.....and we're still only 4 points of the automatic promotion places! This is as much as a result of the overall equality of this division, as it is for the quality of our play. I've said it before and I'll say it again - we are as good as any team in this division, and we have as much chance as anyone of making a top 6 place.
Cardiff 0 Leicester 0 - September 25th 2011
After the exertions of the midweek league cup tie, this was always going to be a more even event. Unfortunately, more of our team had to play in both games than Leicester players, and i'm sure this contributed to the outbreak of first half injuries which saw all of our substitutes used before the start of the second half!
We prepare to defend a corner.
To make things worse, Rudy Gestede was suffering from a hamstring pull for most of the second half, and so all-in-all a 0-0 draw was acceptable from a team with more resources than us. there was one heart stopping moment late in the game when Andy King directed the ball on to the top of the bar, but in general we were well worth our point.
Cardiff 2 Southampton 1 - September 28th 2011
This was probably our best home display of the season. Top of the table Southampton brought a good number of away supporters to make the atmosphere even better. Kenny Miller was forced to play up front in a 4-5-1 formation, mainly because he was the only fit striker left at the club!
I love to see teams wearing their traditional colours, rather than a dedicated away strip!
The tireless energy of Gunarsonn and Kiss in midfield kept the Saints under pressure for much of the game, and starved their dangerous front men of much possession. Then, a sudden long ball from Marshall down the centre of the field enabled Miller to nip in between the centre back and the goalkeeper to loop a header into the empty net. It may have been route 1 football , but it was nothing more than we deserved. 8 minutes later, the harrassing work of Gunarsonn paid off when robbing the Saints midfield and slipping a pass to Miller who sidefooted the ball into the net for a 2-0 lead.
Southampton scored a late consolation goal, but this was a well deserved Cardiff victory which had us all once again thinking about the Premier League.
Hull City 2 Cardiff 1 - October 1st 2011
A long list of injured players meant that the international break could not come quickly enough for us. To make matters worse, Kenny Miller had to come off after 5 minutes. 17 year old Joe Ralls then had to come on to make his football league debut, only 4 days after signing his first full professional contract. Cardiff went one down just before half time to a Matty Fryatt goal. But early in the second half, Ralls had a dream debut goal - a fantastic strike from 20 yards out.
But, the exertions of the previous week proved to be too much, and a second half goal from veteran striker Nick Barmby (surely he's older than 37?) proved to be the winner for Hull.
And so, after 10 games we find ourselves in 10th place in the league, but only 4 points off an automatic promotion place. Lets keep the faith - onwards and upwards!
Hull City 2 Cardiff 1 - October 1st 2011
A long list of injured players meant that the international break could not come quickly enough for us. To make matters worse, Kenny Miller had to come off after 5 minutes. 17 year old Joe Ralls then had to come on to make his football league debut, only 4 days after signing his first full professional contract. Cardiff went one down just before half time to a Matty Fryatt goal. But early in the second half, Ralls had a dream debut goal - a fantastic strike from 20 yards out.
But, the exertions of the previous week proved to be too much, and a second half goal from veteran striker Nick Barmby (surely he's older than 37?) proved to be the winner for Hull.
And so, after 10 games we find ourselves in 10th place in the league, but only 4 points off an automatic promotion place. Lets keep the faith - onwards and upwards!
