Cardiff kept up their unbeaten league run and stayed in second spot as they beat Hull City 2-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium. The home side were without key players Bothroyd, Bellamy and Drinkwater, as well as the still sidelined Chopra but showed that even when missing players with injury they have the strength in depth to cope. Despite the pre match rumours of the aforementioned injury's, spirit's were still high, which I will put down to the free ice cream pots being given away outside the ground, 4 for me, thanks.
As their record suggests, Hull are a poor team on the road, having not won on their travels in a league match since March 2009 and aside from that they haven't won at all since beating Swansea on the opening day of the season. But still, the job needed to be done and Cardiff turned out a very professional, if not thrilling, performance in doing so.
The Bluebirds started with the same 4-5-1 formation that had seen them win their 3 previous league games, with new loan signing Andy Keogh making his debut up front in place of Bothroyd. Keogh had a decent game today and although he is a different type of player to Jay, he showed enough to suggest he may be a valuable signing for the season to come. He didn't stop working and got a good going over by the Hull centre backs, getting very little from the referee in the process.
City started the better of the teams and the excellent Stephen Mcphail went close with a side footed shot from 12 yards, but it was his centre midfield partner Seyi Olifinjara who broke the deadlock on the 20 minute mark, when he headed home an in-swinging Whttingham free kick from 6 yards - his first for Cardiff and against the team he is being loaned from. Seyi had started the game in fine form, playing once again in front of the back 4 and the goal was no less than what his performances so far this season had deserved.
Cardiff continued to look the better team and went close to doubling their lead 6 minutes later when Kevin McNaughton hit the post from outside the box after a run. McNaughton had an uncharacteristically poor first half looking unsteady at times, but improved as the game went on.
Cardiff went into the break 1 0 up and although it wasn't pretty, it was effective and grinding out results isn't something they have always managed in the past, however the job was only half done, too many times last seasons they were unable to complete the job.
The second half got under way and although Hull had a couple of shots they were restricted to shooting from distance. The Bluebirds looked more likely to stretch their lead than the visitors did to equalising with Jason Koumas - making his first league start of the season - twice coming close with decent right footed efforts. Koumas still looks like he could do with a few more games under his belt before he finds his best form, his touch let him down on a few occasions and he got caught out a few times too. But everyone knows the class he possesses and with injury's already seemingly coming thick and fast he may get his chance to get the run that he needs to regain full fitness and form.
By now the the injured Seyi had been replaced by Gavin Rae. A few weeks ago, after a string of poor performances and the signing of plenty of new midfielders, it was widely thought Rae had played his final game for Cardiff, but apart from him first touch - when he shockingly put a Hull striker through - he was both solid and creative and this was without doubt his best performance for some time. It was the the ex Scottish international Rae who sealed the win with a rare goal after 81 minutes, after being expertly set up by fellow sub Wildig following good work by the once again influential Whittingham. It wasn't the most stylish of finishes - it somehow slowly crept through the keepers legs - but it was a goal nonetheless and a valuable one all the same.
All in all it was a much deserved victory and City put in a professional performance against what has to be said, a poor Hull team. Special mention is deserved for the centre back pairing of Hudson and Gypes who seem to be building a stable partnership together, they have both taken some stick in the past but apart from a misguided header by Hudson, letting Simpson through, they were solid today.
Cardiff go to Leicester on Tuesday night, the scene of a memorable play off victory last season, they should have players back from injury, but will be confident of getting a positive result regardless of what team they field and rightly so.
Result - Cardiff City 2 Hull City 0
Scorers - City: Olofinjana (20), Rae (81)
Attendance - 24,083
Fans man of the match - Seyi Olofinjana
My man of the match - Peter Whittingham. There were a few candidates today, Seyi was once again fantastic when he was on, Stephen McPhail was excellent and the centre back pairing were solid. However my MOTM goes to Whits; he set up the first, had a hand in the second and showed some sublime pieces of skill. He may not be getting the goals he got last season, but arguably has a more influential role to play this term. It seems that he is thriving in a 3 man midfield and long may it continue.
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