Bluebirds Back In Business

Cardiff City secured a crucial win over rivals Leeds United to mark a welcome and overdue return to winning ways and hopefully signal a return to top form.

The first half was an outstanding display from a team low in confidence, against another unbeaten in 12 games. Cardiff were domininant, forcing a succession of corners and dominating possession.

Bellamy score to put the Bluebirds ahead, playing a neat one two with Peter Whittingham and finishing with customary accuracy. Our former loan goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was kept busy, and was fortunate to see two parried efforts fall safely, one from an audacious Bellamy volley from outside the area.

For all out dominance in the first half, Leeds Utd came out a different side and took the game to us somewhat. Howson and co began to press, which caused problems for Olofinjana in particular. Nevertheless, the potent threats of Snodgrass and Gradel on the wings were well marshalled by Quinn and Lee Naylor – neither in good form prior to the game.

Leeds did dictate possession for a 15-20 minute spell, during which they made a double substitution – again credit is due to McNaughton and Hudson who prevented former Bluebird Ross McCormack from any meaningful contributions. The equaliser came via a superb curled effort from Snodgrass just seconds after Heaton saved brilliantly from Sam.

The Bluebirds could have panicked, could have reverted to the nervous, long-ball game we often adopt when below par. However, it was a griutty and determined performance which showed true character. We were pegged back, but gained a deserved winner when another delightful Whittingham pass found Chopra in the clear to finish well past Schmeichel.

This was the sort of performance th Cardiff City fans desperately wanted to see. We weren’t brilliant, be we were solid, committed and tried to do things the right way. The 2-1 victory was the icing on the cake and the alarmingly bad form is hopefully now in the past.