Cardiff City 1-0 Scunthorpe United

All Iron hearts were broken late on as despite a significantly improved performance: a late Cardiff City goal denied the Iron the point and clean sheet they’d deserved.

The South Wales side were held until the 86th minute: with ex-Hull midfielder Seyi Olofinjana heading home to break the hearts of all Iron fans listening and those just over 100 brave, loyal souls who were sat: and then collapsed in the corner of the stadium.

The Iron pushed late on: and were unlucky not to find an equaliser – with Grant & Hughes having half-chances for the Iron.

Whilst the situation at the bottom of the table has not changed: with the Iron still 7 points adrift with 3 games in hand – but that doesn’t tell the whole story.

Following the significantly improved performance: the Iron will have to bounce back before Wednesday and the game against Nottingham Forest. And it will take absolute herculian mental strength and borderline manipulation to see the Iron do that in time.

The Iron began the game having made two changes – with loanee Ben Gordon in for Andy Wright at full-back and Josh Wright in for Bobby Grant.

This left the starting line up of Josh Lillis in goal. Ben Gordon, Eddie Nolan, Michael Nelson and Paul Reid in defence.

They were behind the midfield of Sam Togwell, Mark Duffy, Josh Wright and Andy Hughes.

This left Joe Garner just behind Lee Miller up top for the Iron.

On the bench for the visitors were Sam Slocombe, Andy Wright, Michael Raynes, Michael Collins, Abdisalam Ibrahim and Bobby Grant.

There was a reasonable start to the game: with the Iron clearly setting up to stifle and restrict their promotion chasing opponents and they were quite successful early on.

With the wind at their back: Cardiff did create a decent chance after 13 minutes though. The Arsenal loanee Emanuel-Thomas cut in from the flank well but could only fire his stinging effort wide of the sprawling Lillis.

In what was a rare counter – the Iron did actually have an opportunity with just more than half an hour on the clock, with Nolan coming up the right: but his effort was comfortably saved by Heaton in goal for the hosts.

The Iron were even appealing for a penalty after Garner thought he’d been felled by Quinn. In fairness – the referee was consistent on the issue: denying Bellamy an equally valid claim for a penalty later on in the game.

Then a half-decent chance for Bellamy was tipped wide well by Lillis.

But that it was mainly: and the Iron fans and players were most definitely pleased with the first half’s proceedings as they walked off at half-time with it still goaless.

HALF-TIME CARDIFF CITY 0-0 SCUNTHORPE UNITED

Both sides were trying, but neither could come close: despite Cardiff comfortably bossing in terms of possession.

Early on in the half – Gordon fired wide, following Bothroyd firing a free-kick comfortably over the bar.

But Cardiff were beginning to convert possession into chances: with Reid doing well to block a Bothroyd effort. And the Iron weren’t allowed to relax as full-back McNaughton fired just wide for the hosts.

The hosts were getting closer and closer as Koumas & Bellamy curled chances wide & over respectively.

The Iron tried to close the game out, dropping progressively deeper: but with just under a quarter of an hour left – Garner & Miller combined well as the former poked an effort just past the keeper’s post.

The Iron then went for an extra body in midfield – but chances were still created as Lillis saved well after Bothroyd & Olofinjana combined well.

These two were proving key for the Welsh side – as the former was fed through to score, but was adjudged to have been offside by the linesman on the far side.

The Iron thought that following this, it might have just been their day: but it wasn’t to be.

Again – it was those two combining, as Bothroyd headed the cross back across the goal to OLOFINJANA who was at the back post to nod home.

With just 4 minutes left this was an absolute sickener for all concerned with the Iron – as they now seemed destined to be crawling home with their tail between the legs: and with no rewards for all their hard work.

Throwing Grant on at the end: the Iron did throw caution to the wind in an attempt to find a shock equaliser. Indeed – the Scouser came extremely close for the Iron: forcing a great save out of keeper Heaton.

Then as the rebound fell to him from a tight angle, Hughes could only fire his effort over the bar.

But that was it. And it was an absolute sickener for the Iron: and you could only feel horrendous for all Iron fans who had travelled down to South Wales to support the Iron.

But they have to bounce back – and as hard as that will be psychologically following this sickener – they’ll have to do something….

FULL-TIME CARDIFF CITY 1-0 SCUNTHORPE UNITED