Gray strikes as defensive woes continue to put Bluebirds on back foot
CARDIFF City suffered their first taste of defeat under caretaker manager Steve Morison after Andre Gray’s goal earned QPR a 1-0 win in the Welsh capital. Kieron Evans kept his place on the
Despite a more spritely attacking wing, with Saturday’s goalscorer at display to what fans have become Stoke, Mark Harris, consigned to the accustomed to this season, the same bench. Had Harris been hard done defensive frailties reared their ugly by? Perhaps. But it was a positive head. The defending for the goal was show of faith in Evans by Morison. particularly poor. The other big news ahead of kick
Gray was gifted acres of space on off was the inclusion of Chanka the 18-yard line and he spun and Zimba on the bench. He has scored smashed home clinically after the seven goals for the under-23s so far half-hour mark. It was the only this season and is riding the crest of chance the visitors needed. a wave. Another positive decision
There was a clear difference in from the manager.
Cardiff’s style of play in attack, but Joe Ralls was also passed fit for the until the defence gets sorted out this clash, but only made the bench. rut will worsen. From the off, Cardiff looked a
The winless run has now stretched completely different side. In front of to 10 games, a worrying statistic no the fervent home support, the fans matter who the manager is. were given a footballing treat as the
Cardiff City made just one change Bluebirds pinged pass from person for last night’s clash. The seemingly to person, carving open the opposiindispensable Marlon Pack came in tion defence and creating opportunities.topartnerWillVaulksinmidfield, with Leandro Bacuna the man to With just four minutes on the miss out. clock, the impressive Evans spun his
Pack seems to be the immovable man and sent a weight-perfect pass object in midfield as far as team over the top to Ryan Giles, who selection goes, but after a positive squared the ball across the box. It start to the campaign he had tailed found Perry Ng, who whipped a firstoff – along with Cardiff’s form. time shot at the far post, but it was
But there was hope that, with a narrowly wide. more passing-based game, he could Ten minutes later, Vaulks found a thrive in this midfield. pocket of space and lay the ball into
Rubin Colwill’s path, but the youngster’s rifled shot from 25 yards was held well by Seny Dieng in the Rangers’ goal.
By the half-hour mark, Cardiff City Stadium was abuzz. It rang out in cheer and song as Alex Smithies continued to roll the ball out to Curtis Nelson or the midfielders shaped to go long before sliding a more canny ball down the flank.
It was a complete change of tack going forward, but, unfortunately, the same defensive deficiencies are still evident.
Just eight minutes before halftime, Cardiff were hit with a sucker punch when the defence, which was completely disorganised, waved through Andre Dozzell to thread a pass through to Gray on the edge of the box.
The striker was completely unmarked and through on goal, so he spun and smashed it into the bottom corner passed the onrushing Smithies.
The visitors almost doubled their lead after the break, too, after Morrison made a clanger when trying to make a dicey pass in his own box. Nelson made a hash of the clearance before Lyndon Dykes’ shot was saved well by Smithies at the near post.
That early goodwill from the supporters just began to wane in the second half, when everything Cardiff tried seemingly hit a brick wall.
Conversely, QPR were gathering confidence and their chances grew more frequent.
Arguably the best chance Dykes had to double the tally came when substitute Charlie Austin chested the ball beautifully into his path before the forward tried to slot it into the bottom corner. It looked to be nestling into the corner, only for Morrison’s sprawling legs to keep it out.
There was a late flurry of chances for Cardiff. Morrison saw a header turned away and Ralls smacked a low volley at goal, but it was just cleared.
Giles even pinged one from 25 yards which forced Dieng into an impressive, acrobatic save, but the hosts just could not find a way through.
Another game slips through Cardiff’s fingers.
Cardiff City: Smithies; Ng, McGuinness, Morrison, Nelson, Giles; Vaulks (Ralls 79), Pack; Colwill, Moore, Evans (Harris 63). Subs not used: Phillips, Flint, Brown, Bacuna, Zimba.