Cardiff 2, Posh 0 - Comfortable defeat but not a bad effort
STRANGELY, Posh have had the better of Cardiff in Football League meetings, but, as long as the Welsh side survive their appointment with the tax man today, it's unlikely they will ever meet too often in the future.
STRANGELY, Posh have had the better of Cardiff in Football League meetings, but, as long as the Welsh side survive their appointment with the tax man today, it's unlikely they will ever meet too often in the future.The size of the clubs and the cities they represent are vastly different. Cardiff occupies four junctions of the M4, while Peterborough can be circumnavigated by bike in not much more than an hour.
Meanwhile, Cardiff's lowest earning first-team player apparently enjoys a weekly wage in excess of 10,000, a figure not even reached in the days of over-generous Posh benefactor Peter Boizot.
So fair play to Posh for even reaching this level. The fanbase, and there were only about 100 of them in Wales last night, will continue to dream, and they should while the current chairman remains in place, but this is a horribly tough standard of football.
New Posh manager Jim Gannon has done a sensible job in lowering expectations so much so that this comfortable defeat won't be regarded as that bad an effort.
Match details:
CARDIFF 2
POSH 0
GOALS: Cardiff – Burke (30 mins), Gerrard (78 mins).
CAUTIONS: None.
REFEREE: Andy Penn (West Midlands) 6.
ATTENDANCE: 17,686
Reaction:
Cardiff have enough firepower to contemplate regime change in some countries so Chris Burke's first-half volley and Anthony Gerrard's close-range tap-in merely confirmed a predictable result. It could have been much worse as the home side struck the woodwork twice and forced Joe Lewis into some fine saves.
The first half was a strange affair played out in an atmosphere of complete indifference considering there is so much at stake for both sides.
Posh enjoyed far more possession, but Cardiff carried a far greater attacking threat. Jay Bothroyd struck the inside of the post in the third minute after being afforded far too much space in the penalty area, Michael Chopra blazed badly wide a minute later and Lewis had to react splendidly to tip Peter Whittingham's 17th minute free-kick over the bar.
Burke smacked Cardiff ahead on the half-hour after Bothroyd outjumped two defenders at the far post. Whittingham then missed a six-yard sitter on the stroke of half-time.
In contrast Posh passed it around neatly, but any decent approach play was spoilt by tame efforts at goal.
George Boyd's weak header from Chris Whelpdale's cross ensured that the best opportunity went begging.
Still, at only 1-0 down at half-time, Posh probably fancied a handsome win against this opposition. Gannon's response was to withdraw a striker and replace him with a full-back and abandon his 3-4-1-2 formation in favour of 4-4-2.
Aaron Mclean was soon volleying over from Whelpdale's cross and Whelpdale pounced on a poor back header only to arrive at the ball at the same time as Cardiff 'keeper David Marshall.
But the new formation didn't enable Boyd to gain possession, which is never a good idea when chasing a goal.
When he did escape from a suspiciously offside position he shot well wide from a difficult angle before missing a great opportunity from eight yards after some superb work from the impressive Whelpdale.
The error was compounded within 60 seconds when Gerrard netted from close range after referee Andy Penn awarded an absurdly soft free-kick against Ryan Bennett.
Lewis had already saved well from Bothroyd and Whittingham, but he was grateful to see Chopra's late strike hit a post.
Player ratings
Peterborough
JOE LEWIS 7
A couple of quality second-half saves and dealt with some dodgy backpasses as well
RYAN BENNETT 7
Composed on the ball and defiant in defence
CRAIG MORGAN 7
Impressive return to his homeland. In good form
TOMMY WILLIAMS 7
Spirited display against speedy winger, the odd dangerous cross as well
CHRIS WHELPDALE 8
Found some good positions, delivered some good crosses
TOMMY ROWE 6
Forced to work hard as a wing-back, hardly seen as a winger
JAKE LIVERMORE 6
Tried to keep things ticking over in the middle of the park, not always successfully
LEE FRECKLINGTON 6
Runs from side to side, busy rather than effective
GEORGE BOYD 5
Missed the best chances, including glorious chance to equalise
CRAIG MACKAIL-SMITH 5
Starved of the balls he thrives on, withdrawn at break
AARON MCLEAN 5
A poor night of bad touches and wasteful flicks
Substitutes:
Kerrea Gilbert: (for Mackail-Smith, 46
mins).
Josh Simpson: (for Williams, 82 mins).
Charlie Lee: (not used).
Exodus Geohaghon: (not used).
Scott Grif?ths: (not used).
Reuben Ried: (not used).
James McKeown: (not used).
Cardiff
David Marshall: 6
Kevin McNaughton: 7
Mark Kennedy: 7
Gabor Gyepes: 7
Anthony Gerrard: 7
Darcy Blake: 6
Stephen McPhail: 6
Chris Burke: 7
Peter Whittingham: 7
Michael Chopra: 6
Jay Bothroyd: 8
Substitutes
Aaron Wildig: (for Blake, 22 mins).
Solomon Taiwo: (for McPhail, 78 mins).
Warren Feeney: (for Bothroyd, 90 mins).
Peter Enckelman: (not used).
Paul Quinn: (not used).
Adam Matthews: (not used).
Ross McCormack: (not used).
Match preview:
Last match: Posh 1, QPR 0 - Perfect start for new boss Gannon.
Relive that match, 28 December 2009 - Posh 4, Cardiff 4 - Posh's greatest escape in 75 years.
Simpson hoping to silence Cardiff again.
Cardiff's financial troubles could ruin play-offs bid.
Spotlight on Cardiff City - 09/02/10
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Weather for Peterborough
Wednesday 17 March 2010
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