Blackburn 1-1 Cardiff: Rovers and Bluebirds share spoils in season opener
- adamhigginsuk
- Aug 8, 2014
- 7 min read
On the mark: Kenwyne Jones scored only his second Cardiff goal to give the Welsh side the lead (Picture from Twitter.com)
CARDIFF City opened the 2014/15 Football League season with a scrappy draw at Blackburn Rovers in their first game back in the Championship.
The Bluebirds - relegated from the Premier League in May - went ahead after 18 minutes as Kenwyne Jones headed home Peter Whittingham's free-kick at the back post.
Rovers fought back shortly before the break through a stunning Tom Cairney strike from outside the box.
The chances dried up in a disappointing second half but both sides will be content with a point from a closely-fought encounter to kick start the campaign.
Optimism was rife at Ewood Park ahead of Gary Bowyer's second full season in charge after a 12-match unbeaten run saw Rovers finish two points behind the play-offs last term with the expectancy to challenge for promotion to end their three-year stay in the second tier rising.
Cardiff - installed as the bookmakers' early promotion favourites - are seeking to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt after their turbulent one-season stay in the top flight.
? DID YOU KNOW ?
Cardiff have won just three times on their last 14 trips to Ewood Park and have conceded in all of them.
The Bluebirds' only defeat on the opening day of the season since 2007 came last year against West Ham in the Premier League (2-0 at Upton Park).
Boss Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, who won just three of his 17 league games after replacing Malky Mackay in January, signed seven players during the summer but only handed a debut to one as former Reading striker Adam Le Fondre started on the right of a three-pronged attack.
With Steven Caulker sold to QPR, Ben Turner out with an ankle injury and Juan Cala suspended, captain Mark Hudson returned from a muscle injury to partner Matthew Connolly in central defence while Craig Noone was sidelined and Gary Medel is close to joining Inter Milan.
Rovers handed starts to former Cardiff attackers Craig Conway and Rudy Gestede with the latter renewing his partnership with chief marksman Jordan Rhodes - scorer of 90 goals in the previous three seasons - which brought a combined 37 league goals last term.
On-loan Bolton defender Alex Baptiste was the only debutant with fellow summer signings Chris Brown, who has not featured at all in pre-season because of a knee injury, and Luke Varney among the substitutes alongside the fit-again Ben Marshall.
BLACKBURN'S SUMMER ACTIVITY:
Transfers In: Chris Brown (from Doncaster Rovers, free transfer) Luke Varney (from Leeds United, free transfer) Alex Baptiste (from Bolton Wanderers, season-long loan)
Transfers Out: Leon Best (to Derby County, season-long loan) Josh Morris (to Fleetwood Town, six-month loan) Ruben Rochina (to Granada, undisclosed fee)
Alex Marrow (to Carlisle United, free transfer) DJ Campbell (released)
Dickson Etuhu (released)
David Goodwillie (to Aberdeen, free transfer) Alan Judge (to Brentford, undisclosed fee)
Both sides were keen to get off to a flying start to the domestic season - and the controversy and drama did not take long to arrive when Hudson was adjudged to have handled Gestede's flicked header inside 50 seconds.
Referee Andy Madley awarded a free-kick despite the infringement appearing to take place in the box but the effort from Tom Cairney was smashed straight into the wall.
Watching brief: Newly-retired referee Howard Webb (left) and his PGMOL boss Mike Riley (right) were in the stands observing the match officials (Picture by Adam Higgins)
At the other end, Hudson also tried his luck with an ambitious shot which flew over as the tempo settled into a moderate pace.
Amid an electric atmosphere, both sets of players demonstrated plenty of commitment but Baptiste was fortunate to escape punishment for a studded lunge which caught Peter Whittingham on the top of his right ankle.
The first goalmouth action was generated from a wicked Whittingham set-piece as the midfielder's corner was knocked back into the path of Kenwyne Jones, whose header was denied by a stretching Paul Robinson.
Connolly, who did not feature at all under Solksjaer last term, then powered a free header over the crossbar as Blackburn struggled to deal with the menacing deliveries.
And before long, Cardiff made one count as another whipped Whittingham dead-ball was helped on by Hudson and Jones stole in at the back post to send a bullet header into the roof of the net for his first goal since scoring on his February 1 debut.
Rovers, who were twice beaten by the Bluebirds two seasons ago, looked sprightly when venturing into Cardiff territory without finding the cohesion or penetration to match their exuberance.
Rhodes - fresh from signing a new contract extension over the summer - rifled a half-volley over from the edge of the box and skipper Grant Hanley prodded straight at David Marshall inside a packed penalty area.
With the hosts seemingly more vulnerable defensively, the Bluebirds expressed their ability to counter attack with purpose without showing the killer instinct missing for much of last term as they finished the second lowest scorers in the Premier League.
? DID YOU KNOW ?
Blackburn have now failed to win any of their last four opening day fixtures, since a 1-0 win over Everton in the Premier League in August 2010.
Rovers last beat Cardiff in an FA Cup third round replay in January 2005 at Ewood Park with a 3-2 scoreline.
Jones linked up with Nicky Maynard and advanced away from Corry Evans but his tame shot produced an easy save for Robinson.
Bowyer's side enjoyed a sustained spell of possession towards the end of the first half as a resolute Cardiff, who won just twice away from home in 2013-14, retreated towards their own goal.
Their patient approach almost reaped reward when Gestede's attempt at an overhead kick from Jason Lowe's centre was miscued, falling directly to the feet of the onrushing Conway but he contrived to blaze harmlessly off target from 15 yards.
Although Cardiff held a relative degree of comfort, Blackburn's tenacious response resulted in a leveller five minutes before the break.
A dwelling Whittingham was hounded off the ball by Rhodes, who poked the ball immediately towards Cairney 25 yards out.
And last season's player of the year did the rest, curling a sublime left-footed effort into the corner beyond the diving Marshall.
The attacking momentum transferred to Rovers, who replaced the injured Matt Kilgallon with Lee Williamson at the break as Lowe dropped back into defence.
During a strong start to the second period for the hosts, Gestede fizzed an effort over from distance before looping the ball over the advancing Marshall after the Scotland keeper was caught in no man's land.
Cardiff introduced Tom Adeyemi in place of Mats Moeller Daehli and the midfielder, who only joined from Birmingham on Thursday, helped to retain the ball and provide extra protection to the back four as the visitors gained a foothold.
The rhythm fluctuated and the tension grew as a scrappy contest materialised with both sides struggling to seize the initiative.
CARDIFF'S SUMMER ACTIVITY:
Transfers In: Guido Burgstaller (from Rapid Vienna, £800,000) Adam Le Fondre (from Reading, £2.5 million) Javi Guerra (from Real Valladolid, free transfer)
Federico Macheda (from Manchester United, free transfer)
Kagisho Dikgacoi (from Crystal Palace, free transfer)
Charlie Horton (from Peterborough United, free transfer)
Tom Adeyemi (from Birmingham City, £1 million)
Transfers Out: Andrew Taylor (to Wigan Athletic, free transfer)
Don Cowie (to Wigan Athletic, free transfer)
Simon Lappin (released)
Tommy Smith (to Brentford, free transfer)
Craig Bellamy (retired)
Jordon Mutch (to Queens Park Rangers, £6 million)
Frazier Campbell (to Crystal Palace, £900,000)
Steven Caulker (to Queens Park Rangers, £8.5 million)
With Rovers still dominating possession, Solksjaer handed Austrian midfielder Guido Burgstaller - the summer signing from Rapid Vienna - a debut in order to match Blackburn's conservative set-up as goalscorer Jones made way.
And Burgstaller's first contribution was to lash a 22-yard effort wide of the post to ironic cheers from the vocal Ewood Park faithful.
Even with the prize of a winning start up for grabs, attacking intent was sparse and clear-cut chances at a premium in the closing phase.
As the noise levels became increasingly subdued, the outcome was inevitable as early-season rustiness and fatigue took its toll.
Rovers had two late sightings of goal as Hanley headed a free-kick straight at Marshall before Conway sent a rising effort over the crossbar.
But a point apiece was deserved as both sides left the field satisfied with an unbeaten start to a league campaign in which they will hope to be involved in the promotion mix.
Cardiff's next league encounter is at home to Huddersfield next Saturday while Blackburn, who have not lost since March 12, travel to Lancashire rivals Blackpool.
Friday 8th August 2014 SkyBet Championship Ewood Park (Blackburn, Lancashire)
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Cardiff City KO 7:45pm Live on Sky Sports 1/HD1 (HT 1-1)
Cairney 40 Jones 18
Blackburn Rovers (4-4-2): 1 Robinson - 6.5/10, 15 Baptiste - 6.5/10, 5 Hanley (C) - 7/10, 4 Kilgallon - 6/10 (Williamson 45 - 6/10),
14 Marcus Olsson - 7.5/10, 10 Cairney - 8.5/10, 6 Lowe - 7/10, 29 Evans - 6.5/10, 32 Conway - 7/10, 11 Rhodes - 7/10, 39 Gestede - 7.5/10.
Subs not used: 34 Kean (GK), 8 Dunn,, 7 King, 12 Marshall, 19 Taylor, 16 Varney.
Booked: Lowe (30)
Cardiff City (4-3-3): 1 Marshall - 7/10, 2 Brayford - 7/10, 5 Hudson (C) - 7.5/10, 16 Connolly - 7.5/10, 3 Fabio da Silva - 6/10, 7 Whittingham - 7/10, 17 Gunnarsson - 6.5/10, 23 Daehli - 6.5/10 (Adeyemi 55 - 6/10), 9 Jones - 7.5/10 (Burgstaller 70 - 4.5/10), 10 Le Fondre - 6.5/10 (Wolff Eikrem 87 - 1.5/10), 23 Maynard - 7/10.
Subs not used: 33 Moore (GK), 12 John, 28 Theophile-Catherine, 13 Kim Bo-Kyung
Booked: Brayford (45+1), Hudson (79), Burgstaller (85)
My Man of the Match: Tom Cairney (Blackburn Rovers) - 8.5/10 My Poorest Performer of the Match: Fabio da Silva (Cardiff City) - 6/10
Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire) - 8/10 Assistant referees: Steven Copeland and Graeme Fyvie Fourth Official: Richard Clark (Northumberland)
Attendance: 15,625
MANAGER & PLAYER REACTION:
Blackburn manager Gary Bowyer
"I thought we were the more dominant side. I'm disappointed with the manner of the goal we conceded, and we could have had a penalty in the first half. I thought we recovered well, scored a fantastic goal. It was a great strike from a fantastic footballer in Tom Cairney, he can reach double figures this season. I thought the lads really looked like they enjoyed themselves. Again the supporters were magnificent, they cheered the lads on."
Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer
"We defended our goal well, I was pleased with the performance and the attitude of the lads, particularly defensively. We have come away against a good team and dug out a good result. Kenwyne Jones worked really hard and is getting his fitness together. In the second half we didn't play well with the ball but we sorted out the problems that Tom Cairney, especially, caused us in the first half. This is going to be a relentless season. I need a centre back in. We have loads of experience in this league and we had to have this here. Very happy with a point against one of the favourites."
Last updated: 8 August 2014 23:17pm
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