Round-up for the Cardiff City FC match program:
It’s not unusual by Andy Sloan
Tom Jones has probably played in more stadiums than Ryan Giggs and therefore the fruits of his labours deserve to be the theme for this round-up of mid-week action in the Championship and my, my, my are we now sick of writing about Darius Henderson.
Beattie burning down the house
James Beattie continued his sensational scoring streak with two strikes against Blackpool to salvage an unlikely point for his latest employers, Sheffield United. In fact, Beattie opened and closed the show, heading the opener on 13 minutes and then seeing a speculative 35 yard effort creep under Blackpool keeper Paul Rachubka two minutes from time and just seconds after Ben Burgess thought he had won the match for Blackpool. Stephen Crainey had equalised for the home side with a free kick moments before half-time and when his team-mate, Burgess, added the second the Blackpool fans could be forgiven for celebrating three well earned points but hadn’t counted on a Beattie’s sensational winner that must have had his former manager, David Moyes, shaking his head in exasperation.
The Robins run while others walk
Playing a day before Watford, Bristol City took the chance to temporarily reacquaint themselves with the top spot, but had to rely on a late equalizer from Bradley Orr and superior goal difference than the Hornets. They failed to take all three points against West Bromwich Albion yet were happy to salvage a point after coming perilously close to ending their unbeaten run. Manager Gary Johnson said afterwards, "the boys never say die and that's the attitude they've got at the moment.” His counterpart, Tony Mowbray, was understandably upset having seen his side take the lead halfway through the second half courtesy of Robert Koren. Despite missing a host of chances to put the game beyond doubt, the Baggies were seemingly heading for the win until Orr latched onto a Lee Johnson cross in the 89th minute. "When you get two minutes from the end of the game, 1-0 up, looking comfortable, we're disappointed,” said Mowbray. “Credit to Bristol City, they kept going. You've got to give respect for where they are in the league. They're not there by accident. They're there by hard work, endeavour and organisation."
Reid spot on in unusual climax
Christmas came early for Charlton skipper Andy Reid who converted two penalties in the final five minutes against Norwich City to send the Addicks third in the table. Super-sub Izale McLeod put in a sparkling cameo for Alan Pardew’s team, coming on in the 80th minute with the brief to break the deadlock and being felled twice to win his third and fourth penalties of the season. To compound the Canaries’ misery veteran striker Dion Dublin was sent off in the 90th minute for what Peter Grant deemed to be a dubious head-butt on Danny Mills. “It's important to finish with 11 men,” he said, “but unfortunately we couldn't because somebody cheated."
Dowie and Jordan remain without love
It is fair to say that Crystal Palace Chairman Simon Jordan is not Iain Dowie’s biggest fan following the former Palace manager’s acrimonious departure to Charlton in 2006. After Palace blew three points in the 87th minute on Dowie’s return to his former club, Jordan may not be current manager, Peter Taylor’s, biggest fan either. Last week Jordan stated his desire for a top six finish and after seeing Coventry’s substitute striker Leon Best connect with Jay Tabb’s cross to steal a dramatic late equaliser, Taylor said, “I am not confident [of keeping my job] but I just don't know because I have not spoken to Simon [Jordan]. If I'm honest, it's not nice when you read that he has been having regular contact with Neil Warnock.” Dowie didn’t help Taylor’s situation, pointing out that Palace made a lot of money on the players he left them and the fact that they had spent £8m last season yet failed to reach the play-offs. It was an old hand at Selhurst Park, Dougie Freedman, whose work enabled Stuart Green to give the Eagles a first-half lead but Coventry saved the Best till last, or the 87th minute at least to share the points.
Holloway enjoys the green green grass of home
Plymouth secured their first league win since the start of the season thanks to two unanswered goals against QPR from Peter Halmosi and David Norris. QPR’s Daniel Nardiello hit the woodwork in the first half and Ben Sahar had a fine effort saved late on but otherwise it was an enjoyable night for Ian Holloway on his return to Loftus Road.
Scunthorpe keep on smiling
Preston returned to their losing ways as Scunthorpe maintained a remarkable home record, Paul Hayes netting a second half winner in an entertaining 2-1 victory. Andy Crosby put the Irons in front on 24 minutes, but North End equalised just before the break through Youl Mawene. Preston had reason to feel rueful after Hayes’ shot squirmed under Andy Lonergan three minutes into the second half. They missed a penalty and Andy Carroll was sent off for retaliation, effectively ending any hope of a comeback. Scunthorpe boss, Nigel Adkins, was suitably delighted: "It was a super game, high tempo, loads of goalmouth action and thoroughly enjoyable. On any one given day, anybody can beat anybody. And that's what our philosophy is."
Why, why, why, ask Wednesday after sixth defeat
D:Ream, the band responsible for Labour’s 1997 campaign anthem ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ clearly aren’t Sheffield Wednesday fans. With a club record five defeats in their first five matches this season things seemingly couldn’t get any worse. They could. Wednesday slumped to their sixth successive defeat, this time to Burnley, thanks to goals from Robbie Blake and Chris McCann. "In previous defeats I've said we did not deserve it,” said boss Brian Laws, “but tonight we did, we looked like rabbits in headlights.”
Stoke happy with their situation
In a classic tale of mid-table mediocrity, Stoke and Barnsley played out a goalless draw to share the points at the Britannia Stadium. While Stoke were happy to continue a run of unbeaten results they are concerned about the number of draws but the visitors were delighted with a clean sheet and having failed to learn anything from watching the trials and tribulations of Martin Jol this season, Barnsley boss, Simon Davey said, “I'd be more worried if we weren't creating. I know that this team will score goals.”
Veteran Windass rediscovers that funny familiar forgotten feeling
Dean Windass, aged 392, fired home from the penalty spot to give Hull their first away win of the season although the sheer proflicacy of the Wolverhampton strike force should be noted as the primary factor behind this result. Freddy Eastwood at least managed to find the woodwork but his striking partner Andy Keogh was guilty of some wayward finishing. Jay Jay Okocha made his full debut, enabling Hull manager Phil Brown to wax lyrical about his star signing once again, although he stopped short of the overused chestnut that he’s so good they named him twice.
My, my, my Mr. Henderson
Watford established a three point lead in the Championship after sinking Cardiff City on a rain soaked evening at Ninian Park. Man of the moment, Darius Henderson, challenged his manager, Aidy Boothroyd, before the Hornets victory over Southampton, saying “When will you learn? When I play, we win.” Sadly he remained good to his word, scoring a brace against an improving Cardiff side prone to lapses in concentration. His second goal cancelled out the fervour generated in the ground by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s stunning strike, his first for the Bluebirds. The stadium had risen as one as his 25 yard effort curled effortlessly round Mart Poom and into the top corner but Henderson’s pace, power and passion for football at present were too much for the city defence and a side still looking for its first home league win of the season.
Saints move closer
St John’s Ambulance men were on hand to race to the rescue of Ian Wright during Southampton’s one-all clash with Colchester for fear of over excitement. The former Arsenal and England legend has had an exciting few weeks watching Shaun Wright-Phillips shine for both Chelsea and England, his over-exuberance beamed to the whole of Britain from the Match of the day studios. Now it’s his other son’s turn in the lime-light. Bradley Wright-Phillips sent Southampton into the lead on 52 minutes, a lead that should have been capitalised on and added to, not least by Grzegorz Rasiak. Instead an own goal by Rudi Skacel six minutes later robbed the Saints of three points and the Wright-Phillips family of another headline as all concerned had to settle for a draw.
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