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Cardiff 0 Brighton 2 match report: Bluebirds left red-faced byTomasz Kuszczak as Andrea Orlandi and Leonardo Ulloa seal win

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Cardiff 0 Brighton 2: Bluebirds left red-faced by Kuszczak as Orlandi and Ulloa seal win

By
Laurie Whitwell

PUBLISHED:

21:54 GMT, 19 February 2013

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UPDATED:

23:31 GMT, 19 February 2013

Tomasz Kuszczak produced an inspired performance to give Cardiff’s Far East owners a compelling argument that red is perhaps not such a lucky colour after all.

The Brighton goalkeeper pulled off a string of brilliant saves on the night thousands of free red scarves were handed to home fans to dissuade them from wearing blue.

Spanish rose: Andrea Orlandi is congratulated by team-mates for his opener

Spanish rose: Andrea Orlandi is congratulated by team-mates for his opener

Match facts

Cardiff: Marshall, Connolly, Hudson, Turner, Taylor, Noone (Conway 53), Whittingham, Smith, Gunnarsson, Bellamy, Campbell (Helguson 84). Subs not used: Lewis, McNaughton, Cowie, Kim, Mason.

Booked: Hudson.

Brighton: Kuszczak, Saltor, El-Abd, Upson, Bridge, Buckley (Forster-Caskey 90), Hammond (Calderon 75), David Lopez, Bridcutt, Orlandi (Dicker 70), Ulloa. Subs not used: Ankergren, Vicente, LuaLua, Barker.

Booked: El-Abd, Bridcutt, Saltor.

Goals: Orlandi 43, Ulloa 90.

Attendance: 23,782.

Referee: Keith Stroud.

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Kuszczak’s clean sheet ensured
counter-attack goals from ex-Swansea winger Andrea Orlandi and Leonardo
Ulloa gave the visitors a somewhat fortunate victory that condemned the
hosts to a first defeat in 10 Championship games.

Malky Mackay’s side went into last
night’s game eight points clear with Premier League promotion firmly in
their sights but by the end the lead was cut to five.

The manager, whose 41st birthday was spoilt by defeat, promised jitters would not creep in.

‘We’ll just make sure we stay
steady,’ he said. ‘I thought we were excellent. We had 22 attempts on
target, which is quite incredible. It was one of those nights where the
goal led a charmed life.’

Gus Poyet was unable to express his
pleasure at closing the gap to the play-off paces to two points because
of a sore throat but first team coach Charlie Oatway stepped in to
praise the former Manchester United No 1.

‘Tomas did very well,’ he said. ‘I
think he’s one of the best keepers outside the Premier League, probably
should be plying his trade still in it.’

Code red: Craig Bellamy speeds past Brighton's Will Buckley but it was in vain

Code red: Craig Bellamy speeds past Brighton's Will Buckley but it was in vain

Cardiff’s Fraizer Campbell clipped
the bar after three minutes and Craig Noone had a shot held well by
Kuszczak. On 20 minutes the Poland international clawed away a curler
from Peter Whittingham, then deflected Craig Bellamy’s shot on to the
woodwork.

David Marshall pulled off a stunning
save of his own to deny Ulloa but the Cardiff goalkeeper could do
nothing to stop Brighton stealing ahead two minutes before the interval.
David Lopez slid a cross to the feet of Orlandi, who scored with the
outside of his left boot.

After the break Cardiff pushed again.
Bellamy howled for a penalty after being shoved by Adam El-Abd as he
sprinted into the area but referee Keith Stroud only awarded a
free-kick.

Kuszczak then tipped over substitute
Craig Conway’s ferocious drive. With five minutes remaining Aron
Gunnarsson glanced wide at the far post from six yards.

Then in the fifth minute of added time, Lopez found Ulloa and the striker slotted in with the aid of a deflection.

Cardiff 1 Millwall 0 – match report

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Cardiff 1 Millwall 0: Gestede ensures league leaders move five points above chasing Hull

PUBLISHED:

17:37 GMT, 29 December 2012

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UPDATED:

17:37 GMT, 29 December 2012

Rudy Gestede scored the only goal of the game as league leaders Cardiff made it three in a row against Millwall to move five points clear of second placed Hull.

Manager Malky Mackay dropped striker Heidar Helguson in favour of 24-year-old Gestede who partnered Craig Bellamy while Aron Gunnarsson also came into the midfield.

And it was the former Metz forward who was quickest to repay the faith of his manager after just eight minutes when Craig Noone beat Shane Lowry with a mazy run before crossing for the Frenchman who tapped home from six yards.

Edged: Cardiff narrowly beat Millwall

Edged: Cardiff narrowly beat Millwall

MATCH FACTS

Cardiff: Marshall, McNaughton, Taylor, Hudson, Turner, Whittingham, Conway, Noone (Cowie 73), Gunnarsson (Mutch 45), Gestede (Helguson 77), Bellamy

Subs not used: Lewis, Connolly, Kim Bo-Kyung, Mason

Goal: Gestede

Booked: Conway

Millwall: Forde, Shittu, Lowry, Beevers, Smith, Malone (Feeney 18), Trotter, Henry, Abdou, Henderson, N'Guessan (Batt 64)

Subs not used: M Taylor, Dunne, Smith, Osborne, Wright

Referee: Mark Halsey

Attendance: 24,263

Click here for the latest Championship table, fixtures and results

The visitors' problems worsened 10
minutes later when winger Scott Malone had to be replaced by Liam Feeney
with the Bluebirds already in a rampant mood.

Former Aston Villa defender Lowry
made amends for his early lapse blocking a Bellamy effort inside the box
while goalkeeper David Forde was forced to deal with a flurry of tricky
deliveries in quick succession.

But they were showing no lack of
firepower themselves following 11-goal Chris Wood's return to parent
club West Brom. Lowry delivered for Darius Henderson on 24 minutes whose
header drew a fine stop from David Marshall.

Lions skipper Danny Shittu, who
requested not to be selected by Nigeria for the Africa Cup of Nations
earlier this week, had to be alert at the opposite end just after the
half-hour mark to get in the way of Craig Conway's goal-bound effort.

The hosts were forced into a change
of their own just before the half-time whistle when Aron Gunnarsson had
to make way for Jordon Mutch. The switch interrupted the flow of the
game and they had Marshall to thank again seconds later when he blocked a
stinging drive from Shittu with his feet to ensure they led at the
break.

Substitute Mutch went close to a
second 10 minutes after the restart but Forde produced a flying save to
keep out his long range drive.

Dangerous in attack, the hosts looked
susceptible at the back and Dany N'Guessan, recalled to the starting XI
following the departure of Wood, fired a warning shot into the side
netting on the hour mark after a swift counter attack.

Kenny Jackett's side were firmly on
top in the second-half and the impressive Marshall was again called into
action minutes later this time tipping Henry's free-kick round the
post.

His opposite number was keen to prove
his worth as the game began to open up in the final 20 minutes and
Forde kept them in it with a brilliant parry to deny Noone.

Mackay
introduced Helguson in place of Gestede 13 minutes from time as the
Bluebirds used all their experience to hold on for a vital three points.

Cardiff 2 Crystal Palace 1 match report

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Cardiff 2 Crystal Palace 1: Bluebirds go five clear after top of the table victory

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UPDATED:

18:29 GMT, 26 December 2012

Substitute Aron Gunnarsson nodded home the winning goal to complete a Cardiff turnaround which extends their lead at the top of the npower Championship.

An action-packed first half was book-ended by two goals 40 minutes apart, Mike Jedinak stunning the sell-out crowd with an early opener before Craig Noone's equalised a minute before the interval.

Cardiff's goal led a charmed life with Wilfried Zaha's splendid effort hitting the bar and chances aplenty for Palace but half-time substitute

Gunnarsson helped turn the tide for the Bluebirds before scoring his sixth of the season from close range.

Cushion: Aron Gunnarsson's second half goal gave Cardiff victory in their top of the table clash against Crystal Palace. The Bluebirds are now 5 points clear at the top

Cushion: Aron Gunnarsson's second half goal gave Cardiff victory in their top of the table clash against Crystal Palace. The Bluebirds are now 5 points clear at the top

MATCH FACTS

Cardiff: Marshall, McNaughton, Taylor, Hudson, Turner, Whittingham, Conway, Noone (Mason 76), Mutch (Gunnarsson 46), Bellamy,
Helguson (Gestede 57).

Subs Not Used: Lewis, Cowie, Kim, Lappin.

Booked: Hudson, Noone, Mason

Goals: Noone 44, Gunnarsson 73.

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Parr (Easter 87), Moxey, Ramage, Gabbidon, Dikgacoi, Garvan, Jedinak, Zaha, Murray, Bolasie (Moritz 74).

Subs Not Used: Price, Martin, Williams, O'Keefe, Appiah.

Booked: Zaha, Bolasie, Parr, Dikgacoi.

Goals: Jedinak 4.

Attendance: 26,098

Referee: P Gibbs (West Midlands)

Latest Championship table, fixtures and results

The Eagles came into this match having scored in all-but one of their League games this season so it was perhaps no surprise when captain Jedinak nodded home after just 180 seconds.

But Cardiff's reaction was laboured to say the least and it took until the 16th minute for the Bluebirds to really set their sights on Julian Speroni's goal, Craig Bellamy's ambitious half-volley sparking cries of 'top of the league, you're having a laugh' from the buoyant travelling support.

And the 1,190 behind Speroni's goal had every right to be boisterous given their team's start which they came incredibly close to extending in two first-half minutes.

First Glenn Murray's touch let him down as he raced clear on Marshall's goal after being found by Jonathan Parr. And then Zaha's trickery bamboozled Kevin McNaughton down the Palace left and, after cutting inside, the England international's right-footed curler crashed off the crossbar with the Scottish keeper just a spectator.

When the ball bounced back to Yannick Bolasie his deflected drive forced Marshall into a fingertip save.

A minute later Palace were threatening yet again, Owen Garvan's free-kick forcing Marshall into a low-save.

Mile Jedinak (hidden) scored for Palace after just four minutes but Cardiff fought back

Mile Jedinak (hidden) scored for Palace after just four minutes but Cardiff fought back

At the other end only the combination of Peter Ramage and his keeper Speroni kept out Bellamy after the Welshman tried a cute lob after racing clear with what was comfortably the home side's best chance of a forgettable opening 44 minutes for the table-toppers.

Just when it looked like the Bluebirds would go into the interval behind for the second successive home game they drew level. Bellamy's pace helped him get the better of Parr down the Cardiff left and his pull-back into the box was perfect for Noone to hammer a first-time effort into the top of the Palace net.

After an off-colour first-half display Malky Mackay shuffled his midfield at the break with Jordon Mutch being replaced by Gunnarsson.

And his change seemed to work a treat, with the Iceland midfielder helping to stop the constant stream of Palace chances.

Equaliser: Craig Noone (left) celebrates his first half leveller

Equaliser: Craig Noone (left) celebrates his first half leveller

And in fact it took 12 minutes of the second period for the next chance, Garvan's drive flying just inches wide of Marshall's near post.

Bellamy was Cardiff's biggest threat and the 33-year-old tested Speroni with a low drive from an angle from Gunnarsson's clever pass as the game reached the hour mark. And Cardiff were beginning to engineer more chances with Gunnarsson and Whittingham both having opportunities.

And that pressure paid off 27 minutes into the second half when Gunnarsson rose to head in Bellamy's right-footed corner via the underside of the bar.

Only the reactions of Speroni stopped the home side extending their hard-fought lead, the keeper diving right to flick Whittingham's free-kick onto the bar.

Leicester 0 Cardiff 1 – match report

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Leicester 0 Cardiff 1: Bellamy goal sends Bluebirds clear at the top after win at Foxes

PUBLISHED:

17:28 GMT, 22 December 2012

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UPDATED:

17:33 GMT, 22 December 2012

Cardiff bounced back from their surprise home defeat to Peterborough with a smash-and-grab victory at Leicester to move three points clear at the top of the npower Championship.

Leicester laid siege to the Bluebirds' goal in the first half with chance after chance going begging.

David Marshall made a handful of saves to keep the Foxes at bay and, when he was beaten by Andy King's long-range effort, a post came to his rescue.

Flying high: Craig Bellamy celebrates scoring the only goal of the game

Flying high: Craig Bellamy celebrates scoring the only goal of the game

Match facts

Leicester: Schmeichel, Konchesky, Morgan, Whitbread, De Laet, Dyer (Lingard 68), King, Drinkwater, Knockaert (Marshall 68), Nugent,Vardy (Waghorn 51).

Subs not used: Logan, James, Moore, Futacs.

Cardiff: Marshall, Taylor, Hudson, Turner, Connolly, Kim (Cowie 55), Whittingham, Mutch (Gunnarsson 76), Conway, Bellamy, Helguson (Gestede 51).

Subs not used: Lewis, McNaughton, Noone, Mason.

Booked: Turner, Connolly, Whittingham.

Goal: Bellamy 25.

Attendance: 25,055

Referee: Graham Salisbury

Latest Championship results, fixtures and table

Craig Bellamy looked a threat on the counter-attack throughout and it was he who grabbed the only goal of the game against the run of play after 25 minutes.

The Wales international showed great technique after collecting Craig Conway's pass to find the bottom left-hand corner of the net from 12 yards out.

That seemed to knock the stuffing out of Leicester, who created very little afterward.
The Foxes were unchanged from the side that started last weekend's defeat at Millwall, although striker Martyn Waghorn was fit enough for a place on the bench following surgery to remove his appendix.

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay made three changes after seeing his side's 100 per cent home record ended by struggling Peterborough.

Mark Hudson returned to skipper the side after suspension, which saw Matt Connolly revert to right-back and Kevin McNaughton drop to the bench.

Kim Bo-kyung was also restored to the starting line up in place of Craig Noone, while Jordon Mutch took the place of Don Cowie.

Leicester started brightly with Danny Drinkwater firing over early on.

David Nugent became the first home player of the afternoon to be frustrated by Marshall when the Scot parried his effort from the edge of the area.

Smash and grab: Craig Bellamy scores the only goal of the game

Smash and grab: Craig Bellamy scores the only goal of the game

King struck a post after 13 minutes when the ball broke to him outside the area after Marshall had kept out Wes Morgan's header.

Marshall then twice denied Anthony Knockaert when the Frenchman let fly from long range before Bellamy delivered the killer blow for the Foxes.

Jamie Vardy might have done better than head over the crossbar before half-time in what turned out to be Leicester's final real chance.

Pearson's side tried to push for an equalising goal in the second half, but were always wary of the threat caused by Bellamy's pace, perhaps preventing them from committing as many players forward as they would have liked.

Nugent and substitute Ben Marshall fired in shots from outside the box but never worried the Cardiff keeper.

Back-to-back defeats are a blow to Leicester's automatic promotion aspirations, which will come under intense scrutiny again on Boxing Day when they travel to Pearson's former club Hull.

The victory gives Cardiff a slight cushion ahead of their home game against title rivals Crystal Palace in four day's time.

James Wade marches into second round of World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace

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Well-oiled Machine: Wade marches into second round at Alexandra Palace

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UPDATED:

23:43 GMT, 17 December 2012

James Wade produced a workmanlike performance to beat Peter Hudson 3-0 and progress to the second round of the World Darts Championship on Monday.

The Machine, who has yet to win a world crown, never hit full stride but his 91.09 average and four 180s were more than enough to see off Hudson’s challenge at Ally Pally.

It was a scrappy start to the match as both players missed four doubles in the first leg before Wade hit double two to take it.

But Hudson came back to take leg two, after Wade let him in by missing double top, before The Machine got his act together to win the next two legs and take the opening set 3-1.

Wade moved safely through to the last 32 with a 3-0 win over Peter Hudson

Wade moved safely through to the last 32 with a 3-0 win over Peter Hudson

The Machine averaged 91.09 but wasn't satisfied with his performance despite a straight sets win

The Machine averaged 91.09 but wasn't satisfied with his performance despite a straight sets win

DAY FOUR RESULTS

Peter Wright 3-0 Aaron Monk

Mark Webster 3-1 Ian White

James Wade 3-0 Peter Hudson

Jamie Caven 2-3 John Bowles

Having lost the first leg of set two, Wade checked out 76 to level at 1-1 before Hudson missed double 20 in the next leg to gift The Machine a break and he sealed that set 3-1 as well with a 62 checkout in the next leg.

Hudson’s double trouble continued in set three and he allowed Wade another easy break as he missed two more darts at double top. Wade closed out the match in the next leg with a 56 checkout to take the set 3-0 and win the match by the same margin but he wasn’t happy with how he played.

He told Sky Sports his performance was ‘not very good but good enough’.

‘I thought it was going to be really good because I’ve practiced really hard for the past six weeks and you get up there and play like that and it is so frustrating.

‘I have never done so much work before and played that poor but I beat a really good player,' he added.

The Ally Pally crowd were in good spirits on Monday night

The Ally Pally crowd were in good spirits on Monday night

The Ally Pally crowd were in good spirits on Monday night

Former BDO world champion Mark Webster also won his first-round match on Monday night with a thrilling 3-1 win over Ian White.

Webby, who has had one of his worst years since moving across to the PDC, took a 2-0 lead before stuttering over the line and into the last 32 in a match that had 14 180s.

Webster made a flying start and took the opening set 3-1 thanks to some big checkouts.

The Welshman checkout out 124 to break the throw in the first leg and then 107 to break again in leg three before hitting double top in the next leg to seal the first set.

Mark Webster beat Ian White 3-1 in a thriller at Alexandra PalaceMark Webster beat Ian White 3-1 in a thriller at Alexandra Palace

Mark Webster beat Ian White 3-1 in a thriller at Alexandra Palace

And Webby’s good form continued into set two as he hit double 10 to break in the second leg before hitting the same double to wrap up the set 3-0.

But things started to change for Webster in the third set as his scoring dropped and he began to miss doubles.

Having exchanged breaks, the players were level at 2-2 and a dramatic deciding leg followed. Both players couldn’t hit a double and Webster missed eight chances to win the match before White finally won the leg to take the set 3-2.

But then, ironically, at the start of set four Webster hit two doubles out of two, including a 145 checkout, to move 2-0 ahead.

And the former world champion didn't let White off the hook again as he sealed the match with a double 12 before showing his delight having endured a torrid year.

He told Sky Sports: ‘I have been practising hard and working hard and it has paid off. I should have wrapped it up 3-0 but it is a perfect start for me.

‘I haven’t played well enough – simple as that.

‘I’ve bottled a lot of games this year but I held myself together there. You are only as good as your last game in darts and that was pretty good so I’m looking forward to the next round.’

Peter Wright started the evening with a crushing 3-0 win over 2011 under-21 world champion Aaron Monk.

Peter Wright started day four with a comfortable 3-0 win over Aaron Monk

Peter Wright started day four with a comfortable 3-0 win over Aaron Monk

22-year-old Monk put up a good fight in the opening set, forcing Wright to a deciding leg, but his resistance quickly broke as Wright took the second and third sets 3-1 and 3-0 respectively to move into the last 32.

Qualifier John Bowles rounded off the night with a 3-2 win over Jamie Caven in a late-night classic.

Bowles broke Caven's throw at a crucial point in the match to lead 3-2 in the final set before holding his nerve to set up a second-round clash with Gary Anderson on Friday afternoon.

Tuesday night will see The King enter the Palace as Mervyn King starts his campaign against Dean Winstanley. Wes Newton, Colin Osborne and Steve Beaton will also feature on day five at Ally Pally.

Blackburn 1 Cardiff 4: Bluebirds stretch lead at the top

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Blackburn 1 Cardiff 4: Bellamy dreaming again as Bluebirds stretch lead at the top

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UPDATED:

23:22 GMT, 7 December 2012

Old boy Craig Bellamy enjoyed a
goalscoring return to Blackburn as Cardiff cantered four points clear at
the top of the Championship.

The Welshman edged his side back in front five minutes after Josh King had cancelled out Mark Hudson’s.

Four-star: Craig Bellamy celebrates scoring Cardiff's second

Four-star: Craig Bellamy celebrates scoring Cardiff's second

MATCH FACTS

Blackburn: Robinson, Henley, Grant Hanley, Dann, Martin Olsson, Formica (Nunes 70), Etuhu, Lowe, Markus Olsson (Kazim-Richards 46), King, Rhodes.

Subs not used: Kean, Givet, Pedersen, Rochina, Vukcevic.

Booked: Martin Olsson, Hanley, Lowe.

Goal: King 51.

Cardiff: Marshall, Connolly, Hudson, Turner, Taylor, Noone (Kim 69), Conway, Cowie, Whittingham, Bellamy (Mason 80), Helguson (Gestede 90).

Subs not used: Lewis, McNaughton, Gunnarsson, Lappin.

Booked: Hudson, Noone, Helguson.

Goals: Hudson 34, Bellamy 55, Mason 84, Kim 85.

Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)

Attendance: 12,460.

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Cardiff went on to make their ascendancy count with substitutes Joe Mason and Kim Bo-Kyung scoring in the final six minutes.

Bellamy, 33, said: ‘I was so fortunate to win a trophy with Liverpool last season but if I can finish my career by getting Cardiff to the Premier League with Cardiff it might be a dream come true.’

Cardiff were on top from the start and there was little doubt they would take their current run to 16 points from a possible 18 on offer. Their constant harrying of Rovers midfield ensured they quickly won back possession and they used it effectively once in control of the ball.

Defender Hudson gave them a 30th-minute lead by heading in his fourth goal of the season from Craig Noone’s cross.

King levelled at the start of the second half, converting a intelligent pass on the turn from substitute Colin Kazim-Richards.

But parity was short-lived. Bellamy, who had hit the bar in the first half, swapped headers with Heidar Helguson and angled a shot home.

Helguson grew increasingly influential and it was his work as a link man that set up Cardiff’s grandstand finish.

Flying high: The Bluebirds are now four points clear at the top of the Championship

Flying high: The Bluebirds are now four points clear at the top of the Championship

His header allowed Mason to run
through and shoot past Robinson before his square ball picked out
Bo-Kyung to fire into the corner.

The defeat extended Rovers’ poor form under new boss Henning Berg.

The Norwegian is yet to see his team
win at home in four attempts and one victory in eight games overall has
seen the side plummet down the table.

Berg admitted: ‘Cardiff were a better
all over. They had better finishing and defended better than us. The
way we used the ball in first half is way off where we want to be. We
can play better.’

Rout: Kim (left) completed the scoring

Rout: Kim (left) completed the scoring

Cardiff 1 Sheffield Wednesday 0: Bluebirds return to top

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Cardiff 1 Sheffield Wednesday 0: Conway strike makes it perfect 10 for Bluebirds

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UPDATED:

17:26 GMT, 2 December 2012

Craig Conway made history as he secured his side's 10th successive victory at the Cardiff City Stadium with 10 minutes remaining and sent the Bluebirds back to the top of the npower Championship.

The Scot finally made the breakthrough with a left-footed drive that meant his side leapfrogged Crystal Palace back to the summit and took their places in the Cardiff record books.

In the second period Gary Madine almost fired Dave Jones' men into the lead against his manager's former employers, only to be denied by the reactions of David Marshall.

Blow: Craig Conway fired his 80th-minute goal in to secure victory

Blow: Craig Conway fired his 80th-minute goal in to secure victory

MATCH FACTS

Cardiff: Marshall, Connolly, Hudson, Turner, Taylor, Bellamy, Conway, Kim (Mason 60), Mutch (Gunnarsson 79), Whittingham, Helguson (Gestede 70).

Subs not used: Lewis, McNaughton, Cowie, Lappin.

Booked: Mutch.

Goal: Conway 80.

Sheff Wed: Kirkland, Buxton, Taylor, Helan, Llera, Antonio, Lines, Mayor (Jermaine Johnson 64), Prutton, O'Grady (Rodri 86), Sidibe (Madine 33).

Subs not used: /12/02/article-2241856-16518524000005DC-540_468x313.jpg” width=”468″ height=”313″ alt=”Just like that: Conway ended Sheffield Wednesday's hopes late in the day ” class=”blkBorder” />

Just like that: Conway ended Sheffield Wednesday's hopes late in the day

Taylor and Bellamy then swapped roles to create the Bluebirds' next
opening with Bellamy missing the target with a header after Peter
Whittingham's inch-perfect through-ball sent Taylor scampering down the
left.

Jordon Mutch, who celebrated his 21st birthday with his first start
since September, was next to get in on the act with a fizzing effort
which was almost headed past his own keeper by Miguel Llera.

Cardiff were beginning to up the ante against a side 23 points below
them and four minutes later Mutch tried his luck again, his powerful
drive from distance parried by Owls goalkeeper Chris Kirkland before the
ball was hacked to safety by Llera.

Top of the pile: Cardiff made it 10 home wins from 10

Top of the pile: Cardiff made it 10 home wins from 10

Struggling: Wednesday remain in the drop zone

Struggling: Wednesday remain in the drop zone

Despite their hosts' midfield dictating proceedings this Wednesday side
showed little resemblance to the one comprehensively thrashed at home by
Watford on Tuesday as they saw out the rest of the first half without
any real difficulty.

Having found the back of the net in their last 17 Championship matches
it seemed only a matter of time before Malky Mackay's men made the
breakthrough.

Bellamy fired into the midriff of Kirkland and the former Coventry
goalkeeper did well to hold onto Mark Hudson's flick from Bellamy's
cross but Wednesday were proving a tough nut to crack.

Wednesday did switch off at a free-kick allowing Bellamy to cross for
Conway to fire over the bar but a minute later only Marshall denied them
a shock opener. Michail Antonio slipped the first-half substitute
through and his low drive from the right-hand side of the box was well
saved by the Scot's legs.

Then history was made with the next real chance in the 80th minute,
substitute Joe Mason nodding the ball back into the path of Conway just
outside the box. The former Dundee United winger controlled the ball on
his right knee before firing a left-footed shot into Kirkland's bottom
right-hand corner to spark wild celebrations in south Wales.

Cardiff 2 Hull 1: match report

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Cardiff 2 Hull 1: Hudson strike maintains Bluebirds' 100 per cent home record

PUBLISHED:

17:29 GMT, 10 November 2012

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UPDATED:

17:29 GMT, 10 November 2012

Cardiff recorded their eighth successive home win this season with victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Hull.

Heidar Helguson's third-minute header looked set to be the only goal until captain Mark Hudson threw himself at Aron Gunnarsson's cross with eight minutes to go.

Robert Koren's goal in the 90th minute made the home side sweat in the closing seconds but they held on to maintain their 100 per cent record at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Home and hosed: Cardiff have won eight on the bounce after Hudosn's strike

Home and hosed: Cardiff have won eight on the bounce after Hudson's strike

Match facts

Cardiff: Marshall, McNaughton (Kiss 19), Hudson, Turner, Taylor,
Noone, Whittingham, Kim, Gunnarsson, Mason, Helguson (Gestede 66), Kiss (Ralls 46).

Subs not used: Lewis, Conway, Frei, Nugent.

Booked: Kim, Turner.

Goals: Helguson 3, Hudson 82.

Hull: Amos, Rosenior, Chester, McShane (Brady 56), Faye, Elmohamady, Evans, Koren,Quinn (Mclean 75), Simpson (Meyler 56), Aluko.

Subs not used: Jakupovic, McKenna, Olofinjana, Proschwitz.

Goals: Koren 90.

Attendance: 20,058

Referee: Iain Williamson (Berkshire).

Click here for latest Championship results, fixtures and table

Manager Malky Mackay responded to his
side's 5-4 defeat at Charlton last time out by making three changes
with Kevin McNaughton, Gunnarsson and Kim Bo-kyung coming back into the
side.

Steve Bruce, taking charge of a team
for the 600th time, made just one change with injured son Alex being
replaced in defence by Abdoulaye Faye.

Cardiff have made a habit of starting
games well and they scored within the opening five minutes for the
third time in their last four games when Craig Noone stood up a cross
for Helguson, who nodded home after three minutes.

The chances continued to flow freely
for the Bluebirds with Hudson's header rattling the bar and Joe Mason
and Gunnarsson also having chances.

The Tigers began to come back into
the game as the match headed towards half-time. Koren, who shone
throughout for Bruce's men, had a shot blocked and then Sone Aluko's
effort went over the bar.

Jay Simpson did have the ball in the net just before the break but it was ruled out for offside.

Noone had been in fine form for
Cardiff in recent weeks and he was only denied on 55 minutes by the feet
of Ben Amos after the former Brighton winger cut inside his marker and
lashed a low shot towards goal. A minute later Helguson failed to test
Amos when he headed just over when unmarked.

Bruce sent on David Meyler and Robbie Brady but it was Koren who had the next chance, firing a snap-shot wide from 18 yards.

At the other end referee Iain
Williamson waved away penalty appeals from the home side after Joe Mason
felt he was fouled inside the box. It was then Noone's chance to
threaten the Hull backline with two shots in quick succession, the first
was blocked and the second was kept out by Amos.

Aluko then came incredibly close to
his seventh goal of the season in the 70th minute with a 25 yard
free-kick that clipped the bar.

Peter Whittingham then tried his luck
from a free-kick only to see Amos to make a sensational save but just a
minute later Hudson's flying header set them on course for the three points.

There was still time for Whittingham
to hit the bar with a 30 yard free-kick before Koren set up a
nail-biting finale with a stunning 25-yard volley.

Charlton 5 Cardiff 4 – match report

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Charlton 5 Cardiff 4: Addicks hammer five past Bluebirds in nine-goal thriller

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UPDATED:

00:41 GMT, 7 November 2012

Just when you thought we'd seen it all in recent weeks, The Valley bore witness to a nine-goal epic that ripped up the form book and left those in attendance rubbing their eyes in disbelief.

Johnnie Jackson produced a captain's performance as struggling Charlton fought from two goals down and despite a late rally, Malky Mackay's side surrendered top spot after losing from a winning position for the second time in as many games.

Beat that: Stephens' stunning free-kick deceives Marshall

Beat that: Stephens' stunning free-kick deceives Marshall

Match facts

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Cort, Morrison, Kerkar, Haynes (Wright-Phillips 68), Stephens (Hollands 90), Dervite, Pritchard, Jackson, Hulse.

Subs not used: Button, Taylor, Green, Fox, Azeez.

Booked: Pritchard, Morrison, Solly, Stephens.

Goals: Jackson 39, 45, Stephens 54, Haynes 59, Hulse 65.

Cardiff: Marshall, Connolly, Hudson, Turner, Taylor, Frei (Kim 65), Cowie (Gunnarsson 65), Mason, Whittingham, Noone, Helguson (Gestede 73).

Subs not used: Lewis, McNaughton, Kiss, Conway.

Booked: Connolly, Taylor, Turner.

Goals: Helguson 4, Mason 24, Noone 90, Gunnarsson 90.

Attendance: 15,764

Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).

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First-half goals from Heidar
Helguson and Joe Mason seemed certain to secure Cardiff three points but
a Jackson double, a bizarre Dale Stephens free-kick and goals from
Danny Haynes and Rob Hulse saw them leave with nothing.

Strikes from Craig Noone and Aron Gunnarsson during six minutes of added time provided jitters, but nothing more.

It was a first win in five games for Chris Powell's injury-hit team and saw them move five points clear of the drop zone.

This after scoring just five at home this season and never more than twice in any game.

Afterwards, Powell joked he would take 1-0 'every time' but added: 'What a game for everyone who was present.

'We've seen the Reading-Arsenal game
and goals do change games. Johnnie Jackson got one, the crowd livened up
and we were on the front foot.

'The first 20 minutes of the second
period we were devastating. I'm not happy with goals against because
that can count as an extra point, but it was a superb night for us.'

Thriller: The Addicks bagged three goals in 11 second-half minutes

Thriller: The Addicks bagged three goals in 11 second-half minutes

Mackay said: 'You can't legislate for
individual errors to that extent. If players can cancel that out, a
more rounded performance comes into it.'

Cardiff went ahead in the fourth
minute, Helguson heading a Peter Whittingham corner. Another delicious
corner from Whittingham helped them double the lead 20 minutes later as
Mason rammed home from eight yards.

Heads up: Heidar Helguson opens the scoring for Cardiff

Heads up: Heidar Helguson opens the scoring for Cardiff

The visitors looked in cruise control
but Jackson took advantage of calamitous goalkeeping from David
Marshall in the 39th minute to send a rocket into the top corner from
the edge of the box and then headed home Salim Kerkar's inswinger in
first-half added time.

After the break, Stephens swung a 40-yard free-kick long and deep and over the despairing hand of Marshall.

The midfielder's bemused look
indicated that he had not meant it. It got better for Charlton five
minutes later as Haynes headed home Bradley Pritchard's centre to send
the home supporters delirious.

They sang 'We want six' following Rob
Hulse's goal soon after, but that never came, and instead two late
Cardiff goals made for a nervy finish.

Bolton 2 Cardiff 1: match report

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Bolton 2 Cardiff 1: Freedman off to winning start as Ngog completes comeback

PUBLISHED:

19:16 GMT, 3 November 2012

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UPDATED:

20:03 GMT, 3 November 2012

David Ngog made a remarkable cameo appearance for Bolton as he came off the bench to score the winning goal before being sent off in Dougie Freedman's first match as Trotters manager.

The hosts had started brightly against npower Championship leaders Cardiff but struggled to create opportunities, and their failure to deal with a first-half Peter Whittingham cross allowed Craig Noone to fire home the opener from 18 yards.

The 63rd-minute introduction of Ngog sparked a fightback from Freedman's men, the Frenchman having a goal disallowed before winning a penalty – converted by Martin Petrov – and flicking in a winner from close range.

Winner: David Ngog (centre) celebrates with his Bolton team-mates

Winner: David Ngog (centre) celebrates with his Bolton team-mates

Match facts

Bolton:
Bogdan, Ricketts, Knight, Mills, Warnock, Lee (Ream 79), Andrews,
Pratley (Petrov 57), Eagles, Mark Davies, Kevin Davies (Ngog 63).

Subs Not Used: Lynch, Sordell, Afobe, Spearing.

Sent Off: Ngog (90).

Booked: Warnock,Lee,Ngog.

Goals: Petrov 69 pen,Ngog 74.

Cardiff: Marshall,
Connolly, Hudson, Turner, Taylor, Cowie, Whittingham, Kim (Gunnarsson
70), Noone, Mason (Frei 83), Helguson (Gestede 63).

Subs Not Used: Lewis, McNaughton. Kiss, Conway.

Booked: Connolly.

Goals: Noone 40.

Att: 17,304

Ref: Tony Bates (Staffordshire).

Latest Championship table, fixtures and results

However, Bolton's hero was then given his marching orders for a second yellow card in the 90th minute, capping an eventful evening for the frontman.

It was a cagey encounter for much of the first half with both teams battling for possession in the centre of the park, providing little challenge for Adam Bogdan and David Marshall in their respective goals.

Having not mustered a shot on target for the opening 40 minutes, it was the league leaders who opened the scoring. The hosts failed to clear their lines from a Peter Whittingham cross, allowing Noone to fire the ball into the bottom-right corner of the goal from the edge of the area.
Noone's effort was all that separated the two sides at the end of a drab first half at the Reebok Stadium.

Bolton emerged for the second half with renewed intent and energy and it was not long before they started to threaten an equaliser.

Keith Andrews fired wide from the edge of the area before Chris Eagles stung the palms of Marshall from a similar distance.

Cardiff responded to Bolton's attempted fightback by placing their opponents under a spell of sustained pressure, but were unable to make it count and extend their lead.

Substitute Ngog had the ball in the back of the net on 64 minutes – just moments after replacing Kevin Davies – but the linesman ruled out the effort for offside, though he looked to have been played on by at least two Cardiff defenders.

Winning start: New Bolton manager Dougie Freedman (centre)

Winning start: New Bolton manager Dougie Freedman (centre)

Bolton's spell of pressure told on 68 minutes when Martin Petrov grabbed an equaliser from the penalty spot. Ngog, who was a constant thorn in the side of the Cardiff defence after coming on, went down under a soft challenge from Kim Bo-kyung to allow Petrov to slot the ball past Marshall.

The Trotters doubled their lead just six minutes later. Cardiff's attempts to deal with a Mark Davies cross fell into the path of Eagles, who unleashed a long-range effort, which was flicked into the back of the net by Ngog on the edge of the six-yard box.

Ngog's evening came to an end shortly before the end when he picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Andrew Taylor.

Cardiff pushed to salvage something from the game and had a strong shout for a penalty in stoppage time, but were forced to return home empty-handed.