PL - Norwich City v Cardiff City
Match Reports
26th October
DOGGED CARDIFF EARN POINT AT NORWICH
A David Marshall inspired Cardiff City helped the Bluebirds battle to a hard fought and valuable 0-0 draw at Carrow Road.
Jordon Mutch looked to have given Malky Mackay's side the lead with 25 minutes gone as he received the ball just five yards out; looking certain to score, only a fantastic stop from England International John Ruddy denied Mutch a third Premier League goal.
City 'keeper Marshall was in similar form himself, a series of superb stops from long range efforts from Leroy Fer and Jonny Howson to name a few, the key in earning a point for the Bluebirds at Carrow Road.
The game ended in controversy as Fer tapped the ball home into an empty net from a throw-in, possession conceded by the Bluebirds to allow Norwich's Alex Tettey to receive treatment. Referee Mike Jones' order for the throw to be re-taken, ruling the goal out and keeping the scores level, was the last of the drama in an action packed game.
City boss Malky Mackay made two changes to the side that tackled Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last time out as Kim Bo Kyung and Mutch came in for Don Cowie and Aron Gunnarsson.
On his return to his former club, Malky Mackay saw his side enjoy plenty of possession in the early stages as the Bluebirds looked to quieten a raucous home support.
With just five minutes on the clock Fraizer Campbell was worked in well in front of goal, only to see his effort denied by a recovering Norwich defence.
With quarter of an hour gone Cardiff's best chance of the game so far came the way of defender Steven Caulker. Losing his man in the box, he connected with a pinpoint Whittingham cross, only to see his effort drift wide.
Soon after, many around the ground had to question how the Bluebirds weren't in front. Excellent build-up between Odemwingie and Campbell saw them play Mutch in right in-front of goal, only for a superb stop from England stopper Ruddy to deny the City midfielder a third Premier League goal with his chest.
It appeared to spur the home side into gear as they went on to enjoy a good spell of their own. Whittingham was first forced to clear a Fer header off the line, before Marshall was first called into action by a long range effort from Gary Hooper.
Marshall was called upon once again as Howson tried his luck from range, responding to Kim Bo Kyung's earlier effort that saw Ruddy claw his shot away at the near post.
City's Scottish 'keeper was on-form once again as half-time approached, alert to Norwich's initial cross hitting the upright he quickly got to his feet to deny the close range rebound and clutch the ball gratefully to his chest.
HALF TIME: Norwich City 0-0 Cardiff City
The late spell of pressure from the home side saw Malky respond with a double substitution at the break, Aron Gunnarsson and Don Cowie came on to replace Kim Bo Kyung and Odemwingie.
The changes looked to sure up the Bluebirds in midfield, but it was the home side who continued to push for the lead. Hooper again came close just short of the hour mark, heading just wide from a Snodgrass corner.
Gary Medel had a long range effort saved well by Ruddy with twenty minutes to go before Craig Bellamy replaced the Chilean midfielder soon after. Norwich responded as Johan Elmander and Nathan Redmond came on for Pilkington and Hooper.
Redmond brought the best from Marshall once again as the Canaries continued to search for an opening and the Bluebirds' doggedly dug in; The former Birmingham City man once again bringing the best from the Scot with a low dipping effort.
The Canaries threw one last role of the dice as Ricky van Wolfswinkel came on for Howson, but the Bluebirds were doing well to limit the home side to long range strikes.
Theophile-Catherine responded with an effort of his own in stoppage time to almost snatch the victory for Malky Mackay's men. The game ended in controversy, however as Leroy Fer rolled the ball into an empty net from a throw-in that the Bluebirds' had previously awarded to allow Alex Tettey to get treatment.
It would be the last action of the match as the Bluebirds earned a valuable away point on the road.
FULL-TIME: Norwich City 0-0 Cardiff City
Cardiff City: Marshall, Taylor, Caulker (C), Turner, Whittingham, Medel (Bellamy 72), Campbell, Odemwingie (Cowie 45), Kim (Gunnarsson 45), Mutch, Theophile-Catherine. Subs not used: Lewis, Hudson, Mason, Maynard.
Attendance: 26,846 (Carrow Road, Norwich)
