Sloppy second half display costs Cardiff City at Plymouth Argyle

Cardiff City’s sloppy second half display cost them at Home Park on Saturday as they fell to a 3-1 defeat to Plymouth Argyle.

The opener came late in the ninth minute when Ryan Wintle delivered a sweet corner, and after the ball hit a Plymouth defender, Perry Ng reacted quickest to stab home on the bounce.

Plymouth equalised right on the half-hour mark when Cardiff failed to make the most of a fine Mark McGuinness block. The block took the ball wide, and after Ng backed off to allow a cross Alfie Devine found Ryan Hardie in the box, with the striker turning the ball into the far corner with a first-time finish. The Bluebirds rallied late in the half but couldn’t create any clear-cut chance to get themselves back in front.

Plymouth dominated early proceedings in the second half, with Cardiff clinging on to the draw until the 52nd minute. Hardie got his second after a pretty awful job of marking from Dimitrios Goutas. Hardie received the ball inside the box, turned his man and blasted through Jak Alnwick, who also should have done much better. The Bluebirds deserved as much after an inexcusable start to the second half.

A hearty response was not forthcoming from Cardiff despite changes from Bulut that saw the likes of Josh Bowler and Kion Etete introduced after the hour-mark. In fact, Wintle had to produce a fine block to prevent the third goal following a corner routine from the hosts.

When opponents put together a spell of intensity, Cardiff just can’t seem to handle it at the moment, desperately in need of some quality additions, while the return of Aaron Ramsey will also come in handy.

Neverthless, the Bluebirds did enjoy a surge towards the 80th minute. Bowler should have squared one, but after his initial effort was blocked, he saw a half-volley well saved by Hazard in the Plymouth goal, and Jamilu Collins’ looping effort met the same fate.

Those misses proved costly, with Plymouth putting together a fine piece of play to double their lead in the 81st minute. Cardiff were caught high, and Hardie found Morgan Whittaker who produced a superb first-time finish across his body, finishing off City with his 15th of the Championship campaign.

Featured image: Jack Tanner // Flickr