by Mark Denham, from Fratton Park
Snapshot
A commanding performance by the Bluebirds saw them overcome Portsmouth by two goals to nil at Fratton Park on Saturday.
Pompey had the best of the first ten minutes, but 'City soon got into their stride and began dictating play through the centre of midfield. Their first goal came in fortunate circumstances as Hayden Mullins played a Danny Drinkwater through-ball into his own goal past a flat-footed Jamie Ashdown.
Cardiff came out fiercely in the second half and were two to the good when Jay Bothroyd capitalised on some good Craig Bellamy pressure and a disorganised Portsmouth defence. It was the striker's fourth league goal of the season and effectively secured the win for the visitors with Portsmouth showing little signs of fightback from this point in.
Cardiff could have won by more but in the end the 2-0 win was convincing. It keeps them second in the npower Championship, but level on points with leaders Queens Park Rangers.
Chronological Report
Cardiff looked to get at Portsmouth early on at a loud and lively Fratton Park, but it was Pompey who had the first half chance when Richard Hughes looked to play Tommy Smith through the middle of the park. David Marshall was alert to the threat though, and gathered easily to alleviate it.
The home side took a hold of proceedings after a shaky start and Marc Wilson forced Marshall into making a smart save from a thirty-yard thunderbolt free-kick. But on thirteen minutes 'City counter attacked and when Chris Burke played Bellamy through clean on goal, the captain fired over off balance when he would have backed himself to score.
Moments later and Bellamy was at it again, this time collecting the ball on the right of the penalty area and finding Jay Bothroyd at the far post with an exquisite ball. Bothroyd met it and headed back across goal, but nobody was on hand to finish. From the next attack Pompey were founding wanting again, this time failing to clear a Mark Hudson knock back from a corner and finding themselves fortunate not to be behind.
Substitution Cardiff City: Adam Matthews on for Darcy Blake (28 mins)
Ibrahima Sonko came close for Pompey on thirty-five minutes after connecting with a lofted Wilson free-kick that came about following a dubious Whittingham foul on John Utaka. It was the first chance for either side at the end of what had been a barren first-half spell, though Cardiff continued to look the better in position while Pompey were being limited to counter attacks.
But then on thirty-six minutes 'City took the lead in slightly fortunate circumstances. This time it was the Bluebirds who hit Pompey on the break, with Bothroyd feeding Danny Drinkwater thirty yards from goal. Drinkwater played the ball centrally back in towards Bothroyd, and as the striker shaped to shoot, Hayden Mullins' attempt at an interception resulted in the right-back directing the ball into his own net past a flat footed Jamie Ashdown.
GOAL: PORTSMOUTH 0-1 CARDIFF CITY (Mullins, O.G 36 mins)
On forty-one minutes, Portsmouth will feel they should have scored. Hudson half cleared a Smith cross from a central position, but the ball eventually found its way back out to Nugent. The former Preston man steadied himself and shot well and true at Marshall, but the Scottish international pulled off a brilliant reaction save before watching Utaka loft over a mis-calculated rebound.
HALF TIME: PORTSMOUTH 0-1 CARDIFF CITY
The Bluebirds were almost two to the good within two minutes of the restart. 'City won a corner indirectly from a Lee Naylor free-kick, allowing Whittingham to take the set-piece. A good, whipped ball found an un-marked Hudson at the far post, but with the 'keeper stranded, the centre-back wasn't able to steer it under the crossbar.
But 'City did score on forty-eight minutes, and it came about as a result of some poor and unsure Pompey defending. A loose ball was left by Sonko for Ashdown to collect, but as both showed uncertainty, Bellamy stole in to pick up the loose ball. Ashdown managed to avert the danger of Bellamy of temporarily, but the ball found its way to Bothroyd just inside the area to stroke home into an empty net.
GOAL: PORTSMOUTH 0-2 CARDIFF CITY (Bothroyd, 48 mins)
Aaron Mokoena was a little fortunate not to see red just before the hour mark after cynically taking down Bothroyd who seemed to be clear through on goal when chasing a loose Pompey pass. But the referee deemed it to be no worse than a yellow card offence and the defender was given a reprieve that was arguably lenient.
When Portsmouth did see the ball in the Cardiff final third it was Utaka who looked the most able to do damage. Hudson and Gabor Gyepes however were having a very solid game in defence, matched only by the fantastic midfield display of a tireless Danny Drinkwater.
Substitution Portsmouth: Nadir Ciftci on for Richard Hughes (68 mins)
The game lulled somewhat as the mid-point of the second half came and went, neither side seeing too many clear cut chances in and around the penalty area. Olofinjana, Drinkwater and Whittingham continued to dominate the centre of the park, and the only way Pompey looked like finding away back into this one was from set plays.
Substitution Cardiff City: Andy Keogh on for Craig Bellamy (80 mins)
Substitution Portsmouth: Marlon Pack on for Michael Brown (84 mins)
Substitution Portsmouth: Matt Richie on for John Utaka (88 mins)
Andy Keogh showed some very nice touches and sensible football during his cameo late in the game, and attempted an audacious lob of Ashdown with two minutes to go. In injury time the striker did find the net, but his header was ruled out by the referee's assistant for offside.
Substitution Cardiff City: Jason Koumas on for Jay Bothroyd (90 mins)
A late Pompey corner almost brought about a consolation for the home side but Gyepes was on hand to clear to safety. It was the last action of what was a comfortable win for Cardiff - and it put them joint top of the npower Championship
FULL TIME: PORTSMOUTH 0-2 CARDIFF CITY
See highlights of this match plus reaction from Dave Jones and Mark Hudson on Cardiff City Player
