Catman

The Wales midfielder, an ever-present this term, latched on to Peter Whittingham's throughball to slot the ball beyond Paddy Kenny for his fourth goal of the campaign.

Whittingham twice went close from the edge of the box and Parry had a number of opportunities to add to his tally after the break, but the United goalkeeper was in fine form at Ninian Park.

However, despite Kenny's heroics, the Blades could not engineer an opening up front as City climbed to 15th in the Championship table.

Chris Gunter was not named in Dave Jones' matchday squad after the cash-strapped Bluebirds agreed a fee with Premier League side Tottenham.

Tony Capaldi replaced the 18-year-old Wales international at full-back, while Gavin Rae replaced his former Rangers team-mate Steven Thompson, who was suspended.

Despite a virus affecting his squad, Bryan Robson made just one change to the starting line-up with captain Chris Morgan coming in to the defence in place of Gary Cahill, while striker Rob Hulse was named as a substitute after recovering from a broken leg sustained against Chelsea in March.

James Beattie shot over within a minute and David Carney had a shot blocked before Parry fired wide from 12 yards.

Kenny denied the same player from long range before Beattie shot wide from six yards and Matt Kilgallon headed off target as as the sides continued to trade chances.

But the lively Parry converted Whittingham's pass to put the Bluebirds ahead after 30 minutes.

Whittingham's curling shot was then turned round the post by Kenny before the keeper tipped over the midfielder's free kick from the edge of the box as Cardiff failed to add to their lead.

Parry continued to trouble the United rearguard after the interval and shot wide early on.

Morgan was forced off through injury adding to United's woes and Hulse was introduced for his first appearance of the season for the ineffective Billy Sharp.

Lee Hendrie also stepped off the bench as Robson sought some creativity to unlock the Cardiff backline.

But it was the Bluebirds who continued to dominate proceedings. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had a close-range shot diverted from a corner and Whittingham shot over before Parry shot off target again.

Hasselbaink and Whittingham each had efforts blocked before Roger Johnson headed straight at Kenny.

Kenny was on fine form to keep United in the game, with Parry denied once again after a shot from 12 yards.

Phil Bardsley and Hendrie each shot off-target from 25 yards as the frustrated Blades tried in vain to breach Kasper Schmeichel's defences and Cardiff held on for a fourth home win of the season.

 

Catman

Cardiff v Watford
The Hornets have not won at home since October 20 and were destined for another Vicarage Road defeat to Cardiff until the winger curled his strike into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Roger Johnson gave the visitors the lead in the first half but it was cancelled out just after the break by captain Jay DeMerit's close-range strike. Peter Whittingham restored the Bluebirds' lead minutes later with a fine solo run and shot but Watford fought back to grab a fortuitous point.

The home side, who started with Nathan Ellington and McAnuff after the pair impressed as substitutes during last weekend's win at Sheffield United, began brightly and had a couple of half chances in the opening minutes.

Tommy Smith hooked a ball into the area for Marlon King in the second minute but the striker's header was deflected just wide, and Ellington's teasing cross narrowly evaded Damien Francis two minutes later.

Cardiff made an equally lively start and did not appear to be missing the services of Robbie Fowler who failed a late fitness test on an ankle injury. In the opening minutes they created a slick sequence of passing on the right before Stephen McPhail volleyed just wide of the right hand post from the edge of the box.

In the 14th minute, Paul Parry broke free on the right but he attempted to shoot past the onrushing Richard Lee when a cross would have found Steven MacLean unmarked in the box, and his effort was well blocked by the goalkeeper.

That chance set the tone for the rest of the half and the galvanised visitors dominated.

The hosts had numerous chances to break forward in space but time and again their pass found a blue shirt instead of a yellow one.

Joe Ledley's header just over the bar on the half-hour mark should have been a warning to Watford but it was ignored at their peril and four minutes later Cardiff took a deserved lead when Johnson powerfully headed in Gavin Rae's cross from the right.

Watford dramatically improved in the second half and were level minutes after the interval when DeMerit latched on to Ellington's knock-down and rifled home from close range.

But it was not long before the Bluebirds capitalised on some sloppy defending and restored their lead. Damien Francis was dispossessed in a dangerous area in the 56th minute and Whittingham ran into the heart of Watford's defence before unleashing a powerful low shot into the right hand corner.

McAnuff forced Kasper Schmeichel into his first save of the game after an hour when he shot from the left of the box and Henderson headed Smith's cross inches over the crossbar.

In a tumultuous final five minutes which saw a Watford onslaught, Francis' header was directed straight at a grateful Schmeichel, who then tipped McAnuff's stinging shot over. McAnuff had another shot just wide before he struck a first time shot high into the far corner to cue wild celebrations.

 

Catman

Cardiff V Preston
The visitors trailed at half-time following a fifth-minute strike from Simon Whaley but second-half strikes from Roger Johnson and Joe Ledley gave the Bluebirds their fourth win in six games.

There was little festive cheer at Deepdale as Preston slumped to their third straight home defeat, and it was the same old story for the Lilywhites as they failed to capitalise on a positive first-half performance before Johnson and Ledley made them pay.

The result leaves Preston in the relegation zone heading into the new year, while Cardiff are eyeing a push for a play-off place after starting the month just above the drop zone.

Preston got off to a great start by scoring from the first shot on target. Recalled midfielder Lewis Neal hit an outswinging corner from the left and Cardiff's Peter Whittingham only managed to glance the ball out to the unmarked Whaley, who beat goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel with a rasping 20-yard drive into the bottom right corner.

Preston almost doubled their lead within a minute when Paul Gallagher's attempted shot put Patrick Agyemang through on goal but the recalled striker shot too close to Schmeichel, who made a smart block.

Cardiff made a positive response, with captain Stephen McPhail firing narrowly over in the 12th minute, but Preston were soon back in control.

Neal released Matty Hill on the overlap in the 17th minute and the Preston left-back fired into the side-netting from a wide angle.

And two minutes later the pair combined again before Hill's cross from deep on the left was headed over by substitute Chris Sedgwick, who had just replaced the injured Whaley.

Preston continued to dominate proceedings until Agyemang missed a gilt-edged opportunity in the 29th minute.

Cardiff defender Glenn Loovens allowed Neal's pass to reach Gallagher, who squared for strike partner Agyemang near the penalty spot, but he failed to connect properly and let the ball squirm through his legs.

Loovens and lone striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink drilled long-range efforts wide as Cardiff aimed to get back into the game, and the visitors maintained their momentum after the restart.

McPhail sent a 20-yard strike narrowly wide before Hasselbaink hit a wayward volley from Ledley's cross, and moments later Cardiff were level after Johnson rose highest to head home Ledley's left-wing corner from six yards.

Preston almost went back in front when Schmeichel denied Gallagher in the 58th minute from Agyemang's pull-back, but Cardiff snatched the lead following a strong run from Ledley down the Preston left.

The Wales midfielder exchanged passes with Hasselbaink just inside the Preston half to get behind the home defence and might have gone down under the challenge of Sean St Ledger but kept his feet to steer the ball past Andy Lonergan from a wide angle.

Preston fans jeered as manager Alan Irvine replaced the impressive Neal with striker Neil Mellor in a bid to revive his attack, but the home side failed to regain the fluency they had in the first half.

Whittingham fired wide for Cardiff while Lonergan spilled a low drive from substitute Steve MacLean as the visitors secured the three points with ease.

 

Catman

Cardiff V Plymouth
The Wales midfielder enhanced his burgeoning reputation as his first-half strike was enough to clinch all three points by sealing three Championship points for the Bluebirds.

Cardiff's festive form has eased the pressure on boss Dave Jones and brought a sense of renewed optimism to Ninian Park following a miserable start to the campaign that saw them hovering just above the relegation zone last month.

Jones kept faith with the same starting XI that came from behind to beat Preston 2-1 at the weekend as former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink continued his partnership with Paul Parry in attack.

Meanwhile, Argyle were flying high in sixth prior to kick-off but would have to cope with the loss of striker Barry Hayles who agreed to follow former boss Ian Holloway to Leicester on Monday.

Both teams were hesitant to commit themselves too early and while Argyle strikers Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Jermaine Easter posed a constant threat, it was the home side that broke the deadlock in the 30th minute.

Former Pilgrims full-back Tony Capaldi pounced on a poor clearance before drilling in a shot from the edge of the area which goalkeeper Romain Larrieu could only parry into the path of 20-year-old midfielder Ledley, who gratefully tapped home from close range.

It was the Wales international's second goal in as many games and his exhilarating performances on the Cardiff wing have caught the eye of several Premier League clubs.

But a determined Argyle side were almost on level terms when David Norris' shot from distance deflected off Roger Johnson and on to the post with goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel beaten.

The visitors increased the pressure before the interval but shots from Peter Halmosi and Krisztian Timar were cleanly dealt with by the Bluebirds defence.

After the break, former Wycombe forward Easter capitalised on hesitancy in the Cardiff defence to latch on to a bouncing ball before smashing a goal-bound effort which was tipped round the post by Schmeichel.

Boss Jones then withdrew Hasselbaink in favour of bringing on the fresh legs of Steven MacLean as he attempted to invigorate the Cardiff attack.

And MacLean almost made an instant impact after the dangerous Ledley slid a through-ball to the feet of the former Scunthorpe striker but he could not take it around goalkeeper Larrieu who successfully smothered MacLean's effort.

A frantic final five minutes included chances for both sides as Parry had his effort cleared off the line by retreating Pilgrims defender Paul Connolly while Argyle applied some strong late pressure as they went in search of a late equaliser.

But it was the Bluebirds who almost scored again to double their lead when they hit the visitors on the counter attack with just one minute remaining but a neat move involving MacLean and Ledley resulted in the goalscorer firing narrowly wide.

The Pilgrims refused to give up and the home side had keeper Schmeichel to thank once again as he pulled off another fantastic save to his right as loan signing Lukasz Jutkiewicz's overhead kick looked to be heading in with the last kick of the game.

 

Catman

FA Cup 3rd round Cardiff V Chasetown
A major giantkilling act had looked a possibility after 17 minutes when Kevin McNaughton bundled Ben Steane's cross into his own net to put the minnows ahead.

The shell-shocked Bluebirds took time to recover but levelled in added time at the end of the first half through Peter Whittingham before second-half strikes from Aaron Ramsey and Paul Parry spared City's blushes at the Scholars Ground.

The British Gas Business Division One Midlands side were greeted to a rousing reception by a crowd of 2,420 bedecked in blue and white, and they all seemed determined to enjoy their side's moment in the spotlight regardless of the result - even director Frank Carson put in a guest appearance.

Chasetown's second-round hero Danny Smith was forced to settle for a place on the bench, while Michael Oakes, Steve MacLean and 17-year-old Ramsey, making his first Bluebirds start, came in. Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink was named among the substitutes.

Both sides arrived in excellent form with a recently rejuvenated City winning five of their last seven games, while the Scholars were undefeated since shocking Port Vale in the second round.

It was they who began the brighter, two dangerous inswinging corners from Mark Branch testing the City defence before Kyle Perry headed a free-kick straight at Oakes.

Six divisions may have separated the sides but Cardiff still struggled to find a way past their opponents' three towering centre-backs despite dominating possession.

Chasetown stopper Lee Evans got down comfortably to deny Gavin Rae and McNaughton selfishly skewed a shot over from wide on the right with team-mates waiting in the centre. Soon after the unthinkable happened, Steane racing onto Nick Hawkins' superbly measured long ball down the right before McNaughton clumsily converted his centre, prompting hysterics from the crowd after they were momentarily stunned into silence.

The visitors initially struggled to recover from the shock, Whittingham woefully blasting a free-kick over from a dangerous position before a shot from MacLean floated wide of the post after the striker had turned well.

But eventually the pressure told as Ramsey and MacLean combined well to find Whittingham, whose curling shot into the left corner proved too good for Evans.

Chasetown, the lowest-ranked side to ever reach this stage of the competition, continued to make life difficult for the Coca-Cola Championship side and it was not until the 60th minute they had a second.

Tony Capaldi stood up a ball to the back post which MacLean headed back across goal and Ramsey shrugged off the challenge of his marker to head into the left corner.

The non-league side bravely continued to give it their all and another teasing set-piece from Branch to the far post put the City rearguard in trouble, only for the referee's assistant to flag.

McNaughton cut inside well but fired straight at Oakes and Ramsey showed quick feet before finding Rae out wide, whose cross somehow evaded the onrushing MacLean.

The pressure eventually told, however, as Parry ensured there was to be no cup upset with a 73rd-minute strike, racing on to Joe Ledley's ball down the left channel before firing past Evans, who should have done better.

Smith had a chance to add another cup goal late on but Oakes was alert to the danger as City closed out a hard-fought victory.

Nevertheless the day belonged to Chasetown, whose players went on a lap of honour at the end of the game.

 

Catman

Cardiff V Sheff W
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink`s first-half strike ensured Cardiff came away with a 1-0 win against strugglers Sheffield Wednesday at Ninian Park.

Hasselbaink was on hand to finish off Gavin Rae`s finely-crafted pass in the 35th minute to propel Dave Jones` side up to ninth in the Coca-Cola Championship table, leaving Sheffield Wednesday languishing just one point above the relegation zone.

Bluebirds fans have witnessed a dramatic turnaround in fortunes recently, and a run of five games unbeaten has seen them climb into the top half of the table.

Manager Dave Jones gave new loan signing Peter Enckelman a place on the bench as veteran Michael Oakes continued in goal for the home side, while Hasselbaink returned to the starting line-up after being rested against Chasetown in the FA Cup.

Owls boss Brian Laws made two changes to the side that earned an FA Cup replay with a battling draw at Derby - Leon Clarke and Steve Watson coming in for Francis Jeffers and Jermaine Johnson, while new boy Ronnie Wallwork warmed the bench.

True to form, the home team flew out of the blocks.

There were only four minutes on the clock when Peter Whittingham fired in a shot that had Owls goalkeeper Lee Grant sprawling - and further shots from Hasselbaink and Stephen McPhail set a frantic early pace.

However, Laws' team began to settle - and Clarke`s ferocious drive had Oakes at full stretch to tip the ball around the post.

Cardiff then replied with some heavy pressure and were unlucky not to open the scoring when centre-back Roger Johnson hit the post from Whittingham`s corner.

But they did grab the lead two minutes later when Hasselbaink used all his predatory instincts to latch on to Rae`s through-ball, before firing home to give his side a 35th-minute lead.

Such is the desire at Ninian Park at the moment, the Bluebirds did not want to settle for a one-goal advantage at the break and pushed for a second - but shots from Whittingham and in-form winger Joe Ledley proved fruitless.

Laws introduced Wallwork after the interval in a bid to bring his side back into the game, but the second period began in cagey fashion.

Five minutes after the restart Glenn Loovens came agonisingly close to doubling the home side`s lead as he towered above the Owls defence, but his header cannoned back off the post.

Cardiff`s aerial threat troubled the visitors all day as Paul Parry out-jumped his marker before seeing his header saved by Grant.

But the visitors refused to give up and, with just a one-goal deficit, there was still all to play for in the final 20 minutes of the game.

It was almost a dream debut for Wallwork, but his 73rd-minute header was clawed out from underneath the crossbar by Oakes to keep the score 1-0.

That effort seemed to give the visitors confidence and they pressed for a late equaliser.

Substitute Deon Burton looked the most likely to level the game as his first effort at goal flew wide of the left-hand post.

But it was not to be for the Owls as Cardiff hung on for their third consecutive league win.

 

Catman

Cardiff V West Brom
Roger Johnson's late own goal gifted Championship leaders West Brom a point as they came from behind to draw 3-3 with resurgent Cardiff. The unfortunate Bluebirds defender could not prevent the ball deflecting off him and into the net with just two minutes left as the visitors surrendered 2-0 and 3-1 leads at The Hawthorns.

Paul Parry had struck twice to put City in control before Roman Bednar pulled one back with a header after 35 minutes.

The two-goal lead was restored by Joe Ledley early in the second half before Martin Albrechtsen and Johnson's own goal earned the Baggies a point which keeps them top.

With their side beaten at home just once in the league this season, the Baggies' support arrived for their side's first Championship game at The Hawthorns of 2008 in expectant mood.

But Parry swiftly put paid to that, firing into the top left corner after just 30 seconds following good work from Gavin Rae.

West Brom were dealt another blow in the 13th minute when injury forced Ishmael Miller off the field with Bednar coming on in his place.

Both sides had chances with Peter Whittingham first shooting wide from 20 yards before Michael Oakes did well to parry Kevin Phillips' long-range effort.

City, who have won their last four games, had to make a change of their own after 32 minutes when Darcy Blake came on for Kevin McNaughton, and within one minute the replacement had made a telling contribution.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink failed to flick on Blake's 33rd-minute long ball but it ran through to Parry, who poked past Dean Kiely from close range.

Tony Mowbray's side quickly hit back though, Bednar rising highest to head Jonathan Greening's cross into the right corner.

Carl Hoefkens and Chris Brunt both had chances to pull Albion level, while Parry spurned the chance of a first half hat-trick when he fired over from 12 yards midway through the six minutes of stoppage time.

Just six minutes of the second half had passed when Ledley restored the two-goal advantage.

A classic piece of counter-attacking from Cardiff was finished in style by the highly-rated winger, who drilled into the bottom right corner from the left side of the area.

The visitors looked the more likely to add to their advantage, with Glenn Loovens handed a great opportunity from Ledley's outswinging corner but he headed wide.

Mowbray quickly reacted by bringing on James Morrison and Zoltan Gera and the Hungarian almost made an instant impact with a header, only for Oakes to make a fine save.

The Baggies began to dominate possession but City's defence held firm, Stephen McPhail doing well to clear a Brunt cross.

Oakes again had to be at his best to deny Filipe Teixeira's well-struck effort from 25 yards.

But the home side scored when Albrechtsen's header ricocheted off the underside of the bar and over the line.

West Brom continued to press for an equaliser and they were rewarded in the 88th minute, Johnson the villain as the ball deflected off him and looped over Oakes.

Ledley still had a golden chance to steal the points in stoppage time but he fired over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

 

Catman

Cardiff v QPR
Joe Ledley's fine brace set Cardiff on the way to a simple 3-1 Championship victory over shell-shocked QPR at Ninian Park. Ledley scored his seventh and eighth goals of a stellar season as the Bluebirds extended their unbeaten run to nine matches in all competitions.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was the principal creative force, expertly laying on the young midfielder's second of the evening and feeding Paul Parry for Cardiff's third.

The 35-year-old Dutchman produced a tireless performance as lone striker for 90 minutes until he gave way to Steven Thompson in stoppage-time.

Meanwhile 17-year-old Aaron Ramsey made his full Cardiff debut in the absence of Stephen McPhail.

Midfielder Gavin Mahon replaced Dexter Blackstock in the only change to the Rangers starting line-up.

Parry almost turned his rich vein of form into an immediate reward when he latched onto Peter Whittingham's corner, but Damion Stewart blocked the midfielder's goalbound effort.

Parry was heavily involved in Cardiff's opener, threading the ball through a static QPR defence for Ledley to tap home from six yards out.

Glenn Loovens was a whisker away from doubling the Bluebirds' lead midway through the half, but the Dutchman's header from Whittingham's free-kick missed the upright.

Lee Camp was forced to parry Loovens and Whittingham efforts, and the QPR goalkeeper was fortunate to see Roger Johnson's drilled shot miss his right post on 33 minutes.

Ledley's fine evening continued when Hasselbaink was afforded too much space and set up Ledley for another close-range finish five minutes before the interval.

Johnson should have made it three on the brink of half-time but his header fell just wide.

Rangers manager Luigi De Canio had little choice but to gamble, throwing on Blackstock for defender Matthew Connolly in first-half stoppage-time.

But the Italian must have banished all hopes of a comeback by the hour-mark.

Hasselbaink eluded the Rangers defence on the left once more and crossed for Parry to fire home from just inside the area.

Parry was only denied a second when Camp tipped his rasping shot around the post 10 minutes later.

With a three-goal lead established Cardiff took their foot off the gas, and substitute Hogan Ephraim capitalised with a smart close-range finish after 76 minutes.

Dave Jones' side were further inconvenienced when keeper Michael Oakes had to be withdrawn in the closing stages, to be replaced by on-loan Peter Enckelman.

But Patrick Agyemang could not force Enckelman into a save as Kevin McNaughton charged down the big striker's goalbound effort.

 

Catman

Cardiff v Stoke
The home side, who suffered their first defeat in 13 Championship games at Charlton in midweek, opened the scoring thanks to a 39th-minute own goal from Roger Johnson before a 57th-minute Ricardo Fuller penalty gave them a two-goal advantage.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink pulled one back for the Bluebirds in the 63rd minute but the Potters defence stood firm for the remainder of the game to help Tony Pulis' side clinch the three points, moving them up to third in the table.

Stoke had an early chance to take the lead but midfielder Liam Lawrence, who has eight league goals to his name this season, fired his right-footed effort wide of Michael Oakes' goal.

Despite pressure applied to the Stoke defence, Cardiff's only notable chance before the break was Kevin McNaughton's long-range effort on goal which sailed over the crossbar.

Perhaps the best opportunity of the half fell to Mama Sidibe but the Stoke striker fired straight at Oakes who managed to gather his close range strike comfortably.

Moments later a chance fell to Cardiff midfielder Gavin Rae but his shot from the edge of the box drifted wide of the post.

Stoke goalkeeper Steve Simonsen was made to work by a Hasselbaink shot and Richard Cresswell had a shot blocked by Bluebirds defender Johnson as both sides went in search of an opener.

But in the 39th minute the deadlock was broken when the left boot of Johnson diverted Lawrence's corner past Oakes and into his own net to hand Stoke a 1-0 lead.

Stoke continued to dominate the game after the half-time interval and made it 2-0 in the 57th minute when Fuller both created and dispatched a penalty after McNaughton brought him down inside the box.

McNaughton was shown a yellow card and Fuller dusted himself down before he slotted the ball past Oakes to claim his 13th goal of the season.

Cardiff got one back in the 63rd minute when when Hasselbaink managed to beat Simonsen to make it 2-1.

A Peter Whittingham free-kick found its way to Hasselbaink via Paul Parry, before the Cardiff striker slammed home from inside the box.

Hasselbaink had a chance to level the scores moments after the re-start but his left-footed strike was saved by Simonsen.

Stoke introduced deadline-day signing Glenn Whelan and continued their assault on the Cardiff goal and Stephen McPhail threw himself in front of a Fuller shot.

Both sides had late chances but neither side managed to convert as McPhail forced Simonsen into a smart stop before Fuller missed a chance to add to his tally in injury time.

 

ronaldo

Some good stuff there

 

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ronaldo