BLUEBIRDS ARE BACK ON TRACK
CARDIFF City finally ended their goal drought at the Cardiff City Stadium to see off fellow out-of-form side Stoke City and ease pressure on boss Erol Bulut.
Kion Etete headed home his first goal since Septmber to put the hosts in front, their first goal at home in five attempts, before Karlan Grant doubled the lead after half an hour.
Jun-ho Bae put Stoke back in it just before the interval after pouncing on a rebound from Lewis Baker’s freekick, while Nial’ Ennis came close to restoring parity just after the break, but was twice denied by Ethan Horvath.
Stoke might well consider themselves unlucky not to have claimed a point here, given their improved performance in the second half. They might also feel aggrieved that Rubin Colwill’s elbow on Josh Laurent midway through the second half wasn’t spotted by the officials.
But Cardiff’s defensive resilience will, in contrast, have been just as pleasing as their efforts in front of goal for Bulut, who had previously overseen a run of just one win in eight games in all competitions before this win.
Bulut insisted he was encouraged by what he saw in the 0-0 draw with Blackburn Rovers here on Tuesday, but nevertheless opted for three changes for this showdown with the Potters, with captain Joe Ralls returning at the heart of midfield.
He arguably justified his return after just five minutes.
Colwill’s deflected effort over the bar earned his side a corner, and the captain’s bending corner bounced off Stoke’s Jordan Thompson at the near post to set up Etete, who duly headed home for his sixth goal of the season.
Stoke keeper Daniel Iversen stood no chance, partially due to Josh Bowler’s clever move across the goalmouth, and the winger caused Stoke further problems five minutes later, weaving his way into the box to tee up Colwill, but the Wales international couldn’t get the ball from under his feet, producing a tame shot that was this time no trouble for Iversen.
Stoke soon settled, however, and should have given Ethan Horvath something to think about when
Ennis beat the offiside trap to latch on to Million Manhoef’s through ball, but the striker could only drill his low effort wide.
The visitors looked to be in the ascendency, but Cardiff’s newfound, and some might argue unexpected, attacking verve caught the Potters cold again just after half an hour.
Colwill did brilliantly to keep hold of the ball after running into a forest of Stoke bodies before Manolis Siopis mopped up to feed Ralls, and his perfectly-time pass allowed Grant to race into the box and fire into the bottom corner for his fifth of the season.
Ditmitrios Goutas then bounced a header into the arms of Iversen as the chances kept coming, but Stoke would haul themselves back into the game just before half-time.
Horvath’s palmed save to deny Lewis Baker’s freekick on the edge of the area was straight to Bae, who was left with a simple finish.
Ralls had a shot blocked on the edge of the area as the hosts looked to restore their two-goal advantage just before the break, in one of the last acts of a reasonably entertaining first half.
Stoke, sensing a way back into the contest, raced out the blocks after the break. Ennis twice denied from close range from Horvath, while Baker powered a header wide during a testing start to the second half for the hosts.
Josh Wilson-Esbrand then flashed an excellent ball across goal as Cardiff looked to wrestle back control, but their inability to regain their composure in the final third was clearly becoming a frustration as the second half wore on.
Indeed, Colwill was arguably lucky to escape a red card just after the hour. The forward appearing to throw an elbow to the face of Laurent that somehow went unpunished, despite referee Anthony Backhouse being a few yards away.
Colwill was, perhaps unsurprisingly, replaced just a few second later, but Cardiff’s continued to labour in their bid to take back control of the contest.
But for all their pressure, Stoke didn’t really fashion any further notable opportunities, due in no small part to an impressively steely defensive display from the hosts.
Cardiff probably made more work of it than was probably needed, but the relief that greeted the final whistle at full-time indicated just how big a result this was for them and Bulut. CARDIFF CITY: Horvath; Ng, Goutas, Phillips; Wilson-Esbrand (Turbull 75), Ralls (c), Siopis, R.Colwill (Collins 67), Grant (Wintle 55); Bowler (Meite 67), Etete (Diedhou 75)
SUBS: Turner, Romeo, J.Colwil, Ashford
STOKE CITY: Iversen; Thompson, Rose, Wilmot, Manhoef (Campbell 78); Baker, Burger (Vidigal 78),
Cundle (Laurent 46); Bae (Lowe 88), Ennis, Tchamadeu (Gooch 46)
SUBS: Bonham, Pearson, Hoever, Leris
REFEREE: Anthony Backhouse ATTENDANCE: 18,976