Leon put us 1-0 up with a good finish, the keeper somehow got a hand to it to almost stop it but Gabbidon could only slam the ball into the net as it was already over the line.
After that Cardiff took over and managed some comedy misses, Kuipers made some fantastic saves and the woodwork helped us out a few times. With 10 minutes left we somehow stopped Cardiff scoring with some tremendous tackles, blocks and determination, but we gave away the corner.
They float the ball in and the substitute Bullock is unmarked and sort of mis-heads the ball, it slowly loops over Kuipers and is in the net. Very poor goal to give away.
Kuipers had a fantastic match. Hammond gifted Cardiff a break but Kuipers won the one on one battle. Next they broke clean through again, Kuipers prevented a shot, but they eventually got past him and Harding knocked it off the line.
They then hit the bar with a header. Kuipers then pushed a low shot round the post. It was all Cardiff!!
I thought that late on Knight should have won a penalty. Cardiff accused him of diving and this lead to a melee that saw one of them booked and also Virgo, who is now suspended for Sunderland away.
The crowd was poor again, but as already pointed out Cardiff only had about 400 at the match, but that must still have left 500+ unsold tickets. Did anyone know tickets were available? Cant the put something in the Argus when tickets are left?
Kuipers - 8 MOTM, we could have lost about 5-1!
Reid - 6 solid display
Harding - 4 too many sloppy passes again
Butters - 7 glad he was back, looked solid
Hinshelwood - 4 very shaky in the air again
Nicolas - 5 hobbled off, didn't look happy
Currie - 5 too many times he had nobody to pass to, some great balls when he had options
Hammond - 4 dreadful first half, gave away so many fouls, but picked up a bit second half
Oatway - 5 very quiet game
Virgo - 4 poor game
Knight - 7 look lively and deserved his goal
Carpenter (for Nicolas early first half) - 5 not an easy return
Jarrett (for Currie with 20 mins left?) - 5 didn't get many chances to test the defence out
Mark R