from a set-piece this season but they spoiled the party five minutes after the break just when it looked like Cardiff were going to make it 2-0.
Danny Fox had scrambled back to clear Kenneth Zohore’s shot off the line after it had clipped the post before the visitors broke to devastating effect.
Ben Osborn raced past halftime substitute Bamba and delivered a low cross for Bridcutt who did not need a second invitation to stab the ball past Etheridge.
The Bluebirds pushed to get their noses back in front but could not find any cutting edge, with Zohore largely failing to impress on his own up front.
He got the better of Michael Mancienne when he got in behind and was wrestled to the ground just outside the box, which proved to be a costly foul.
Junior Hoilett’s free-kick looked to have evaded everyone until Bamba stuck out a toe to guide it back across goal. The loose ball was pounced upon by Gunnarsson, who bagged what could prove to be a season-defining strike for the Welsh side.
The combative midfielder then laid his body on the line to deny Apostolos Vellios late on.