BURNLEY BUILD-UP | CITY'S FINAL NINIAN WIN

History

Following Saturday's sensational victory at CCS, we prepare for tomorrow evening's trip to Turf Moor by remembering the Bluebirds’ last ever victory at Ninian Park - a 3-1 win over promotion rivals Burnley on Easter Monday 2009.

If you're not at Turf Moor tomorrow night, you can listen to live commentary on Cardiff City Player HD!

Burnley, then managed by Owen Coyle, made the trip from Lancashire with the same motivation as City, securing a place in those all-important Play-Off positions. The sides were neck and neck in the table and all the ingredients were in place for a gripping spectacle.



Despite being the home side, Cardiff started the slower of the two teams as Burnley sought to grab the initiative. Ex-Manchester United winger, Chris Eagles, was the man pulling the strings for the Clarets in the middle.

Burnley made life uncomfortable for their hosts for large periods of the first half without creating many dangerous opportunities. Future England international, Jay Rodriguez, just failed to connect with an Eagles’ cross in what was his side’s best chance before the break.

The Bluebirds were much improved in the second half and began to take the game to Burnley, Jay Bothroyd pounced on a Clarke Carlisle mistake just after the hour mark but could only fire his shot straight at Burnley ‘keeper Brian Jensen.

Bothroyd was enjoying an impressive first season in South Wales and did not have to wait long to make amends, getting on the end of a Ross McCormack flick on to give his side the lead.



The Clarets then threw everything at City and levelled the match with just five minutes remaining.

Burnley’s Robbie Blake intercepted an under hit back pass from Darren Purse before calmly stroking the ball past Stuart Taylor in the Cardiff goal, seemingly securing an important point on the road for Coyle's men.



A late equaliser can be crushing for some teams, however City refused to let their heads drop and responded in spectacular fashion. The Bluebirds raced up the pitch straight from kick off, still intent on securing all three points. A Bothroyd header found McCormack who fired home to send Ninian Park wild, in what was a reversal of the combination for the first goal.

The action still wasn't over though, as injury time then brought the best goal of the game. McCormack effortlessly beat two defenders before slotting his strike past ‘the Beast’ from a tight angle for his twenty-third goal of an impressive season in the Welsh capital.



The victory was Cardiff’s third on the spin and kept their promotion prospects very much alive. More significantly, it became the last time City fans made their way down Sloper Road toasting a Bluebirds Ninian triumph, prior to their summer move to Cardiff City Stadium.

The season before that, Aaron Ramsey scored his first ever League goal against Burnley at Turf Moor. Watch it below...