By Chris O'Brien
March 16 2005

The more pessimistic supporters on the Ninian Park terraces foresaw this devastating loss as the first step to relegation. Ipswich Town headed back to East Anglia with three points as Cardiff edge closer to the bottom three.

It was a grim Tuesday evening for Cardiff City. Defeat to promotion-chasing Ipswich Town at Ninian Park and victory for Gillingham at home to Stoke saw Lennie Lawrence’s side go level on points with 21^st placed Gills as the prospect of relegation has become all to real for the 10,000 or so home fans who watched on from the terraces.

 

"My over-riding emotion is one of disappointment. They are a good side, they had one good spell, but we kept giving the ball away,” said the City boss, having watched his side crash to a 1-0 defeat against the Tractor Boys. Lawrence is being harsh on the visitors, who dominated for long periods and looked far superior with both their attacking approach and the space they created as they pushed forward. It is not hard to see how they are doing so well in the Championship.

 

City battled hard and showed courage throughout the opening period, but an inexperienced and relatively untested frontline of Lee Bullock and Cameron Jerome was always going to struggle to find the net. Chances were few and far between for the hosts. A free-kick from Richard Langley did little to trouble an impressive away following from East Anglia.

 

Ipswich always looked dangerous on the break, and worried a nervy Cardiff backline with numerous counter-attacks. After hitting Nottingham Forest for six at the weekend, Lawrence had emphasised the vital role Daniel Gabbidon and James Collins would have to play prior to kick-off. Town looked more likely to score, with much of the threat coming down the left-hand side where a poor Rhys Weston was exposed on numerous occasions. Darren Williams must be wondering what he’s done wrong as he continues to warm the bench after a frustrating bout of flu over the festive period. Bah humbug!

 

The half-time team-talks were obviously a shocking contrast. With Wigan Athletic and Sunderland both cruising to victories, Joe Royle installed motivation in his Ipswich side who came out for the second-half all guns blazing and really stamped their authority on the game. Cardiff looked happy to take a point, and that is very much the wrong attitude against a team on free-scoring form.

 

Ipswich created chance after chance, yet it was through highly disappointing fashion that the Bluebirds fell behind. Daniel Gabbidon’s clumsy challenge on Tommy Miller saw pint-size referee Olivier give the Tractor Boys a spot-kick. Miller dusted himself off and fired Ipswich into the lead with a drive to the left of Neil Alexander. The standing joke that is Alexander’s inability to save penalties lives on.

 

With half an hour still to go, you’d have hoped Cardiff would be enthused to go and do what they could to find an equaliser. However, Ipswich weathered the storm comfortably. The double substitution from Lawrence of introducing Stuart Fleetwood and debutant Toni Koskela had little affect, and it was another devastating home loss for Cardiff. Roll on Crewe on Saturday – nothing more than victory with suffice.

 

Full Time – Cardiff City 0-1 Ipswich Town