[Archived] News Article -> 2011/12 Carling Cup Match Report: Cardiff City 2 Rovers 0

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Carling Cup Quarter-Final

Cardiff City(1) 2 – 0 (0)Blackburn Rovers

Miller 19, Gerrard 50

Referee: M. Atkinson Attendance: 19,436

For those looking for positives I would respectfully suggest that you look elsewhere. On another night of shame for this great club there were no positives to be found — just the realisation that Madam Desai and the Brothers Grimm, together with their poodle Steve Kean, are way out of their depth at every level. Let there be no doubt that we were out-played, out-fought, out-thought and out-run by a Championship club. I would agree that Cardiff City is a very good Championship club and Blackburn Rovers remain a very poor Premier League club. Indeed, the Rovers team on duty last night would struggle to make an impact in the Championship and would probably do well to stay in that league. As the Rovers fans sang during the game: "We're s*** and we know we are!".

This was yet another slap in the face for those fans who paid good money and took the time and trouble — and it's not an easy journey — to travel to Cardiff in the mistaken belief that the club were serious about making progress in this competition. It is not the first time that the club have fielded a weakened side in a cup competition, but in the present climate at Ewood Park one might have thought that the boost from reaching the semi-final of a major cup competition might have lifted spirits both on and off the field. Clearly the manager thought otherwise and it is little wonder that fans stay away from cup competitions in droves. At the turn of the year, Balaji Rao spoke about winning a cup competition this season: clearly it's the FA Cup that Venky's have set their sights on!

Kean made five changes to his side and later argued that he couldn't risk fielding a stronger side. So the likes of Scott Dann, Radosav Petrovic, Mauro Formica, David Goodwillie all started while Ruben Rochina and Yakubu came on as substitutes. All are Steve Kean signings and yet all failed to make any impact on a Championship side. What does that tell us about Kean's dealings in the transfer market and once again the invisible man, otherwise known as Simon Vukcevic, remained seated on the bench. If this guy can't get a game, one wonders just how bad Kean must think he is. Having watched Myles Anderson, who was also on the bench but not brought on, in the Reserves, many of us know only too well how bad he is. The simple fact is that Kean's signings — if indeed they are Kean's signings — have been nowhere near good enough and are part of the reason for us being where we are at the moment.

Mark Bunn replaced Paul Robinson in goal, while the back four remained unaltered by the debacle at Stoke. In midfield there were wholesale changes with Nick Blackman, Radosav Petrovic and David Dunn coming in for Ruben Rochina, Steven Nzonzi and "Junior" Hoilett. Mauro Formica continued as support to the lone front-runner, while David Goodwillie replaced Yakubu in that role.

The pre-match memorial for Gary Speed was immensely moving and put the mere troubles of a football club into perspective. Each manager laid a wreath on the side of the pitch and following a minute's applause there was an impeccably observed minute's silence. There followed cries of "One Gary Speed" by both sets of supporters in a fitting tribute to the late Welsh manager.

The Rovers began the game quite brightly and David Goodwillie found himself in a decent position before pulling his shot well wide. Grant Hanley was then unfortunate to see a header cleared off the line following a corner by Pedersen. This was followed by David Dunn firing over with a half-volley as the Rovers appeared to have settled the more quickly of the two sides.

Sadly, that was as good as it got for the Rovers. Despite having plenty of possession, the Rovers failed to carve out any more clear-cut chances and on 19 minutes it was the home side who took the lead. Morten Gamst Pedersen's attempt at a backpass was hopelessly underhit and Aron Gunnarsson quickly pounced and threaded a delightful ball into the path of Kenny Miller. The Scottish international wasted no time and ran directly at goal and placed his shot under the advancing Mark Bunn and into the back of the net.

The confidence visibly drained from the Rovers players and the home side might well have increased their lead following some more kamikaze defending from the visitors. Bunn rushed out of goal for a ball he was never going to get and, when Miller nipped in, the 'keeper was caught in no man's land. Miller's shot was blocked on the line and after a frantic scramble in front of goal, resembling something akin to a game on a pinball machine, the defence was eventually able to clear the ball.

The only serious attempt on goal from the Rovers saw Tom Heaton make a decent save from an effort by Dunn. The Rovers left the field at half-time with the jeers of the long-suffering visiting fans ringing in their ears.

Steve Kean sent his players out several minutes early after the interval and the Rovers started brightly and forced a succession of corners. However, it proved to be another false dawn and it was the home side who increased their lead after 50 minutes. A Peter Whittingham corner enticed Bunn to come and try and claim it, but the 'keeper failed under intense pressure from a number of Cardiff players and Anthony Gerrard was on hand to bundle the ball home.

From that point on, there was only going be one winner as the Rovers looked almost pedestrian at times. Indeed, they seemed to be chasing shadows as Cardiff's quick inter-passing seemed light years ahead of the ponderous movement of the Rovers.

Both managers made changes and the introduction of Rochina, for the desperately disappointing Petrovic, did enliven the Rovers as an attacking force but, in truth, Kean left it far too late to introduce Jason Roberts and Yakubu into the fray.

Rovers had one or two half-chances but Cardiff looked by far the better of the two sides. The cries of "Kean Out" and anti-Venky's chants had continued almost unabated for the majority of the second half and they grew ever louder at the final whistle. Many fans remarked on leaving the ground how the club will need to strengthen if they are to make any impact on the Championship next season — sadly there seems an acceptance that relegation is a foregone conclusion and the evidence of this performance would suggest that we have a desperately weak squad.

Bunn will be disappointed with the second goal, but for the most part did little wrong. However, the back four were again exposed as a disorganised shambles at times. Jason Lowe is good going forward but is still learning his trade in terms of full-back play and far too often he left the winger in acres of space. Gael Givet worked hard on the opposite flank but found himself drifting into the middle to cover for the inadequacies of the central defensive pairing of Scott Dann and Grant Hanley. Neither Dann nor Hanley looked comfortable and Kenny Miller gave them both a torrid time.

In midfield the Rovers looked all at sea. Nick Blackman worked hard on the right wing, but it was asking too much of an untried youngster to make any impact on this game. The fact that Blackman was probably one of our best performers on the night says it all. Dunn looked dangerous at times going forward, but his lack of pace leaves him exposed at times. Petrovic struggled from the very beginning and it was something of an act of kindness when Kean withdrew him after 70 minutes. Pedersen was moved back to the wing and didn't enjoy one of his better nights. Apart from being caught out for the opening goal, he failed to make any impact on the game and looks much happier in a central midfield role.

Formica was again disappointing and was a virtual passenger for the most part, while Goodwillie again showed that the gulf between Scottish and English football is going to take time to come to terms with. However, the most worrying aspect of the game was the apparent difference in fitness between the two sides. Cardiff looked a couple of yards quicker all over the pitch and that must be a cause for concern.

For the first time last night, the players looked as if they had stopped playing for the manager and for long periods they looked a disinterested shambles. It is beginning to look as if the excellent performance at Norwich was yet another false dawn.

However, the real failing is not just an inadequate manager or inferior players but an ownership that appears to have abdicated all responsibility for the club and its management both on and off the field. Until Venky's get their act together — and there has been no sign of that happening in the twelve months of their ownership — it's difficult to see how the club can move forward.

Teams

Cardiff City

Tom Heaton; Kevin McNaughton, Anthony Gerrard, Ben Turner, Andrew Taylor; Dan Cowie, Filip Kiss (Stephen McPhail 79), Aron Gunnarsson, Peter Whittingham, Craig Conway (Joseph Ralls 84); Kenny Miller

Subs not used: David Marshall (gk), Darcy Blake, Paul Quinn, Joe Mason, Robert Earnshaw

Manager: Malky Mackay

Blackburn Rovers

Mark Bunn; Jason Lowe, Grant Hanley, Scott Dann, Gael Givet; Nick Blackman (Jason Roberts 80), David Dunn, Radosav Petrovic (Ruben Rochina 70), Morten Gamst Pedersen; Mauro Formica; David Goodwillie (Yakubu 80)

Subs not used: Paul Robinson (gk), Myles Anderson, Adam Henley, Simon Vukcevic

Manager: Steve Kean

Bookings

Cardiff City – Anthony Gerrard, Ben Turner

Blackburn Rovers – Jason Lowe

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