I know not as prevelant as they used to be but still surprised not to see one so far.

Anyway, I’m not sure if it’s possible to win playing more badly so it was really some achievement

We missed Halilovic’s creativity and link up play, we were so poor and created nothing. No real intensity or quality. Only 2 bits of the latter were the goal and Ejaria’s scoop turn in extra time.

Southwood 9 MOTM - a few really good saves and commanded his area really well against the aerial bombardment from Cardiff.

Yiadom 5

Moore 6 - better than usual this season but hoofs it way too often when he doesn’t need to, just invites pressure straight back.

Laurent 8 - looks really accomplished there, kept Kieffer Moore really quiet which is not an easy task.

Rahman 4 - I like him but not his day at all.

TDB 5

Drinkwater 5

Hoilett 6 - meh, well taken goal at least

Swift 5 - so sloppy from him, poorest display of the season and poor deliveries

Ejaria 5

Puscas 3

Goal came out of nothing really and needless to say we’ve definitely done a number on them. Cardiff probably not too bothered as this will no doubt hasten McCarthy’s departure. Anyway good turn out from the fans and thought we were in good voice.

“Southgate” ?

9 motm

Really something to win away when playing so poorly. Sure Cardiff were probably going to come into this home game insistent that they weren’t going to leak goals like the previous two games but WTF? We had I think two shots on goal. I lost count of the wayward passing. Back 5 deserve all the plaudits for this one. I keep asking myself what would we do with Joao, Meite, Azeez, the Toms, etc.

You’re the one?

Not sure I agree with back 5 comment. Was our game plan to purposely allow them to get crosses in? Because I didn’t see too many attempts at blocks!

51 of them to be exact.

3 goals conceded in 5 is a massive improvement on 16 in 6. Nice shiny 12 points in 15 to show for it too. Got through our first month of our injury crisis, got another two to get through then it’s just Joao and Meite out.

In truth with no game for two weeks we are halfway through the injury crisis. May have to add Morrison to the long term injured look.

Anyone else feel a lot more confident with Southwood in between the sticks? Not saying Rafael is a bad keeper but it got to the point qith him that every time an opposition player took a shot from outside the box I felt like it was definitely going in. Now I feel like Southwood will get to it.

I felt Southwood should have been given a chance well before now. I know he played in the final game of last season but Rafael conceded a good number of goals through mistakes. He had a good run in goal and is now our number two.

Pauno in or out?

Not the best game but a win before the break which is needed to rest the squad. Way to many sloppy passes mistakes when we had a good counter attacking chance.

Thoughts puscas played ok, held the ball up when it wasn’t played to his head.

Not sure what dele brings to the team. Miss places too many passes, doesn’t get stuck in enough and not box to box, just not sure what his main attribute is. Much prefer Laurent (when he’s not playing CB) playing there or rhino, whenever he’s back after being “close” after the huddlesfield game.

Swift and Ovie had off games but done well last few mins time wasting in front of the away fans.

Love when Drinkwater points out where he needs to players to Move or run when he’s got the ball.

Southwood commands the box so much better then Raffael, although his ground kicking was a bit off yesterday.

I think that we really do need to discuss how good Southwood is he reminds me a lot of McCarthy when he broke through. Let’s hope we can keep him for a season or 2.

Think that's some harsh scoring despite a rather lacklustre display.

Hoilett’s goal probably worthy of a 7. Swift had a bad game by his current standards but thats still at least a 6 by some of his seasons and most players.

Tbh, I'd bump almost everyone except Laurent and Southwood up one. Oh and Moore.

And I'd give Puscas .ore than that 5 maybe. Not a great game, but back to zero service. Couple of good runs into the corner punished with massively overhit longballs.

Thought we noticeably missed Hal.

I felt Southwood should have been given a chance well before now. I know he played in the final game of last season but Rafael conceded a good number of goals through mistakes. He had a good run in goal and is now our number two.
He's so composed. Really looks to control his box. Positioning rarely troubled. We've got more organised with him back there. And unlike Cabral, he can cope with the short passes and being put in trouble.

And he doesn’t undercook a pass to a marked man outside the D with no one between him and goal.

I felt Southwood should have been given a chance well before now. I know he played in the final game of last season but Rafael conceded a good number of goals through mistakes. He had a good run in goal and is now our number two.
He's so composed. Really looks to control his box. Positioning rarely troubled. We've got more organised with him back there. And unlike Cabral, he can cope with the short passes and being put in trouble.

And he doesn’t undercook a pass to a marked man outside the D with no one between him and goal.


Yep. He is a confident young keeper and that seems to have settled the defence. He is going to make costly mistakes and when they happen Pauno needs to cut him the same slack he afforded Rafael.

I felt Southwood should have been given a chance well before now. I know he played in the final game of last season but Rafael conceded a good number of goals through mistakes. He had a good run in goal and is now our number two.
He's so composed. Really looks to control his box. Positioning rarely troubled. We've got more organised with him back there. And unlike Cabral, he can cope with the short passes and being put in trouble.

And he doesn’t undercook a pass to a marked man outside the D with no one between him and goal.

He's done very well, particularly with his desire to control his box. He's also very brave. But if you actually watch the games back you will see that he too has been guilty of some of the things you mention. Not surprising, just like outfield players, all keepers will make mistakes from time to time.

He's so composed. Really looks to control his box. Positioning rarely troubled. We've got more organised with him back there. And unlike Cabral, he can cope with the short passes and being put in trouble.

And he doesn’t undercook a pass to a marked man outside the D with no one between him and goal.

He's done very well, particularly with his desire to control his box. He's also very brave. But if you actually watch the games back you will see that he too has been guilty of some of the things you mention. Not surprising, just like outfield players, all keepers will make mistakes from time to time.

Fair comment. Some of his passing out was off against Boro and could have been costly. He does exude confidence though and as you say is very brave.

The odd ball. Much less than Cabral.

I felt Southwood should have been given a chance well before now. I know he played in the final game of last season but Rafael conceded a good number of goals through mistakes. He had a good run in goal and is now our number two.
He's so composed. Really looks to control his box. Positioning rarely troubled. We've got more organised with him back there. And unlike Cabral, he can cope with the short passes and being put in trouble.

And he doesn’t undercook a pass to a marked man outside the D with no one between him and goal.

Just hope fans don’t slag him off when he has a patchy run of form or drops 2/3 clangers, he’s young for a keeper and still finding his way. Really good start for him and, long term, can only get better. If he holds his place in the side I can see PL clubs taking an interest next summer and who can really stand in his way, esp. given the FFP mess. In the meantime let’s hope the club are already thinking about what they can offer by way of a new deal.

My first game of the season and a good one.

Great atmosphere throughout and an exciting game albeit mostly at the wrong end. Thought we looked pretty good at times in the first half. Plenty of pretty passing moves that Cardiff couldn't deal with.

Nice to have a defence with just one non regular defender and I felt we looked more organised as a result.

I missed the goal as I really needed a piss but that's live football for you!

Second half was very much backs to the wall and I always felt they would score at some point. Just great effort from everyone, even Ovie at times, to keep them at bay.

Southwood was superb as has been mentioned but Laurent looked comfortable and commanding in defence and then in midfield. And then in defence again.

Good night out in Cardiff afterwards.

I might even go again!

I agree.

I agree.

Me too

I agree.

Me too

+1

Talking points for me (watched from 25-30mins ish onwards):

1 - Definite red card - horrible studs in face challenge on Southwood. leading onto....

2 - Southwood absolute bloody legend. 9.5/10 performance. For me now I from what we've seen so far I think I can say we're at the point where he's the "good keeper" I've harped on about for the past few seasons, the one that gives us 6-8 points in a season. Heroic display as ever - always comes for balls, doesn't give a sh*t if it means he'll get his face ripped off. I have infinitely more confidence seeing that gutsy tough eager lad between the sticks than I ever had with Rafael. Rafael - ok keeper, not at all bad. But Southwood thus far is proving that little bit extra, and has got us a few points already. Don't get me wrong, Rafael did too - it's just that Southwood seems to have done a lot in a short space of time. leading onto....

3 - Moore. improved? I'm not comfortable saying this but a clean sheet here... was it always more of a Rafael than a Moore issue? IIRC Rafael has been out at the same time as Moore has. Or Morro/Moore?

They probably deserved to win, if you only look at stats but a bit like Derby beating us, we clearly wanted it more and were just heroic in defending

Yes re Moore
As I said over the page we looked far more organised with that back 4 and Moore and Laurent in the centre.

Southwood superb and controlled the area so well.

So maybe Raphael was causing some of the problems

I’m not the biggest fan of the Tilehurst end but they made an interesting point that Moore is much better when he’s defending deep, not sure how true that is though.

Edit

Went to the Grange pub with a Cardiff mate before the game. It's a proper Cardiff fans pub normally but pretty quiet on Saturday and it was all very friendly. But turns out a lot of guys I met used to be in the Soul Crew years ago

I hate it when people say things like that. Defending is as much a part of the game as attacking. We defended brilliantly, they weren't great in attack. We had a game plan and it worked and therefore deserved to win.

Even if you win 1-0 and your keeper make 25 brilliant saves you still deserve to win. The keeper is part of your team just as much as a striker scoring goals.

think you need to seriously reflect on your marks ....

Playing poorly but gaining 3 points is a sign of a good team.

Its been an amazing turnaround by Pauno and the team.

They should be applauded.

International break come at a great time. Hope a couple more might edge closer to being back to strengthen the bench and Dann closer to match fitness. Barnsley a great opportunity to get into top 6 - that is some improvement.