City History | Carabao Cup - Kenny Miller
The Bluebirds are set to begin their Carabao Cup campaign for another season this week, hosting Bristol Rovers at Cardiff City Stadium.
From dramatic penalty shootouts to an iconic celebration at Wembley, City have a fine history in the competition, none more so than in the 2011/12 season.
The side reached the final at Wembley Stadium in dramatic fashion, with four of our six matches leading up to the final going to extra-time.
With two penalty shootouts also on the route to Wembley, City certainly set up their showdown clash with Liverpool in an entertaining manner.
Kenny Miller played a big part during our Cup campaign that season, and joined us to recall those matches.
“We had such a good run to the final," Kenny began. "We played some great football and beat some good teams.
"When you get to the final stages of a cup competition, anything can happen. Those games can be really tight, but we managed to get through on penalties against Crystal Palace.
"Then, we were in the final and playing Liverpool; we were always going to be the underdog."
Despite facing Premier League giants Liverpool, City's performance on the day was admirable.
A goal from Joe Mason and a famous late strike from Ben Turner forced the game to a penalty shootout, with the Bluebirds narrowly missing out.
Kenny continued: "There were a lot of stars in that Liverpool side, but we had such an attacking team that day. We were quite a solid Championship team and I played as a lone forward a lot of the time, mainly in a 4-5-1 and we were quite a dogged team with good players.
"You think of players like Peter Whittingham, Stephen McPhail and Aron Gunnarsson, we had some great players, but also good teammates, who worked so hard for the team. We were set up to be that way and be hard to beat.
When we got to the final, we had three strikers in the team in me, Joe Mason and Rudy Gestede. We started the game great, we went at Liverpool, got a foothold in the game and scored the first goal. That was the perfect start for us.
"It was always going to get tougher against a team like that and we had to defend a lot. We had to rely at times on last ditch defending, which we did well.
"Once we got to extra time, Ben Turner’s goal is an iconic goal and an iconic celebration as well. When we went to penalties, we managed to take Liverpool that far and anything could happen. It just went the way it went and we ended up losing out."
The striker went close to putting the Bluebirds ahead late in normal time.
City's chances in the contest were testament to the performance, going toe-to-toe with a talented Liverpool side.
Kenny added: “One of my main memories, and I still think about it to this day, was that we won a free-kick around the 86th minute and Don Cowie, who I’m still really good friends with, I got eye-contact with him and dashed behind the wall.
"He played it into me and I took a touch, it just sat up perfect. I hit a shot and I’ve caught it sweet. I thought it was in and it was a few inches too high. That would have won it in normal time. It would have been hard for them to pick themselves up in that situation. As soon as I hit it, I thought it was in and I still think of that now.
"Losing on penalties happens to the best players and the best teams, that can happen, but I always look back on that chance. I played in a lot of cup finals and that was a tight affair against one of the best teams in the country. It was just unfortunate it wasn’t meant to be for us on the day."
During Miller's time in the Welsh capital, he netted 11 goals in 50 matches, whilst also contributing with eight assists.
His contribution that season was part of the platform to go further the following campaign, as City achieved promotion.
“I represented a lot of clubs, but I always look out for Cardiff City’s results," Kenny said. "I had a really good time there.
"There was a really good team spirit and a great environment. We’d always be spending time together. Cardiff is a lovely city as well. The fans were brilliant with the players and I think they realised that we were a squad of hard-working players."