Match Report | Cardiff City 1-3 Blackburn Rovers
City were defeated by Blackburn Rovers at CCS on Saturday afternoon.
Omer Riza made three changes from the side that faced Luton Town in midweek. Jesper Daland, Alex Robertson and Chris Willock replaced Calum Chambers, Manolis Siopis and Callum Robinson.
City started strongly; a ball across from Callum O’Dowda was struck cleanly by Rubin Colwill but a Blackburn defender was able to get his body in the way and block the shot.
Not long later Colwill had another opportunity to put the Bluebirds in front, but his powerful strike from the edge of the area was well collected by Rovers keeper Aynsley Pears.
Despite City starting strongly, the visitors took the lead after Lewis Travis' cross was tucked in by Andi Weimann from close range after a well-worked move.
The Bluebirds looked to strike back after the ball broke for Colwill inside the box, but his effort was saved by the Rovers shot stopper. Late on in the first half O’Dowda’s cross fell to the feet of Anwar El Ghazi, but the Dutchman was unable to find the target under pressure from the Blackburn defence.
City came out positively in the second half looking for an equaliser. David Turnbull’s early second half strike from the edge of the box was deflected into the keeper’s grasp.
Minutes later, a poor clearance from a Rovers defender fell to the feet of Willock, who did well to break free of his man, but his left footed effort took a nick off a Rovers leg and went behind for a corner.
Unfortunately, Blackburn extended their lead against the run of play, after Weimann slotted home from close range in the 53rd minute.
The Bluebirds pushed forward looking for a way back into the content. Willock did excellently to find space on the edge of the box to get a right footed bending shot off, but Pears got down well and tipped it round the post. City went close again after Willock's cross was met by Colwill, but his header was superbly kept out by Pears.
City were awarded a penalty after a foul was committed on O’Dowda, with Joe Rankin-Costello mis-timing his jump. Turnbull’s resulting penalty was saved by Pears, but he stayed composed and slotted home the follow up effort to reduce the deficit.
However, the visitors further extended their lead when Lewis Baker's curling shot found the bottom right corner to give Rovers a third.
Despite City’s efforts to push for a goal late on they weren’t able to find the back of the net, and the game ended with the visitors taking all three points.
FINAL SCORE: Cardiff City 1-3 Blackburn Rovers
Cardiff City: Alnwick, Ng, Goutas, Daland, O’Dowda, Robertson, Turnbull, R.Colwill, Tanner, Willock, El Ghazi (Méïté 46’). Subs not used: Horvath, Fish, Bagan, Collins, Siopis, Rinomhota, Ashford, Kanga.
Blackburn Rovers: Pears, Brittain, Pickering, Hyam, Tronstad, Cantwell (Buckley 78’), Weimann (Rankin-Costello 61’), Batth, Hedges (Baker 78’), Ohashi (Gueye 78’), Travis. Subs not used: Tóth, McFadzean, Leonard, Tyjon, Duru.