How Cardiff beat Blackburn

With Newport County v Hartlepool succumbing to the deluge over the last 24 hours my mind switched to the forthcoming FA Cup tie next Saturday against Blackburn. So I decided to visit the Cardiff City Stadium for the first time since Wales v Israel last autumn. The weather was a lot drier and encouraging of decent football back then and Cardiff have reported some problems with their pitch since Wales played Holland in the November friendly.

The Match

Cardiff played 4-4-2 and Blackburn had a similar 4–4–1–1 with Jordan Rhodes tucked in behind Koita up top. The pitch was extremely heavy and both sides were hesitant in the early stages struggling to keep the ball on the slippery pitch. Cardiff settled quicker testing Blackburn with some good moves down their left channel involving Scott Malone with Watt and Mason lively support up front. Blackburn were sporadic coming forward with Conway on the left channel and right back Marshall prepared to push on when invited. My early observations regarding Marshall was that he was very left footed and kept coming inside so pretty sure he was filling for regular right back Henley. Blackburn worked a couple of good situations on the break with Rhodes and Conway looking to link but Cardiff generally stifled the threat well and always looked the more threatening with the energy and pace they had going forward through Gunnarsson and Ralls. Cardiff were invited to shoot several times down the middle of the pitch coming inside from the right channel but Blackburn managed to block the shots at the final moment. As half time approached Cardiff fans became increasingly frustrated with the lack of quality, voicing their disapproval with manager Slade. However, at half time you felt one goal would settle this and if Cardiff remained bold they would be the more likely to get it.

No changes followed at the break and if anything Blackburn went even more into their shell with both full backs having little attacking threat. Blackburn put little trust in their full backs often playing from deep with centre backs Hanley and Duffy being expected to start moves from deep down either side of the 18 yard box. Their distribution was poor especially when pressed and this gave Rhodes and Koita little to feed off. After Cardiff attacked the left channel well in the first half they turned their attention more to the right side second half with Blackburn always prone to the pace Cardiff had on the break. When Conway lost the ball, Blackburn were going to be in trouble and that was how the goal came with Moone causing problems on the right beating left back Olsson with ease and despite his shot being blocked Mason was quick to pounce on the rebound. Blackburn made some like for like changes with Koita replaced up front and holding midfielder Williamson replaced by Guthrie. Cardiff may have added to their lead with Blackburn full backs reluctantly pushing on, there were plenty of holes in behind. Blackburn pushed Marshall further up the pitch late in the game and centre back Duffy but it had little effect despite some threat from Duffy and Hanley on set pieces

Summary

There may have not been much quality on offer but Cardiff did an effective job on Blackburn stifling their threat down the flanks and unsettling their defenders with their shutting down. Blackburn made efforts to play from deep but played themselves into trouble on times. Both Blackburn full backs were very ordinary to say the least with right back Marshall wanting to come inside too much. Cardiff kept the ball down averting the strength Blackburn had with two tall centre backs they were always going to dominate in the air. Cardiff also had the upper hand in midfield winning the loose ball and shifting it quicker. It was also important that they cut off the link Conway offered often starving the supply to Rhodes who was forced to run and drop deep for possession. Despite Cardiff lacking precision with their passing they always had the upper hand.