Hull Hath No Fury

Let's face it….this game didn't really live up to it's billing. The visitors, ex Premier League and managed by one of the division's best managers, were quite frankly….crap. An expectant crowd waiting for the Bellamy and Bothroyd show instead got a solo performance by new boy Andy Keogh. No big deal everyone said, we've got strength in depth now with plenty of options. No Plan B, this is Plan D

So after I'd scanned the pitch to see who wasn't playing, the next thing to catch my eye was the holiday weight Anthony Gerrard seemed to be carrying. Looked like he was wearing a shirt two sizes too big also. Maybe his soft spot for too many Clarks pies way why he was loaned out. But his presence on the field meant that our big midfield enforcer 'Elephants Jamas' could play. And he soon made his presence felt. 

Hull, by this stage were showing all the hallmarks of back to back relegations, while City we strangely passing the ball around beautifully whilst never really wanting to score. The five man midfield looked a bit lopsided at times. Koumas on the left?? The onus seemed to be on Burke, who again was lively with his mazy runs and quick feet.  

As Seyi left the pitch I did have a mini panic attack. Which then got even more acute as I saw Gavin Rae trot on. Who'd have thought a week ago that Rae would still be featuring in a Cardiff shirt. It wasn't long before he was up to his old tricks again. A loose back pass meant Hudson had to be on his toes to deal with it. 

Hull suddenly started to play, passing the ball around neatly and they looked threatening. Jay Simpson's introduction was looking to be a good one. 

Koumas was doing his bit to get that two girl cushion we so desperately needed, but then the cavalry turned up in the form of Wildig and Rae. A neat little reverse pass from the energetic Wildig fed Rae whose finish between Duke's legs was to die for. 

Praise must go to Keogh also. He's not cut out to be the lone man up front (certainly when up against big centre halves) but he ran his Irish socks off out there and his efforts didn't go unnoticed. I think he's a great signing, and could prove to be very useful this season if played alongside Bothroyd or Chopra. 

Where's Riggott by the way? What's taken them so long to sign him?

Pompey Down

So by all accounts Saturday's performance on the south coast was a stroll in the Fratton Park. The pre match build up talked of two clubs with financial difficulties and the fact that this was a repeat of the 2008 FA Cup Final. Personally, I thought what better time to play Portsmouth. They may still be a big club with a threadbare squad, but they're there for the taking. And take we did.

I listened to the second half with a small radio pressed firmly against my ear, and it was all City. It sounded like Portsmouth could barely muster a collective fart, as opposed to a serious attempt at getting back in the game. So when QPR went 2 nil down at Derby, things we looking rosy. We were on course for taking top spot in the league and it was very much 'Catch Us If You Can'. But QPR struck twice in injury time to claim a point. Judging by the jubilant scenes from the QPR players at Pride Park, anyone would've thought they'd just won the Champions League Final. 

It still very early doors with only 4 games played. Two clean sheets, a new formation, Danny and Ol marshalling midfield and even Hudson puts in a commanding performance. Nathan Blake has boldly put his money where his mouth is. His prediction over the weekend is that "Cardiff City will go up to the Premier League this season as champions." What more of a ringing endorsement do you need at a time like this.