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Cardiff win the game but fail to overturn the two-goal deficit following the first leg, with Fulham progressing to the play-off final against Brentford.

Goals from Curtis Nelson and Lee Tomlin helped the Bluebirds to a 2-1 victory, with Neeskens Kebano scoring for Fulham.

Nelson had put Cardiff 1-0 up in the 8th minute with a header from a corner, only for Kebano to equalise just 24 seconds later. He got in front of Leandro Bacuna to fire in Bobby Decordova-Reid’s low cross.

It was a scrappy first half with Fulham having the better chances and Cardiff struggling to get a hold in the game. Alex Smithies, who was excellent on the night, kept City in the game through keeping out efforts from Fulham.

Neil Harris made a couple of changes at half time, bringing on Tomlin and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing for Marlon Pack and Junior Hoilett and it had an instant impact. From a Will Vaulks long throw, Mendez-Laing had a header saved before the ball fell to Tomlin who swerved to fire in to put City back in front on the night.

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From then on it was a tense affair. The Bluebirds probably had the better of the action but couldn’t find the all-important goal to send the game to extra time. Fulham came very close to scoring and would’ve scored if not for Smithies, who twice denied substitute Aboubakar Kamara. The second one was a fantastic save as he somehow tipped Kamara’s effort on to the post.

Cardiff came close when Bacuna crossed the ball in towards Danny Ward, but Ward couldn’t get a touch on the ball. Mendez-Laing also came close when his effort curled away from goal.

Cardiff came so close to scoring, but couldn’t force the ball in during a goalmouth scramble. Goalkeeper Marek Rodak pushes out the initial effort before Fulham managed to clear the ball to Vaulks, whose well-timed volley was tipped over by Rodak.

The chance that Cardiff were waiting for fell to substitute Robert Glatzel, who fired over on the volley from fellow substitute Callum Paterson’s header. It was a tough chance but you could see the frustration within the Cardiff players, who felt that was their last chance.

The players dropped to their knees at full-time. They’d come so close and the players felt that. It had been a phenomenal effort to finish in the top six and then to come so close to overcoming Fulham and getting through to the play-off final.

Looking at the game, like Harris said, Fulham scored at key moments, in stoppage time at the end of the first leg and straight after Nelson’s goal in this game. If it wasn’t for Kebano’s goal in this game, who knows what would’ve happened. All City needed to do was keep it tight for the 10 minutes after the goal and go from then.

With the disappointment it would be easy to forget the incredible job that Harris has done since coming in. He was written off at the start by many fans, including myself, but he has proven the doubters wrong. Since his arrival Cardiff’s record has been up there as one of the best, which has coincided with the team climbing up the table. We were 14th when he arrived, but we finished in 5th.

Not only has he helped the team improve their league position, but also the style of play is improving. Under Harris the team has started to pass it around more which didn’t happen very often under former manager Neil Warnock. The passing has been very evident especially since the return. Hopefully they can push on next season and put up a strong challenge for promotion.

Harris will need to invest during the summer to improve the team further. I believe we need a few more players to help us challenge for promotion. Signing a right-back will be key and more depth behind talisman Lee Tomlin. When Tomlin isn’t playing they struggle for creativity. Overall I believe Cardiff fans can definitely be excited for next season.

As for the other semi-final, like I have said Brentford will be facing Fulham in the final after coming from behind to beat Swansea 3-2 on aggregate.

After losing the first leg 1-0 at the Liberty Stadium, Brentford completely turned the game around after 15 minutes through goals from Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Marcondes. Watkins’ goal was his 26th of the campaign. They added another just after half time through Bryan Mbeumo.

Rhian Brewster pulled a goal back for Swansea in the 78th minute but they were unable to find another to level the game. Therefore Brentford progressed to the final where it will be 3rd against 4th. I am sure it will be an excellent game between two very good teams.

As for Cardiff there is plenty to look forward next season.

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The Bluebirds face a massive challenge to find a way of progressing to the play-off fins after being outclassed by Fulham in the first leg of the semi-finals.

Second half goals from Josh Onomah and Neeskens Kebano gave Fulham the victory in a game which overall they dominated and Cardiff failed to really lay a glove on them.

It was a tightly contested first half in which City had started the better team. They looked strong up until the first drinks break but failed to capitalise. Robert Glatzel came very close to giving Cardiff the lead but following Leandro Bacuna’s effort, which was pushed out by Fulham goalkeeper Marek Rodak, Michael Hector did excellently to prevent Glatzel from tapping in. Glatzel also had an effort saved following some nice build-up play.

However, following the break Fulham started to get a hold of the game and dominate possession. Alex Smithies had to react quickly to save from Onomah’s effort at the back post. Tom Cairney also game close, firing against the post from range.

Fulham continued to dominate the ball in the second, with City hardly touching the ball. Fulham took the lead in the 49th minute through Onomah, who turned away from Marlon Pack with ease and then strolled past Sean Morrison and Curtis Nelson before finishing past Smithies. It was very poor defending, especially by Pack.

Cardiff struggled to threaten in attack and weren’t able to get the ball off their opponents who just passed the ball around them comfortably. There was a slight improvement following the substitutions in the 70th minute, with Josh Murphy, Will Vaulks and Danny Ward coming on for Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Junior Hoilett and Glatzel but the players looked tired and struggled to find the energy which was required.

Former Bluebird Bobby Decordova-Reid came close for Fulham, firing just over the bar, before Kebano doubled the lead in stoppage time. The decision to award the free-kick was very debatable, with Cairney running into Morrison. The referee thought that Morrison had blocked Cairney intentionally therefore he gave the free-kick.

There was another time in the game where Lee Tomlin was similarly blocked but the referee didn’t award a foul. That was a clear example of the consistency which referee’s in the Football League lack. Manager Neil Harris was understandably very annoyed about that decision and felt that his side had been let down the the referee.

As for the free-kick, it was a brilliant strike by Kebano. He managed to get it over the wall with enough dip that it went into the corner, leaving Smithies with no chance. There was only a couple of minutes left when the goal was scored which makes it very frustrating for the Bluebirds and what Harris described as a ‘real kick in the nuts’.

It is going to be very tough to come back from this. It would’ve been challenging if it was one goal but two is going to take a huge effort. But, Cardiff have defied the odds to make the play-offs so no one can write them off yet. There is still hope, however slim that hope is.

Looking at the performance, it was very disappointing during the second half, with the energy levels lower than normal. That could be down to fatigue from all the games that they have played since the restart. Fulham deserved the victory and we will have to be much better in the second leg.

The second leg is on Thursday at Craven Cottage with kick-off at 19:45.

In the other semi-final, Swansea took on Brentford at the Liberty Stadium with Swansea surprisingly coming out on top. Andre Ayew scored the winner with a very good finish. He had earlier missed a penalty after a foul on Rhian Brewster.

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The goal came following a red card for Rico Henry which was never a sending off. He was sent off for a slide tackle on Connor Roberts where he won the ball. It was a strong challenge but his studs weren’t that high and he got enough of the ball for it not to even be a foul. However, since the game the red card has been overturned and he will be able to play in the second leg which takes place on Wednesday at Griffin Park. It is still in the balance and it is certainly not over yet.

One thing is certain and that is there will be plenty of excitement to come and there is a lot to look forward to.