MONK CRIES FOUL AS OWLS MISS OUT
GARRY Monk hit out at the officials after Lee Tomlin’s late free-kick prevented his Sheffield Wednesday side from moving into the Championship’s automatic promotion places.
Cardiff substitute Tomlin curled the ball home from 25 yards out just two minutes after entering the action, with a little help from the distracting presence of Aden Flint.
Former Bluebird Kadeem Harris had earlier created Julian Borner’s first-half goal.
Boss Monk was annoyed with referee Keith Stroud and his officials for missing Flint’s attempts at distraction.
“We are frustrated that we didn’t get the win, because we had enough chances to make it comfortable,” he said.
“We just didn’t have control in that final period, although I am disappointed with the goal. If it had been a legitimate goal, fair enough, but I am told it wasn’t even a foul for the free-kick.
“Then, they had one of their players doing star jumps, trying to distract our keeper. How they missed that, I don’t know – because it’s not hard to spot – a 6ft 5 inch player doing star jumps. But there we are – it is what it is.”
Harris sent an early warning to his former employers by sending a half-volley a yard over the crossbar.
The Owls winger needed no second invitation to snatch the initiative at his former home as he created the opener after 19 minutes.
Barry Bannan laid the ball off to Harris on the angle of the penalty area after his corner was only half-cleared.
The pacy winger stepped on the accelerator to leave Marlon Pack chasing his shadow and sent a curling effort towards the far post.
The ball may have been heading for the back of the net, but as Neil Etheridge dived to his left, Borner stuck out a leg and diverted the shot away from the Cardiff keeper and into the back of the net. Steven Fletcher was next to test Etheridge moments later as Wednesday piled on the pressure in search of a second, prompting Neil Warnock to take drastic action.
The Cardiff boss sent striker Danny Ward on in place of Leandro Bacuna with 34 minutes on the clock.
Some heroic defending from Aden Flint and Sean Morrison ensured the Owls’ lead stayed at a single goal.
Ward had Cardiff’s first shot on target after 70 minutes before they made the breakthrough.
Tomlin dusted himself off after he was tripped by Massimo Luongo and sent a bending effort into the corner from 25 yards out.
The draw maintained Cardiff’s unbeaten home record in the league, and Warnock believes they can maintain their run all season.
“I was disappointed to concede like we did and I had to make a change early doors. We would have been beaten easily if we hadn’t done that,” he said.
“I’d like to go unbeaten all season if I’m honest, I don’t think it’s impossible, but I’d like to win away now next week.”