Bluebirds hold Bournemouth at CCS

Last updated : 19 March 2015 By Michael Morris

C:WindowsTempphpBE0B.tmpFour points from games against Brentford and Bournemouth have all but secured City's Championship status.

City are 13th in the table on 48 points after a battling display against the team who led the table before kick off.

Bournemouth showed why they are doing so well with quick passing football that left City chasing shadows and it seemed only a matter of time before the visitors would score.

One Bournemouth effort cannoned off the bar before City came to life and using their more methodical and slower approach fashioned out a number of chances.

The opening 10 minutes was all about the visitors, City rallied but were caught with a stunning strike from Harry Arter. He should never have been given the freedom of CCS but from 25 yards his effort was unstoppable.

Bournemouth looked dangerous all game but after the break Cardiff imposed themselves on the match and worked to their strengths. Alex Revell ran his heart out, Kennedy and Noone on the flanks posed a threat and Fabio at full back gave 100% to every challenge.

City won a number of corners and midway through the second half a delicious delivery from Peter Whittingham found Bruno Manga who powered in the equaliser.

After that the game could have gone either way. Bournemouth will point to a disallowed goal when Simon Moore's punt hit the back of Callum Wilson and the striker put the ball in the net. Referee Lee Mason booked the Bournemouth player for obstruction.

As an isolated incident Wilson could feel hard done by but he was persistently impeding Moore at clearances and Mason wasn't going to allow him to get a goal from it.

Bournemouth missed a couple of gilt edged chances including a header past the post for the final chance of the game while Cardiff spent most of injury time attacking the Bournemouth goal.

On reflection it was an entertaining game of football from two sides with different styles. 

After a difficult first half (again) Cardiff rallied and earned their point. Bournemouth lost ground at the top of the table and dropped to 3rd place.