IT WAS the result that neither club wanted as the Severnside FA Cup derby ended in a 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate on Tuesday night.
Both City and Cardiff would have hoped for victory on the night to avoid fixture congestion which will now be brought about by the need for a replay in Cardiff next Tuesday.
The conditions on the night were terrible with heavy snow pouring from the skies for much of the first half. With the pitch closely resembling an ice rink both teams struggled to create many chances and the tempo was uncharacteristically slow for a local derby.
City started the game brightly with defender Louis Carey hitting the post within the first ten minutes and Paul Hartley should’ve done much better with an effort after being given time in the Bluebirds penalty area.
But as the half wore on an under strength Cardiff side began to impose themselves on the game and created chances of their own. Cardiff also started the second half well as City’s grip on the game diminished as seems to have happened so many times this season, particularly in recent weeks at Ashton Gate.
The opening goal came on 76 minutes and it has to go down as an error for goalkeeper Dean Gerken, who came out of his penalty area and cleared the ball straight to Cardiff striker Michael Chopra who finished well into an empty net.
An equaliser didn’t look like it was going to come with City creating next to nothing in the entire half. But with barely a minute left on the clock Liam Fontaine crossed the ball from the left to Nicky Maynard who laid the ball to Welsh midfielder Gavin Williams, who drove the ball in from outside the box to force the replay.
Overall though this was another concerning performance from City who really seem to be struggling to score goals at home, or at least look like scoring. Sod’s Law that Preston’s visit to Ashton Gate on Saturday will see a first game in charge for their new manager Darren Ferguson, given the positive impact that new managers tend to have on teams and players eager to impress.
No doubt it’ll be another tight game but City are now in desperate need of a victory having not won at home since October 20 last year.
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