John Robinson netted his first Cardiff goal with a second-half winner as the
Bluebirds came from behind to beat Sheffield United at Ninian Park.
But the most telling contribution came from visiting goalkeeper Paddy Kenny
who gifted the home side the initiative on the stroke of half-time.
The Blades had taken the lead on 25 minutes through a fantastic Peter Ndlovu
volley but Kenny met Richard Langley's tame free-kick with disastrous
consequences, allowing it to creep under his body for the equaliser.
The visitors almost opened the scoring on six minutes, after Michael Tonge had
beaten Langley on the right wing. Tonge ran to the byline before pulling the
ball back for Jack Lester but the Blades' top scorer side-footed into the
side-netting from six yards.
Cardiff midfielder Gareth Whalley then caused United all sorts of problems at
the back. First his right-wing free-kick was deflected into the net but the goal
was rightly disallowed for handball by Alan Lee.
On 19 minutes Whalley's left-footed corner was turned inches wide by visiting
defender Phil Jagielka, then Whalley crossed for Robert Earnshaw, whose glanced
header forced Kenny to tip over.
But all that pressure came to nothing as the visitors took the lead on 25
minutes. Tonge's right-wing corner was headed clear by Tony Vidmar to Ndlovu,
who was unmarked on the edge of the box.
Ndlovu, who scored a hat-trick in the reverse fixture, then unleashed an
unstoppable right-foot volley past Martyn Margetson for his first league goal
since late September.
Cardiff's John Robinson had a long-range effort easily saved but Kenny then
made a mess of Langley's 25-yard free-kick in during stoppage time.
For some reason, as the ball bounced in front of the Irish keeper, he
attempted to palm the ball away with both hands instead of scooping it up, but
the ball squirmed over the line.
Kenny remembered how to collect a low shot after the break when he saved
Earnshaw's 20 yard effort with ease.
But Kenny was beaten again as the home side took the lead on 63 minutes
through Robinson's well taken half-volley.
Right-back Gary Croft crossed from deep within the United half and Simon
Francis headed the ball away from the back post.
But Robinson was lurking just behind the Blades defender and his left-footed
strike from the left side of the box went past Stuart McCall and beyond Kenny's
reach into the far corner.
Francis responded with a low 25 yard shot which might have brought an
equaliser if it had gone either side of Margetson.
But Cardiff looked the more likely to score with Kenny saving brilliantly from
Langley on 76 minutes before James Collins headed narrowly wide from the
resulting corner.
Even the introduction of Izale McLeod and Wayne Allison failed to bring the
Blades an equaliser, from a game they looked like winning until Kenny's gaffe.
Teams
Cardiff Margetson, Vidmar, Gabbidon, Collins, Croft, Langley,
Whalley, Boland (Bullock 65), Robinson (Barker 86), Lee,
Earnshaw (Campbell 80).
Subs Not Used: Gordon, Alexander.
Goals: Langley 45, Robinson 63.
Sheff Utd Kenny, Kozluk, Morgan, Page, Francis, Phil Jagielka,
McCall (Shaw 78), Tonge, Ndlovu (Allison 89),
Lester (McLeod 78), Gray.
Subs Not Used: Rankine, Wright.
Booked: Gray, Francis, McLeod.
Goals: Ndlovu 25.
Att: 13,666
Ref: A Leake (Lancashire).
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