Match Report | Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Cardiff City
Cardiff City were narrowly defeated at Ewood Park on Saturday afternoon.
City began with Josh Bowler making his first start since returning from injury, as Yakou Meite featured on the bench having missed out against Watford before the international break.
City had the first chance of the afternoon when Ryan Wintle was put through nicely down the right hand side, crossing low towards Karlan Grant. However, the ball was cut out well, denying the visitors a clear-cut early shot on goal.
Bowler looked to make an impact upon his return to the starting XI only five minutes later, as the winger took a shot from the edge of the area, though it went just wide.
Following these early chances, the hosts began to command possession and limit City’s time on the ball, creating several opportunities for themselves throughout the first half, with Sammie Szmodics and Arnór Sigurðsson both consistently threatening while City's back line was tested.
The Bluebirds had the ball in the back of the net late on in the first half, but found their goal disallowed. Joe Ralls’ terrific corner-kick found the head of Dimitrios Goutas, who planted an effort into the back of the net. However, the linesman deemed that Grant had been in an offside position and blocking the ‘keeper’s view, and so the score was reset to 0-0, staying the same until the half-time whistle.
Following the interval, Blackburn quickly broke the deadlock through Joe Rankin-Costello. Played through down the middle, the midfielder’s strike was very nearly saved by Jak Alnwick’s outstretched glove, but there wasn’t quite enough contact to deny the hosts the opener.
Later on, Rankin-Costello looked to add a second against City, but was tackled perfectly by Perry Ng, who darted across the area to slide in and dispossess the midfielder at the very last moment.
With little more ten minutes left, and with a number of attacking-minded substitutions having taken place, City continued to try and find the equaliser. The Bluebirds looked to take advantage of introducing their fresh forward players, with fellow substitute Ollie Tanner linking up well along the right wing alongside Callum Robinson, Yakou Méïté and Rubin Colwill.
Tanner created the greatest chance of the final few minutes, as he was found inside the box and struck well on target, forcing Leopold Wahlstedt into making a great reactionary save to send the goalbound effort out for a corner-kick.
Despite the late pressure from the visitors, City were unable to find their elusive equaliser, and were defeated by the Rovers at Ewood Park.
FINAL SCORE | BLACKBURN ROVERS 1-0 CARDIFF CITY
Blackburn Rovers: Wahlstedt, Hill, Carter, Hyam, Pickering, Tronstad, Brittain, Rankin-Costello (Travis 78'), Szmodics, Sigurdsson (Ennis 65'), Dolan. Subs: Hilton, Gamble, Markanday, Wharton, Garrett, Atcheson, Telalovic
Cardiff City: Alnwick, Ng, Goutas, McGuinness, Collins, Siopis, Bowler (Tanner 61'), Wintle (Robinson 66'), Ralls (Colwill 78'), Grant, Ugbo (Méïté 61'). Subs: Rúnarsson, Romeo, Adams, Panzo, Rinomhota
