Hasselbaink finds the route to goal

Jan 14 2008 by Steve Tucker, Western Mail

Cardiff City 1-0 Sheffield Weds

HAVE you seen that film Invasion of the Bodysnatchers? Well, that is the kind of scenario that seems to be going on down at Ninian Park at the moment.

At the start of the season a bunch of blokes looked so gormless and off-colour that you feared for their very Championship survival, let alone anything else.

But now those chumps have been imbued with the spirits of tenacious, silky, skilful footballers. It is spooky and thrilling all at the same time.

Because in the first half, in particular, the Bluebirds were in an absolute different class. Fluent, relentless, with some sweet, sweeping passing movement that really took the breath away at times.

Sheffield Wednesday are a reasonable Championship outfit, probably in a false position in the division, but City ran them ragged and should really have gone in with more than what turned out to be the winner from Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink to show for their first-half endeavours.

If there was one cause for concern it was the Bluebirds’ profligacy in front of goal with Wales international Joe Ledley guilty of a glaring miss just before the break which would have made proceedings a lot more relaxed.

But, in front of a disappointingly small, but vociferous crowd, when the visitors did push on in search of an equaliser in the second half they were met by a Bluebirds defence that also finds itself transformed.

Whereas before City would have buckled and ended up with a measly draw or worse from such a match, the visitors’ were met with a determined and impressive rearguard action.

Roger Johnson and Glenn Loovens were magnificent at its heart and the consistent Kevin McNaughton and resurgent Tony Capaldi both excellent at full-back.

There was a lot to admire all over the pitch from Cardiff and, well, if they should have made things a lot easier on themselves, then at least it gave supporters the hearts-in-mouths action integral to a good afternoon at the footy.

What it does do is push manager Dave Jones and his team up to eighth in the division, just two points off those inviting play-off positions.

It was the Bluebirds’ fourth home win on the trot and means seven wins from their last nine games in all competitions. Excellent and well-deserved statistics at a pivotal time in the campaign.

Match-winner Hasselbaink insists there is a belief within the Cardiff camp that they can force their way, and then stay, in one of those top six places, though the former Chelsea marksman admitted it had taken City time to bed down this season.

And despite his 36th-minute strike being his sixth of the season, putting him joint top scorer with the injured Robbie Fowler, Hasselbaink admitted he was not happy with the frequency with which he has been finding the net so far.

“I would have liked to have done a little bit better, particularly with the goal tallies,” said the 35-year-old.

“The thing is it was always going to be difficult in the beginning, you play so many matches and we had new players. So it all had to gel.

“We did play some good football at the start of the season, but we did not really get the results. But you have to keep working hard and keep believing.

“There are 18 or 19 matches to go in the Championship so there is still a lot to play for.

“We have kept on believing, we kept on working very hard and, as a team, we are putting a great run together.

“We have some important players at the moment who are playing very well – Stephen McPhail, Gavin Rae and Joe Ledley – and that is very important.

“If we can keep this going, we can keep on getting the right results. Sometimes we are a little naive, but that is normal.

“Sometimes we are looking for the perfect goal and that doesn’t exist in football.

“Sometimes you just have to do the dirty things and at the moment that is what we are doing.

“We are not spanking people, but we are getting results. That is good for the confidence of the whole team.

“Personally, if we keep winning, I am enjoying myself. It is all about winning. It is about making sure you get the three points.

“It is not about Jimmy, it is about Cardiff City. I scored the 1-0 here, hopefully next week it will be someone else who scores and we get the 1-0.

“We are believing we can get into the top six places, but it is still too early to be talking about that. You just have to try to win each game.

“Next week we are playing West Brom and they are the best footballing team in the division. They score the most goals and it is going to be a challenge.”

Quite. The trip to the Hawthorns now stands as a fascinating test of what this Cardiff side really is capable of producing.

Of course, they will go into that match with no fear after recent form, but if they are to return from the Midlands with anything, it might well take a bit more clinical finishing when chances do present themselves.

Despite the recent improvement, the jury is still very much out on Paul Parry’s role up front with the wideman naturally lacking a striker’s instinct to find space in the penalty area.

It is a shame that current financial difficulties prevent Jones from significant work in the transfer window because, with a couple of additions, maybe another frontman and full-back, the Bluebirds could be a real force as the season comes to a conclusion.

They will, however, soon be boosted by the return of Trevor Sinclair and Riccy Scimeca, both set to resume training this week after long-term injury.

Whether Cardiff have the depth to fulfil their dreams remains to be seen, yet no can question their character.

Baggies, beware.