by Ashley James

Snapshot: Goals from Gavin Rae, Jay Bothroyd and Peter Whittingham gave City a 3-1 win at Cardiff City Stadium in the first round of the Carling Cup.

Dagenham & Redbridge began the game with a stern defence, though after nineteen minutes, Rae shot home from outside the area after beeing teed up by Peter Whittingham. A foul on Jay Bothroyd inside the area  minutes later gave the striker the chance to make it two. However, after initially scuffing his penalty effort for an easy save, Jay was given the chance to redeem himself after the Referee had spotted a Daggers player encroaching on the initial kick. Bothroyd made no mistake second time around.

Chopra and Comminges both missed chances to increase City's lead, though the opposition began to see more of the ball as the second half progressed. Indeed the Daggers clawed a goal back through Josh Scott with nine minutes to go, though a clinical Peter Whittingham strike from inside the area deep in to injury time gave the Bluebirds a well earned victory.

Chronological Report

To say the opening was lethargic would be a lazy understatement; even so the malaise was interrupted by a Peter Whittingham spark of inspiration after seven minutes. In Cardiff's first real foray into 'Daggers' territory he weaved infield from the left and struck a low shot across Tony Roberts that the veteran Welsh 'keeper saved well, pushing the ball away to his left.

In fairness our visitors settled the better, showed composure in possession and a real patience in their build-up play. Despite that they rarely looked threatening as Cardiff easily defended a barrage of crosses and long-balls intended for last season's top-scorer Paul Benson.

Jay was looking as instrumental as he had done on Saturday and dropped deep to play two delightful early cross-field ball for Whittingham on the left flank. In the first instance a well-timed lunging tackle by Mark Arber thwarted Chopra's attempted turn on the edge of the box while Roberts saved smartly at his near post on the second occasion.

Cardiff made the breakthrough after nineteen minutes and again it was Whittingham pulling the strings. He cut in from the left touch-line looking for shooting space but instead rolled the ball back to Gavin Rae who drilled a controlled shot home from twenty-five yards past the despairing Roberts.

CARDIFF CITY 1 - 0 Dagenham and Redbridge (Gavin Rae 19mins)

Within five minutes Cardiff had doubled their lead as Whittingham again got forward with menace and his cut-back found Bothroyd in acres of space in the left-hand corner of the box. Recognising he had ground to make up Will Antwi went off his feet to rescue the situation but only succeeded in taking Jay legs from under him. The Bluebirds number nine dusted himself down to take the spot-kick himself only to arrogantly roll the ball to Roberts' left and into his grateful arms. Despite the fact that it was one of the ugliest penalties you're ever likely to see, Jay's blushes were saved by a pedantic referee who ordered the penalty be re-taken for alleged encroachment. A heated debate ensued between Chops and Jay as to who would take the fresh kick, complete with schoolyard ball behind the back tactics which in the end paid dividends as Bothroyd lashed the ball home for Cardiff's second.

CARDIFF CITY 2 - 0 Dagenham & Redbridge (Jay Bothroyd - Penalty 26mins)

Just before the half-hour mark Cardiff were desperately unlucky not to be further ahead as the Bluebirds continued to cut through their yellow-jerseyed opponents like a hot knife through, umm, butter. Ahem.

A cheeky pass with the outside of his boot by Jay played in Capaldi to the by-line who cut the ball back to edge of the six-yard box where Chopra lurked with a wide-eyed lust for goal. He turned the ball goalward only to be denied by a great Roberts save while a Miguel Comminges blast at the back-post was brilliantly deflected wide by the lunging boot of Arber.

As all and sundry were prepared to head inside for some well earned half-time refreshment (the fans that is), our visitors very nearly pulled themselves back into the match courtesy of holding midfielder Solomon Taiwo. Cardiff could only clear the ball to the edge of the area where Taiwo met it on the full with a rangy right-boot, he did remarkably well to keep his effort down and forced a diving save from Enckelman away to his right, the Fin also blocking the follow up from the floor for a great double stop.

HALF TIME: CARDIFF CITY 2 - 0 Dagenham & Redbridge

If Cardiff thought that they had already achieved safe passage into round two they were nearly caught cold at the start of the second half. A Danny green corner from the left dropped over the head of a stretching Anthony Gerrard and was controlled by Benson. He steadied himself quickly and swept the ball towards goal but Gerard made amends combining well with Paul Quinn to block the effort.

It was 'The Daggers' who also created the next chance when Wesley Thomas chased the ball into the right hand channel and sent a low cross into the mixer that made its way right across the box to Peter Gain who drove a shot low back across goal, whistling past the far post by inches.

Dagenham & Redbridge Substitution: Josh Scott for Wesley Thomas (55mins)

Just before the hour mark Miguel Comminges was again denied his first ever Cardiff goal when Bothroyd tore away unmarked down the left. His cut-back evaded everyone in the box eventually falling into the path of the on-rushing Miguel whose well struck shot was saved in style by Roberts away to his left.

Cardiff City Substitution: Aaron Wildig for Miguel Comminges (65mins)

Cardiff were nonchalantly comfortable, yet even so Tony Roberts was proving to be 'The Daggers' chief tormentor. Stephen McPhail won the ball in midfield and played in Chopra with an outrageous chipped pass that split the two centre-backs and allowed Chops to power a half volley that was again beaten away by the diving Roberts.

Dagenham & Redbridge Substitution: Graeme Montgomery for Danny Green (72mins)

Whittigham for all his endeavour had looked reluctant to shoot all night but had a great chance to put the game beyond doubt with fifteen minutes remaining when following another weaving run he shaped onto his right foot at the edge of the area and narrowly curled a shot wide of the upright with his instep.

While the result had looked a formality for most of the night the customary nervous Cardiff finale finally made an appearance on eighty-one minutes. After some patient build-up play the ball was worked out wide to the influential Taiwo who picked out Josh Scott at the near post, he had got half a yard on Gerrard and steered the ball past Enckelman with a stretching half volley.

Cardiff City 2 - 1 DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE (Josh Scott 81mins)

Moments later the CCS, or at least the five thousand plus in attendance were holding their breath as substitute Graeme Montgomery left Quinn for dead with an audacious nutmeg and drilled an inviting ball across goal that somehow flew past the outstretched boot of Benson at the back post.

Luckily we were spared a grandstand finish or extra-time courtesy of a sublime Peter Whittigham goal that was truly worthy of finishing off such plucky opposition. He and McPhail exchanged dainty, delicate passes at the edge of the area before Whitts twisted away from the attentions of two defenders courtesy of an impromptu Elvis impersonation and buried a vicious shot into the roof of the net.

CARDIFF CITY 3 - 1 Dagenham & Redbridge (Peter Whittingham 90mins)

FULL TIME: CARDIFF CITY 3 - 1 Dagenham & Redbridge

Cardiff City: Enckelman, Quinn, Hudson, Gerrard, Capaldi, Comminges (Wildig 68mins), Rae, McPhail, Whittingham, Bothroyd, Chopra. Subs not used: Santiago, Edwards, Meades, Evans, Jarvis, Farah.

Goals: Rae, Bothroyd, Whittingham

Dagenham & Redbridge: Roberts, Doe, Arber, Antwi, Griffiths, Gain, Thurgood, Taiwo, Green (Montgomery 72mins), Thomas (Scott 55mins), Benson. Subs not used: Lewington, Bentley, Ogogo, Bingham, Dean.

Goal: Scott

Referee: Mr A M Penn

Attendance: 5,545

Match Sponsor : Molson Coors 'Man of the Match': Jay Bothroyd

CARLING CUP ROUND TWO DRAW

City will go in to the draw for the Second Round of the Carling Cup, which will take place on Wednesday live on Sky after the evening's Carling Cup First Round ties. As usual, Premier League clubs involved in European competitions will be exempt  until Round Three.