Cardiff City 0-1 Southend (report)

A woeful performance saw Cardiff extend their winless run to 12 games losing to bottom club Southend United who notched their first away win of the season.

The Shrimpers lined up in a ghastly white kit with completely illegible silver lettering causing a problem for Stadium announcer Ali who was unable to identify the players being substituted! There was no place for ex-Cardiff defender Spencer Prior.

Cardiff lined up as expected with new boy Peter Whittingham on the bench and after failing to get possession until the 2nd minute, Cardiff started OK and Darren Purse was close after a free-kick on 3 minutes. On 9 minutes a neat passing move saw the ball fall to Ledley on the left whose pinpoint cross found Kerrea Gilbert unmarked at the far post but his weak header was held when he should have scored.

Southend took the lead against the run of play in the 23rd minute. Lee Bradbury took the ball well and unleashed a dipping volley from 20 yards past Alexander. The goal rocked Cardiff and they lost all momentum and offered no attacking threat in the first half save for a low corner crashed onto the bar by Loovens from a low corner.

Kevin Campbell has been replaced by Feretti early on after suffering a cut head and receiving lengthy treatment but Cardiff inexplicably persisted in lofting the ball forward and Chopra / Feretti were unable to hold possession.

HT: Cardiff 0-1 Southend

The second half was a dire affair and depite enjoying a massive majority of possession Cardiff lacked creativity and commitment. A Scimeca drive was clawed away by Flahavan in the Southend goaland a low Feretti snapshot was smothered by the keeper.

The introduction of Cardiff new signing Peter Whittingham added some purpose to Cardiff's attacks, the winger showing some nice touches and attacking intent. Whittingham himself went close when played in by a Purse handball, his shot was blocked by the keeper and the rebound fell to Feretti at the backpost but he headed against the post with the goal gaping.

Feretti saw another shot saved and Whittingham shot well over as Cardiff limped to a disappointing result. Southend were poor and scarcely deserved a point after living in their own half for the entire second period, breaking rarely with an occasional counter-attack.

A poor pooir performance for Cardiff with players looking bereft of confidence and a shadow of the former team. No goals in close to 400 minutes of football says it all and this was the performance of a team in danger of relegation. The referee didn' help and allowed Southend to slow play and missed several obvious fouls but Cardiff have work to do on the pitch and off it with a new ptriker an absolute must.

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