WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THE BLUEBIRDS’ WIN OVER VILLA
1. NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNING THERE was always the sense that Cardiff needed a significant win if they were to set themselves for a New Year push – and they gave every drop of effort to make sure they got it. It was a good job too with Blackburn’s result at Newcastle meaning the Bluebirds – albeit with a game in hand – are still only three points above the Championship drop zone going into the break for the FA Cup.
But with Cardiff having competed well in games only to shoot themselves in the foot, the nature of this win and only the second clean sheet under Neil Warnock will be a huge fillip.
A bumper crowd got what they asked for in terms of commitment and a touch more quality that can arrive in the January transfer window suggests this really could be a turning point. 2 . SUPER SOL THE DESTROYER Neil Warnock had previously described Sol Bamba and Bruno Manga as a Premier League partnership at the back in all but name. It seemed that, with one game before Manga goes off for the Africa Cup of Nations and potentially to a new club before he returns, the Bluebirds boss was going to allow him one game to play the pair together.
It was something of a surprise, then, to see Sol Bamba line up in front of the back-four on his return from suspension.
Credit to Warnock, the ploy worked a treat, ensuring Cardiff’s backline had proper protection from Villa’s dangerous attackers, cutting out balls, following men when needed but retaining a discipline to ensure there was a blue line Villa couldn’t find an easy way past.. 3. PLAY IT AGAIN, KEN Kenneth Zohore again continued his surprise renaissance in the Bluebirds team having been so close to the exit door just a few weeks ago. The fact the Canton Stand were happy to sing the striker’s name said plenty about his work-rate as he constantly occupied Villa’s defenders and gave them little time to build from the back. He looked to bring others into the game and justified why he has retained Warnock’s trust.
However, with Villa always likely to force their way back into things, Cardiff spent much of the second-half wondering if Zohore’s miss just before the break would be costly.
The big Dane lacked that little bit of quality and composure to take his chance when played in by Noone and underlines that he still has to show he can be clinical enough for this team going forward. 4 . PLAYING FOR KEEPS It’s more than 13 years since Brian Muprhy first arrived in South Wales to make his Football League debut with Swansea City.
Signed by Cardiff essentially as third-choice, Murphy made his home debut and immediately won the favour of fans with a performance that was solid throughout with a couple of eye-catching saves when he needed them, including a lovely push onto the bar from a Ross McCormack free-kick and denying Gabby Agbonlahor with a full-stretch effort and a smart reaction save when it looked as though the sub had saved the day for Steve Bruce.
Warnock is expected to go after a new No.1 in the window but Murphy’s display may make him think again. 5. IT’S NOT ALRIGHT, JACK Jack Grealish is a talent who should be too good for the Championship.
Anyone who watched his gliding run that sliced open Cardiff early on would accept that Or the very fact Neil Warnock was prepared to put Sol Bamba in midfield to disrupt his threat.
Thankfully for Cardiff, Grealish seems to think he’s too good for the Championship. The Bluebirds did a number on him – by fair means or foul – and Grealish feeling sorry for himself took away the visitors’ main hope of asking questions of Warnock’s side. His constant grumbling only invited Cardiff to do more of the same, while the backchat to the referee earned him a yellow card and little sympathy from official Andy Davies.