RUTHLESS SEASIDERS SINK CARDIFF IN LEAGUE ONE SETBACK

Cardiff City fell to a disappointing 3-1 defeat against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road, as a ruthless second-half display from the hosts punished the Bluebirds’ wastefulness in front of goal. 

Yousef Salech getting jersey pulled.

A second-half brace from Ashley Fletcher and a composed finish from strike partner Tom Bloxham sealed victory for the Seasiders, who continued their unbeaten start to life under new manager Ian Evatt. Yousef Salech’s late consolation goal provided little relief for Cardiff after a frustrating afternoon. 

Brian Barry-Murphy’s side dominated large spells of the contest, enjoying 66% possession and registering 28 shots, 11 of them on target. However, a series of missed opportunities and an inspired display from Blackpool goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell was enough to seal the three points for the home side. 

While Cardiff dictated tempo and territory, Blackpool were far more clinical after the break, catching the Bluebirds repeatedly on the counterattack. Fletcher struck twice in quick succession before Bloxham added a third, exposing Cardiff’s defensive frailties despite their control of possession. 

The result marked a major missed opportunity for the Bluebirds, who would have returned to the top of League One with a win. Instead, Barry-Murphy’s men were left to rue a lack of composure in front of goal and an off day at the back. 

Player Ratings:

Nathan Trott (6) – Comfortable in possession and distributed well from the back but had little to do despite picking the ball out of the net three times. Could do nothing about the goals. 

Ronan Kpakio (7) – Strong link-up play with Kellyman and defended solidly throughout. Produced a superb goal-line clearance to deny a certain goal and was one of the brighter performers. 

Dylan Lawlor (6) – Excellent when stepping out from defence and calm on the ball, though struggled at times with Blackpool’s direct play. Should have closed Fletcher down quicker for the opener. 

Calum Chambers (5.5) – Endured a difficult afternoon, losing several physical battles against Blackpool’s front two. Never really got a foothold in the contest. 

Joel Bagan (6.5) – Tidy in possession and linked well down the left, creating a few dangerous opportunities. Rarely troubled defensively and maintained good balance between attack and defence. 

Alex Robertson (7) – Continues to grow in confidence in each game he plays. Kept the ball moving efficiently from deep and protected the back line well in the holding midfield role. 

Joel Colwill (6.5) – Worked tirelessly and battled hard in midfield but should have done better with a couple of chances in front of goal. 

Rubin Colwill (7.5) – MOTM – After a quiet opening fifteen minutes, he took control of the game and was at his creative best. Everything positive went through him, constantly finding pockets of space and creating chances. Unlucky not to find the net himself. 

Omari Kellyman (6) – Showed flashes of quality on the ball and combined well with Kpakio, but his end product let him down with several overhit crosses. 

Cian Ashford (6) – Worked hard and linked nicely with Bagan, though also lacked end product to make the difference. His powerful strike forced the save that led to Salech’s late goal. 

Yousef Salech (6.5) – Battled well against a physical Blackpool back three and took his goal calmly late on. However, his link-up play left a lot to be desired today. 

Subs: 

Callum Robinson (6) – Introduced as part of a switch to 4-4-2 but struggled to influence the game, often dropping too deep and therefore a chance never fell his way. 

David Turnbull (6.5) – Assured in possession and used the ball neatly after coming on, though the match was already beyond reach by that stage. 

Isaak Davies (6) – Injected energy in the closing minutes but not enough space in behind late on to make a real impact. 

Summary:

Despite controlling large periods of the game, Cardiff City were ultimately punished for their lack of ruthlessness in front of goal and vulnerability in transition. Brian Barry-Murphy’s side created enough opportunities to score several times but were left to rue a harsh lesson in efficiency from a Blackpool side thriving under Ian Evatt. The defeat denies Cardiff the chance to reclaim top spot in League One. To keep their automatic promotion hopes on track, they’ll need to rediscover their defensive solidity and become far more clinical with the chances they’re creating. 

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