By Steve Davies-Evans (aka @The_Real_SDE)
As the Carling Cup final edges ever closer, BOSR wanted to take a look back at this seasons fantastic run to Wembley Stadium, and how hard the Bluebirds had to work to get to the final along the way. Playing more game time minutes than any other team in this seasons competition, Cardiff were put through four sets of extra-time periods out of their six games which also included two very nervy penalty shoot-outs. It all started on a Wednesday night in August at the Kassam Stadium…..
ROUND ONE: Oxford United 1-3 Cardiff City (AET)
Having just kicked off the season with a superb 1-0 away win at West Ham just three days previously, Malky Mackay used the League Cup game against Oxford to take a look at some of the fringe players at the club.
Team Vs Oxford:
Heaton, Quinn, Naylor, Gyepes, Evans, Taylor (Ralls 67), Conway, Taiwo (Whittingham 15), Farah, Gestede, Parkin.
Subs: Marshall, Hudson, Gerrard, Oshilaja, Whittingham, Ralls, Jarvis.
Match:
Craig Conway scored his first goal for the club after just 11 minutes but the Bluebirds were pegged back by Oxford on the half hour when Simon Clist scored from just inside the area as his shot that went through Tom Heaton in the Bluebirds goal. The game also saw the debut of young midfielder Joe Ralls as he replaced Andrew Taylor on 67 minutes but he nor the rest of the Bluebirds could find a winner inside 90 minutes and the game went into Extra Time. Cardiff re-took the lead on 98 minutes when substitute Peter Whittingham fired an excellent shot into the bottom corner from just outside the area. Another substitute Nathaniel Jarvis wrapped the game up as he got his head to a ball from just outside the area that looped over Clarke in the Oxford goal.
ROUND TWO: Cardiff 5-3 Huddersfield Town (AET)
Cardiff’s second round tie saw them face League 1 outfit Huddersfield Town at The Cardiff City Stadium. Lee Clarkes men were one of the favourites for promotion this season and they certainly showed the world that they can be a match for anyone on their day.
Team Vs Huddersfield Town:
Heaton, Keinan, Quinn, Naylor (Taylor 86), Gyepes, Cowie, Conway, Blake, Ralls (Whittingham 81), Gestede, Parkin (Miller 64).
Subs: Marshall, Taylor, Evans, Whittingham, Miller, Earnshaw, Mason
Match:
Cardiff looked to stamp their authority on this game early on and after Jon Parkin was fouled by Huddersfield captain Peter Clarke, Craig Conway swung in a deep free kick which defender Gabor Gyepes got on the end of to head past Ian Bennett and give Cardiff the lead (1-0). Just two minutes City doubled their lead when Craig Conway again crossed with Jon Parkin directing an excellent header into the far corner to put Cardiff in a strong position (2-0). City were 2-0 up at half time but early in the second half, Huddersfield pulled a goal back when Jordan Rhodes fired past Tom Heaton to half the deficit (2-1). On 70 minutes Huddersfield were back on level terms as lively winger Danny Ward broke through the City defence and powered a shot into the bottom corner to tie things up on the night (2-2). The momentum was now totally with Huddersfield and they looked to have won it on 88 minutes when the prolific Jordan Rhodes was given too much time by the Cardiff defence and he was able to direct his shot past Heaton to give Town the lead (2-3). Into injury time and Cardiff were now throwing the “kitchen sink” in an attempt to rescue their cup ambition and on 90 (+3) minutes the ever-willing DonCowie managed to get his head on a deep cross to the far post to equalise with just a minute of injury time left and to score his first goal for the club (3-3). Huddersfield looked deflated as they took to the field in extra time and Cardiff re-took the lead on 95 minutes when “Man of the Match” Craig Conway scored with a shot from just outside the area (4-3). With Huddersfield pressing for an equaliser deep into extra-time, Don Cowie again showed his class as he too hit a shot from just outside the area to put the game beyond the brave Huddersfield (5-3).
Cardiff 5-3 Huddersfield (AET) Highlights
ROUND THREE: Cardiff 2-2 Leicester City (Cardiff win 7-6 on penalties)
Pre-Season promotion favourites Leicester City were the visitors to the Cardiff City in the League Cup third round and it proved to be yet another eventful night in the Welsh capital.
Team Vs Leicester City:
Marshall, Taylor (Nayor 60), Keinan, Quinn, Kiss, Cowie, Blake, McPhail (Gunnarsson 29), Earnshaw, Gestede, Mason (Conway 74).
Subs: Santiago, Gerrard, Naylor, Evans, Whittingham, Conway, Gunnarsson.
Match:
The game took a while to come to life as both teams looked to come to terms with how each other played but Cardiff took the lead on 33 minutes when the saviour of the last round Don Cowie got his head on the end of a cross to head past Chris Weale in the Leicester goal (1-0). Sven-Goran Eriksson looked to an old favourtite Steve Howard to get his team back in the game as the tormentor of Bluebirds defences down the years got himself on the end of a low cross and slotted past David Marshall to equalise on 40 minutes (1-1). The second half was a lot like the first as the two midfields seemed to cancel themselves out however, Leicester winger Lloyd Dyer managed to find a gap in the Bluebirds defence on 67 minutes and get his shot way on to put Leicester ahead (1-2). Cardiff yet again looked to be heading out of the cup but their hero this time around was french striker Rudy Gestede and the tall forward controlled the ball excellently on the edge of the box before firing a superb curling shot into the bottom corner to send the game into extra time (2-2). Another 30 minutes couldn’t separate the sides and after 12 successful penalties, Swiss midfielder Gelson Fernandes missed allowing capatin Paul Quinn to smash the winning penalty past Weale and take the Bluebirds into the next round.
Cardiff v Leicester Penalty Shootout (Fan Video)
ROUND FOUR: Cardiff 1-0 Burnley
Eddie Howe’s Burnley were visitors to the Cardiff City Stadium in the fourth round and thankfully the Bluebirds didn’t put their fans through quite so much tension as Cardiff comfortably saw off the Lancashire side to progress once again.
Team Vs Burnley:
Heaton, McNaughton, Taylor, Hudson, Gerrard, Whittingham, Cowie, Conway (Kiss 70), Gunnarsson, McPhail, Mason.
Subs: Marshall, Keinan, Quinn, Kiss, Blake, Earnshaw, Ralls.
Match:
Despite the game finishing 1-0 to Cardiff, it was a lot more comfortable than the scoreline may have suggested. It did take a moment of brilliance on 40 minutes hover to settle the match as youngster Joe Mason scored hi first goal for the club as he picked up the ball on the edge of the area and slotted the ball into the bottom corner past ‘keeper Lee Grant to win the game for City. Both sides had chances to get goals but in all fairness, this was a quiet game and the Bluebirds progressed into the next round.
Cardiff 1-0 Burnley Highlights
QUARTER FINAL: Cardiff 2-0 Blackburn
Blackburn Rovers had been struggling in the Premier League and with huge fan unrest at Ewood Park, it wasn’t about to get better at The Cardiff City Stadium as Rovers came undone against Malky Mackays men.
Team Vs Blackburn Rovers:
Heaton, McNaughton, Taylor, Gerrard, Turner, Kiss (McPhail 78), Whittingham, Cowie, Conway (Ralls 83), Gunnarsson, Miller.
Subs: Marshall, Quinn, Blake, McPhail, Earnshaw, Mason, Ralls.
Match:
It was an emotional night in the Welsh capital as the two sides paid respect to Gary Speed after the national team manager took his own life just a few days before. In memory of Speed, the Bluebirds soon got into their stride and troubled Blackburn throughout the game and were rewarded with their pressure on 19 minutes when Aaron Gunnarsson dispossessed the lacklustre Morten Gamst Pedersen on the halfway line before slotting a perfectly weighted through-ball to striker Kenny Miller who slotted the ball past Mark Bunn to give Cardiff the lead (1-0). Blackburn rarely looked to threaten the Bluebirds goal and so the teams went in at half time with the home side leading by a goal to nil. The second half followed the same pattern as the first with City putting lots of pressure on the Rovers defence. Just five minutes into the second half, Cardiff won a corner in front of the Canton end and Whittingham whipped in a vicious corner, Anthony Gerrard rose above the Blackburn defence to head in with a bit of help from Fillip Kiss on the line (2-0). Blackburn brought on Yakubu and Jason Roberts with 10 minutes to go but apart from one Jason Roberts effort, they still didn’t look like scoring. As the full time whistle sounded, the Cardiff City Stadium erupted as they knew the Bluebirds were just two games away from Wembley.
SEMI FINAL 1st Leg – Crystal Palace 1-0 Cardiff
A tense affair at Selhurst Park saw the Eagles edge out the Bluebirds to take a slender one goal lead to Wales but it was a night of controversy in South London as the Bluebirds had a goal disallowed that probably should have stood.
Team Vs Crystal Palace:
Heaton, McNaughton (Blake 66), Taylor, Hudson, Turner, Whittingham, Cowie, Gunnarsson, Ralls, Miller, Mason (McPhail 74).
Subs: Marshall, Gerrard, Kiss, Conway, Blake, McPhail, Earnshaw
Match:
An electric atmosphere and the pressure of a Wembley appearance beckoning seemed to get to the players as both teams struggled to get into any sort of rhythm from start to finish. Both Wilfred Zaha (Palace) and Cardiff’s Peter Whittingham were showing their class without every really creating anything of any sorts. The decisive moment came on 43 minutes when Darren Ambrose was given the chance to fire an in-swinging free kick into the box after Cardiff had given a foul out wide moments before. As the cross came in, Tom Heaton in the Cardiff goal came to meet it but could only divert it into the air towards his own goal where Palace defender Anthony Gardener was given the easy task to out jump Cardiff midfielder Aaron Gunnarsson on the line to give Palace the advantage in the tie. In the second half, Palace were far more happy to protect their lead as the Bluebirds went about trying to get an equaliser and more importantly, an away goal. They thought they had it on 56 minutes when Peter Whittingham swung in a corner where Kenny Miller met it at the far post to head in only for the refereee Mike Dean to disallow the goal for a foul on ‘Keeper Julian Speroni by Joe Mason. Replays later showed that decision to be very harsh. The Bluebirds continue to push for the goal they so desperatey needed but in the end, Palace held out to win the first leg.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Cardiff Highlights
SEMI FINAL 2nd Leg Cardiff 1-0 Crystal Palace (1-1, Cardiff win 3-1 on Penalties)
The build up to this game was dominated by Dougie Freedmans attempt at mind games as he accused Cardiff City of being scared of losing and pin-pointed the fact that Cardiff tend to lose the really important games when it matters. It was a very eventful night where Cardiff knew they had to score to stand any chance of progressing to Wembley and to become just the third team to have played at the new Wembley in an FA Cup and League Cup Final (Other two are Man Utd and Chelsea).
Team Vs Crystal Palace:
Heaton, Taylor, Gerrard, Turner, Whittingham, Cowie (Gestede 102), Conway, Gunnarsson, Blake (McNaughton 80), McPhail (Kiss 83), Miller.
Subs: Marshall, McNaughton, Kiss, Ralls, Earnshaw, Gestede, Mason.
Match:
25,652 fans packed out the Cardiff City Stadium with an electric atmosphere helped by the 4,000 to what was an amazing night in South Wales. Predictably Cardiff came out all guns blazing and tried to get the equaliser they desired as quickly as possible and they were handed the perfect start on 7 minutes when Don Cowie marauded down the right hand side of the pitch before thrashing a powerful cross across goal only for the hero of the first leg Anthony Gardener to head past his own keeper and tie the Semi Final at 1-1 on aggregate. Wilfred Zaha was a danger throughout and Cardiff struggled on occasions to live with his pace and movement but for all his skill, he was never able to make a final ball count. Kenny Miller has been in excellent goal-scoring form this season and he almost doubled Cardiff’s lead bang on half time when controlled a ball just inside the box before turning and hitting his shot against the upright with Julian Speroni well beaten in the Palace goal.
The second half was more of the same with Cardiff pressing for the winner and Palace happy to play on the break but on 56 minutes, Paddy McCarthy hauls down Kenny Miller 25 yards from goal and picks up a yellow card for his efforts. From the resulting free kick Peter Whittingham strikes an excellent effort which is heading for the top corner before the excellent Speroni got his hand to it and turn it over for a corner. The pendulum swung massively in Cardiff’s favour on 78 minutes when Palace defender Paddy McCarthy slid right through the back of Kenny Miller to pick up his second yellow card of the game leaving Palace with a massive uphill battle to progress to the final. From that point on, Cardiff were by far the better team and were peppering the Palace goal but just couldn’t find a winner in normal time and for the fourth time in this competition this season, Cardiff were entering Extra time.
Extra time followed the same pattern as the rest of the match as the Bluebirds tried to make their extra man advantage tell but it didn’t look like Cardiffs night when the ball fell to the feet of midfielder Fillip Kiss who saw his shot strike the bar and go over for a goal kick. Into the second half of extra time and Cardiff were putting massive pressure on the Palace goal and Cardiff looked to have won it when a corner was played into the box and from six yards out, a totally unmarked Aaron Gunnarsson could only crash his header against the bar and Palace cleared the rebound. Time ran out for the Bluebirds and so if they were to get to Wembley, they would have to do it via their second penalty shoot out of the competition.
Penalties….
1st Cardiff penalty of the night and it’s Kenny Miller who has been excellent on the night. Miller places the ball on the spot and steps back, he begins his run up……and blazes the ball high and wide into the Palace fans behind the goal and the Grange End of the Cardiff City Stadium (0-0)
1st Crystal Palace penalty and it’s Cardiffian Jermaine Easter with a chance to put Palace one-nil up in the shootout very early on. He starts his run up and put the ball to the keepers left….BUT TOM HEATON GUESSED THE RIGHT WAY AND SAVES HIS EFFORT!!! (0-0)
Next Cardiff penalty and it’s winger Craig Conway who has been a real threat all night for the Bluebirds. He places the ball on the spot, turns around and starts to walk back to the edge of the box. He looks Julian Speroni in the eye before starting his run up and as he strikes the ball….HE SMASHES IT STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE TO PUT THE BLUEBIRDS AHEAD!! (1-0)
Second Palace penalty and it’s the youngster Sean Scannell. Scannell who came on as a substitute later in the game has the chance to level things from 12 yards. He’s placed the ball on the spot and starts his run up. He strikes the ball, this time to the keepers right hand side…..BUT TOM HEATON AGAIN GUESSES THE RIGHT AWAY AND SAVES THE PENALTY!!!! (1-0 after two pens each)
Third penalty of the night for the Bluebirds and it’s fans favourite Rudy Gestede. Not renowned for his striking of the ball, he’s placed it on the spot. He starts his run up and strikes the ball to the keepers right hand side…..BUT SPERONI DIVES TO HIS LEFT AND THE BLUEBIRDS HAVE A TWO GOAL LEAD IN THE SHOOTOUT!!!!! (2-0)
Australian midfielder Jedinak steps up to take Crystal Palace’s third penalty. He places the ball on the spot, steps back and collects himself. The Palace fans behind the goal are willing this to go in. He starts his run up and strikes the ball……straight into the bottom corner of the goal. Tom Heaton AGAIN dived the right way but in all fairness, it was an excellent penalty and Palace are on the scoreboard (2-1 after three penalties each).
Fourth up for City and it’s midfield maestro Peter Whittingham with a huge penalty for the Bluebirds. If Whitts can score this, Cardiff will have one foot in Wembley. He places the ball on the spot, ha starts his run up……AND SMASHES THE BALL IN TO THE KEEPERS RIGHT TO RESTORE CARDIFF’S TWO GOAL LEAD!!!! (3-1)
Next player up to take a penalty for Crystal Palace and it’s left back Jonathan Parr. This is Palace’s fourth penalty and they know that they HAVE to score this penalty or they are out. Parr looks nervous, the Palace fans looks nervous!!! The Cardiff City Stadium holds it’s breath…..Parr begins his run up, he strikes the ball towards the top corner……BUT HE’S HIT IT OVER THE BAR AND THE BLUEBIRDS ARE GOING TO WEMBLEY AGAIN!!!!!
Tom Heaton the hero but in all fairness, Cardiff were exceptional on the night and rightfully booked their place at Wembley. The following night at Anfield, Liverpool overcame Manchester City to book their place alongside Cardiff City where they will go head to head on February 26th.
Cardiff 1-0 Crystal Palace (1-1) Highlights
