Cardiff City went into this game on the back of poor form which has seen them slip out of the play off places in recent weeks. Brighton on the other hand were full of confidence and boast a 10 match unbeaten streak in the Championship. They haven't seen a defeat in this calender year. Brighton who are one place above Cardiff in the league beat the visitors at the Cardiff City Stadium back in August 3-1. Cardiff were hoping to turn that scoreline around today and getting their season back on track with a win. A win for either side would see them return into the play off places.
The starting team was the same team which played in the 2-0 defeat on Sunday to West Ham, except from one exception. New loan signing Liam Lawrence stepped into the team in place of the injured Rudy Gestede. The substitute bench was made up of Heaton, Blake, Kiss, Conway and Haris Vuckic. Still no Earnshaw!
As the game kicked off Brighton were quickly getting touches of the ball. The keep ball tactic from Brighton let Cardiff keep their shape and invite the Brighton players to come forward. Whittingham like usual, was playing the anchor role in front of the defenders trying to kick start attacks. This allowed Mason to get forward more and support Kenny Miller up top. Lawrence was doing the "McPhail" role by keeping composure on the ball and playing the simple, yet effective passes. Cowie was then doing the usual Cowie, running his socks off.
The first chance of the game fell to Brighton. Andrew Taylor was the guilty man after committing a foul and giving the hosts a free kick. The free kick was defended well by the Cardiff City defence but fell to the feet of Razak who shot well over the bar. Brighton were now enjoying all of the possession but couldn't find a way past Hudson and Turner in the heart of Cardiff City's defence. Surprisingly the next real chance fell to Cardiff's central midfielder Aron Gunnarson. After good play from Kev McNaughton on the right wing he delivered a beautifully weighted cross which reached Gunnarson who was 12 yards out. His header was poor and went wide. 15 minutes gone and only two real chances created.
The next chance fell to Brighton and Craig Mackail-Smith must still be thinking how he missed the chance to put the seagulls 1-0 up. After protests from the Cardiff players screaming that Mackail-Smith was offside, play went on as the Ref didn't see the offside. Highlights showed that he was actually 3 yards offside. Mackail-Smith was free, 6 yards out and his shot was saved by David Marshall the Scottish keeper. A player like Mackail-Smiths really should be scoring from 6 yards out, but it wasn't to be, and instead of scoring a goal, he had won a corner for his team. Better than nothing I guess. The resulting corner was poor and didn't lead to anything.
Gunnarson's long throws usually hurt teams but Brighton's 6 foot 7 goalkeeper wasnt being tested from them and was collecting the throw ins with ease. Brighton were again in charge of the possession and Miller who was play up top on his own was easily getting out muscled by the Brighton defence and was having no joy on his own. However, the next chance did fall to Kenny Miller. After good play from Gunnarson and Lawrence in the middle of the park, the ball found its way to Miller who was on the edge of the box. He cleverly attempted to curl the ball into the far top corner but the beast like figure in goal easily grasped the ball out of the air. More and more chances were now being created just before half time as both teams were finding gaps.
Cardiff were defending very deep which was inviting Brighton to pile forward and attack. With doing this the pressure got to much for Cardiff and Barnes looked like he was through on goal until Hudson got in the way. The foul resulted in a yellow card and a free kick in a good position. That foul was a "Take one for the Team" foul, if he didn't foul him, it could quite possibly of been 1-0 Brighton. The resulting free kick was crossed in and headed away by Ben Turner, only as far as Jara Reyes who was on the edge of the box. Reyes then pulled the trigger and his shot took multiple deflections on the way to goal and ended up hitting the post.
As the half came to an end, Malky Mackay would of been happy of the way his team had defended, and Gus Poyet probably annoyed that they haven't yet scored. Brighton's dominant play didn't provide a goal but it did show Cardiff why they are unbeaten in 10 games and haven't lost this calender year. Malky would also want Whitts, Cowie and Lawrence to up their game in the second half as they weren't involved much in the first half.
Half Time 0-0
The second half started and this time it was all Cardiff! The first chance of the half fell to Kenny Miller. After good play by Lawrence and Whittingham the ball was played to Gunnarson who spectacularly flicked it on to Miller who blasted over. Miller was involved in the next attack too, his cross to Aron Gunnarson was pinpoint but Gunnarson shot was deflected wide. Cardiff then had a corner. The corner from Cowie was hit towards the front post where Kenny Miller attempted an acrobatic shot but didn't connect with ball.
Miller again was causing the Brighton defence problems and after very good play, won another corner. This time the corner went short to McNaughton who crossed towards the back post where Hudson headed back across goal to Don Cowie who volleyed over the bar. Another chance wasted by Cardiff. Could they regret these misses?
Gus Poyet acted quickly and made a triple substitution bringing on Will Buckley, Same Vokes and the player who Cardiff attempted to sign in January but had two bids rejected, Craig Noone. All three were heavily involved straight away. Craig Noone's cross found its way to Sam Vokes the Welsh international who headed towards goal, but Marshall was equal to the shot and saved with comfort. Marshall's clearance to the usual composed Whittingham dealt to much for him and his pass was cut out and resulted in Barnes being able to shoot. To Whittinghams relief the shot was easily saved by Cardiff's number 1.
Ben Turner then picked up a yellow card after a high challenge on Will Buckley. The highlights showed that Turner had stopped Buckley with an elbow to the chest. Brighton were once again dominating the game and Buckley and Noone were causing Cardiff all kinds of problems and were involved in every promising attack.Brighton's hard work finally payed off. They were awarded a corner and the Cardiff defence thought they had it covered when Joe Mason headed the ball out. The header fell to the feet of the lively Craig Noone. his cross was met by Ashley Barnes who made it 1-1. The goal coming in the 72nd minute. The Brighton fans were now in full voice after seeing their team come from a goal down to level. Their unbeaten run was still in tact.
2 minutes later and the score was different. A corner was played in by Don Cowie and got cleared to the edge of the box. The ball fell to Cardiff's "Messi", Peter Whittingham. He sweetly struck the ball on the half volley on the outside of his great left peg and the ball bulleted into the top right corner. Peter "He does what he wants" Whittingham had now put Cardiff in the driving seat and it was now their game to throw away.
In the 80th minute Malky Mackay made his first substitution bringing on the hard working Kiss for Gunnarson. This sub was going to be made before the Mason goal but got postponed. Then Kiss was going to come on but Brighton scored. Eventually he got his time to come on. Kiss would bring hard work, tasty tackles and a new attacking threat to the Cardiff team.
Marshall was then called into action again after Barnes had hit a sweetly struck volley which was goal bound. Marshall's save went around the post and Brighton were given a corner. The corner was easily dealt with by one of Cardiff's signings of the season Ben Turner.
Craig Noone was causing all sorts of problems and had been a massive danger since coming on, no wonder Malky Mackay tried to sign him! Noone picked the ball up on the half way and casually glided past three Cardiff players. The players being Miller, then Kiss, then McNaughton, luckily for Cardiff his shot didn't match his run as the shot went well wide.
On the 88th minute Cardiff fans' hearts were broken as the Welsh international Sam Vokes climbed highest and nodded in a Ashley Barnes cross. This was Vokes' 7th of the season and this goal made sure Brighton were going to maintain there unbeaten run.
The goal was cruel to Cardiff as it denied them their first away win since the win over Nottingham Forest on New Years Eve.
However, Cardiff did have a chance to win it in the last minute of play. After great play from McNaughton and Cowie on the right wing, a cross was sent into the box from Cowie. The cross fell to Miller who shot but his volley was always going over. As the ball sailed over the final whistle blew.
Full Time 2-2
Attendance 18, 786
Cardiff City Man of the Match - Peter Whittingham
Scorers : Brighton - Barnes 72, Vokes 89
Cardiff - Mason 57, Whittingham 74
Cardiff City next game is away to Bristol City, 10th March, 5.25pm
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