nPower Championship: Cardiff City

If there was ever a bad time to play the leagues runaway leaders, it was now. Embroiled in a relegation battle and in desperate need of points, Sheffield Wednesday host Cardiff City as the Bluebirds look to increase the likelihood of joining rivals Swansea City in the Premier League. Buoyed by the 0-1 victory over promotion hopefuls Leicester, the Owls were hoping that Cardiff's stuttering form continued (DDLWL - previous 5) and they could ease away from the dreaded relegation zone.


The first chance of the match falls to Michail Antonio but the wingers shot is blocked by Don Cowie en-route to goal after barely a minute. As the Owls look to push home advantage Jeremy Hélan sees his shot saved by David Marshall just a minute later after dribbling past the away defence. The visitors force their first chance after 7mins an earn a corner that Craig Bellamy swings into the near post but causes no alarm to the Owls. As the clock reaches the eleventh minute the Bluebirds commit their fourth foul, Ben Nugent fouling Antonio. Leeds loanee Danny Pugh whips the free-kick into the box but Marshall is first to react and the danger passes. Following a wasted Peter Whittingham short corner, Leon Barnett fouls Leroy Lita but the Pugh free-kick comes to nothing. As Cardiff look to get their championship challenge back running smoothly they force a corner in the 34th minute, Whittingham's in-swinging corner is quickly stopped as £650k signing Frazier Campbell fouls Chris Kirkland. After yet another foul, this time by Nugent on Antonio - the home fans begin getting restless as the referee doesn't seem to know where his cards are! Barely a minute later and ironic cheers follow the first yellow of the game ... for David Prutton after fouling Campbell, the Owls first conceded free-kick. As the 40th minute approaches Antonio's cross is cleared by Nugent for a corner but Pugh's ball in is easily dealt with. On the 42nd minute Heidar Helguson is felled by Anthony Gardner earning the games second yellow card after showing dissent at the decision. As the half is about to end the league leaders open the scoring. With the Owls failing to clear a Cardiff corner, Don Cowie rifles home a low shot that beats Kirkland and the Bluebirds hold a 0-1 lead going into the break.

HT. So far it's a scruffy, balanced match with neither team causing the opposing defence many problems. Scores should be level going into the break but the Wednesday back-line went to sleep on the corner and Cardiff took advantage. It's surprising that the away team haven't seen a single yellow card yet with their fouling. A steak pie and Cherry Coke have me ready for a big second half.

The second half is slow to get underway and not until the 54th minute is the first shot of the second half registered - a skyward effort by Prutton. A minute later and Dave Jones makes his first substitution replacing Pugh for a striker in desperate need of a goal, Gary Madine. The referee awards Wednesday two free-kicks in quick succession following fouls by Helguson & Nugent, but still keeps his cards hidden. On the hour mark Cardiff look to double their advantage but the linesman's flag prevents Bellamy being through on goal. In the very next attack Lewis Buxton sends forward a dangerous cross and Madine halts the play when he fouls Barnett, forcing the momentum to stop. Cardiff's Icelandic international Helguson is fouled by Reda Johnson and Andrew Taylor's left-footed delivery is headed home by Matthew Connolly in the 64th minute, giving the Championship leaders a healthy 0-2 lead. The Owls' second substitution sees Hélan replaced by Jermaine Johnson. Wednesday step up the pressure a minute later and when Cowie fouls Antonio (again avoiding a card), Miguel Llera fires a direct free-kick that is well saved by Marshall. The resulting corner kick by Antonio is wasted as Gardner is judged to have fouled Helguson in the box. A worrying moment for Wednesday in the 76th minute when an injured Antonio makes way for forgotten-man Chris Maguire by way of a stretcher. Just a minute later and Bellamy is lucky not to be leaving on a stretcher himself as he recklessly fouls R.Johnson and earns himself his teams first yellow card, aswel as a barrage from the Hillsborough crowd. On the 79th minute Nugent yet again escapes a booking when he fouls Kieran Lee - but Marshall saves well from a Llera direct free-kick. The break in play allows Tommy Smith to replace Bellamy before the Bluebirds force a corner. Taylor takes an on swinging corner but the whistle is blown when Barnett fouls Gardner whilst trying to gain position in the box. When Campbell fouls Buxton shortly after the home fans cannot understand the referee's inability to produce a card - but that frustration parts when Helguson fouls Kirkland and sees yellow seconds later. That proves to be his final act as he is replaced by Rudy Gestede on the 86th minute. In the 88th minute Wednesday have the ball in the back of the net when good build-up play allows Lita to coolly stroke the ball home - but the celebrations are cut short upon seeing the linesman's flag. After Maguire launches in a 90th minute corner, Gardner's shot is saved by Marshall and Cardiff look comfortable. The Owls' Jamaican international J.Johnson enters the book and sees yellow when he fouls Campbell in the 93rd minute and the former Manchester United youngster fires a good chance over the bar shortly after. The whistle is blown and Cardiff record their first victory at Hillsborough in 7 years - back when Dave Jones was their manager.

FT. What I wouldn't give to play as poorly as Cardiff did but pick up a 0-2 victory! That being said, they were solid and looked a threat on the breaks they had. Their fouling was a sour point but I'm sure the Premier League will have 2 welsh clubs next season. As for Wednesday, the battle at the bottom heats up as Barnsley beat Watford to leapfrog the Owls leaving them one position above the relegation zone.

Attendance: 24,191
Owls Man of the Match: Antonio (as usual he seems the biggest threat we possess)