Cardiff City leapfrogged QPR to move to the top of the Championship with a 3-1 victory over fellow promotion rivals Norwich City at the Cardiff City Stadium. Norwich, who came into the game unbeaten in their last 3 away games and hadn't conceded in those matches were looking to put pressure on the team just two places above them in table and a win for them would close the gap between the teams to 3 points.
Cardiff, unchanged from the side that hammered Leeds 4-0 last Monday night, started where they had left off and were in the lead after just 9 minutes when Bothroyd headed in from inside the 6 yard box after Gypes had won the initial header from a Whttingham corner.
That lead was doubled just three minutes later when goalscorer Bothroyd turned provider as he flicked on a Heaton goal kick into the path of Chopra, who neatly finished with his right foot from 12 yards for his second in as many games. For all the intricate football Cardiff have played in recent weeks it's good to see they can also score in the old fashioned route one style.
It looked as though Cardiff would dish out their second consecutive stuffing, but after the early set backs Norwich seemed to galvanise rather than crumble away. And it was the visitors who had the better of the next 20 minutes and deservedly got their reward when Wes Hoolahan met Steven Smiths left footed cross with a diving header, beating Heaton and delighting the travelling support in the process.
A quick word for the travelling fans who were tremendous in their support, with well over 1000 making the 5 hour trip from Norfolk. They also gave ex player Bellamy a decent round of applause, something the Cardiff and Wales captain didn't quite get away at Coventry 2 weeks ago.
In the time leading up to the Norwich goal, there was a large part of the City crowd who were getting agitated at the lack of possession the Bluebirds were having and started to get on the teams back. I honestly can't understand this frustration, if the score was 0-0 and we were mid table under performers then I could understand, but we were 2-0 up and went into the match second in the league only on goal difference. Do these fans really think Norwich were going to lay down and let us score 5 or more past them? True, there may be times when City do score 5 this season, but there will also be times when teams will show resolve and make it hard for us and the fans - like the players - will need to show their patience. Mini rant over.
Back to the game and it didn't take long for the home side to re-gain their 2 goal advantage when they were awarded a penalty. Although slightly fortuitous - the ball seemed to just hit the hand of the Norwich defender from a clearance - Whittingham took full advantage and coolly slotted home for his 4th in as many matches and City went into the break 3-1 ahead.
Unlike large parts of the first half, Cardiff controlled most of the 2nd period, keeping the ball a lot better and looking more likely to score than their opponents. Bothroyd had a shot well saved by keeper Ruddy and was later denied by the woodwork when a thunderous 20 yard volley crashed against the bar, which later denied Seyi Olofinjana from close range.
With a 2 goal cushion the win never really looked in doubt and Jones was able to give Bellamy and Chopra a rest, with Koumas and McPhail their respective replacements. Bellamy wasn't firing on all cylinders today, but his sheer presence is enough to strike fear into his opponents and boost the confidence of his team mates. Cardiff have won all 6 games he has featured in this season and although he hasn't been the sole star performer, this 100% record isn't a coincidence and shows evidence of the effect he has had on the rest of the players.
Despite not being Cardiff's best performance of the season, it was professional and convincing enough after the 3rd goal went in. None of Cardiff's attacking players excelled, but it was as good a defensive performance as I have seen from the centre back pairing of Hudson and Gypes, making many vital blocks and clearances particularly during Norwich's spell on top in the first half.
The only disappointment of the game was the inevitable booking of Jay Bothroyd in the second half after an innocuous looking challenge on the Norwich left back, meaning the the leagues top scorer will miss the South Wales derby next Sunday. Bothroyd was visibly disappointment and undoubtedly be missed against our most rivalled opponents, a fixture he has admitted himself he looks forward to more than any, but in the grand scheme of things it is just one game and he was going to pick up another booking sooner or later.
It will be interesting to see who manager David Jones will pick to replace Bothroyd next week, but with Keogh, Koumas and McPhail all waiting to fill in, he isn't short of options in both replacements and formations. But that's for Jones to decide and until that game I'm sure Cardiff fans will enjoy the current league position, for as much as we hope to stay in that position for the rest of the season we know only too well from past experiences how quickly things can change, just ask Caldicot Bluebirds 'Evo' and 'Tarquin'.
Result - Cardiff City 3 Norwich City 1
Scorers - City: Bothroyd (9), Chopra (12), Whittingham (pen 37), Norwich: Hoolahan (34)
Attendance - 24,634
Fans man of the match: Kevin McNaughton
My man of the match: Super Kev for me too. Played an absolute blinder at right back. Sound defensively and threatening as ever going forward, again working magnificently with Burke ahead of him. As quick a full back/wing partnership you are likely to see outside of the Premier League.
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