Murphy on target, but the Bluebirds are held
CARDIFF City were given a much more intense examination of their pre-season progress during a 1-1 draw with Torquay United.
It was the first bump in the road this summer Bluebirds, who were pegged back by by Ruairi Keating after Josh Murphy’s clinical opener.
National League South outfit Torquay may have endured successive relegations in the past two seasons, but they produced a spirited second-half performance to thwart the Bluebirds.
There was also mixed news on the fitness front for Cardiff, as Kenneth Zohore got a first pre-season runout, but Danny Ward hobbled off injured.
With the raucous support of nearly 900 Cardiff fans who had travelled down to the picturesque Devon coast to witness the denouement of this pre-season tour, the Bluebirds started brightly.
Bobby Reid flashed an early chance across the face of goal, before Murphy was denied by a last-ditch Torquay tackle when the goal was gaping.
Murphy wouldn’t be stopped midway through the half though, making it 1-0 seconds after the hosts were convinced they should have been awarded a penalty. Callum Paterson was perhaps fortunate to escape punishment after felling Brett Williams.
But after that it was the story of a precise and clinical Cardiff counter, Murphy darting down the right flank and drilling home into the far corner.
The former Norwich winger might have scored a second minutes later, directing Joe Bennett’s cross inches wide.
Cardiff were then met with a firm home defence in the period just before the break, Torquay clearly infuriated by the nature of the opening goal.
Neil Warnock’s half-time changes were more premeditated than a reaction to Torquay’s doggedness, but you felt more of the same kind of football would see the visitors home.
It wasn’t to be as a stodgy secondhalf performance from Cardiff saw them come up a little short organised the organised hosts.
Paterson had pushed forward into the No.10 role behind Zohore, making his pre-season debut.
Cardiff came close to a second from a set-piece immediately after the resumption, with Sean Morrison nodding over.
Then came the sucker punch. Substitute Keating exploited the space behind Morrison and slotted home with his first touch.
Cardiff were rocked. After breezing past Tavistock and Bodmin, they were getting a more thorough test of their credentials.
But they soon had chances to reclaim the lead, Paterson rifling wide and Zohore hitting the side netting after both were slipped through on goal.
Warnock’s worries increased further when Ward – who had been introduced at the break – hobbled off with an injury midway through the second half.
And his troops couldn’t find a winner in the final stages either despite chances for Gary Madine and Morrison, giving the veteran boss food for thought at the conclusion of this tour.
Cardiff City first half XI:
Smithies (Etheridge, 45); Peltier (Richards, 45), Morrison, Manga (Bamba, 45), Bennett (Cunningham, 45); Hoilett, Paterson (Mendez-Laing, 67), Ralls, J. Murphy (Damour, 45); Reid (Ward, 45, K. Harris, 62), Zohore (Madine, 62). Subs not used: Connolly.