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MALKY MACKAY
Had his troops
perfectly set up for
this and kept them
motivated
throughout.
8/10
REF RATING
DARREN SHELDRAKE
Kept the controversy to
a minimumand
allowed the game to
flowwhen he could.
PETER WHITTINGHAM
He was brilliant for his
side here and has a
massive role to play this
campaign.
MANOF THE MATCH
7/10 9/10
1:2
READING CARDIFF CITY
ATTENDANCE: 20,361
REFEREE: Darren Sheldrake (Surrey)
THE CHAMPIONSHIP THE CHAMPIONSHIP
by STEVE TUCKER
at The Madejski Stadium
Kebe 77 Whittingham2
Hudson 70
CARDIFF CITY earned the revenge
they craved against Reading in
this excellent showing that saw
themmakeit threeChampionship
wins on the bounce.
Malky Mackays side kept up the
pace at the top of the table, but had to
fight everyinchof thewayagainst The
Royals who had dumped them out of
the play-offs back in May.
There was a real tenacity about the
Bluebirds here who had to absorb a
lot of pressure, but impressed in all
areas of the park too with dogged
defence, fast-paced midfield work
and, in lone striker Kenny Miller, a
player willing to run himself into the
groundfor his side for oftenminimum
reward.
But if much has been made of the
Bluebirds work and team ethic this
campaign, in Whittingham they still
have a magician, an ace in the pack.
Withthelikes of CraigBellamyandJay
Bothroyd gone, the languid midfielder
has become his sides talisman. He is
effectively a shaman in football boots.
Within two minutes he had his side
ahead here with a brilliant strike and
then he supplied the free-kick for
skipper Hudson to put the Bluebirds
two up. Not even a goal with 13
minutes left from the Royals very
dangerous Jimmy Kebe could deny
them this time.
It was thanks to Whittingham then
that the start to the game was explos-
ive and it ignited a wall of noise from
the near 4,000 travelling fans behind
the one goal that barely waned all
afternoon.
And the Cardiff fans had plenty to
scream about all within the first two
minutes of action. With barely a
minute gone Craig Conway unleased
a fierce shot fromdistance that Adam
Federici in the home goal could only
push away in surprise.
Filip Kiss was following up, but as
he stabbed the rebound goal-ward,
Federici some how managed to claw
that away too.
It was great goalkeeping, but
seconds later the Royals shot-stopper
was to stand no chance as the Blue-
birds took the early lead.
It was all about Whittingham, who
collected the ball a good 30 yards out
composed himself and hit a swerving
high shot which was so targeted on
thetopcorner it neededthehelpof the
inside of the post before it rippled the
netting. Federici this time had been
left grasping at nothing but fresh air.
It was a tremendous start for the
Bluebirds, but garnered an instant
response fromReading who came out
snarling and gnashing like some scal-
ded animal.
Tormentor in chief indeed proved
Kebe, who was irresistible down the
right and striker Noel Hunt, re-in-
stated to the side after grabbing the
winner in the Royals last outing here,
a 1-0 victory over Birmingham.
On 13 minutes Hunt must have
thought he was going to add to his
heroics, put through and bearing
downonMarshall, but hewas tracked
well more sort of stalked by Ben
Turner who forced himwide and then
got a great block in on the subsequent
shot.
Turners all-round performance
here indeed sent out a big message to
the FAW to get a move on and get the
23-year-old, who apparently qualifies
through his grandmother, involved in
the Wales set sooner rather than
later.
Across the back Cardiff held firm
mind with Kevin McNaughton again
as active as a terrier trying to get out
of a sack.
When all else failed though it was
goal-keeper Marshall who provided a
stern last line of defence. The Blue-
birds were to rely on him time and
time again.
Back in the side after illness the
Scottish international is brimming
with confidence right now and its
down very much to the faith Mackay
has shown in him this campaign.
On 19 minutes Hunt found himself
with a sight of goal again, but Mar-
shall flung himself at full-stretch to
push the ferocious effort to safety.
The Bluebirds were weathering the
storm, but they were making it hard
on themselves too, when they did get
some breathing space they proved
wasteful at times in midfield and the
pressure was soon back on.
But by the end of the first period
Reading were frustrated and looked
to have blown out their own storm
against Cardiffs resilience.
But the home side might have been
level on 54 minutes when Jem
Karacan was put through and Mar-
shall had to make himself big to save
the effort. So to be honest, Cardiff
re-taking the lead had not really
seemed on the agenda until Whitting-
ham on 70 minutes curled in a
free-kick and Hudson was there to
drive it home.
On77minutes Kebe ghostedinfor a
near-post header to make the end
more interesting, shall we say. But the
Bluebirds held firm with Anthony
Gerrad even brought on from the
bench to make a third centre-half.
In added time the Bluebirds should
have extended their lead, Aron Gun-
narsson sweeping through an absent
Reading defence and perfectly setting
up Do Cowie, but the Scottishinterna-
tionals shot from eight yards was
scuffed and Federici pushed it round
the post.
The magnificent Cardiff fans were
acclaiming their players at the end
andquiterightlyas theyhadseenoff a
side previously unbeaten in their last
10 Championship outing and in the
process had done their own promo-
tion credentials no harm at all.
SWEET
REVENGE
AS CITY
SEE OFF
ROYALS
>> Mark Hudson celebrates after
sliding the ball past Readings
Adam Federici for Citys second
>> Aron Gunnarsson on the move against Reading
>> Kenny
Miller
grimaces
after
going
close
BLUEBIRDS boss Malky Mackay
praised the hard work and
calmness of his side as they made
it three Championship wins on
the bounce with a 2-1 win at
Reading.
A superb strike from Peter
Whittingham and a goal from
skipper Mark Hudson earned the
victory, but a late goal from the
Royals Jimmy Kebe meant the
Bluebirds had to hold on at the
end at the Madejski Stadium.
Mackays men stay fourth and
the Cardiff boss was not getting
carried away, insisting
consistency was vital from his
side now.
It was very much a
hard-earned victory for us, but
that was the way it was always
going to be.
We were playing against a
teamthat had only lost one game
in 10 and Brians teams are
always set uptolet theopposition
knowthey are in a game and this
one was no different, said
Mackay.
But we matched their
intensity and we matched their
athleticism right to the last. I
thought when they got their goal
it was actually against the run of
play and wed had a few chances
earlier to go further ahead. We
could have been three up, but it
was a tense, close tie.
But they got the goal and it
made the end of the game
interesting, so to speak. So we
had to make sure we were
resilient at the end. But we did
stay very calm about things.
We are striving for
consistency. They are still a new
groupof players andthey are still
learning to play together so that
is really pleasing.
Mackay also praised
Whittingham, whose 30-yard
strikewithintwominutes madeit
six for him so far this season,
whilealsoputtinginthefree-kick
for Hudson to score the
Bluebirds second.
Mackay added: Someone
askedmeif Peter meant it, but its
something I see him do week in
andweekout intraining. Theball
he put in for Mark Hudsons goal
was excellent also.
Meanwhile, Readingboss Brian
McDermott, a former Cardiff
player, believed his side deserved
something from the game if not
all three points.
I think definitely we deserved
something from it. I felt we
should have won. Whittinghams
got a great left foot, but he didnt
mean to do that. The second goal
was disappointing too, said
McDermott.
We were
resilient to
the end
>> Malkay Mackay with
Readings Brian McDermott
DAVID MARSHALL
He was back in the side after
illness and pulled off some good
saves to ensure the point.
Mackays faith in him is reaping
rewards this campaign.
7
KEVIN
MCNAUGHTON
Another all-action showing from
the full-back who was menacing
the Reading defenders at one
point then denying their
defenders at another.
7
MARKHUDSON
The skipper probably thought his
goal would be enough to win
this game, but losing sight of
Kebe on a couple of occasions
almost cost them.
7
BENTURNER
He is starting to show why his
manager is such a fan. A massive
showing from the centre-half who
really put his body on the line for
his side.
8
ANDREWTAYLOR
Was given a tough time down
the flank with the dangerous
Jimmy Kebe running at him, but
stuck to the task as best he
could.
7
DONCOWIE
Full of running here, very
undemonstrative again and had
a great chance to make it three
for Cardiff late on, but his effort
was saved.
7
FILIP KISS
Almost grabbed a goal early on
before Whittingham scored.
Lots of energy, but the
youngster needs more
composure at times.
7
PETER
WHITTINGHAM
The Bluebirds real star talent
now. A superb strike for the first,
a good assist for the second.
Another great showing from
the midfielder.
9
ARON
GUNNARSSON
Put himself about a lot as he
usually does. First-half a little
wasteful in possession, but really
grew into the game.
7
CRAIGCONWAY
After a quiet few games the
wideman burst back into life
here. Full of running, never
afraid to go for goal. He
looked dangerous again.
8
KENNY MILLER
That lone striker role is a tough
one. Worked ever so hard all
game, running and getting
back. Totally professional
throughout.
7
SUBS
Stephen McPhail (Kiss 81), Anthony
Gerrard (Conway 90). Not used:
Heaton, Earnshaw, Mason
READING
Federici, Cummings (Manset 74),
Pearce, Gorkks, Mills, Kebe, Karacan,
Leigertwood, McAnuff, Hunt, Le
Fronde (Robson-Kanu 88) Not used:
Andersen, Harte, Church
>> Peter Whittingham, right, is congratulated by team-mates after scoring a spectacular opening goal against Reading at the Madejski Stadium PICTURE: GETTY IMAGES
GAFFERRATING