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Cardiff City sail with ease into semi-finals
Mar 10 2008 Simon Kendal-Williams, South Wales Echo
CARDIFF City put their Championship frustrations behind them with a scintillating display at the Riverside to book an historic date at Wembley.
Not even in his wildest dreams could Dave Jones have imagined his side would cruise so effortlessly into the FA Cup semi-finals.
The first 10 minutes aside, City enjoyed almost complete dominance over their Premier Division hosts, passing the ball around with a confidence and freedom not seen since – well, the last round.
More displays like this and we would be contemplating a second trip to the country’s newest stadium for the play-off final.
So effectively did Cardiff nullify Middlesbrough’s attacking threat that instead of nails being chewed down to the bone, the final quarter was little more than a victory parade.
Yes, Boro were impotent up front, showed scant imagination and played like a side being sucked into the Premier Division relegation dogfight.
But their inadequacies were highlighted by a Bluebirds side displaying every ingredient needed to create the third shock of the sixth round.
The defence, particularly the central pairing of Roger Johnson and Glenn Loovens, were rock solid, while the energy and willingness to chase every ball were epitomised by Aaron Ramsey, putting in another performance which would have had a few more Premiership suitors drooling.
Even Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink looked like he had borrowed a pair of legs from someone 10 years younger.
But it was the assurance with which City held on to their lead that stood out, as Jones recognised.
“We were composed, did the right things and it is up there with the best performances since I’ve been here,” said the Cardiff boss. “We said if we played to our potential and they were slightly off, then we would have a chance.
“After we got the goal, we put our foot on it, played some good football and defended when we had to.”
Clearly determined not to become another casualty on the weekend of the underdog, Middlesbrough predictably took the game to City.
Not for the first time this season, Cardiff’s left-hand side had been earmarked for some serious attention, and former City loan signing Gary O’Neil looked set to give Tony Capaldi a testing afternoon.
But after weathering what proved to be Boro’s best spell of the match, Cardiff sent their tirelessly vocal supporters into dreamland. And it was the man who gave them such a great start against Wolves in the last round who found the net.
A long throw from the left by Capaldi caused havoc in the Boro box, and after out-muscling Fabio Rochemback, captain Steve McPhail cushioned the ball to Peter Whittingham.
The midfielder showed a deft touch to evade two tackles, giving himself just enough space to curl a delightful shot with his right foot into Mark Schwarzer’s top left-hand corner.
The 3,900 City fans behind the opposite goal erupted, and they were still celebrating two minutes later when Hasselbaink spurned a golden chance to double the lead and mark his return to his old stomping ground with a goal, but his diving header flashed wide.
Middlesbrough’s previous three FA Cup ties had been yawn-inducing affairs, but this was real edge-of-the-seat stuff.
The irony was, though, that it was City who were playing with the freedom and conviction of a top-flight side.
Jones’ decision to rest Ramsey last Tuesday against Crystal Palace was looking inspired. The teenager was involved in everything, sitting just behind Hasselbaink and linking well with the striker on numerous occasions.
The Dutchman had just received a pass in the 23rd minute from the 17-year-old when he was scythed down 30 yards from goal on the left-hand side.
Whittingham floated the resulting free-kick to the far side of the six-yard box, where Johnson had managed to fend off the attentions of Emanuel Pogatetz, and with the Austrian in no man’s land, Johnson buried his header into the far corner.
For a team sponsored by a satnav company, Boro were having great difficulty in locating Peter Enckelman’s goal.
The first – and only – time the Finn’s palms were warmed was when a raking shot from Afonso Alves produced a fine stop on the half-hour mark after Gavin Rae had lost possession.
Seconds later, Kevin McNaughton made a desperate tackle to deny the same player, a challenge which had the home fans baying for a penalty.
Johnson had arguably a better chance five minutes before the half-time whistle.
The centre-half ghosted into the box to meet McPhail’s floating free-kick, but having lost Luke Young, Johnson headed weakly at Scwharzer from five yards.
As expected, Boro came out with a renewed sense of urgency after the break.
Mido replaced Alves, whose lack of decent service had left him looking anything but a £12.5m striker, but as Boro committed men forward, so City were able to counter attack in acres of space.
Moments after Rae had found himself in the unusual location of the opposition six-yard box, forcing a block from Wheater, Whittingham scampered past Downing on the right touchline.
His intelligent pullback for Parry on the edge of the area saw the striker force Wheater into a diving tackle, but still Boro could not wake from their slumber.
Downing sent a free-kick just over the bar, much to the disgust of the by now severely disgruntled home fans, but amazingly, Gareth Southgate’s side never came any closer to troubling Enckelman.
Steve Thompson, on for the exhausted Hasselbaink, did well to meet a McPhail cross for City’s only effort on target in the second half, but the tie was all but secured.
In the end, what little threat Boro posed simply petered out, as Cardiff sailed into the semi-final, to be held on April 5 or 6.
One of Jones’ constant gripes is the way he and his side are constantly reminded of the FA Cup final win of 1927.
One more win, and they will have the chance to write their own names in City folklore forever.
HOW THEY RATED
Peter Enkelman 8
Must have been amazed at how little he had to do against a multi-million pound strikeforce.The Finn did all that was asked of him, and produced a top-class save from Alves when called upon.
Kevin McNaughton 8
Is there a more consistent performer in the Championship? Ensured Downing had an afternoon to forget, and was only beaten by the England winger once.
Roger Johnson 9
Can’t remember the centre-half having a better game. Gave Alves nothing in the air, had Mido in his pocket and weighed in with another crucial goal.
Glenn Loovens 9
Equal to Johnson in his aerial supremacy, the Dutchman mopped up whenever Boro made inroads into the box. Gave Tuncay no room.
Tony Capaldi 8
Survived a torrid first 10 minutes before taking the game to Gary O’Neil.Visibly grew in confidence, and his long throws into the box were something Boro never got to grips with.
Peter Whittingham 9
Echo Man of the Match
Whits is proving to be the man for the big occasion. His goal was out of the top drawer for control, balance and execution.
Gavin Rae 8
Plenty of graft and acres of ground covered, the Scot even ventured into the Boro box on occasion. Brilliant tackle on Tuncay late on to thwart a rare attack.
Stephen McPhail (c) 8
We all know McPhail is technically excellent, and he revelled in the time and space afforded to him by Premier Division opposition. Was most definitely up for this one.
Aaron Ramsey 9
His performances this season have already exhausted every list of footballing superlatives. An incredibly mature display, he was instrumental in taking the game to Boro in the first half.
Paul Parry 8
Always involved, and on another day would have bagged a brace. Could have put City out of sight before if he had squared to Jimmy eight yards out.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink 8
Ran until he could run no more. Drew free-kicks, chased back, tackled and could have scored on his return to Teesside just after Whittingham’s goal. Thoroughly enjoyed himself.
Subs
S Thompson (for Hasselbaink, 76 mins), D Blake (for McNaughton, 88 mins), T Sinclair (for Parry, 82 mins).
Not used: D Purse, M Oakes (gk)
Middlesborough
M Schwarzer, L Young, D Wheater, R Huth, E Pogatetz; G O’Neil, F Rochemback, J Arca 9c), S Downing, T Sanli, A Alves. Subs: A Johnson (for O’Neil, 59 mins), Mido (for Alves, 46 mins). not used: J Grounds, G Boateng, R Turnbull (gk)
And what about the referee... Mike Dean (Wirral)
A display as assured as City’s. Got it right when Alves claimed to have been hauled down by McNaughton and diffused the Parry v Huth spat efficiently.
