Bluebirds warm up nicely for Wembley date

Apr 2 2008 by Mark Bloom, South Wales Echo

Cardiff City 0-0 West Brom

THE decks have been cleared, and, for the next five days, Wembley is all that matters.

And for the secret 20,000 Bluebirds supporters who go to North London this weekend but couldn’t be bothered turning up at Ninian Park last night, I’m happy to report that City will travel in good form and with confidence high.

With both sides facing massive cup encounters – the Baggies on Saturday against Portsmouth and City against Barnsley a day later – there was always the suspicion that this would be a tepid affair with both sets of players saving themselves for the big day out.

Not a bit of it.

This was no warm-up game, both teams tore into one another with zeal, City chasing the play-offs and Albion an automatic promotion spot.

Wembley has been mentioned a thousand times in this neck of the woods in recent weeks and both sets of fans were singing about the forthcoming trip last night.

Had City taken all three points from this one they would have gone to the capital on a wave of expectancy about what they may achieve in the league as well.

As it turned out the point was hard-earned and not to be sneezed at, but it leaves them five points adrift of Wolves who occupy sixth place and with an awful lot to chase down.

You still wouldn’t write City off gaining a top six berth, especially if they win at Wembley and take confidence from that.

But it is for others to slip up now, and it’s hard not to look back at some of the woeful displays the side served up earlier in the season and feel frustrated.

That said, supporters’ minds will now be focussed on one thing – and who can blame them?

Most are used to travelling to the most unglamorous venues up and down the country and returning at the most unsociable hours.

This Sunday they will dine out at the Mecca of the British game. It will be a moment in the sun that is well deserved and long overdue.

City boss Jones has key selection decisions to make, largely centring on who plays up front and on the flanks.

Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink served the last game of his suspension last night and will surely come in for Wembley given his big game experience.

Who partners him in attack though is the question.

Paul Parry went off with a hamstring tweak last night, while Warren Feeney is ineligible for selection.

As for Steve Thompson, regardless of whether or not he too was hampered by injury he did little to enhance his claims, missing one sitter of a chance in the early exchanges when he found himself in space and with time on the six-yard line only to plant his shot over the bar.

But what about Trevor Sinclair?

He scurried around to superb effect against West Brom, claiming a deserved sponsors’ man of the match award.

It’s unlikely Jones will start with him on Saturday, but on this evidence he has to be an option.

It was good to see Joe Ledley last the whole game and also Kevin McNaughton, who returned from his hamstring trouble with an assured and committed performance at right-back.

The other positive was the second-half introduction of Riccy Scimeca who looked lively and reminded us all of what an impact he can still have in the closing months of the campaign.

It was heartening to see boss Jones able to bring on a fellow of his calibre, especially when West Brom were able to call on people like Kevin Phillips, Roman Bednar and Chris Brunt from the bench. All three players scored in the Baggies’ 4-3 win over Colchester United last Saturday yet none made the starting line-up for this one, a real luxury for manager Tony Mowbray.

City began the game at a blistering pace and Thompson’s chance should have seen them go 1-0 up inside the opening seven minutes.

Excellent work down the right saw the ball fall to Parry and while everybody expected him to shoot he squared it to Thompson.

The linesman’s flag stayed down and the striker had an age to pick his spot, but instead of the net he found the middle rows of the Canton Stand.

Even chairman Peter Ridsdale would probably have done better.

It was a shocking miss and the Scot’s game just got worse after that with him failing to hold the ball up effectively or find team mates with passes, things that are basic requirements at this level.

Worse, Thompson was very nearly responsible for giving away several goals in the first 45 minutes, as West Brom took possession from his errors to launch dangerous attacks.

Boss Jones must have had steam coming from his ears at half-time and whatever the reason for his withdrawal, it was no surprise to see Thompson replaced by Northern Ireland international Feeney,

But that move backfired as both Parry and Feeney came off within minutes of the restart with hamstring problems, to be replaced by Peter Whittingham and Scimeca.

The Baggies’ quality started to come through with three attempts on the City goal within 10 minutes of the restart.

West Brom’s Ishmael Miller curled a vicious shot against the upright in the 55th minute, but City had their chances too.

A super cross from Tony Capaldi saw Ledley head over despite having more time than he first thought.

Then, great work from Sinclair saw him square the ball to Gavin Rae whose shot lacked conviction and was blocked.

But a draw was probably a fair outcome.

Now bring on Wembley.

mark.bloom@mediawales.co.uk

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