5 consecutive home wins to start the season for the first time since 1946. Say it quietly, but I’m starting to believe that this could be our year. I like to think I’m not too confident - any true football fan is naturally pessimistic - but the squad that has been put together could go all the way.
CARDIFF 2 LEEDS 1
How Leeds United must love playing us! They have now failed to beat us in 14 games stretching back to the famous FA Cup win in 2002 (9 Cardiff wins and 5 draws). Now managed by the man you love to hate, Neil Warnock, the latest Leeds team returned from their trip to Cardiff with another loss by 2 goals to 1. The return of Craig Bellamy proved to be crucial. The game was still 0-0 when he was introduced with half an hour left, then just 4 minutes later an unstoppable Bellamy free kick put us ahead. A Peter Whittingham penalty a few minutes later gave us a little breathing space, and despite a late Leeds goal from a free kick, we held on for a deserved win.
Whittingham puts Cardiff 2-0 up from the penalty spot (Picture Jon Candy)
MILLWALL 0 CARDIFF 2
Our first win at Millwall for 30 years was overshadowed by a serious injury to our new £2.75m striker Nicky Maynard. A torn anterior cruciate ligament means that he is likely to be missing for the rest of the season, and just goes to show that there are no certainties in sport. Maynard was starting to look really good up front, especially with his pace. However, we now have to manage without him for the rest of the season. Lets hope he’s ready for the Premier League next year! A classy Peter Whittingham shot, and a first goal for the club by Craig Noone gave Cardiff a comfortable win against a struggling Millwall side.
CRYSTAL PALACE 3 CARDIFF 2
Apparently this was a slightly subdued performance after the Millwall game. However, after 15 minutes the Bluebirds were leading 2-0, with goals from Aron Gunnarson and Don Cowie. If Craig Bellamy had converted the chance that fell to him after half an hour then the outcome of the match might have been different, but 2 Crystal Palace penalties from Scott Murray and a further goal for his hat-trick clinched a 3-2 win.
In fairness, this was probably a justified result. The reports suggest that even when we were 2-0 up, we didn’t deserve it. however, it is disappointing to lose a 2-0 lead.
Mark my words - Palace are a good side, and if they are able to hold on to Wilfred Zaha when the big clubs come calling in the January transfer window, then they are good bets for at least a top 6 position. Dougie Freedman has made a really good team with limited resources, and is another manager that could be poached up to the Premier League.
CARDIFF 3 BLACKPOOL 0
After our last defeat against Bristol City, the bluebirds followed with 3 consecutive wins. This first game back after the Palace defeat showed positively that the team was in that sort of form again.
To put it briefly - we were EXCELLENT! A 4-4-2 formation with Helgusson and Bellamy up front caused Blackpool problems all afternoon - Bellamy in particular at his best, constantly harrassing the opposition and using his speed to make space for the other Cardiff players.
This was a very good team performance, and showed that although we are going to miss Nicky Maynard, we are still a formidable team without him. Rather bizarrely, 2 of the goals were scored by defender Matthew Connoly - the 3rd and 4th goals of his career! Sandwiched between these goals was another classic Peter Whittingham free kick (although the Blackpool goalkeeper clearly got himself out of position - I think every spectator on the Bob Bank could see that he had left too much space to his left, and Whitts promptly put it in the space!
Whitts’puts the free kick in the space left by Gilkes in the Blackpool goal (Pic by Jon Candy)
Connoly scores his second. Amazingly, 3 of his 4 career goals have come against Blackpool! (Pic Jon Candy)
CARDIFF 2 BIRMINGHAM 1
On then to the following Tuesday night. Mercifully, the rain stopped for the walk to and from the stadium, so the spectators at least were dry However, during the game it absolutely p--d down for much of the time, and the weather meant that it was hardly a night for flowing football.
A more workman like than spectacular performance, the Bluebirds thoroughly deserved their win against a rather disappointing Birmingham side. Our former player Chris Burke had one or two good runs, but was largely kept under control by Andrew Taylor who has been playing well recently. A first half Craig Bellamy goal following a flowing move and a second half winner from Mark Hudson saw the City home - our 5th Consecutive home win, and our best start to a season since 1946!
Celebrations after the first goal. This picture does not do justice to the torrential rain! (pic by Jon Candy)
IPSWICH 1 CARDIFF 2
An away game in Suffolk where we have only won once in 60 years. Well make that TWICE!
This was the teatime game live on SKY. It was hardly a spectacular look at the new Cardiff team - a combination of injuries and Malky’s natural tendency towards a 4-5-1 formation away from home meant that this was essentially an outing for last year’s team, with Helgusson instead of Miller up front and Connolly instead of Turner in defence.
We ground out a win here when we could quite easily have lost. Ipswich are a side near the bottom of the table and lacking in confidence, particularly in defence. A couple of useful loan signings - Wellens and DJ Campbell - made them a slightly more difficult proposition.
An outrageous Campbell goal just before half time, when everyone saw him blatantly handle the ball into the net except the referee, was cancelled out and then beaten by 2 Helgusson goals in the second half. Both of these goals came from Ipswich defensive errors in the 6 yard box which were thankfully put away.
If winning when playing badly is a sign of a good team, then we are a good team!
Onwards and Upwards?
Let’s hope so. After almost a quarter of the season we are top of the league. If we carry on taking points at the same rate then we will get automatic promotion easily.
Malky has been promised further investment for the team in the January transfer window - he acknowledged today that we need more defensive cover and another top class striker to make up for the loss of Nicky Maynard. I hope he has his dossiers ready.
What about the red? I can honestly say that I keep forgetting about it, although it was a little strange to see Birmingham play in royal blue against us at home! Our only 2 defeats have come in games when we haven’t worn red - let’s hope we can overcome that with 3 points against Forest tomorrow!
