2Slick
02-12-2006, 17:49
Snapshot: Cardiff's goalless run continued at Ninian Park on Saturday, as Colchester took a deserved point from South Wales. The Bluebirds were full of endeavour, but thanks to a combination of missed chances and resolute defending from our guests, Cardiff dropped to third place as Birmingham used home advantage to climb above the faltering Preston to go top.
Colchester fans were happy to claim a point after having withstood some solid Cardiff pressure in the first half - Paul Parry and Malvin Kamara threatening from either wing, though no conversion could be forged by their attacking line as shots from Scimeca and Chopra were well saved by the U's keeper. But in the second half it could have been a case of claiming a double if they hadn't missed chances themselves as Cureton, Iwelumo and Guy were the most likely to score as City ran out of steam and ideas.
Images to follow on Sunday
Team News: Roger Johnson's place alongside Darren Purse was retained, as Glenn Loovens back from injury took up a place on the bench. Stephen McPhail's red card at Stoke meant that it was all change in the middle. Joe Ledley moved to a central berth alongside Scimeca, while on either side were Kamara and Parry in switching roles.
Chronological Report: City were more the attacking force inside the opening ten minutes, with Parry on the left and Kamara on the right using their pace to break forward and send dangerous balls into the area.
After seven minutes Chopra was denied a strike on goal from close range as Greg Halford showed his class to block the run and shepherd the ball out for a corner. The ball in was short and was then struck with power by Parry from the right of the area, but despite it being on target was blocked en-route by a falling U's man - the ball flying out of danger of Gerken's goalmouth.
Colchester were seemingly biding their time, soaking up the early pressure, waiting for their chance to test Alexander rather than go our all guns blazing. After fourteen minutes his first test came as a nice looping ball in from Watson dipped in the sunlight towards Neil in the air. Up to challenge came U's skipper Karl Duguid, but Alexander was comfortable and held the ball well.
Colchester attacks picked up towards the twenty minute mark, with pressure between the two becoming more even. An amazing chance then came as Parry having switched flanks floated the ball to the back stick. Chopra was there to pounce, but was denied by the feet of the Colchester 'keeper on a tight angle, sending the ball out for a Cardiff corner.
A Chopra blazed effort over the bar aside, neither side really did much to overly threaten the respective goalkeepers up until the half hour. The entertainment factor was brought up a few notches minutes later, with Chopra laying off a ball to Scimeca to centrally smash at Gerken, forcing a good diving save to deny what looked to be the opener.
The traffic was certainly not one way however, with Colchester patient in the creation of their chances; one coming seven minutes from half time as a well built move resulted in Jamie Cureton threading a nice pass to Duguid on the right of the area. Duguid had time and space, but his low shot was directed straight towards the Scottish City 'keeper and the ball was easily collected.
City were more industrious towards the half time interval, but it was Colchester who almost went into the break a goal up; Chris Iwelumo with a deft backwards header that almost found the corner, beating Neil Alexander.
The half time team talk from Dave would have no doubt covered praise for the build up play on occasion, but emphasising the need for urgency in a Bluebirds eleven that had seemed to have lost their spark.
HALF TIME: CARDIFF 0 - 0
City flew out of the blocks after the break and in the opening minute Paul Parry forced a corner with a good run in and cross to panic the U's back line. News of Preston's two goal deficit and Birmingham being three up themselves meant that it could be a case of all change again. If City could sneak a win then they would return to first place if results remained elsewhere.
Gerkin was tested again minutes later, with a poor U's clearance providing the ball and a chance to Scimeca to shoot. He took his chance, prompting the Colchester 'keeper to sprawl across his goal and hold the shot. Cureton and Colchester however almost turned the tide moments later, with the rated Colchester player making his own chance before shooting wide across Neil's goal.
The Bluebirds were forging chances, but it was a case of similar woes up front as the ability to make the most of a chance was missing - nothing testing Gerkin too much, apart from a Roger Johnson header from a fifty eighth minute corner that had to be cleared from the line by the U's defence.
Ninian Park was growing in noise as the City fans tried to lift the squad, with Paul Parry and Malvin Kamara our best going forward as they switched sides in midfield.
Colchester after sixty four minutes made a switch up front as goal scorer in our reverse fixture Jamie Guy replaced Iwelumo. Immediately after they came close to scoring as a rocket of a shot came from Johnnie Jackson, though the ball was always heading over the bar.
Minutes later Dave made a change of his own, with regular substitute Kevin Campbell taking over from Steven Thompson up front.
With seventy minutes approaching Guy caused palpitations as he found space close to goal to send a cross through that beat everyone, missing the run of the last man forward.
Tension was growing as the clock ticked the minutes away, all the while City unable to break their duck - a situation that definitely suited the travelling U's. Their resolve was almost rewarded with a fine goal from Cureton with six minutes to go, but his mid range curling shot just missed the top corner after having beaten Alexander in the air.
Two minutes later he was at it again with another fizzer that flew through the Cardiff defence; Alexander diving and holding the ball with relative ease.
Colchester were certainly finishing the game the stronger of the two teams, coming close through positive play as Cardiff looked all but out of ideas. City fans were streaming out of the ground, disgruntled with their teams continued lack of confidence.
With three minutes added on, Dave decided to throw the dice by replacing Malvin Kamara with Kevin Cooper; Coops making a welcome return to Ninian Park, albeit in a cameo appearance. Despite the effort, nothing could be found to end the goalless run, with Colchester leaving the field in high spirits in the knowledge that the point was well earned. Truth be told, they could have been disappointed not to have taken all three points after having the better of the chances as they grew in stature as the game came to a close.
FULL TIME: CARDIFF 0-0 COLCHESTER
Cardiff: Alexander, Wright, Purse, Johnson, McNaughton, Kamara (Cooper 90), Ledley, Scimeca, Parry, Chopra, Thompson (Campbell 68). Subs Not Used: Howard, Loovens, Gunter
Colchester: Gerken, Halford, Brown, Baldwin, Elokobi, Duguid, Jackson, Watson, Izzet, Cureton, Iwelumo (Guy 65)
Subs Not Used: Cousins, White, McLeod, Ephraim. Booked: Baldwin
Att: 13,512
Ref: M Pike (Cumbria)
http://www.cardiffcityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/1stTeamReport/0,,10335~34446,00.html
Colchester fans were happy to claim a point after having withstood some solid Cardiff pressure in the first half - Paul Parry and Malvin Kamara threatening from either wing, though no conversion could be forged by their attacking line as shots from Scimeca and Chopra were well saved by the U's keeper. But in the second half it could have been a case of claiming a double if they hadn't missed chances themselves as Cureton, Iwelumo and Guy were the most likely to score as City ran out of steam and ideas.
Images to follow on Sunday
Team News: Roger Johnson's place alongside Darren Purse was retained, as Glenn Loovens back from injury took up a place on the bench. Stephen McPhail's red card at Stoke meant that it was all change in the middle. Joe Ledley moved to a central berth alongside Scimeca, while on either side were Kamara and Parry in switching roles.
Chronological Report: City were more the attacking force inside the opening ten minutes, with Parry on the left and Kamara on the right using their pace to break forward and send dangerous balls into the area.
After seven minutes Chopra was denied a strike on goal from close range as Greg Halford showed his class to block the run and shepherd the ball out for a corner. The ball in was short and was then struck with power by Parry from the right of the area, but despite it being on target was blocked en-route by a falling U's man - the ball flying out of danger of Gerken's goalmouth.
Colchester were seemingly biding their time, soaking up the early pressure, waiting for their chance to test Alexander rather than go our all guns blazing. After fourteen minutes his first test came as a nice looping ball in from Watson dipped in the sunlight towards Neil in the air. Up to challenge came U's skipper Karl Duguid, but Alexander was comfortable and held the ball well.
Colchester attacks picked up towards the twenty minute mark, with pressure between the two becoming more even. An amazing chance then came as Parry having switched flanks floated the ball to the back stick. Chopra was there to pounce, but was denied by the feet of the Colchester 'keeper on a tight angle, sending the ball out for a Cardiff corner.
A Chopra blazed effort over the bar aside, neither side really did much to overly threaten the respective goalkeepers up until the half hour. The entertainment factor was brought up a few notches minutes later, with Chopra laying off a ball to Scimeca to centrally smash at Gerken, forcing a good diving save to deny what looked to be the opener.
The traffic was certainly not one way however, with Colchester patient in the creation of their chances; one coming seven minutes from half time as a well built move resulted in Jamie Cureton threading a nice pass to Duguid on the right of the area. Duguid had time and space, but his low shot was directed straight towards the Scottish City 'keeper and the ball was easily collected.
City were more industrious towards the half time interval, but it was Colchester who almost went into the break a goal up; Chris Iwelumo with a deft backwards header that almost found the corner, beating Neil Alexander.
The half time team talk from Dave would have no doubt covered praise for the build up play on occasion, but emphasising the need for urgency in a Bluebirds eleven that had seemed to have lost their spark.
HALF TIME: CARDIFF 0 - 0
City flew out of the blocks after the break and in the opening minute Paul Parry forced a corner with a good run in and cross to panic the U's back line. News of Preston's two goal deficit and Birmingham being three up themselves meant that it could be a case of all change again. If City could sneak a win then they would return to first place if results remained elsewhere.
Gerkin was tested again minutes later, with a poor U's clearance providing the ball and a chance to Scimeca to shoot. He took his chance, prompting the Colchester 'keeper to sprawl across his goal and hold the shot. Cureton and Colchester however almost turned the tide moments later, with the rated Colchester player making his own chance before shooting wide across Neil's goal.
The Bluebirds were forging chances, but it was a case of similar woes up front as the ability to make the most of a chance was missing - nothing testing Gerkin too much, apart from a Roger Johnson header from a fifty eighth minute corner that had to be cleared from the line by the U's defence.
Ninian Park was growing in noise as the City fans tried to lift the squad, with Paul Parry and Malvin Kamara our best going forward as they switched sides in midfield.
Colchester after sixty four minutes made a switch up front as goal scorer in our reverse fixture Jamie Guy replaced Iwelumo. Immediately after they came close to scoring as a rocket of a shot came from Johnnie Jackson, though the ball was always heading over the bar.
Minutes later Dave made a change of his own, with regular substitute Kevin Campbell taking over from Steven Thompson up front.
With seventy minutes approaching Guy caused palpitations as he found space close to goal to send a cross through that beat everyone, missing the run of the last man forward.
Tension was growing as the clock ticked the minutes away, all the while City unable to break their duck - a situation that definitely suited the travelling U's. Their resolve was almost rewarded with a fine goal from Cureton with six minutes to go, but his mid range curling shot just missed the top corner after having beaten Alexander in the air.
Two minutes later he was at it again with another fizzer that flew through the Cardiff defence; Alexander diving and holding the ball with relative ease.
Colchester were certainly finishing the game the stronger of the two teams, coming close through positive play as Cardiff looked all but out of ideas. City fans were streaming out of the ground, disgruntled with their teams continued lack of confidence.
With three minutes added on, Dave decided to throw the dice by replacing Malvin Kamara with Kevin Cooper; Coops making a welcome return to Ninian Park, albeit in a cameo appearance. Despite the effort, nothing could be found to end the goalless run, with Colchester leaving the field in high spirits in the knowledge that the point was well earned. Truth be told, they could have been disappointed not to have taken all three points after having the better of the chances as they grew in stature as the game came to a close.
FULL TIME: CARDIFF 0-0 COLCHESTER
Cardiff: Alexander, Wright, Purse, Johnson, McNaughton, Kamara (Cooper 90), Ledley, Scimeca, Parry, Chopra, Thompson (Campbell 68). Subs Not Used: Howard, Loovens, Gunter
Colchester: Gerken, Halford, Brown, Baldwin, Elokobi, Duguid, Jackson, Watson, Izzet, Cureton, Iwelumo (Guy 65)
Subs Not Used: Cousins, White, McLeod, Ephraim. Booked: Baldwin
Att: 13,512
Ref: M Pike (Cumbria)
http://www.cardiffcityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/1stTeamReport/0,,10335~34446,00.html