The Bluebirds’ unbeaten run since the return was ended against a Blackburn side who still have slim hopes of making the play-offs.
It was a tough game for Cardiff against a team who overall have had a good season even though they had lost their last three games. Many would’ve predicted that City would comfortably win, especially as they haven’t lost since the return. However, Blackburn had other ideas.
It is a reality check for the Bluebirds who were looking increasingly likely to finish in the top six. Hopefully this will take any complacency out of the team and we can push towards the play-offs.
The first half went well for Cardiff and some decent football was played. Will Vaulks put City in front in the 14th minute with a fantastic finish from the edge of the area. He ran onto Joe Ralls’ pass before chipping over Blackburn goalkeeper Christian Walton’s head. It is a goal which supporters would definitely have enjoyed if they were present.
But the lead didn’t last long with a lack of concentration from a corner leading to an equaliser. Dion Sanderson didn’t stay tight to Darragh Lenihan who headed against the post, before the ball rebounded off the post to bounce off goalkeeper Alex Smithies to Danny Graham who tapped the ball in on the line. It was a scrappy equaliser and it was definitely avoidable.
After coming close a couple of times, Robert Glatzel our Cardiff back in front. It was a well-worked goal, with Ralls playing the ball out to the returning Josh Murphy who found Joe Bennett on the overlap. Bennett crossed the ball in for Glatzel who had a simple finish from point-blank range.
City went in at half-time in front after a solid half, but it was clear that they would have to work hard to come away with the three points. Even though Cardiff played well, Blackburn matched them for the majority of the half.
Into the second half and many would’ve expected the players to learn from the first goal conceded and wouldn’t switch off at the back again. However, a minute after the restart, Dominic Samuel drew Rovers level. They had a shout for a penalty just before the goal after a challenge by Curtis Nelson. Moments later a cross came into the box and Samuel beat Bennett to the ball to fire past Smithies. It was another poor goal for Cardiff to concede.
Blackburn were the better side during the half and they went ahead in the 70th minute after another mistake from the Bluebirds. Leandro Bacuna played a poor pass to Armstrong who brilliantly fired first-time over Smithies from about 40 yards out. It was an excellent strike but it came from Bacuna’s mistake.
From then on Cardiff struggled to create any clear chances in what looked like a completely different team to the team we saw in the first half. Murphy and Ralls has decent efforts from outside the box but they weren’t threatening enough.
It is a very disappointing results for City but there were still a few positives to come out of the game. However, the only thing that matters at the moment is results and the team needs to make sure that they come on the right side of the results.
We’ve been hard to beat and break down since manager Neil Harris came in and this was only the fourth loss in the Championship under Harris. However, this was not what we’d got used to seeing. All three goals were poor goals to concede.
We need to get back to playing the way that was evident in the previous games. The run-in isn’t easy at all with games against play-off hopefuls Fulham and Derby. They will realistically need at least four points from those games to consolidate our place in the top six. However they will be very tough games and the Bluebirds will need to be at their best to get results.
After losing 2-0 to West Brom, Derby remain three points behind City. The game between the two sides is going to be huge. Fulham have been looking strong recently and beat fellow play-off challengers Nottingham Forest 1-0 on Tuesday.
After those two games, City travel to Middlesbrough and then host Hull on the final day of the Championship season. They will face former manager Neil Warnock when they face Boro. Warnock’s had a positive impact since joining, winning two out of four games to help Boro in their battle to stay in the league. One of the losses was against Hull, although Hull currently occupy 22nd place and need results to stay up.
They will both be tough games, with both teams still fighting for something. Overall, all four games are against teams who have something to fight for. That will make it tougher but I’m sure that the team will be confident that they can pull it off.
The Bluebirds will next be in action on Friday at Craven Cottage against Fulham, starting at 8:15pm. It is looking like a massive game for City.
Cardiff City Daily 