Cardiff 0-0 Colchester (report)

Cardiff City were held to a goalless draw by a resilient Colchester United to stretch the goal drought to a worrying 4 games for the Bluebirds. Man of the match was undoubtedly Colchester 'keeper Dean Gurken who produced a superb performance including several excellent saves. The youngster was called upon when No 1 Davison pulled out just before the match and kept Cardiff at bay throughout. City top-scorer Michael Chopra saw a close range header saved and shot over in a lively first half display. The stand-in goalkeeper`s most vital contribution came just after the half hour when a Riccy Scimeca thunderbolt was brilliantly tipped over from 25 yards.

Gerken saved again from Scimeca as Cardiff pressed, while the visitors were restricted to the odd foray into Cardiff`s half. Chris Iwelumo went mightily close with a first half header and Johnnie Jackson and Jamie Cureton both fired wide from distance. Cardiff did beat the inspired Gerken on the hour mark when a Paul Parry corner was met by the towering Roger Johnson but his goalbound header was well cleared off the line by U`s midfielder Kevin Watson.

Another disappointing result for Cardiff as they failed to make their chances count but chances were created and surely its only a matter of time before the goals start flooding in. Malvin Kamara came in for the suspended McPhail and did reasonably well although he drifted in and out of the game at times. It turned out to be a point gained for City as Preston slipped up against lowly Luton but Birmingham replaced them at the summit of the Championship after a convincing 3-0 win over Plymouth.

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