Two groups of blokes going hell-for-leather desperate for victory, old rivalries renewed, with only the walking wounded left to pick up the pieces.
Anyway, that's enough of the Chelsea fighting, what about the West Brom game?
The Baggies came to CCS as the form team in the division, winning their past four league games. Both sides were majorly depleted by injuries. WBA had nine players out with the Bluebirds missing long term casualties Joe Ledley, Josh Magennis, Steve McPhail, Kelvin Etuhu and Miguel Comminges.
To make matters worse, Aaron WIldig, Gavin Rae and Jay Bothroyd all started with knocks.
Speaking to a few West Brom fans before kick off they said they would be happy to go home with a point but by the end they could’ve rightfully gone home with all three.
West Brom are the best side I've seen at home this season. Plenty of pace to their game, physical and all eleven players comfortable on the ball.
Despite all that, City battled well, Bothroyd, Chopra and Burke causing the usual problems. At the moment Jay is unplayable – and it was the number nine that created City’s opener. A burst of pace saw him get in front of centre back Jonas Olsson in the penalty area, and the centre half brought him down. Penalty.
Di Matteo moaned like hell after the game but as far as I could see it was a nailed-on foul. How the boy didn’t even pick up a booking is beyond me. It was a goalscoring opportunity.
Whitts stepped up and sent Carson the wrong way to put City one nil up inside seven minutes. Bang went my quid bet for a 0-0 at 8/1.
Unfortunately, that was pretty much all Whitts could contribute to the game because after 25 minutes he limped off with what looked like a hamstring injury.
West Brom quickly reasserted themselves and nearly replied when Moore hit the post but it looked as if we would hang on until half-time. Sadly, that wasn’t the case.
Deep into first-half injury time, Zuiverloon bagged the equaliser after seeing his initial effort saved by Marshall. The only consolation was that I didn’t have to see the 1,800 strong Baggies supporters celebrate as I was already at the bar downstairs.
The second half was much the same. West Brom enjoying most of the possession with us battling away and trying to hit them on the break. It was entertaining stuff spoilt by some of our fans who seem to believe we have a divine right to win every match.
33-year-old Mark Kennedy is going to get beaten for pace sometimes. The 17-year-old kid Wildig is going to get knocked off the ball, and Gavin Rae is never going to be able to shoot accurately. Get over it.
All these players are trying their best. We can’t bring anyone in. They are what we’ve got and we need to get behind them. Accept that sometimes we will lose matches. It’s still a million years away from the likes of Craig Middleton, Gareth Stoker and Russell Perrett. Rant over.
The best chance of a famous City victory fell to Chris Burke who eight yards out could not find the target with his left foot. Bothroyd has a header late on but only glanced wide.
A special mention must go to Chops who jumped in late on Scott Carson. The England international saw the funny side of it and shook hands, as opposed to last time the sides met when he headbutted Chops and walked off the pitch.
By the time the final whistle blew both teams looked knackered. As Jones says after every game, we’ve just got to pick ourselves up and keep going. Mark Robin's much-improved Barnsley come to town on Saturday. See you all there.
Cardiff
Marshall, McNaughton, Gyepes, Gerrard, Kennedy, Rae, Whittingham (McCormack 27), Burke, Wildig (Blake 70), Chopra, Bothroyd
Substitutes
Enckelman, Quinn, Taiwo, Blake, Matthews, Feeney, McCormack
West Brom
Carson, Mattock, Olsson, Zuiverloon, Tamas, Koren, (Cox 82), Brunt, Dorrans, Slory (Wood 63), Moore, Nouble
Substitutes
Kiely, Labadie, Mantom, Brown, Bednar, Wood, Cox
Ref: Woolmer
Att: 20,758
