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Cardiff City Player-By-Player Review: Purse

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Vital Cardiff City reviews the season on a player by player basis. Today it’s the turn of central defender Darren Purse…

Darren Purse

Central defender


Pursey has had his worst season since joining Cardiff City and will be as disappointed as anyone. The vast majority of the season saw him glumly sitting on the bench, or warming up on the touchline having been kept out of the side by Johnson and Loovens.

It was a terrible 2-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic that saw Purse lose his place after conceding two penalties in two games. A team shuffle followed and Purse was one of the casualties. Since the turn of the year, he has featured just 5 times.

A definitive low point of the season was a sending off during a 3-3 draw against Burnley after Purse`s frustration boiled over and he lunged at veteran striker Andy Cole who described it as the ‘worst` tackle he`s had and branded Purse a ‘muppet`.

Purse scored a goal at Anfield during a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool but it has been a season to forget for the skipper. Purse was either playing in a team bereft of confidence, or covering for RJ/GL meaning he was under pressure in every performance and as a result – his form suffered. Too often he was caught out, and committed himself too soon in his few appearances.

Nevertheless, Purse has remained 100% committed and professional. He hasn`t moaned or winged about his predicament and is already focussing on next season where he will again have to fight hard to get a place in the side. A season to forget for Darren Purse, but good cover and an experienced and influential man to have around the place.


Season rating 5

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1 comment

  • gtsutton says:

    An excellent club captain – at the moment I prefer Johnson and Loovens as 1st choices in centre defence but I’d hate to lose Purse .. he sets a fine example and I’d never worry about him coming on ..

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