Match Report - Cardiff City 4-0 Wolves

By Scott Cooper
September 30 2006

MATCH REPORT: Wolves were subjected to their heaviest defeat since March 2004 at Ninian Park today as Cardiff City took full advantage of a game-changing decision by the inept Pat Miller.

It was the referee’s third ever game at Championship level and his lack of experience for the ‘big occasion’ played a huge part in helping Cardiff stretch their league at the top of the table.

I very rarely point the finger at a referee for a defeat, but there is no hiding from the fact that the 22nd minute sending off decision changed the game in dramatic fashion.

Following a free-header Gary Breen felt he was fouled and pointed at the linesman to demonstrate his frustration. Steve Thompson was unfortunate enough to walk into Breen’s outstretched arm and Breen’s afternoon was over.

Thompson to his credit won Mick McCarthy’s “admiration” for pleading with the referee not to send of the former Ireland International, but the decision was made and Wolves would be forced to play the remaining 70 minutes with ten men.

McCarthy was not happy.   "I have since seen it and it appears that Breeny is appealing to the linesman and then as he raises his arm to gesture Thompson walks into it and is caught in the face.” he said

  "I need to look at it more clearly before I pass any judgement, but either way, what happened next completely changed the course of the game.

  "The fact that Thompson appealed to the referee to try and stop a fellow professional from being sent off is admirable.

  "Whatever I thought of him before, he has gone up a great deal more in my estimation.

  "There are too many dying swans in this game who would have gone down holding their face, looking for the sending off. I can't speak highly enough of him for speaking out on behalf of Breeny, even though it came to nothing.

McCarthy was forced to sacrifice Leon Clarke for Jamie Clapham and the former blues man moved to left-back whilst Charlie Mulgrew replaced the gap left by Breen in the centre of defence.

The game until that point had been fairly even and it continued in that fashion until Wolves hit the self destruct button six minutes from time.

Ten men or eleven, there should never be a man free in the area, however Scimeca was exactly that and made no mistake from close range following a Cardiff corner.

Wolves would have it all to do and 5 minutes into the second half it was the panic button which was pressed. A deep cross was met by the head of Mulgrew. The former Celtic Man aimed to head the ball across goal and to the feet of the full back Rob Edwards but between Edwards and Mulgrew was the head of Jody Craddock and the ball flew into the back of the net via the back of the captains head.

As the game wore on, Cardiff started to show their dominance. A low powerful drive from Kamara beat Murray on 69 before Parry riffled into the top corner ten minutes from time.

It was difficult to judge Cardiff on this performance. Wolves matched them when the sides were level and it was only in the second half following the comical own goal that the Bluebirds took full control.

  "We didn't defend the corner for the first goal, and the second goal was comical, although I didn't find it funny at the time," McCarthy said after the game.

  "Cardiff did well, but they were hardly going to sit back when the opposition went down to ten men. It was obvious they were going to come at us.

  "But, what I thought was more interesting was the fact that we matched them up until the sending-off. That changed the game dramatically and no matter how you look at it, you can't get around that.