7 days after the heartbreak of loosing on penalties in the Carling Cup final to the premiership outfit of Liverpool, the players had to pick themselves up to play an equally important game against the Championship's hottest team in West Ham. After Kenny Miller's Debut winning goal back in August at Upton Park, The Hammers were determined not to be beaten again.
Cardiff fans who were in full voice at Wembley last week would have to show up in their numbers again and support the boys and to create a hostile atmosphere. Just over 23,000 did so, but that still couldn't encourage the team enough.
Malky Mackay opted to choose the same team as he did at Wembley, except for changing the goalkeeper, bringing back David Marshall as he is the recognized league keeper. Malky's new loan signing Liam Lawerence didn't make the bench as he was struggling with a calf injury. On loan Newcastle playmaker Haris Vuckic was amongst Heaton, Blake, Kiss and Conway on the City bench.
West Ham started with a very strong team which would without question cope in the Premiership today. Their stars players were Kevin Nolan, Rob Green, Vaz Te,and on loan midfielder Henri Lansbury to name a few.
Cardiff knew this was going to be a tough test and it was the first of 8 games in 29 days for the Welsh Capital.
The game started with Cardiff creating the better chances. Rudy Gestede was making a nuisance of himself, just like he did at Wembley. However, the first chances fell to West Ham with Nicky Maynard and Jack Collison missing the opportunity to put the Irons 1-0 up. Cardiff first chance fell to King Kenny, picking the ball up around 30 yards out, he had nothing on and pulled the trigger, narrowingly missing the goal as the shot pulled wide. Chants of Super Ken encouraged him after that as he got more involed in the game. The next chance falling to Rudy, a lovely ball over the top by Miller saw Gestede running towards goal, everyone was expecting a shot but instead he wasted the opportunity by trying to play it back onto his stronger foot.
After 30 minutes the man leading the line for Cardiff pulled up with a hamstring injury. After playing 120 minutes less than a week ago Rudy Gestede couldn't continue and Haris Vuckic entered the game which gave Cardiff a little more going forward. The onloan Newcastle boy was involved straight away when he challenged the towering Ab Faye which resulted in Faye falling to the ground, then rolling over and finally getting to his feet by a cry of "Booo" from the Bluebirds.
Then a moment of madness by Aron Gunnarson on the right hand side, his misplaced pass fell straight to Maynard, who slid in Nolan and with a side footed shot went into the bottom corner. 1-0 West Ham. A great time for West Ham to score, 43rd minute, just before half time.
Half Time 0-1
The second half started with West Ham dominating and in some parts it looked like a training match. Cardiff were second to every ball, loosing every challenge and being out jumped from every header.
Marshall then came to Cardiff's rescue twice in a minute, a misplaced header from usually Mr.Reliable Kev McNaughton put Nicky Maynard through one on one with the keeper, but Marshall excellently kept out the shot. His throw to Whittingham then resulted in Marshall making another save. Whitts' pass was a little short so the Scottish Keeper came racing out and luckily won the ball otherwise there could of been consequences.
Cardiff fans were now getting on the Referees back as it seemed that every decision was going against them. Even Malky himself was shouting at the ref and the officials. 62 minutes gone and Joe Mason, scorer at Wembely received the ball 20 yards out and got fouled by Mark Noble. To the amazement of the fans, the ref gave a free kick and Peter Whittingham stepped over the ball.
Having seen Whittingham score many freekicks before the Cardiff supporters were all hoping for a Goal. Whittingham hit it sweetly and it hit the left hand post, two inches to the left and it would of been a goal. Cardiff were creating chances now and they started piling more players forward. With doing that Cardiff were leaving gaps in the defence which proved to be costly.
West Ham's left back George McCartney picked the ball up on half way and outpaced Don Cowie and Kev Mcnaughton and delivered the ball with his left foot, the ball then got rebounded back to him and from a very tight angle he put the ball into the net with his right peg. Cardiff were shell shocked. 77 minutes gone, 2-0 down, was it a Cup final hangover?
Cardiff then had to go for it and the pressure nearly payed off when the Solid Ben Turner played a diagonal ball to Joey Mason. Joey Mason tried to flick it over Green but the English Goalkeeper got his hand to it and grasped the ball into his chest. Then with the final kick of the game Kenny Miller hit the crossbar after a Gunnarson throw in got headed on by Mark Hudson and then headed against the bar by Miller.
Full Time 0-2
Cardiff Man of the Match - Ben Turner
Cardiff's next game is away to Brighton at the Amex Stadium on Wednesday 7th March 19:45pm
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