Team
Westwood,Osbourne,Dann,Fox,Ward (Hall 46),Doyle,Gunnarsson,McKenzie, Morrison (Best 72), Tabb (Mifsud 69),Eastwood SNU Marshall,Beuzelin
Cardiff
Heaton, McNaughton,Johnson,Purse,Kennedy,Whittingham,Rae,Ledley, McPhail,McCormack Snu Enkleman,Gyepes,Johnson,Parry,Comminges
HT CCFC 1-0 CCFC FT CCFC 2-1 CCFC
Att 16 312
Ref R.East
Booked Gunnarsson, McKenzie
Goals Jay Bothroyd (30), Ross McCormack (84),Scott Dann (88)
Man Of The Match Keiran Westwood took the votes.
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STARTING LINE UP
Chris Coleman named the same team for the fourth consecutive game after Michael Doyle and Jay Tabb past fitness tests.
Cardiff Boss and Coventry City Former Player Association member Dave Jones included Jay Bothroyd.
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Coventry City were left to curse an appalling refereeing decision which cost them a probable point at Cardiff City.
We travelled to Ninian Park and got through the traffic to arrive for our probably last visit to the home of Cardiff City.
Parking in view of the new home of the Bluebirds, full credit must go to the Cardiff police and stewards who helped me get into the ground and made sure we got out and away safely afterwards.
Ninian Park was fuller than in previous seasons for this encounter, but when you consider that some Cardiff fans had to buy season tickets in order to get an FA Cup Final ticket last season,the size of the gate was to be expected.
There were about 350 City supporters,including a good number from South Wales and some from Northern Ireland in the ground and we made plenty of noise as an unchanged City side took the field.
In a lively atmosphere, the Sky Blues,got into the home side from the start.
They passed the ball and moved well but yet again, the killer touch in front of goal was missing.
Michael Doyle gave Tom Heaton a too easy catch in the sixth minute and nine minutes later, the keeper on loan from Manchester City caught an Eastwood header after good work from Morrison and Tabb.
Chances continued to be attained with Morrison firing agonisingly wide with a low drive and a hook from Leon McKenzie going across the face of the goal.
Jay Bothroyd had been abused everytime he touched the ball including chants infering that the former Udinese and Blackburn man was lazy. Some of the Cardiff supporters joined in with this and on the half hour mark, the rest of the home support was chanting it at the Coventry support when Bothroyd found the net.
To be fair, it was a great run and shot but City's midfield should have stopped the ball getting to him in the first place.
Referee Mr East, in his first Championship game of the season, was clearly showing his inexperience at handling big boys football and was as equally at fault as the assistant referee in front of the main stand when Jay Tabb was shoved over by Mark Kennedy.
If this was bad,what happened in the 55th minute was a complete disgrace.
City had brought on Marcus Hall at the break after Elliott Ward had pulled a groin strain and Westwood had made terrific saves to deny Darren Purse, then the excellent Ross McCormack and a free kick with his chest.
Coventry got the ball in the centre of midfield. The referee spotted a handball, but waved play on. The assistant referee on the Main Stand side dropped his flag.
The ball went to Freddie Eastwood, who with his usual calmness thumped the ball into the net.
We went ballistic,the players went ballistic and close to a minute passed as the players got back to the centre circle.
As they did,the Cardiff players surrounded the assistant referee. Items were clearly seen to be thrown as the City players came over towards the main stand with Danny Fox and Eastwood particularly not impressed.
This intimidation of the assistant and then the referee had taken a further minute and when the officals did concur,unbelieveably the goal was ruled out.
Chants of "1-0 to the referee" along with a torrent of abuse were directed by the City support towards the hapless officials,who will probably get away with this display of inepitude.
Westwood made a superb stop with his feet from a Bothroyd shot before Michael Mifsud and Leon Best were sent on.
Best missed with a free header and Cardiff regrouped. An 83rd minute attack down the left saw Bothroyd skate past Dann and get the ball inside to McCormack. Isaac Osbourne tried to tackle the striker who went down and was awarded a penalty.
McCormack scored with the spot kick but with just over a minute of normal time left,the Sky Blues were back in the match.
Marcus Hall got down the left flank and delivered a sublime cross for Scott Dann to rise and head into the net.
Five minutes was announced as the stoppage time and we roared City on.
Michael Mifsud had a shot blocked but City could not find the net and went down to a very unjust defeat.