They have themselves and sheer bad luck blame as Andy Campbell (why him???) was allowed to take and feebly miss an early penalty and then the woodwork was hit an incredible four times in a second half siege of Leeds' goal. A spirited performance, probably only bettered by last week at Wolves, and easily being the better side got minimal reward, a result which does little for the current league predicament.
The pre-game hype inevitably brought back memories of City's famous January 2002 F.A. Cup win. At the time, City were a rising club in Division Two with a real buzz about the place and Leeds United were buzzing too, top of the Premiership. How times change. Leeds United crashed into freefall, many citing that game as the turning point for them. Their key aim for this season is to arrest the slide and stabilise. City meanwhile, despite a promotion, are doing their best to avoid a similar freefall. We are in a fight for survival at this level, our debts and lack of any visible sign of a new stadium worry many and the buzz has gone.
Only three players taking part today were around last time - Danny Gabbidon and Willie Boland for City, Gary Kelly for Leeds - the real legacy of that day and the media's gross over-reaction was that it was compulsory coach travel for visiting fans and all ticket for home fans and sale restricted to those on the club database only. Still,17,006 were there including 1,200 or so from Yorkshire and the atmosphere, at times, was electric.
City, in 23rd place, need an unbeaten run and some wins so badly. Preparations were not helped by the loss of 8 players. 6 were injured, most for some time, Lennie could have done without Kav and Alan Lee also being suspended but how ridiculous losing players for 5 bookings less than quarter of the way into the season. Both players really should reflect on some needless yellow cards they have earned.
The line-up was therefore Warner, Williams-Vidmar-Gabbidon-Barker, McAnuff-Boland-O'Neil- Parry, Campbell-Thorne. Subs were Jerome-Robinson-Collins-Bullock-Alexander. Loan signings Daz Williams and England Under-21 Captain Gary O'Neill were making home debuts, Tony Vidmar was Captain despite his personal poor displays this season and, in attack, Lennie had to turn to (gulp) Andy Campbell - who, like his manager, probably should have had his last chance a while ago but still seems to be around. Lennie had few options though with Earnie gone (and still not replaced, no wonder we struggle!), Lee suspended and Fleetwood injured. 18 year old youth player Cameron Jerome was called to the bench as Lennie's only other available striking option.
As for Leeds, the big stars may have long gone but their line-up still contained plenty of familiar names and faces with Sullivan,Kelly-Carlisle-Butler-Crainey, Richardson-Wright- Gregan-Pugh, Ormerod-Deane. Their bench was Joachim-Ricketts-Carson-Spring-Duberry.
Neil Sullivan remains an excellent keeper, Gary Kelly was probably pleased Earnie was no longer around after he was beaten time and again by him last time, the reformed alcoholic Clark Carlisle was a one-time City target but not as much as the now despised Sean Gregan who teased City about coming here all summer but eventually engineered a move to his native Yorkshire with Leeds instead and appeared to have used City. There again, did we really have the money to buy him? Strikers were the veteran Brain Deane and Brett Ormerod, allegedly another recent City target (aren't they all?) currently on loan from Southampton. Their bench was jam-packed with experience.
Leeds came to Ninian Park just 6 places above City but 5 points clear with a game in hand, that shows how far behind the rest that we currently lag. Their form is reasonably solid but they had collected just 2 points in their past 3 games as so many new faces will inevitably take some time to gel.
The opening half was one of very few chances, City generally pleasing on the eye and playing good football at good tempo. The only problem for Cardiff was that the strikers - Campbell and Thorne - were just not in the game. Both were poor and it never really got any better. So although our defence dominated and were as good as they have been this season, midfield did very well to get the better of the game, we just didn't have it upfront.
Sell your best striker and main goalscorer City and make no attempt to replace him and it's no real wonder really. Thorne ran and tried but couldn't get involved, Andy Campbell was just being Andy Campbell. One ball that dropped over his shoulder inside the penalty area that saw him stand motionless, making no attempt to retrieve it and hoping that someone else would, said it all really.
Yet City should have been ahead at half-time. There was the penalty appeal that was turned down on 10 minutes when Paul Parry's cross clearly hit the arm of Gary Kelly inside the box. It was on the wrong side of the pitch for the linesman and the ref was not in the best position either. Then there was the less obvious penalty that was given but we cocked it up.
The award came when some bright football that saw Williams swap passes with McAnuff and Boland before dinking a ball ahead to McAnuff who was only just clipped in the area by Creaney and lost his balance. It seemed a soft award but it was the break we needed but then City showed how unprofessional they are. I saw Andy Campbell given the ball and honestly felt like leaving, it was incredulous.
Two thoughts. If you win a penalty, then surely the last player to take it is the player with the least amount of confidence in the team. Campbell was only playing because the kid Fleetwood was injured after all. The other though is that we have missed so many penalties in recent times through, frankly, p*ssing about (think of those soft Earnie and Kav misses) that whoever takes it must be told to hit the bleeding thing. Yes, I am still so angry about it!
It was excruciating and entirely predictable to watch. Campbell's looks and body language were shocking, showing that he had no confidence whatsoever, he couldn't take it quickly enough. He also had no run up whatsoever, standing two paces behind the ball. It was so obvious to any goalkeeper that he was going to simply place it low without power which, in my books, gave Sullivan a 50/50 chance before it was kicked. The inevitable became reality, Campbell hit the most feeble kick imaginable, barely more than 2 foot to Sullivan's left, he guessed right and dived for the corner, his feet blocked the ball, Campbell tried to follow up but was blocked for an unproductive corner.
I truly hope Lennie and City fans don't moan about the bad luck of all those shots that hit the woodwork second half. Just remember we didn't win because we can't take a bloody penalty kick properly. Idiots!
The rest of the half paled into insignificance against that moment. City were dominant and exciting to watch but offered no end product and you couldn't see a goal coming. Leeds were living up to the Dirty Leeds moniker that has haunted them down the years with a series of niggling and cynical fouls.
Chief culprit was Sean Gregan who was carded once, spoken to twice more afterwards and who committed other fouls. It incensed the home fans who let Gregan know how they felt about him, he was definitely lucky to find a lenient referee today, a sterner one would have dismissed him. Parry and McAnuff were causing problems but the most eye-catching player was Gary O'Neill who was running the show in midfield and twice brought down when breaking through the entire Leeds midfield but the free-kicks were wasted. Paul Parry had the best opportunity but blazed over the bar after the ref brought it forward 10 yards, it would have hit the target it wasn't moved.
Despite all that pressure, it was Leeds who were closest to scoring as Carlisle met an outswinging corner from 10 yards, his header beat Warner but Willie Boland saved the day by heading off the line.
The noise from both sets of fans was good. "We want Sam Hammam walking around the pitch" was always going to be sang and, of course, he would ayatollah and "Do the Seaman" on request from the Directors Box. Distasteful were chants of "Istanbul" to the Leeds fans which understandably riled them. Nobody chanted to Sam, "Where's the Earnie money gone?", "All we are singing is build us a ground", "What's the escape clauses in Gabby's new contract?" or "Sammy, why'd you pick Campbell?". I can dream!
Half-time: CITY 0 LEEDS 0
City were rightly applauded off at half-time, it was the best we had seen from them at Ninian Park since the start of the season. The game was there for the taking. Good atmosphere at half-time too with David Davies, the Olympic long-distance bronze medallist City fan from Barry who ayatollah'ed on the podium before collecting his award, doing a lop of honour on the pitch to a standing ovation from City fans and chants of "who the effing hell are you?" from Leeds of course. If the first half was good, the second half was even better but the result was the same, stalemate.
There were those incredible four efforts that smacked the woodwork and another incredible miss by Andy Campbell, two actually. Before all that, Leeds wasted their only other real opportunity of the game.
Just after half-time, City still napping slightly, and Leeds quickly spread the ball from back to midfield to wide right and Cardiff players out of position everywhere, Jermaine Wright quickly played the ball across goal and there was Brett Ormerod twelve yards out with only Warner in front of him but he sliced his effort across well wide with the goal gaping, he should have scored and he knew it.
After that, it was genuinely one way traffic towards the Grange Endand Neil Sullivan's goal. Any time Leeds briefly got forward, Warner and his defenders coped admirably, well done to them all today.
And so for those City woodwork (when are we going to rightfully going to call it metalwork?) hits and that other Andy Campbell botched effort.
55 minutes - Jobi McAnuff crossed behind the Leeds defence, Thorne scrappily brought it down and shot but was blocked by Carlisle, the ball ran loose to Paul Parry whose hit caught the outside angle bar and post, its deflection en route not spotted by the ref who gave a goal kick.
58 minutes - another move through McAnuff on the right, Thorne battled with Carlisle and the ball ran loose and sat up perfectly for Andy Campbell with the goal straight ahead of him. It required basic technique to hit the ball and get it on target but this was Andy Campbell who got his body shape all wrong, had the poorest of connections and dragged the ball apologetically wide of goal, it barely rolled behind.
Leeds brought on strikers Julian Joachim and Michael Ricketts but they were only seen helping out their beleaguered defenders as City intensified their pressure and put on a stirring show which deserved reward but it wasn't to be.
65 minutes and the first of three woodwork hits from corner kicks - McAnuff's cross was headed away to Paul Parry who shot along the ground through a congested area where Campbell somehow managed to divert the ball from two yards onto the crossbar, it was then hooked away. That was Campbell's last contribution as Cameron Jerome and showed immense promise. A strapping figure with pace and strength and Richard Langley style hair made him distinctive but not as much as his football did as he genuinely troubled Leeds with his physique and trickery. His positioning wasn't always the best and the 25 minute run out made him look tired by the end but he showed that he can make the step up in his cameo.
Then an incredible double escape for Lucky Leeds as City won corner after corner in the closing minutes that evoked memories of how that cup tie finished. It had some pining for the return of Leo Fortune-West and Scott Young. The way Campbell had played, despite being a brighter in the second half, it even had me pining for the return of Dai Thomas!
83 minutes - Jobi McAnuff's second corner in quick succession was met by Jerome 10 yards out who beat everyone and deserved better fate than seeing his header cruelly come off the inside of the angle of bar and post, a touch on the way by Neil Sullivan preventing the goal. Sullivan also pushed the following corner behind under pressure.
From that, 84 minutes, the corner was headed away but only to Jobi McAnuff who showed brilliance by scooping the ball back first time over Sullivan and his defenders who could only watch in vain. It looked in all the way but once more came off the underside of the bar, Jerome got a foot to the rebound and directed it to Thorne who instinctive shot was brilliantly turned away by Sullivan for another corner. Joy for Leeds but hands on hands and complete agony for us.
Thorney made Sullivan save again late meeting another McAnuff cross but with three minutes added, it wasn't to be. Penalty apart, it was difficult to fault City. Indeed, we went home happy with the effort and felt really pleased but most was relief because of all the dross we have had to endure beforehand.
Credit where due however, City played very well and with excellent spirit and tempo, it was rousing. They worked hard and for each other, Andy Campbell looked a little interested for a spell in the second half too! The loanees - Williams and O'Neill - undoubtedly have improved us. They genuinely deserved to win but if you don't score, you can't win and it wasn't our day.
However I'd also argue that if we fail to replace Earnie,it's always going to be difficult to score and we may just have to get used to frustration. Face the facts people - City have now failed to score in 6 of the 8 league games played since Earnie, our talisman, left the club. He also left City two months ago and we have yet to make a single enquiry for a replacement striker.
Lennie has memorably made two pronouncements to City supporters this season. The first was that he expected to provide us with a "prolonged and sustained promotion or play-off challenge". The second, after a poor start, was to judge him after 12 games because, only then,would the table not really lie. Well we've won 2 out of those 12, we're 23rd and stranded, we have failed to score in 5 out of 6 home games and lost 4 of them. We've lost all interest in the play-offs and even mid-table obscurity at present but, for the record, we're 11 points off the play-offs and 14 off promotion and nearly half the sides in the Championship have a game in hand on us.
All I know is that Lennie won't resign and, for whatever reason, Sam won't sack him and you can be sure Lennie will conveniently side-step the issue and his comments on record. Wolves last weekend and Leeds this weekend did suggest signs of recovery but let's not get too carried away becuase we did well against two big name sides, the table shows that both are currently amongst the worst in the division too -the table doesn't lie after all,does it Lennie? And so it's a fortnight off with the minor matter of England vs Wales to entertain us. City return with games against Rotherham (home) and Brighton (away), the pressure will only increase and may be unbearable if we don't.
Report from FootyMad
A missed penalty and three strikes against the crossbar cost Cardiff City a deserved victory at home to Leeds United.
It was Andy Campbell who fluffed the 20th minute spot-kick when his shot was easily pushed away by Neil Sullivan in the visitors goal.
In the second half Campbell, Cameron Jerome and Jobi McAnuff all hit the woodwork as the Bluebirds went for victory.
The home side were without skipper Graham Kavanagh and fellow Irish international Alan Lee, who were both suspended.
There were the only two players in the City squad from their epic 2-1 FA Cup win against Leeds back in January 2002, while the Yorkshiremen had only Gary Kelly starting the match.
City had claims for a penalty turned down in the 12th minute when it appeared Kelly had handled a Paul Parry cross, but referee Phil Crossley of Kent waved play on.
Four minutes later Sean Gregan was given a yellow card after cynically bringing down Gary O'Neil when the England Under-21 skipper was tearing down the middle.
After 20 minutes the Bluebirds had a glorious opportunity to open the scoring when a flowing move down the right saw McAnuff felled by Stephen Crainey in the area.
Campbell's weak spot-kick was parried away by Sullivan.
Leeds almost made the Bluebirds pay on the half hour when a Clarke Carlisle header from a Jermaine Wright corner was heading for the net, but Willie Boland managed a goal-line clearance.
On the resumption of the second half Brett Ormerod should have put the visitors ahead, but he screwed his shot wide with only Tony Warner to beat.
The Bluebirds hit back and Peter Thorne and Parry both had fleeting chances but the Leeds defence held firm with Carlisle a tower of strength at the back.
Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell brought on Julian Joachim and Michael Ricketts just after the hour in an attempt to open up the home defence, but the changes seemed to pep up Cardiff and Campbell hit the crossbar five minutes later with Sullivan beaten.
It was the unfortunately Campbell's last opportunity as he was replaced in the 70th minute by 18-year-old Jerome, who was making his first-team debut.
Five minutes from time the youngster headed a Parry corner against the crossbar and then McAnuff struck a 20-yard shot on to the bar, but City were unable to clinch the win that would have sparked a disappointing season into life.
External reports
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Wales on Sunday
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