Cardiff City kept their play-off hopes alive with a solid 4-1 victory at the Cardiff City Stadium against Brighton and Hove Albion, who were looking to take joint first place with Hull. The victory sees Cardiff City move up to seventh in the Sky Bet Championship.
Brighton started the game and settled well, dominating possession without creating any significant chances. Cardiff City could have been in deep trouble after just 50 seconds as Stuart O’Keefe mistimed his tackle on a very wet and slippery surface, taking out Inigo Calderon. Luckily for the Bluebirds, referee Darren Bond issued a yellow card, which could have easily been a red. Whittingham almost sparked Cardiff City into life with a trademark free-kick on the right hand side, curling it in to the near-post only for David Stockdale to parry it away for a corner.
That move boosted the Bluebirds as another free-kick, just over the half-way line was passed by Fabio to Matthew Connolly who took a couple of touches and found the perfect through-ball to Whittingham—who had made a great run inside the box—took a touch and rolled the ball passed David Stockdale, who could have done better in stopping the shot. That was Whittingham’s third goal in three games after a brace against Huddersfield.
Just two minutes later the Bluebirds were 2-0 up. Another mistake from Stockdale as he kicked the ball straight to Stuart O’Keefe who rolled it to Lex Immers who then passed to Anthony Pilkington on the right hand side of the box, curling a great strike passed Stockdale. The Brighton ‘keeper once again could have done better in stopping the shot.
Brighton had the chance to get a goal back as Calderon whipped in a ball from the left wing, finding Bobby Zamora who had made a great run in front of Scott Malone, but he failed to put a simple chance on target.
The third goal for the Bluebirds came on the half-hour mark. Scott Malone almost found Whittingham with a great through-ball. The ball deflected off Connor Goldson and fell to Lex Immers, who coolly rolled the ball past Stockdale. Immers now has two goals in two starts after signing on loan from Feyenoord until the end of the season.
Tom Lawrence made some great runs on the right-wing against Calderon, who struggled with the wet conditions and almost broke into the box a couple of times. Lawrence needs a goal to settle himself but he is looking very impressive after joining on loan from Leicester City. Calderon was duly replaced by Liam Rosenior, making his return form a serious knee injury
Brighton pulled a goal back on 55 minutes as Dale Stephens made a good run at the near post to nod in, beating David Marshall. Fabio was taken off with a slight knock and Lee Peltier came on to replace him soon after.
After one clear penalty shout was dismissed after Bruno Ecuele Manga was brought down in the box attempting to attack a corner, referee Darren Bond did blow his whistle when Joe Ralls played a delightful through-ball into the feet of Anthony Pilkington who turned defender Goldson. The Brighton defender subsequently committed a foul. Whittingham lashed the ball into the roof of the net to give the Bluebirds a 4-1 advantage; his fourth goal in three games.
Pilkington was replaced by Aron Gunnarsson and received a rapturous applause from the home fans after putting in one of his best performances for Cardiff City. The final change made by Russell Slade was Kenneth Zohore coming on for Tom Lawrence, who also put in a fine performance. Zohore muscled off Bruno to strike one wide of the post from the edge of the box shortly after coming on.
Despite not playing the match with a recognised striker in the starting XI, Cardiff City put in one of their best attacking performances under Russell Slade. The passing from defence upfront to Pilkington was fluid and precise, a criticism of many Cardiff fans is Slade’s almost ‘negative’ tactics in matches. Although every individual put in a solid performance, Immers, Pilkington, Lawrence and Whittingham put in outstanding performances for the Bluebirds.
The victory—Cardiff’s biggest since April 2013—sees them move up to seventh in the league on 49 points, as both Birmingham and Ipswich do not play until Tuesday.
Cardiff play Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Tuesday, looking to do the double over Boro after victory against them at home in October.
