Cardiff leave it late to see off 10-man Brighton and secure only second league win
Neil Warnock's wife, Sharon, had told him this week that his luck was about to change. As it turned out, fortune would shine particularly brightly on the manager's favourite son: Sol Bamba.
This blood-and-thunder centre-back, who calls Warnock his second father, won this pulsating clash in the dying seconds despite being offside moments earlier.
The unlikely match-winner then did the double over referee Martin Atkinson by escaping a booking, having ripped his top off amid explosive scenes of jubilation at the Cardiff City Stadium. "The referee asked me if I took my shirt off and I said no," he grinned afterwards.
Brighton manager Chris Hughton found the scenes less amusing: "The hardest thing to take is you are reliant on good decisions by officials and the last goal was shown to be offside. It makes it even harder."
Ahead of a feast of sport this weekend, this early Premier League hors d'oeuvre was the most appetising of starters. Brighton were left defending for their lives after Dale Stephens was sent off after half an hour for a studs-up challenge on Greg Cunningham. Cardiff's makeshift striker Callum Paterson had earlier cancelled out Lewis Dunk’s sixth-minute effort.
"My wife doesn't read tea leaves but she told me that my luck would change last Thursday so I will have to get her a drink," Warnock said afterwards. "We are everybody's favourites to go down, and we need three or four players in January, but we have come a long way in 18 months."
The only concern for a delighted Warnock will be a broken nose for Sean Morrison who looked dazed as he was removed 10 minutes after a clash of heads. For much of this game, Cardiff found themselves in the unfamiliar position of dominating.
It's the third time this season that Cardiff have toiled against opposition reduced to 10 men and, after Newcastle and Huddersfield held out to secure 0-0 draws, the relief in finally securing a second home win was palpable.
The sending off changed the game. Dunk, on the eve of winning Brighton's first England international cap in 36 years, headed the opener in similar style to his strike against Everton a week ago, which also came from a neat delivery from Solly March.
Paterson levelled for the home side from close range after Kadeem Harris' jinking run and cut-back was deflected by Gaeton Bong immediately into his path. The winner eventually came after a frantic goalmouth scramble. Bamba initially attempted an overhead kick which hit the post. It was followed up by Paterson, whose effort hit the bar and then Bamba smashed the rebound home.
Despite their luck in the dying seconds, Cardiff deserved this morale-boosting triumph. Warnock said: "I didn't even realise it was my 100th game until yesterday. Then it will be about my 70th birthday. But I don't feel it and I feel really proud to be manager of this group."
Safe... for now
That win lifts Cardiff out of the relegation zone, at least until the 3pm kick-offs. It was a game turned on its head by the red card shown to Stephens and the second half was one of increasing panic before Bamba's late winner. Brighton defended admirably throughout but they have nothing to show for their efforts.
Cardiff tried, tried and tried again:
Full-time
Cardiff have only their second win of the season and boy did they labour to get it.
90+5 min: Cardiff 2 Brighton 1
Just time for Bissouma to pick up a yellow card for dissent and that should be that.
90+4 min: Cardiff 2 Brighton 1
The home fans are in full voice now. How they needed this win.
90+3 min: Cardiff 2 Brighton 1
Two things to note:
1. Bamba may have been offside in the build-up to that goal.
2. Bamba was somehow not booked despite whipping his shirt off in celebration and running around twirling it round his head.
90+2 min: Cardiff 2 Brighton 1
Would you believe that? Post, crossbar and goal in the space of three seconds.
Five minutes of added time to play.
GOAL! Cardiff 2 Brighton 1 (Bamba)
They have the winner!!! And in amazing fashion! Bamba first spectacularly bicycle kicks the ball onto the post, Hoilett kicks clear air attempting to knock in the rebound, but Paterson is behind him and drills it into the ground and onto the crossbar. It then falls down to Bamba again who buries it into the roof of the net, sparking wild celebrations.
88 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
Cardiff cross. Brighton head. Cardiff cross. Brighton head. Cardiff cross. Brighton head. Cardiff cross. Brighton head.
This time they opt not to cross from a corner. Instead Harris passes to Camarasa, whose powerful strike is parried away by Ryan.
87 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
This time it is Gunnarsson's cross which is headed away by Dunk, but only as far as Camarasa who drives a bouncing ball from 20 yards. He strikes it well but straight down the middle and Ryan holds on at the second attempt.
86 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
Cardiff are throwing everyone forward now, but their crosses from afar just aren't finding their target.
84 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
Hoilett cuts inside from the right and attempts the same curling effort with his left foot that Harris hit the bar with earlier... but the substitute's shot is horribly wayward and Ryan is not even vaguely troubled.
83 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
Well that would have been something! Izquierdo cracks a powerful effort from 25 yards and it moves horribly in the air in front of Etheridge, who palms it over the bar. The corner is nodded away with ease, but Brighton are enjoying the extra space Cardiff are allowing them as they search for a winner.
81 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
The sense of urgency is growing now, with the Cardiff supporters' cheers laced with frustration. Reid's cross is headed clear and the home side just can't get a clear sight at Ryan's goal.
76 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
A final Cardiff substitution sees Ralls off in place of Reid. An attacking change from Warnock.
75 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
Possession (last 15 minutes)
74 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
Cardiff's eagerness to find a winner is starting to create some space for Brighton and they are threatening to do something unexpected on the counter-attack. The home side cannot afford to waste an opportunity like this.
73 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
Some hefty challenges going flying in here: in desperation for Brighton and frustration for Cardiff.
72 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
Another Cardiff change sees Hoilett replace Murphy, while Andone is still feeling the impact of that cynical foul from Cunningham.
71 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
Oh that's a delicious yellow card. Sublime work. Andone breaks free for Brighton and Cunningham (as Cardiff's last man) runs across and body checks him WWE-style near the halfway line. Andone goes flying and the referee doesn't have to give a second's thought as to whether to book him.
69 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
It's total attack versus defence now. It looks like Morrison is still not right after that head clash and he trudges off the pitch complaining of blurred vision, which (despite my lack of medical expertise) surely indicates he should never have gone back on in the first place. Anyway, he will be replaced by Peltier, who is nowhere near ready and hurriedly told to get his shirt and shin pads on.
66 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
The first corner of the match and IT'S NOT IN THE QUADRANT, REF!!!!! Alerted by the Brighton fans, the referee runs over and pulls Cardiff up for one of the silliest things in football. Anyway, the corner comes to nothing.
64 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
It's coming thick and fast now. This time Murphy is the creator down the left, beating his man and delivering right into the danger area where the ball is well headed clear by Dunk under pressure from Paterson.
63 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
This is better from the hosts as a cross is bundled away at the far post by a frantic Brighton defence. The ball is curled back in, then out, then in, then out. But eventually a free-kick is given and Brighton can take a breath.
That is the last we will see of Murray today, who is replaced by Andone.
60 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
HIT THE BAR! And no prizes for guessing who it is. Harris has been superb for Cardiff today. This time he pops up on the right flank, cuts inside and curls a beauty with his left foot from 25 yards that has Ryan beaten only to thud against the crossbar. That deserved a goal. A brilliant strike.
58 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
Morrison is given the green light to continue after walking to the touchline to be assessed by medical staff.
57 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
A spot of bother for Morrison, who is down in the Brighton box after receiving a knock to the head in an aerial challenge. He looks fairly groggy and a decision will have to be made over whether to take him off.
55 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
So few options for Brighton whenever they get hold of the ball and so little quality for Cardiff when they have it. Harris seems to be the only man capable of causing problems for the home side. Him and Gunnarsson's long throws.
52 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
You can be pretty certain Brighton are going to continue their streak of not having more than 50 per cent of possession in a league match this season.
50 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
More good work sees Harris blitz his way down the left and deliver a ball that is cleared only as far as Gunnarsson, whose thunderous strike from range is charged down. Harris comes back again on the wing, but this time his cross is held by Ryan.
48 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
Brighton are sat deep. It's going to be a long 45 minutes for them.
46 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
We're back underway. No changes aside from the two teams swapping ends, as is footballing convention.
Graphics
Average touch position
Shots on goal
Half-time
So we are all square in Cardiff, but you fancy it will not stay like that for the full 90 minutes. Brighton were easily the better side for the opening 20 minutes, but Cardiff managed to claw a goal back and the major talking point will be Stephens' red card. On the balance of things, it was probably the correct call to send him off. It's no shocker, but you cannot get away with tackling like that nowadays. A decade or two ago it would have only been a yellow, but not any more. Can Cardiff use their extra man? Back soon to find out.
45+3 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
The Cardiff players are lining up to strike the ball from range, but Murphy is the man to try his luck and curls the ball over the bar. That will be the last action of the half.
45 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
Three minutes of added time to be played.
44 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
Camarasa's shot from range is blocked and suddenly Brighton have a sniff of a counter-attack, but they just don't have the numbers to capitalise and back come Cardiff. This is going to be very difficult for Hughton's side.
42 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
Brighton will just be hoping to get to half-time level, but they aren't able to get the ball into the opposition half at the moment. Lots of possession for the visitors' defence, but nothing going forwards with only 10 men.
39 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
Buoyed by their numerical advantage, it's all Cardiff now but Murphy wastes this chance with a foolish long-range effort that he skies horribly.
Hughton is forced into a change for Brighton after that red card, with March heading off for Bissouma.
37 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
There will be plenty of debate over that decision. Was it two-footed? No. Were studs up? Yes, on one foot. Was it dangerous? Probably. Was there significant contact with the opposing player? Not a great deal.
RED CARD! Brighton - Stephens
Oh blimey. It's all kicking off. Stephens loses control of the ball and flies in recklessly on Cunningham, who goes flying. On replay, it's not actually the worst tackle in the world, but the Brighton man was studs up and he's shown a straight red.
That decision prompts all sorts of pushing and shoving, with Paterson shown a yellow for his part in the melee.
33 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
That goal has given the home side a real boost and a wave of confidence seems to have come over them, fueled by a vociferous home crowd.
31 min: Cardiff 1 Brighton 1
One shot on target apiece. One goal each.
And so it stays as Murray sees his snapshot blocked by Bamba.
GOAL! Cardiff 1 Brighton 1 (Paterson)
Paterson has the goal, but it's all thanks to Harris, who is making his first Premier League start of the season today. Harris, coming into the middle of the pitch, beats a couple of men while driving into the penalty area and clips the ball towards Paterson, who nods in. A fortunate deflection helped find Paterson, but it was some great work from Harris.
26 min: Cardiff 0 Brighton 1
Yet more poor Cardiff defending allows Bong to travel high up the pitch, nutmeg his opposite number and then square into the box where the ball bobbles up into Etheridge's hands
24 min: Cardiff 0 Brighton 1
Montoya concedes a soft free-kick for hauling down Harris about 10 yards away from the left corner flag. Camarasa will whip it in... and puts in right in the meat of the six-yard box but Brighton defend well (again) and the ball is nodded clear.
22 min: Cardiff 0 Brighton 1
Sky Sports have just shown a great stat. Cardiff have only had more than 50 per cent possession in two Premier League matches this season. Brighton? Not a single game.
THEY DON'T WANT IT, LADS. (Neither of them)
20 min: Cardiff 0 Brighton 1
Bamba has just passed the ball straight out of play. Oh dear.
19 min: Cardiff 0 Brighton 1
Fine play from March down the left, who toys with his defender before whipping a fine ball across the face of goal, but there is no Brighton player there to get on the end of it. Not looking too promising for the Cardiff contingent so far.
16 min: Cardiff 0 Brighton 1
More threat from Brighton in the form of Knockaert bursting into some space down the left and pulling the ball back to March in a bit of space about 12 yards out. He can't quite generate any power behind his effort though and the ball dribbles harmlessly past the far post.
15 min: Cardiff 0 Brighton 1
Here comes Camarasa advancing into a dangerous territory, only for Stephens to dispossess him with aplomb. The Brighton defence have looked admirably composed whenever under pressure so far today.
11 - 11 of Lewis Dunk's 13 goals in English league football have been headers. Bonce. #CARBRI
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 10, 2018
12 min: Cardiff 0 Brighton 1
Warnock (whose Sky Sports promo photoshoot pose makes him look like an evil Harry Potter character) is looking on concerned from the sidelines as his side struggle to put anything fluid together. It's is emphatically not a must-win game, but it is certainly the type of game Warnock's side will want to be winning if they are to stay up.
9 min: Cardiff 0 Brighton 1
... Camarasa wins the debate to determine who will strike the set piece. He fires hard at the top corner but fails to get any dip and the ball flies high over the bar.
8 min: Cardiff 0 Brighton 1
That was very, very poor from the home side. Just all too easy for Dunk to lose his man and gain a free header. Cardiff may have the chance to hit back immediately though with Murphy winning a free-kick bang in the middle of goal, 25 yards out...
GOAL! Cardiff 0 Brighton 1 (Dunk)
A dangerous place for a free kick allows March to curl in a tasty cross from 25 yards out on the left. He aims to the far post where Dunk is totally unmarked (thanked to some seriously lacklustre work from Bamba) and he nods home with ease.
5 min: Cardiff 0 Brighton 0
A first bit of interest for the home fans as Murphy delivers low into the box from the left and wins a throw-in from the clearance. Gunnarsson wangs in the long throw which bounces all the way through to the grateful hands of Ryan.
Danny Gabbidon - working as a radio pundit - has described this as a "must-win" game for Cardiff. It literally isn't. It's November 10. We aren't even one-third of the way through the season in terms of games played.
2 min: Cardiff 0 Brighton 0
Plenty of time on the ball for the visitors in these early stages with Izquierdo looking busy on the left wing. It looks as though the rain has relented for the action.
1 min: Cardiff 0 Brighton 0
An early Brighton offside and plenty of midfield header pinball.
Ready to go
A quick huddle and it's time to begin. Cardiff, in blue, will get things underway with Brighton in green.
A minute's silence
Before we begin, both teams will honour Remembrance Day by paying tribute to those who have lost their lives serving the country.
Wet wet wet
It is absolutely sheeting it down in Cardiff. Rain macs all round.
Life in the old dog
At the ripe old age of 35, Glenn Murray is loving life at the moment:
Riding high
Today's visitors had won three consecutive games (all 1-0) prior to defeat at Everton last weekend and another victory would put Chris Hughton's side in a strong position at this stage of the campaign.
The south-coast club have 14 points from 11 games and three more today would increase what is already a fairly hefty gap between them and the drop zone.
Survival task?
So the question knocking around the clubs at the bottom of the table is: what will it take to stay up? The traditional 40-point mark looks to be a long way off quite a few clubs with Crystal Palace, in 14th place, on just eight points after 11 games.
So, while Cardiff have done precious little to get excited about so far this season, other teams' inadequacies mean it is not all doom and gloom just yet.
Teams again - in black and white
Cardiff: Etheridge, Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Cunningham, Victor Camarasa, Gunnarsson, Ralls, Harris, Josh Murphy, Paterson.
Subs: Peltier, Bennett, Ward, Smithies, Reid, Damour, Hoilett.
Brighton: Ryan, Montoya, Duffy, Dunk, Bong, Knockaert, Stephens, Kayal, Izquierdo, March, Murray.
Subs: Saltor, Bissouma, Andone, Balogun, Steele, Bernardo, Gyokeres.
And here's how Cardiff line up
#CARBHA | #CardiffCity team news!
Brought to you by @1xbet_Eng...#CityAsOne ��⚽️��⚽️ pic.twitter.com/DwGZM6PaKZ— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) November 10, 2018
Brighton team news is in
Chris Hughton makes two changes to the line-up with Montoya and Knockaert replacing Bruno and Jahanbakhsh.
�� Here's how Albion line up for today's @premierleague match against @CardiffCityFC in South Wales...
➡️ Two changes for the Seagulls, as Montoya and Knockaert replace Bruno and Jahanbakhsh.
Matchday live is presented by @SnickersUKcom#CARBHA#BHAFC �� pic.twitter.com/ckysPue3Os— Brighton & Hove Albion ⚽️ (@OfficialBHAFC) November 10, 2018
Warnock's ton up against Brighton
Neil Warnock marks his 100th match as Cardiff City manager looking to bounce back from two defeats against 12th-placed Brighton in the day's early kick-off.
The former Sheffield United and QPR manager will turn 70 next month and is the second oldest manager in the top four divisions of English football.
Warnock says Cardiff will be his "farewell club" and admits preserving the Welsh club's Premier League status this season could be his final challenge as a football manager.
"I look at the club as a farewell club. I don't think I'll be leaving the club and going to another," Warnock, whose contract expires in the summer, said.
"When you get to my age, you can't really look beyond the next few months or weeks, whatever job you are in, not just football."
Warnock is currently on a stringent fitness regime to ensure he can deal with the burden of modern-day management and remains hopeful of staying at Cardiff beyond this season - health permitting.
"Life changes so quickly, you can't really plan ahead. You can hope to plan ahead," he added. "We're better when we're underdogs and to achieve the impossible this season would be my miles my biggest achievement."
Cardiff will be without the suspended Harry Arter. Arter serves a one-match ban for collecting five yellow cards, but fellow midfielder Joe Ralls is available after completing a three-match suspension and recovering from a chipped bone in his knee.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh, meanwhile, is a major doubt for Brighton.
Iran winger Jahanbakhsh picked up a minor hamstring strain during last weekend's defeat to Everton and is likely to be unavailable.
Midfielders Pascal Gross and Davy Propperr remain sidelined, while back-up goalkeeper David Button is expected to miss out.
