Cardiff City had to wait until the final 10 minutes before securing a deserved victory against Blackpool last night. City just shaded the first half with Paul Parry looking threatening early on but chances were rare – Bothroyd seeing a scrmbled effort hit the post while McCormack shot at Rachubka.
‘Pool had a decent chance of their own when Taylor-Fletched pounced on a loose Ledley pass, strode forward and stung the palms of Heaton. We were unable to bring Parry and McCormack into the game as Pool dominated midfield and stifled our attacks – again McPhail and Rae looked lightweight and were unable to dictate at home.
The second half saw Dave Jones make a tactical change with Ledley and Whittingham teaming up on the left – Whitts had two decent chances but failed to hit the target with either – nevertheless the attacking intent was still there.
What was particularly encouraging was that we continued to play our normal game as the game drifted – not resorting to long hopeful balls. Still Blackpool held reasonably firm and the final ball delivery was lacking.
The introduction of Eddie Johnson changed the game, well, the game changed around that time when Jay Bothroyd did really well to control and find space before dinking a cross to the onrushing PETER WHITTINGHAM (?!?) who headed (yes-really!) from 6 yards to give us the lead.
Cue, wild celebrations as we looked to have got off the hook again to steal three points but it wasn’t over yet and when Ross McCormacks direct running drew a foul from the Seasiders – the Scotsman fired a wicked free-kick into the top corner from 22 yards.
This was not a sparkling performance by any means but three points in the bad, another clean sheet and two good goals. Cardiff City hit the dizzy heights of third place in the Championship.
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