CARDIFF CITY’S “APRIL SHOWERS”

Club News

As the 2015/16 Sky Bet Championship season enters it’s ninth month with the visit of Derby County on Saturday, we take a look back at past City games where it rained goals in April. 



Cardiff City 5-0 Swansea Town, 6th April 1965

Legendary Cardiff City manager, Jimmy Scoular was appointed Bluebirds boss at the beginning of the 1964/65 Second Division season. He actually had a less than auspicious start, taking twelve games to register his first victory in the City dugout (a 2-1 home win over Derby County).

One of the finest moment of his inaugural season came on 6th April where his team thumped local rivals Swansea Town 5-0 in front of 16,000 fans at Ninian Park. Interestingly, the goals came through a hat trick from Ivor Allchurch and a brace from John Charles, two legends of the Welsh game that played for both Cardiff and Swansea during their careers.

Unfortunately for Swansea, the win pushed them closer to the trap door and they were relegated to the Third Division at the end of the month.



Cardiff City 4-2 Luton Town, 16th April 1977

The Bluebirds, managed by Jimmy Anderson, were battling relegation for much of the 1976/77 Second Division campaign. Indeed, they had to wait until the final day for a 1-1 draw with Carlisle United to secure their survival.

However, with the signing of enigmatic forward, Robin Friday, the Ninian Park faithful knew there was always the potential for a moment of magic. One of Friday’s best games in a City shirt came in a home match against Luton Town on 16th April.

Friday was able to keep his famous temper in check and scored two goals that afternoon to send the Bluebirds on their way to a vital 4-2 win. Club legend, Phil Dwyer and Cardiff-born winger, Peter Sayer were also on the score sheet that day.



Cardiff City 4-0 Newport County, 4th April 1988

Another April, another resounding win over local rivals. This time it was the turn of relegation threatened Newport County, who were despatched 4-0 in a one sided Fourth Division encounter at Ninian Park.

The Bluebirds had control from the first whistle of this Easter Monday derby and goals from Mike Ford, Paul Wimbleton, Brian McDermott and Nigel Stevenson helped them continue their charge for promotion.

Manager, Frank Burrows was deservedly nominated for the Manager of the Month award for April and City’s late season surge, finishing with five straight wins, earned them promotion to the Third Division, much to the delight of everyone connected to the club.



Brighton and Hove Albion 3-5 Cardiff City, 12th April 1994

Second Division Cardiff Cardiff City triumphed over Brighton and Hove Albion 5-3 in a wildly entertaining affair at the Goldstone Ground.

It was the Seagulls who started the brighter of the two teams and deservedly took the lead through Paul McCarthy. However, this served to spark the Bluebirds into life and Paul Millar quickly equalised from the penalty spot. Millar was clearly enjoying himself and the striker soon put City ahead with a superb long range effort. Cardiff stalwart Phil Stant then finished clinically to make the score 3-1 at half time.

The second half saw Wayne Fereday get in on the scoring act and Millar complete his hat trick with another penalty. Brighton got two goals of their own thanks to a brace from future City striker Kurt Nogan to round off an exciting contest where the travelling fans definitely got their money’s worth. The win was important for the Bluebirds in terms of securing Second Division survival that season.



Cardiff City 4-1 Derby County, 2nd April 2011

The Bluebirds welcomed Derby County to the Welsh capital in 2011 still well in the hunt for a Championship automatic promotion place. There was little sign of nerves from the boys in blue as Jay Bothroyd stroked home a penalty after seven minutes to give his side the lead.

After the break, City cut loose with a devastating twenty-minute spell. First centre back, Dekel Keinan, headed home a second to double the lead before Paul Quinn added a third to take the game beyond the Rams. Peter Whittingham then grabbed City’s fourth with a sweetly struck volley after being set up expertly by Craig Bellamy.

Former Wales international Robbie Savage grabbed a late consolation goal for Derby but it was City who returned to winning ways in emphatic style.