OWLS BUILD-UP | BOTHROYD BRACE SEALS FOURTH PLACE

With Saturday’s crucial match against Sheffield Wednesday fast approaching, we remember another April fixture against the Owls with important Play-Off ramifications.


; a result which secured City a home fixture in the second leg of their 2009/10 Championship Play-Off Semi Final.Cardiff City Stadium was the hero as his double helped the Bluebirds to a 3-2 victory at Jay BothroydSix years ago,
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Despite the teams sitting at opposite ends of the table, it was Wednesday who drew first blood. Tom Soares sent in a dangerous cross from the right and found Jermaine Johnson alone at the back post who tapped home to give his side the lead.

The Bluebirds were not behind for long however, thanks to Peter Whittingham. Ever the man for the big occasion, Whitts expertly curled a free kick past Owls ‘keeper Lee Grant to level the scores a mere ninety seconds after going behind! That was the twentieth league goal of what was an outstanding season for City's number seven.

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The scores were level at half-time despite some very good chances for Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra. Former City skipper, Darren Purse, very nearly put the Owls back in front but saw his goal-bound header batted away by David Marshall.

The Bluebirds seized the initiative shortly after the break. A wonderful forty-yard pass by midfielder Stephen McPhail sent Bothroyd clear and the future England international made no mistake, clinically sliding the ball past Grant to make it 2-1 to the home side.



Wednesday refused to give up and, with the contest entering its latter stages, they drew level through Marcus Tudgay. The striker picked the ball up in the box before finding the back of the net from an acute angle.

Once more, however, City responded to conceding in rapid fashion. Barely three further minutes had elapsed when substitute Aaron Wildig picked up the ball in the Wednesday half. He found Bothroyd, who danced past four Owls players before giving Grant no chance with a rocket of a shot from twenty yards out.



There were some nervy moments for the Bluebirds in injury time as Wednesday sub Etiënne Esajas' last minute pile-driver cannoned back off the inside of Marshall's post.

However, Bothroyd's earlier strike turned out to be the winner. The result ensured a fourth place finish for City and set up a memorable Play-Off Semi Final encounter with Leicester City...

Watch full Match Highlights of City's 3-2 victory over Sheffield Wednesday below...