Not quite deforestation, but McGugan’s chopping down of McPhail sets up City triumph!

By: Martyn | October 26th, 2008

Cardiff City beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 in a game that might have driven the neutral to insanity through excessive tedium, sloppiness, profligacy, laziness and absent or vacuous leadership. Both sides did a bit of each, both teams racking up certain components more than others. This was my first trip to the City Ground, and after a few pre-match beers in the clubhouse over at city rivals Notts County, we became the sheep to the shepherd that was the Police. Always occurring, always over-the-top, always antagonising, but us City fans might as well have adopted prisoner-chic as our mandatory gladrag away look. That truly would be the sprinklings of Parmigiano-Reggiano (or Parmesan as us commoners call it) on the Spag Bol. The amenities inside were extremely limited: Running out of warm food at half time is ridiculous to the extreme. The ground’s acoustics and architecture helped create a pleasing rather than intimidating vocal atmosphere, although the persistent chanting of a small batch of numbskulls in the Forest end helped ensure that this victory tasted that extra bit sweeter. On the whole, the banter was enjoyable and one can’t help but think that it could even have been improved tenfold had the game on the field of play been half decent.

Any similar victories to this in the course of the next few games and we’ll be righty branded kleptomaniacs. Then the old moral and footballing aesthetics debate will waltz in: Is seeing our team collect multiple scrappy, crappy and somewhat undeserved victories worth it just to ensure we spend one Derby County-esque season in the EPL? My priorities in supporting my local team regularly succumb to the wings of change when it comes to expectation, aspiration and realisation. Some days I fondly and vividly reach for the compartment in my brain marked ‘Nostalgia’, open it, and reminisence about the fun old Real Football days of Leagues 1 and 2 – Or Divisions 2 and 3 as they were in my formative years. Sure, the club had some serious financial difficulties (what’s changed there though? Arguably nothing except that we were more aware of what the problems were back then whereas now it’s generally hushed up and hidden), but the bond and connection I could share with my club was different then. It genuinely felt like a bond and connection. Do I long for such times once again? A little. Other days I envy those who get to dine at the top table and all the coverage, big name signings and money/numerical support they get. My dwelling on the latter days aren’t as frequent. But the way Hull City are going at the moment, having acquited themselves so comfortably in the top division – beating the oft-cited “best football team in the Championship last year” yesterday included – I’m slowly coming around to the dull football idea getting us out of this division. The BskyB once again can be the limit once we get there!

I heavily digress. Here’s what I made of yesterday’s game, with the City players ranked in performing order as per.

1. Roger Johnson -A rock at the back. Played with two different centre-backs during the game but that didn’t unsettle him one bit. Relished the role of chief communicator as those in front of him floundered and those beside him got ravaged by injury. Johnson was steady, dependable and a true braveheart. Slaps on the back and trebles all round!

2. Tom Heaton - I have criticised the beleagured goalkeeper pretty much every game this season. Actually, there’s no pretty much about it: It has been every game. He’s looked shaky, unconfident and his kicking has been little short of a joke. Yesterday however I could finally see why the England U21 stopper was signed by Dave Jones and is still on the books of the European Champions. His kicking was accurate which was a truly wonderful sight and feat given the horrendous winds that threatened to seriously tamper with the game. Not only that, he made several saves that would have graced any game at any level. Truly was HeatON yesterday!

3. Kevin McNaughton -A welcome return to the form we associate with the silver-fox! Harassed, tackled, rampaged, distributed and was the antonym of anonymous. Heralded from us City fans in the stand behind the goal via the medium of football chant on multiple occasions.

4. Gabor Gyepes -A debut at long last for the Hungarian many of us had began to believe may not even exist! He looks like a slimmer Darren Purse but his playing style didn’t vary at all. Strong, stands for no-nonsense, likes a header and made one mistake after a badly timed lunge at the ball. You won’t find many dissimilar Purse afternoons! On the whole the ex-Northampton Town man showed that he can be a valuable addition to our backline.

5. Miguel Commingues -Another player that I’m often quick to criticise but yesterday the Guadelopian was dependable, urgent, pacy and offered the team width and versatility. Epitomised the battling nature of the team in the second half with some desperate but well-timed last ditch tackles and contributed to our attacking impetus by getting into the right positions when required and keeping the team’s shape in the middle of the park. That or providing an extra option for the man on the ball. More performances in a similar vein please.

6. Ross McCormack -Scored as ever. A penalty as ever. Cleverly hit this one straight down the centre. After missing one in midweek and being faced this time with the energetic Lee Camp, thumping it down the centre was the only option the Scot should have taken. Didn’t have as big an impact on the game as he normally does and was a little more shy when it came to touches and involvement than he normally is, but when historians go back through the archives in hundreds of years time, the scoreline will read Nottingham Forest 0-1 Cardiff City (McCormack, 54). And that’s all that is needed at times to tell the story.

7. Darren Purse -Went off at half-time but looked comfortable before being taken off as a precaution due to a knock.

8. Mark Kennedy -Limped off in the first half but looked likely and alert in his brief appearance.

9. Paul Parry – Disappeared for a spell in the opening half but soon came back into proceedings in the second half. Our most creative player by a long way, looked genuinely happy to get on the ball and get involved. Would have been ranked higher had he not had that period of anonymity.

10. Peter Whittingham – Provided some sloppy and halfhearted passing after entering the field of play initially but soon got into the game and came close to adding a second. Began to torment the Forest backline after getting comfortable on the ball.

11. Jay Bothroyd – Missed a sitter in the first half with the goal gaping at his mercy and did little else of note.

12. Gavin Rae -Part of a CM that was third-best to an opposing CM who were barely second-best. No midfield was first-class, and that is why the performances of Rae and McPhail really were only conspicious in their sheer disappointment and ineffectuality. Offered absolutely nothing other than running around like a headless chicken and hoping to get lucky and be in the place where the ball had a 10% chance of dropping.

13. ~~Joe Ledley~~ -Lazy, useless, clueless, sloppy and had that can I be arsed anymore pout that was seemingly inked permanently on his face a few weeks back. Or, since we rejected a £6m bid from Stoke City for him. The line through his name signifies the fact that although Joe Ledley may be on the squad list and teamsheet, the player Joe Ledley left long ago. The rest will follow in January.

14. Stephen McPhail -Awful. Was overbowled, overrun, and totally absent. Offered no creativity and whenever he did get on he ball he sprayed it hopelessly into the Brian Clough Stand. I felt like not even including him in the list he was so bad but he marginally redeemed himself by winning the spot-kick. Though to be honest, what the hell was McGugan doing throwing himself into a challenge like that in the box?