Timid Bluebirds follow United's script and lose heavily

Last updated : 22 December 2018 By Michael Morris

Cardiff City 1 - 5 Manchester United.

Worse thing that could have happened this week as for Man Utd to sack Jose Mourinho. Cardiff might have made more of a game against a Mourinho side playing within themselves but the change of manager allowed United to free themselves and turn on the goals against a Cardiff side who had it in their heads before kick off that they were beaten.

It's becoming too easy to say we are never going to beat a top team and it's all about winning the games against teams around us. Yes that is true but look at Palace today, winning at Man City, Leicester winning at Chelsea.

Sometimes you need to raise your game and start with a belief you can win these games. Results today show that it can happen. We've not won away or beaten a top team, not even taken a point off one of them.

Of course we can stay up without taking a thing off a top 10 side but it will make things a lot easier and more enjoyable if we did pull off a shock result.

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Against United we were a goal down in minutes. Rashford's freekick left Etheridge flat-footed and a deflected Herrera shot doubled the lead.

Victor Camarasa brought City back into the game with a cracking penalty kick (pictured) after a handball but Martial waltzed through the City defence to finish a superb move just three minutes later.

That goal took the game away from City and when Utd were given a penalty just before the hour it was game over. Lingard stepped up to score and though Cardiff created a some chances, Muprhy, Bamba and Zohore going close it was mostly a holding game for the visitors as they were comfortable most of the half.

United ended the game with another goal, Lingard geting his second in the 90th minute.

Cardiff are outside the bottom three at Christmas. I'll take that. Next though we are away at Palace, away Leciester (the two sides who pulled off massive shocks today), then home to Spurs.

It could quite easily be a nightmare at Christmas if we lose all five games (Watford A and United H already ending in defeat).

So come on City. Starting on Wednesday in south London, let's get something away followed by something at home against a top side.