http://clarkeonenil.co.uk/front-page/the-dielhenn-debrief-cardiff-city-2-v-1-leeds-unitedTuesday 4th January 2010, Championship.
The undefeated streak couldn’t go on forever, and unfortunately Cardiff have now proved twice this season that they are significantly better than us, regardless of current form. Last time it was a humiliating 4-0, this time it was a hard-fought 2-1, but both times Cardiff thoroughly dominated.
Kasper Schmeichel had his busiest outing in a while, and stepped up to plate to prove that Leeds have a top class goalkeeper. He made several saves to keep the scoreline respectable that other Championship keepers couldn’t have made.
Andy O’Brien and Neill Collins held things together to a reasonable extent at centre-back. Collins seems to be better when Leeds are under sustained spells of pressure, because it means his lack of pace cannot be exploited by counter-attacks. Ben Parker had a fairly quiet first start of the season. His fitness didn’t seem to be an issue, and he will have appreciated Cardiff’s tendency to attack on the other wing. Anything he had to do, Parker dealt with. At right-back, Paul Connolly was given a torrid time by Cardiff’s Craig Bellamy. He won’t come up against that kind of quality every week, but Connolly couldn’t cope with Bellamy’s movement.
Bradley Johnson and Jonny Howson were completely overrun in the centre of midfield. Neither could grab the game by the scruff of the neck as Cardiff dominated throughout, and when they did get the ball they could only play hopeful passes into the channels.
Ross McCormack’s work-rate was impressive against his former club, playing in the hole behind the main striker. He didn’t have much chance to show any quality in the final third, though, and still hasn’t score his first goal for us. On the flanks, Max Gradel and Robert Snodgrass again looked weary, not for the first time recently. Both seem to be feeling the effects of the busy Christmas fixture list, although Snodgrass scored a lovely goal. Sanchez Watt’s pace gave the game a different dimension when he came on.
Billy Paynter cut a lonely figure up-front as the ball was at the other end of the pitch. He has proved that he can hold the ball up but still hasn’t really had a genuine chance on goal, so is still to prove his goalscoring ability. Luciano Becchio came off the bench to partner Paynter but he also could not hold the ball up and cause Cardiff any problems.
James Dielhenn.