28-02-2016, 12:55
Always had the thought that if North End go behind in an away game they would find it hard to get anything from the game and so it proved at Cardiff, on the balance of the play and the fact that Lindegaard had a blinder between the sticks for us it was a fair result although if we had played a different formation at the start we may have got something from the game but we didn't and we didn't.
The last of this seasons long away coach journeys for me cannot make Reading for the last away game saw my first visit to the impressive Cardiff City stadium, were fans do not mix at all, drive them in and drive them out routine which was well organised.
A very quiet start to the game which gave it an air of an end of season game, eventually it began to be obvious that City's early grip of midfield and their use of the wings would be a major factor in the game. Reach had an early effort which did not trouble Marshall, before City's first major attack nearly brought a goal although it would have been a fluke, a cross from the right missed every one and struck the post and rebounded into the grateful arms of Lindegaard. Soon after the post was struck again but this time Lindegaard had palmed the ball onto it with a brilliant double save to keep North End in the game. A North Endf attack nearly broke the deadlock however Reach could not quite find Garner with a cross cum shot.
City deservedly took the lead just before half time with a penalty, although the beginning of the move the ball seemed to go out of play, the lines man kept his flag down, some intricate play down the left hand side with the impressive Malone back heeling the ball to a City player who was fouled by Huntington, clear penalty. Lindegaard dived to head butt the right hand post Pilkington blasted it down the middle.
North End changed formation at half time with Robinson replacing Huntington and looked better balances but apart from a tame Robinson shot Marshall was not over employed in the City goal. Lindegaard was again performing miracles to keep out Pilkington, but then came an offside decision which denied Reach a goal, great cross by Cunningham, Reach finished well, sadly flag was up very tight but no goal. Slightly against the flow of the play City doubled their lead with a second penalty, at first thought it was outside the box but having seen it this morning it was a penalty, Lindegaard went to head butt the left hand post Pilkington sent him the wrong way again.
Game over well almost a neat Pearson pass found Cunningham he slid the ball to Robinson who scored with a neat finish, one more chance for North End but Robinson's free kick flopped into the blue seats behind the goal.
So back across the Severn Bridge to end a 14.5 hours journey pointless, although we did not play too badly.
Cardiff City 2 Preston North End 1 Att 15550
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5NbKWiMlQQ
The last of this seasons long away coach journeys for me cannot make Reading for the last away game saw my first visit to the impressive Cardiff City stadium, were fans do not mix at all, drive them in and drive them out routine which was well organised.
A very quiet start to the game which gave it an air of an end of season game, eventually it began to be obvious that City's early grip of midfield and their use of the wings would be a major factor in the game. Reach had an early effort which did not trouble Marshall, before City's first major attack nearly brought a goal although it would have been a fluke, a cross from the right missed every one and struck the post and rebounded into the grateful arms of Lindegaard. Soon after the post was struck again but this time Lindegaard had palmed the ball onto it with a brilliant double save to keep North End in the game. A North Endf attack nearly broke the deadlock however Reach could not quite find Garner with a cross cum shot.
City deservedly took the lead just before half time with a penalty, although the beginning of the move the ball seemed to go out of play, the lines man kept his flag down, some intricate play down the left hand side with the impressive Malone back heeling the ball to a City player who was fouled by Huntington, clear penalty. Lindegaard dived to head butt the right hand post Pilkington blasted it down the middle.
North End changed formation at half time with Robinson replacing Huntington and looked better balances but apart from a tame Robinson shot Marshall was not over employed in the City goal. Lindegaard was again performing miracles to keep out Pilkington, but then came an offside decision which denied Reach a goal, great cross by Cunningham, Reach finished well, sadly flag was up very tight but no goal. Slightly against the flow of the play City doubled their lead with a second penalty, at first thought it was outside the box but having seen it this morning it was a penalty, Lindegaard went to head butt the left hand post Pilkington sent him the wrong way again.
Game over well almost a neat Pearson pass found Cunningham he slid the ball to Robinson who scored with a neat finish, one more chance for North End but Robinson's free kick flopped into the blue seats behind the goal.
So back across the Severn Bridge to end a 14.5 hours journey pointless, although we did not play too badly.
Cardiff City 2 Preston North End 1 Att 15550
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5NbKWiMlQQ
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