PLUCKY CITY DEFEATED BY MAGPIES

A first goal for Peter Odemwingie in the Premier League for Cardiff City wasn’t enough for the Bluebirds as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Newcastle United at Cardiff City Stadium.

The visiting Magpies showed a real desire in the opening half, with David Marshall continuing his recent standout form to deny them an opening goal on a number of occasions. The Scotland International was finally beaten on the half hour mark with a fine individual goal from Loic Remy, the Frenchman showed real composure eight minutes later to add a second goal for his side after Marshall had denied his strike partner Cisse. 

The introduction of Jordon Mutch revitalised City after the break with Mutch supplying a delightful pass to Peter Odemwingie inside the Newcastle penalty box on fifty eight minutes, the Nigerian International slipping past Krul and slotting into the back of the net for his first goal in the Premier League this season.

 

While City pushed for an equaliser in the final half hour, the form of keeper Krul kept them at bay with Newcastle returning to the North East with all three points.

 

The away side opened the match strongly with Yohan Cabaye controlling the midfield for the visiting Magpies. Cabaye’s accurate long range pass just two minutes in was incredibly well controlled by on-loan forward Loic Remy in the City penalty area, Cardiff’s pressure on the Frenchman was enough to put him off from shooting. 

The hosts almost had something to celebrate early on with Englishman Fraizer Campbell slipping in behind the Toon defence and beating Tim Krul to the ball within the Newcastle box. An unfortunate ricochet off Campbell forced the ball over the line with Alan Pardew’s men lucky to come away unscathed. 

Papiss Demba Cisse was next to try his luck at goal with eleven minutes on the clock. The Senegalese International's right footed shot from the edge of the penalty area failed to trouble in-form City keeper David Marshall but the Scotsman was in action once again soon after, somehow denying Remy after seventeen minutes, plucking a powerful volley from the top corner of the net with Andrew Taylor blocking Cisse’s rebound. Marshall continued these heroics less than a minute later to deny Moussa Sissoko from opening the scoring. 

Remy continued to trouble the City back line however and should have done better when supplied with the ball inside the Cardiff penalty area on twenty seven minutes. French International right back Debuchy cut into the box before supplying the ball for Remy who could only tamely pass the ball into Marshall’s hands. The forward wasn’t so wasteful three minutes later as Newcastle took the lead. 

Cutting in from the left, the on-loan QPR man beat Theophile-Catherine for pace before unleashing a powerful drive that stung the fingertips of Marshall before hitting the back of the net. 

GOAL! CARDIFF CITY 0-1 NEWCASTLE UNITED (Loic Remy, 30 minutes) 

Alan Pardew’s men didn’t let up in attack following this opening goal and with their tails up, Cabaye hit a rasping drive from distance with Marshall holding the ball well. City’s number one continued his impressive display to deny Cisse once again after the forward broke through on thirty eight minutes, unfortunately for Marshall in the City goal, Loic Remy was on hand to pick his spot and slot home to give Newcastle a two goal lead. 

GOAL! CARDIFF CITY 0-2 NEWCASTLE UNITDE (Loic Remy, 38 minutes) 

City could have gone in at the break three goals behind with a clever free kick from Cabaye catching out the hosts, the ball bouncing to safety off Marshall’s near upright.

 

The half time introduction of Jordon Mutch and the words of City manager Malky Mackay seemed to revitalise Cardiff in the second period with Peter Whittingham and Mutch combining twice in quick succession after fifty minutes to test the Newcastle keeper Krul. City found a crucial goal with thirty two minutes remaining much to the delight of the watching home fans. 

Aron Gunnarsson broke down the left side for City, before cutting the ball back for Mutch whose delectable first time pass found former West Bromwich Albion man Odemwingie.  Showing great composure, Odemwingie beat Tim Krul before slotting the ball into the Newcastle goal despite the best efforts of Coloccini to give City real hope of getting something from the match with thirty two minutes remaining. 

GOAL! CARDIFF CITY 1-2 NEWCASTLE UNITED (Peter Odemwingie, 58 minutes)

 

The Nigerian frontman almost help to grab a City equaliser just a minute later as his accurate pass found Fraizer Campbell in the penalty area only for the former Manchester United man to fire his cross in front of the Newcastle goal and just wide of Krul’s far post. 

Marshall denied the hosts a third goal on sixty three minutes with Sissoko bearing down on him one-on-one, the Scottish International saved well with his legs as the hosts looked to push on and find an equalising goal. 

The Scots' match long battle with Cisse was revisited after seventy six minutes with the ball falling to the Senegalese International within the Cardiff six-yard box. Marshall showed his class by plucking the ball away from Cisse and somehow to safety as the home side pushed for an all-important equaliser.

 

Jordon Mutch almost found a way past Krul with nine minutes remaining, the substitute slipping past the Newcastle defence before poking the ball towards goal. Krul pushed the shot into the air before collecting calmly despite the intense Cardiff pressure. 

The home side pushed for an equaliser in the final moments, but it wasn’t to be as Remy’s double sealed an away win for the visiting Magpies. 

Cardiff City: Marshall, Taylor, Caulker, Turner, Whittingham, Medel, Odemwingie (Maynard, 81), Kim (Mutch, 46), Gunnarsson, Theophile-Catherine, Campbell (Bellamy, 66). Subs Not Used: Lewis, Hudson, Noone, Cowie, Maynard.

Goal: Odemwingie (58)

 

Newcastle United: Krul, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye, Williamson, Sissoko, Cisse, Gouffran, Remy (Gutierrez, 71), Tiote, Debuchy. Subs Not Used: Elliot, Anita, Ben Arfa, Yanga-Mbiwa, Ameobi, Dummett. 

Goals: Remy (30, 38)

Attendance: 27,538