Report: Sean Wozencroft
Snapshot: A perfectly executed first half goal from midfielder Paul Parry gave City an excellent win against Sheffield United.
City showed good spirit and looked the most dangerous throughout. A rock solid defensive performance by Glenn Loovens and Roger Johnson restricted the visitors and their expensive strikeforce to just a handful of half chances. The victory puts distance between City and the drop zone and perhaps Dave Jones will now be looking at the teams above as well as those below.
The decisive goal came after 30 minutes. Good link-up play between Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink played it to Peter Whittingham who might have shot himself but instead found the intelligent run of Parry. The Welsh International kept his cool, slotting past Paddy Kenny from a fairly acute angle. City continued to test the United defence in the second half and the visitors offered little in response. City 'keeper Kasper Schmeichel had to wait until the 92nd minute before making his first real save.
It's now three wins in four for City, who go into a difficult Christmas period brimming with confidence after showing great passion.
Team news
City: Kasper Schmeichel, Kevin McNaughton, Tony Capaldi, Gavin Rae, Glenn Loovens, Peter Whittingham, Stephen McPhail, Paul Parry, Roger Johnson, Joe Ledley, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Subs: Michael Oakes, Darren Purse, Steve MacLean, Darcy Blake, Aaron Ramsey
Sheffield United: Paddy Kenny, Gary Naysmith, Phail Bardsley, James Beattie, David Carney, Matt Kilgallon, Nick Montgomery, Michael Tonge, Keith Gillespie, Chris Morgan, Billy Sharp. Subs: Jon Stead, Rob Hulse, Lee Hendrie, Chris Lucketti, Chris Armstrong
City manager Dave Jones opted for Paul Parry upfront with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink rather than Steve MacLean, who is still searching for match fitness after injury. In midfield Gavin Rae teamed up with Stephen McPhail in the centre with the red hot Joe Ledley and Peter Whittingham on either side.
Roger Johnson and Glenn Loovens provided the strength at the heart of defence whilst Tony Capaldi returned at leftback in place of outgoing Chris Gunter. There was a place in the dug-out for young starlets Darcy Blake and Aaron Ramsey. Both had made one league appearance previously this season.
For Sheffield United there was a return for Chris Morgan at the heart of their defence after Gary Cahill returned to Aston Villa following a successful loan spell at Bramall Lane. Morgan, who scored the last-gasp goal against City in the 3-3 draw earlier this season, reclaimed the captain's armband. 12-goal James Beattie and Billy Sharp provided the cutting edge in attack for the Blades, leaving Jon Stead and Rob Hulse on the bench.
Match:
Both midfields bossed the opening exchanges with neither team able to break through the defence. Paul Parry found some space after good work by Joe Ledley in the middle but his cross-cum-shot was too long. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was finding some space out wide but his accuracy when crossing wasn't quite there.
Paul Parry drove down the right side on 12 minutes and played infield for Whittingham, but his shot from 20 yards was tame and easily saved. Shortly after Hasselbaink was laid off by a Ledley freekick but his goal-bound piledriver was blocked by the United wall.
James Beattie found some space in the Cardiff area on the quarter hour mark. The £4m marksman could only chest his effort wide from a Keith Gillespie corner. The look on his face showed that he thought he might've done better. United captain Chris Morgan came within inches of putting the away side ahead on 22 minutes. The burly defender rose highest from a Gillespie's floated freekick but his header was just the wrong side of Schmeichel's post.
City were making some thoughtful runs but were being restricted to long efforts. At the other end Glenn Loovens and Roger Johnson were controlling the threat of Beattie and Billy Sharp.
GOAL - City took the lead on the half hour mark through makeshift striker Paul Parry, his fifth league goal of the season. Hasselbaink dropped deep and played it through for Peter Whittingham. The midfielder could've had a go himself, but instead found the excellent run of Parry, who expertly slotted into the far corner from wide inside the area.
Admittedly it was City's first real effort on goal but it was a calm finish to a smooth move. With Sheffield United on their heels, Hasselbaink nearly doubled the advantage just seconds later with a rasping low drive from a similar position. Paddy Kenny may have been beaten and Ninian Park finally found her voice. Minutes later with City looking much sharper, Whittingham advanced and his top corner effort was only kept out by a fine save. Loovens couldn't get solid contact with his head from the resulting corner.
With five minutes of the first period remaining, Joe Ledley's corner was punched clear by Kenny and it fell to Whittingham on the edge of the box to try his luck. The United 'keeper found himself in the right place to block with strength when a foot either side would been 2-0.
The half ended with City on top. United manager Bryan Robson will surely have had some harsh words with his players at the interval.
HALF TIME: CARDIFF 1 - 0 SHEFF UTD
City had the first opportunity of the second half as the temperature dropped at Ninian Park. Hasselbaink nodded back for Parry who powered forward and let fly from 20 yards with a shot that flashed past the far post.
Robson waited until the hour mark to change things around after watching his side create very little in attack. Rob Hulse came on for his first appearance of the season for the ineffective Sharp and skilful midfielder Lee Hendrie replaced. Hasselbaink could've made things more comfortable for the nervy Cardiff faithful on 65 minutes but his 10-yard volley under pressure from David Carney was deflected over. Moments later and Whittingham cut inside and unleashed a curling left-footer which wasn't far from the top corner.
Midway through the half and City were on the counter attack. Parry broke from just past the halfway line and the United defence opened up for him allowing the Welsh International to speculate with his left foot. Kenny was again in full flight as it cleared the crossbar. City were enjoying the majority of the possession and continued to pepper the Grange End goal from distance. Hasselbaink's thump was bravely blocked, as was Whittingham's from the corner kick. With 15 minutes remaining City were looking secure at the back and eagerly pursuing a second which would've put the game beyond The Blades.
Hasselbaink cruised forward without a challenge and waited for the right moment to play in Parry charging forward down the left. This time Parry's shot was superbly tipped over by Kenny at full stretch.
With 85 minutes played Sheffield United started to push men forward and the game opened up. A harsh free-kick right on the edge of the City area by Michael Tonge looked destined to find the net but curled wide just at the last moment. Cardiff fans erupted with relief and the travelling supporters began to head for the exits. City were on the attack immediately, Ledley swinging one just the post. Schmeichel was finally tested in the dying moments but it was a comfortable save low down the middle and City saw it out to claim a priceless victory that puts us just one point behind Sheffield United.
FULL TIME: CARDIFF 1 - 0 SHEFF UTD
Cardiff: Schmeichel, McNaughton, Loovens, Johnson, Capaldi, McPhail, Ledley, Whittingham (Purse 90), Rae, Parry, Hasselbaink (MacLean 80). Subs Not Used: Oakes, Blake, Ramsey. Booked: Johnson. Goals: Parry 30.
Sheff Utd: Kenny, Bardsley, Kilgallon, Morgan (Lucketti 58), Naysmith, Carney (Hendrie 60), Montgomery, Tonge, Gillespie, Sharp (Hulse 60), Beattie. Subs Not Used: Stead, Armstrong. Booked: Tonge.
Att: 12,869
