Cardiff City 0-0 West Bromwich Albion
By Jemma Tappenden
April 1 2008
Tony Mowbray made four changes to the side that beat Colchester United 4-3 at the weekend, Phillips, Bednar and Brunt dropped to the bench, as Bostjan Cesar was dropped altogether as starts were handed to Miller, Clement, Pele and Morrison as Mowbray adopted 4-5-1 tactics for this away fixture at Ninian Park. The injured Chris Brunt returned for a place on the bench.
Cardiff created their first opportunity in the 7th minute, a testing throughball from Paul Parry found Steve Thompson in space in the Albion box, but he failed to even test Dean Kiely with his ambitious shot. Albion took their time to settle, and as such invited unnecessary pressure on themselves, yet despite the pressure the Bluebirds failed to really test Kiely until midway through the first half.
West Brom finally moved up a gear and in the 24th minute a goal line clearance from Roger Johnson kept Cardiff in it after Zoltan Gera was on target with a near post shot. Gera went close again in the 34th minute; this time firing over from 25 yards after Miller’s neat lay off. Just moments later the Albion duo hooked up again, but again Gera was over the target with a 15 yard half volley.
On the stroke of half time the Albion defence failed to deal with a Trevor Sinclair cross, but Carl Hoefkens did well to distract Parry, who turned well on the ball, but could not get enough power on the shot to test Kiely.
Half Time: Cardiff City 0-0 Wes Bromwich Albion
The second half was far more eventful. Robert Koren had City keeper Enckelman worried when he fired in a 25 yard volley, but his effort flew just wide of the right post. In the 54th minute Ishmael Miller did well to spin his marker on the left hand edge of the box, and even better to shake the cross bar from what looked like an overly awkward angle.
A poor clearance from the Bluebirds defence allowed Pele an effort from 20 yards, but he could only find Enckelman inside the City goal. Cardiff began to mount some pressure of their own and Ledley, followed by Scimeca took the opportunity to shoot from 20 yards.
In the 67th minute Tony Mowbray in search of all three points made a double substitution. Miller and Gera were the men to make way as Brunt and Bednar came on.
Albion received a real let off in the 70th minute when a poor backpass from Robinson allowed Sinclair to steal in. Sinclair rounded Dean Kiely who was off his line before squaring to Peter Whittingham. With an empty net to aim for Hoefkens did superbly with a last ditch clearance, literally throwing his body across the path of the ball.
At the other end there followed a goal mouth scramble. A rare moment of weakness from Bluebirds keeper Enckelman saw the ball bobble around the area, with neither Brunt or Bednar able to slot the ball away after the City keeper had succeeded only in palming Morrison’s snapshot away.
In a final attempt to take all three points back to the Midlands Mowbray made his last substitution in the 74th minute. Kevin Phillips came on in place of midfielder Robert Koren.
There were two superb chances for both sides before the final whistle. For Cardiff Kevin McNaughton released a pressing 30 yard effort, although in the end it failed to trouble Kiely. For Albion four minutes from time top scorer Kevin Phillips floated in a delightful cross for Roman Bednar. But his header fell straight into the arms of Enckelman.
Full Time: Cardiff City 0-0 West Bromwich Albion
Attendance: 13,195