Stalemate

Today’s game between Cardiff and QPR ended in a disappointing 0-0 draw, the standard of fottball was poor throughout with only one or two Jason Koumas moments to entertain the 14271 crowd. An attendance of 16000+ was expected but the result and the standard of football on dieplay will have done little to tempt any of the stay-away support to return.

The first half was sc**ppy with City probably having the better of it, but lacking any clear-cut chances. Cameron Jerome broke free on the right flank after 10 minutes but Steve Thompson failed to connect with Jerome’s cross. Joe Ledley went close soon after following good work by Thompson, but his drive only found the side netting. QPR had offered little in attack and their first effort on Alexander’s goal came after half an hour, Sam Youssuf with an ambitious overhead kick that Alexander saved comfortably.
Perhaps City’s best moment of quality came late in the first half, predictably involving City’s two big-name players. Koumas collected the ball out wide and drove a dangerous flashing cross into the area which was met by a flying Cameron Jerome header, the shot seemed on target but hit Danny S**ttu en-route and the ball bounced out for a corner.

QPR posed more of a threat in the second half but lacked quality and the game looked set for a fourth draw in succession for the Hoops. GAreth Ainsworth, Rangers’ top-scorer and former Bluebird saw his excelllent free-kick brilliantly saved by Alexander at full stretch. Alexander was on top-form again to deny Marc Nygaards shot from 6 yards as he managed to divert the shot onto the post and clear following poor defending in the City box. Paul Furlong’s return following injury provided more problems for Cardiff but chances were few and far-between. Cardiff’s only meaningful second-half efforts being a long-range Kevin Cooper effort and a Cameron Jerome chance following a mis**t in the QPR defence but neither chance was taken in a game filled with sc**ppy mistakes.

The defences came out top today with Darren Purse superbly marshalling his side once again and one excellent Looovens challenge when QPR’s Paul Furlong looked set to shoot. S**ttu was rock-like in the QPR defence and kept Steven Thompson quiet for much of the game.

Richard Langley made a brief reappearance at Ninian Park, again played out of position, this time he partnered Paul Furlong upfront as QPR looked to snatch an undeserved victory with minutes to go.



Teams:

Cardiff: Alexander N, Barker C, Purse D, Loovens G, Scimeca R, Ardley N, Koumas J, Ledley J, Cooper K (Weston, R 77), Thompson S, Jerome C.
Subs Not Used: Cox N, Boland W, Ndumbu-Nsungu G, Worgan L.


QPR: Jones, Bignot, Milanese, Evatt, S**ttu, Bircham, Ainsworth, Cook, Lomas, Youssouf (Furlong 72), Nygaard (Langley 89).
Subs Not Used: Royce, Santos, Baidoo.