Cardiff City Lucky To Earn Donny Win

Cardiff City produced a late late winner from nothing to snatch an unlikely draw in a peculiar game against Doncaster Rovers. It looked like we had again dropped points against a team in the lower part of the league after a drap second half.

Cardiff City started in great form, Whittingham showed moments of pure magic in picking some sublime passes, MICHAEL CHOPRA brought one such ball down and fired home with aplomb for a 9th minute lead. Chopra wasted two more one-on-one chances, while Ross McCormack hit the post with a free header as we cut the visitors defence open with ease. We should have been out of sight at half time, and you felt one goal wasn’t enough.

Predictably, however, Doncaster changed their style to restrict Chopra’s space and sit on Whittingham. The result was staggering as we went from a precise and free-flowing unit to a non-existent midfield and reverted to aimless high balls.

Doncaster Captain Brian Stock took charge, neatly linking Rovers’ play and creating chances for Sharp and Shiels. Although completely dominant, Doncaster forged few clear cut openings but Marshall did make several decent stops.

With the gap between midfield and attack widening, Cardiff created nothing of note and it was almost a relief when Doncaster’s pressure paid off. Gareth Roberts was the man to equalise, firing a sweet left-footed shot across MArshall from 18 yards. At that stage, Doncaster appeared the only side capable of winning the game until the introductions of Darcy Blake and Sol Taiwo stabilised the midfield. However, it was the return of defender Kevin McNaughton that provided the real impetus, and only 2 minutes after replacing Kennedy he made two energetic forays down the left.

The substitutions (for once) breathed new life into City, and for the last 10 minutes, we looked at least capable of stringing some passes together. Ultimately, it looked to be heading for a draw until the closing moments when a corner caught Doncaster napping. With all eyes on Hudson and Gerrard, JAY BOTHROYD found some space to head towards goal. The header took a deflection but Chopra had cleverly blocked Sullivan’s view and he could only palm the weak effort over the life. Cue pandemonium, and an unlikely three points but no City fan cared.