MARSHALL: DISAPPOINTED BUT NOW WE FOCUS ON MIDDLESBROUGH

Club News

City shot stopper looks ahead to Middlesbrough

Club captain David Marshall has quickly turned his focus to Tuesday's match with Middlesbrough following the Bluebirds defeat to Norwich City.


Speaking about the result at Cardiff City Stadium, the Scotland international gave an honest assessment, saying:“We played very well in the first half. We knew how big a game it was going to be – Norwich will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.


“The second half was very poor; in the half hour we let the game slip. At half time we were looking good.”


Perhaps Cardiff’s best half of the season so far was overshadowed by the lack of consistency displayed in the second half.


“We spoke about starting the game well because we haven’t done that this season so far,” he admitted. “We created a lot of chances and were two-nil up but our concentration in the first 15 minutes of the second half let us down.”


Looking to Tuesday’s home fixture against Middlesbrough, Cardiff’s number one welcomed the opportunity to earn three points quickly and bounce back from defeat.


“It’s probably better that way, when you have a defeat that you can just get back on it again on Tuesday,” he explained. “It’s a bad defeat against one of our rivals that we think will be up there so we are going to have to keep winning games now and put a run together.”


“It disappoints everybody. We spoke about starting the game well and we did that.


“At half time we spoke about keeping concentration, keeping going and keeping the ball. We wanted to get the next goal so for things to turn that badly of course [the manager] will be angry.


“Everybody is disappointed but we will have a look at it tomorrow and focus on Middlesbrough and put a run of victories together.”


 In the opening minutes of the second period Federico Macheda volleyed at John Ruddy moments before Norwich hit their first reply of the afternoon. Marshall reflected upon the moment that could have changed the face of the game. “It’s fine margins. Kiko’s was a half-chance really, a good save from John [Ruddy].


“The defending was not what we expected, as a team we were very poor for 20 to 25 minutes. To concede three goals at home is bad enough but especially from two-nil up, we should not be conceding like that.”


“We’ve had a couple of games like that in the past. I remember a few years ago when we played Charlton away from home, the season we were promoted and we conceded five that night; that obviously was a one-off.


“Let’s hope this is a one-off and when we get in this position again it doesn’t happen.”