Annis Abraham : A game of two halves BUT

My View/Opinion

For me City threw the win away by not taking advantage of the first half domination and allowing Blackburn to hammer us in the second half and Blackburn totally dominated the second 45 minutes.

In the end we were lucky to get away with a draw.
Blackburn 1 Cardiff City 1

Marshall, Peltier, Malone, Morrison, Connolly, Whittingham, Ralls, Pilkington, Dikgacoi, Revell, Mason.
Subs Moore, Ameobi, Noone, Fabio, Jones ,Gunnarsson and Doyle.

Crowd 12,025

Away Support 350-400 City Fans.

After a battling performance at QPR on Saturday, we travelled the long journey to Blackburn 3 days later, with real hope in our minds.

Whilst Blackburn had lost their last 2 home games in a row, this for me was a good chance for City to get all 3pts.

First attack of the game by Cardiff 1 – 0, Joe Mason getting the goal.

On 22 minutes, City fans did an emotional tribute for Gareth Seville, who has sadly passed away after a long illness.

For the first 25 mins City comfortably controlled the game.

At this stage I felt our defence looked more comfortable as well with Marshall shouting orders.

Marshall did a good safe in 25th minute.

32 minutes and a thunder-shot by Dikgacoi went slightly wide of the Blackburn goal.

City were controlling the game, Marshall was urging the team forward and to keep attacking.

40th minute and City conceded their first corner resulting in a shot just wide by Blackburn.

41st minute and Matthew Connolly received a booking and conceded a free kick just outside the box, a shot come cross with which Blackburn had a goal disallowed for offside for a header.

45th minute, City kicked the ball off the line then just a minute later Morrison cleared another shot off the line and then David Marshall had to make a last ditch clearance.

City went in at half time 1-0 up after dominating the first 40 minutes off the game but the last five minutes of the half saw City under immense pressure and they only just managed to hang on to the lead.

Half time 0-1

The first 5 minutes of the second half and the ball is mainly in the centre of the pitch with no side taking control.

56th minute superb save by Marshall.

59th minute header wide by Blackburn, it was all Blackburn at this point.

60th minute and Morrison is booked for bad challenge, could easily have been a red.

Kenwyne Jones is on for Alex Revell in the 64th minute.

72nd minute Kenwyne shoots and deflected for a corner.

73rd Gunnarsson is on for Dikgacoi.

Up to this point, it has been mostly Blackburn in the second half, really looking like a game of two halves up to this point.

81 minutes and Blackburn are showing signs of frustration, giving away free kicks and a few misplaced passes.

84th minute and every Blackburn outfield player are in the City half, Blackburn are desperate to get an equaliser.

Craig Noone on for Joe Mason in the 85th minute.

87th minute and Blackburn equalised through their captain who tapped in a cross at the far post, gutting for City.

My man of the match, David Marshall.

58% possession for Blavkburn and 42% for Cardiff.

17 shots for Blackburn and just 6 for Cardiff.

6 of Blackburn’s shots were on target and 2 of City’s.

4 minutes of added time.

Craig Noone brought down in the 92nd minute and he takes the free kick himself and shoots direct just over the bar.

Blackburn have a corner in the 93rd minute that comes to nothing.

Full time Blackburn 1 Cardiff 1

Next up Wolves home this Saturday live at 5.15pm.