Match Report: Cardiff City vs Wolves

Match Report: Cardiff City vs Wolves

Team Lineups:

Cardiff City                                                                      Wolves

1. David Marshall                                                              13. Carl Ikeme
2. Kevin Mcnaughton                                                         23. Ronald Zubar (Stearman 73)
3. Andrew Taylor                                                              14. Roger Johnson
5. Mark Hudson                                                                 16. Christophe Berra
12. Matthew Connolly                                                         11. Stephen Ward
7. Peter Whittingham                                                           4. David Edwards (Nouble 73)
14. Tommy Smith                                                               7. Slawomir Peszko (Forde 84)
16. Craig Noone (Cowie 74)                                                 10. Bakary Sako
18. Jordon Mutch (Gunnarsson 59)                                       28. Tongo Doumbia 
22. Heidar Helguson                                                             29. Kevin Doyle
23. Nicky Maynard (Mason 68)                                              9. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake


Report:

Cardiff started brightest and as Tommy Smith burst through the middle of the pitch but his pass lacked pace in finding Jordon Mutch, A few minutes later Cardiff conceded a sloppy free kick 30 yards out and as Sako crossed the ball in nobody got a touch on the ball but had enough pace to creep into the bottom corner of Marshalls net. Only 2 minutes later Peter Whittingham amazingly picked out Craig Noone who fell over the outstretched leg of Zubar, Whitts made no mistake in netting another penalty, Only a few minutes later Cardiff were 2-1 up as Mutch dummied a Maynard cross and Whittingham was there to half volly in his second goal. Whittingham was again involved in a chance playing the ball to Tommy Smith who curled just wide of the post. Wolves then had a chance of there own when Ebanks- Blake hit a shot just wide of the Cardiff goal, Sako then had a golden chance to equalise when Marshall parried his shot from 6 yards. Straight after Craig Noone went on a fantastic run skipping past  two players just outside his own box, 80 yards down the line his shot was saved in the bottom corner by Ikeme. 
The second half started as bright as the first with Helguson hitting his shot inches wide of the post , Noone continued to impress and when he picked out Maynard he could only put his shot high and wide. Ebanks-Blake sent a downwards header goalwards but Marshall was equal to the shot. Mutch who was already booked was subbed for Gunnarsson who played the ball to Noone who was once again brought down by a Wolves defender, Peter Whittingham steped up and put the ball right up into the top corner to complete his hat-trick. Nicky Maynard and Craig Noone both received standing ovations as they were subbed for Don Cowie and Joe Mason and Cowie brought the last chance of the game putting his shot down into the bottom corner only to see the Wolves keeper get a hand to the ball and keep it out of the net. After the game Malky praised the performances of Craig Noone and Nicky Maynard on there début performances.


Match Facts:

                           Cardiff                                           Wolves
Possession             51%                                               49%
Shots On               11                                                    4 
Shots Off               2                                                     3
Corners                 11                                                    5
Offsides                 2                                                     1