UNITED v CARDIFF CITY
United: Warner, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey, Stone, Derry, Westlake, Lewis, Blake, Healy. Subs: Gregan, Richardson, Carole, Bakke, Beckford.
Cardiff: Alexander, McNaughton, Purse, Loovens, Ledley, Kamara, Scimeca, McPhail, Parry, Chopra, Thompson. Subs: Johnson, Flood, Glombard, Campbell, Blake.
Referee: Nigel Miller (Co. Durham)
Robbie Blake came into the United starting line-up to partner David Healy in attack in place of on-loan striker Geoff Horsfield, who began his three game ban following his sending off at Crystal Palace. Midfielder Steve Stone passed a late fitness test on a groin problem and Eirik Bakke, who has had a knee injury, was on the bench.
The game's first attack of note came after ten minutes when a neat pass from Ian Westlake sent Healy scampering away on the right but his cross to the far post just evaded the inrushing Eddie Lewis. Another piece of good work from Healy saw the Northern Ireland striker set up Westlake with a shooting chance on the edge of the penalty area only to see the midfield man's shot deflected over the bar.
A foul on Shaun Derry by Riccy Scimeca sent the United man sprawling but he was able to resume after treatment. A free kick shortly afterwards gave United an opportunity to put the Cardiff defence under pressure and though Lewis' free kick looked dangerous, Matthew Kilgallon headed over from seven yards.
Tony Warner was called into action in the 25th minute when he got down well to his right to save a low 22 yarder from Michael Chopra and three minutes later Warner launched himself to his right to save a 25 yard free kick from former United midfielder, Stephen McPhail.
Just after the half hour mark, Stone limped out of the action to be replaced by Bakke
Referee Nigel Miller incurred the displeasure of United fans and players alike when he booked Bakke for a challenge in which he appeared to get the ball cleanly and when the resultant free kick passed wide of the United goal, Cardif players showed their frustration at the referees failure to award a corner.
Three minutes before the break United went close to an opener when Lewis curled a corner kick from the right into the goal area and in a goalmouth melee both Derry and Bakke had efforts blocked and there was a suspicion of hand ball as well but the referee saw nothing amiss.
Chances remained few and far between after the break as both sides looked to gain supremacy. Malvin Kamara fired just wide of the United goal following good approach work from the Welshmen and when United broke away, Healy's angled shot deflected off a defender straight into the arms of goalkeeper Neil Alexander.
After 68 minutes, manager Kevin Blackwell sent on young striker Jermaine Beckford, which gave United more height in attack, in place of Blake, and Cardiff replaced Kamara with Willo Flood. Almost immediately United had a scare, when McPhail's low cross from the left eluded Warner. But Butler kicked the ball clear, almost off the line.
At the other end Healy saw his angled drive saved at the near post b y the keeper. Then McPhail's free kick at the other end curled just wide.
Beckford raised home hopes with a neat piece of work inside the Cardiff penalty area, beating one defender before pulling the ball back. But his left foot shot was just wide of the near post..
United stepped up the pressure and pushed Cardiff back but the visitors survived and, in a quick break-out, shocked United by taking the lead in the 84th minute. Chopra made most of the running and with United having committed men forward, his left wing low cross found Flood up in support and he rolled the ball in at the far post.
In time added on, Cardiff had Darren Purse sent off following an altercation with Healy, but there was no way back for United.They went down to their second successive defeat.
