BLUEBIRDS MAKE THEIR POINT... BUT STILL CAN’T BUY A GOAL
CARDIFF City were forced to settle for a point as they failed to break down 10-man Huddersfield Town at the John Smith’s Stadium. The hosts dominated for long periods before Jonathan Hogg was shown a straight red card in the 63rd for a headbutt on Harry Arter.
Neil Warnock’s men then controlled the final half an hour and had several chances to win it, but David Wagner’s men held firm to ensure the points were shared.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was handed his second start of the season in West Yorkshire after Junior Hoilett failed to recover from the groin injury he suffered in the 0-0 draw with Newcastle.
And after a decent start from hosts, it was the Cardiff winger himself who had the game’s first opening as he bustled his way into the box from the right flank before prodding at goal and colliding with Huddersfield goalkeeper Ben Hamer.
It brought Mendez-Laing’s game to a premature end, with Callum Paterson coming on in place of the wideman who was carried off the pitch on a stretcher.
Left-back Terence Kongolo had the first real opening for the Terriers as he rippled the side netting with a shot from 20-yards out just moments before Hamer was replaced by Jonas Lossl.
Australia international Aaron Mooy - back in Huddersfield’s starting XI following the birth of his son - pulled the strings in midfield for the home side, although David Wagner’s side were unable to test Neil Etheridge despite dominating the ball.
And in truth, Wagner will no doubt have been disappointed his side failed to trouble the Philippines international having seen 73% off the ball in the opening 45 minutes as the score remained level at the break.
Cardiff enjoyed a decent spell after the restart, with Kenneth Zohore crossing for Josh Murphy who headed wide of the mark.
And Arter then had a decent opening on the edge of the area, although his tame shot was comfortably gathered by Lossl.
The hosts had a great chance in the 53rd minute as frontman Steve Mou- nie saw his header palmed away by Etheridge.
Neil Warnock sent on Danny Ward for Zohore just before the hour mark, and minutes later came came the biggest flash point as Hogg was shown a straight red card headbutting Arter.
The dismissal gave the Cardiff players a major lift, and after a decent spell of pressure, Sol Bamba headed Sean Morrison’s long throw-in at Lossl.
But the clearest opening of the afternoon fell to substitute Ward who was denied by Lossl from close range after being picked out by Victor Camarasa.
Cardiff continued to push for a winner and almost had it when Paterson beat Lossl to the ball before picking out substitute Bobby Reid in the middle, but the summer signing couldn’t guide his header on target as Murphy blazed the follow-up well over.
Arter and Reid both had chances late on, but neither managed to test Lossl as Cardiff had to settle for a share of the spoils.