Thompson’s Dream Debut

Steve Thompson came into the Cardiff side for his debut game against Burnley and left the visitor wondering what had hit them as he hit two goals in quick succession to send the Bluebirds on their way to a 3-0 victory.

The win lifts Cardiff above Burnley in the table and the Bluebirds now sit in eighth place just three points behind Preston in the final play off place.

Steve Thompson was given a starting place for his debut while other new signings Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu and Riccardo Scimeca were left on the bench.

The first half of the game wasn?t much to write home about, there was more of interest in the half time break when the Dirty Sanchez boys did their stuff on the pitch, making the crowd wince with pain as they tried their best to get hurt.

A packed Burnley defence was the main reason for a dull first half, one of the best chances actually fell to the visitors who won a free kick as a result of Akinbiyi being brought down on the edge of the box by Cox.
Jon Harley took the kick but Alexander was alert and pulled off a good save.

Thompson got in on the action when he was fed by a Rhys Weston, he swung himself around well and struck a shot that went just wide of the upright.

The sides both appeared for the second half with no changes made and again the Burnley defence were making life very difficult for Cardiff?s front two, while at the other end Akinbiyi went close again, this time with an effort that went over the bar.

As the game approached the hour mark, Cardiff finally found a way through the Burnley back line. Bolland sent the ball into the box. Jerome and Burnley keeper Brian Jensen ended up on the deck and Thompson couldn?t miss if he had tried. And he enjoyed that goal.

The crowd had hardly finished saluting the new hero?s first goal before he struck again, this time he was on the edge of the area and although he was engulfed in defenders, he turned with the ball and fired into the roof of the Burnley net while they decided whether to get a tackle in or not.

Once again the crowd erupted and once again the celebrations had hardly stopped when the Bluebirds went three up. This time it was Ardley who caused the confusion for the Burnley defence with a cross that Jason Koumas was was on hand to head into the right hand corner to make doubly sure of the three points.

After that it was a stroll in the park for Cardiff who were able to ease off and still win the game without getting themselves into any problems fom a visiting side who now looked like they had taken enough for one day.

Cardiff: Alexander, Weston, Purse (Cooper,84), Cox, Barker, Ardley, Boland, Ledley, Koumas (Ndumbu-Nsungu,89), Thompson (Scimeca,77), Jerome

Subs not used: Mulryne, Margetson.

Burnley: Jensen, Thomas, McGreal, Sinclair, Harley, James O’Connor, Hyde, Garreth O’Connor (Noel-Williams ,65), McCann (Branch,65), Elliott (Spicer,89), Akinbiyi

Subs not used: Duff, Grant.

Bookings: Boland (Cardiff) Akinbiyi ,McGreal (Burnley)

Referee: Darren Drysdale (Lincolnshire)