| Cardiff City | 0-0 | Cambridge United |
| Att: 2,681 |
United line-up: Barrett, Chenery, Ashbee, Duncan, Joseph, Campbell, Wanless (Beall 37'), Preece (Wilde 87'), Charles, Kyd, Barnwell.
Sub not used: Benjamin.
Booked: Campbell (foul 73'), Ashbee (kicking ball away).
Ref: E Lomas (Manchester).
[The Abbey Rabbit match report] [My summary of media reports]
The Abbey Rabbit match report:
By our recent standards a much better performance against a side who smacked four past Mansfield in midweek. Shaggy was dropped to make way for Lee Charles with Jamie and Kyddie out wide as RM went with three up front.
Although the quality at times was pretty poor, the game itself was pretty exciting, especially the first-half. United had by far the better chances - Wanless went close twice and Barnwell missed an absolute sitter from no more than six yards (I thought he was offside - but I'm reliably informed that he wasn't). Barrett made one excellent save in the first-half when he managed to palm White's(?) header just past the post - apart from that we looked quite comfortable. Cardiff only had a couple of chances - both in the second-half. Firstly a 20 yarder that flew just over the crossbar and a belated penalty shout - which had me worried at least!
We lost Wanless with what looked like a twisted ankle midway through the first-half. Beall came on in his place. Charles took a while to get into the game and was often caught offside - however he showed pace and movement and improved as the game went on - he certainly looks useful at this level.
Second-half, United dominated and we really should have got behind their defence more than we did. Barnwell, especialy, had the beating of Middleton - although both he and Kydddie were almost operating as wing-backs during the second-half. Charles missed our best chance - a ball through the middle caught their defence square (again). He was one-on-one with the keeper who made a good save.
I thought Beall had one of his best games of late - so much so that we didn't really miss Wanny. Preece had a bit of an off day - more a case of the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. At times our build-up was ponderous - we kept possession well but never looked threatening. Then again there wasn't much movement off the ball...
However, I was realy pissed-off by a couple of things:
i. The racist chanting by Cardiff fans at Lee Charles - to which their stewards did nothing.
ii. Fans pay their money and are entitled to moan - but why the hell do people come all that way just to slag off the team? As for the comments to Kyddie to "get back on the banana boat" - that was beneath contempt. Unfortunately, like most fans, I'm ashamed to say, I did nothing about it at the time. Kyddie must have reported the comments to RM as he was livid after the game...
SteveJ@AbbeyRabbit
Summary of media reports:
New loan signing Lee Charles was the only change to the side that drew against Lincoln last Friday, replacing John Taylor in the same 4-3-3 formation. The three on the bench reflected Roy McFarland's vow to give youth a chance for the rest of the season, with Billy Beall returning from suspension to sit alongside Trevor Benjamin and winger Adam Wilde, who was included in the fourteen for the first time this season.
United's performance was slightly better than of late and the U's were well on top in the first half. Jamie Barnwell spurned an excellent chance to put the U's ahead after just 21 seconds, missing the proverbial sitter from eight yards. Michael Kyd used his power to carve through the Cardiff defence on the right before crossing low into Barnwell's path, but he sliced his shot inches wide. The home side suffered an early blow when striker Carl Dale was carried off injured and they lacked a real cutting edge without him, although Scott Barrett had to be alert to deny Steve White when he burst through in the eighth minute.
After fifteen minutes United had another good chance when Andy Duncan crossed towards Wanless and Barnwell on the far post. They were both unmarked and Wanless went for the header when Barnwell was better placed, and his effort soared across the goal and over the bar. Debutant Lee Charles looked lively throughout as did Danny Hill for Cardiff, also making his debut after arriving on loan from Spurs.
Paul Wanless had a couple of chances to score but then limped off injured ten minutes before half-time. He was replaced by Billy Beall, who put in another busy and battling performance. At about the same time David Preece, who put in a good all-round performance, nicked the ball from Hill as he was poised to shoot for goal from close-range.
In the second half the game was more even, although United still looked more threatening without ever really testing Hallworth, the City goalkeeper. David Preece provided an excellent through ball in the 61st minute to leave Charles one on one with the keeper, but he obviously thought he had less time than he did when he aimed his shot too close to Hallworth who saved well. Charles faded late on through lack of first team action and the game petered out in the rain. Adam Wilde replaced Preece three minutes from time to double his senior appearances.
Both teams were boo-ed off by a minority of fans after an ultimately disappointing outcome for both clubs. However Lee Charles was a ray of hope for United, a tall, pacy striker with a good first touch, and he made a promising debut before fading late on.
The nature of Paul Wanless' injury is not yet known but one of the fans who travelled to see the match said he looked to be in a lot of pain as he watched the second half with them. This draw stretches United's run without an away win to seventeen games.
Many thanks to Steve for his report.
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